Description

John 2:13-22

How easy to think that Jesus has redeemed us in order that our lives might go better.  We even develop an entitlement mentality, thinking that our faithfulness merits God’s blessings.  We lose sight of the fact that God has claimed us in order that we might be His and that He might reach the world through us.  We are His temples!  Our very lives are set apart to serve Him.  We are set free from our slavery to convenience, and empowered to live wholly unto Him.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts In Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

 

Pastor              In the name of God the Father, holy and perfect in all His ways.

ALL                  In the name of God the Son, Jesus Christ, Whose passion led Him to a cross, and to death as the sacrifice for the sins of the                            world.

Pastor              In the name of the God the Holy Spirit, Who gathers us as the people of God, and empowers us as we continue on our                                      Lenten journey

ALL                  Amen.

  

Opening Prayer

Pastor             Almighty Father, during this Lenten season we gather as Your people, the Body   of Christ, to hear again the message of His                            passion.  Inspire us, we pray, that we might not only be hearers of Jesus’ passion, but that we might live unto Him in all we                            do and are.  Fill us during this time with such a measure of Your Holy Spirit, that these Lenten days may be for us a time of                            even deeper devotion and sacrifice.  We count it all joy to be followers of Jesus, Who sets us apart for service unto You.                                    Amen.

 

Time of Greeting

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor              During this season of Lent, we acknowledge our sinfulness, for which Jesus suffered and died.

(silence)

Pastor             In humility we bow before You, holy Father.

ALL               We are sinful, and make no excuse before You.

You call us to holiness, and we choose sin.

You call us to love, and we choose fear.

You call us to serve, and we choose entitlements.

You call us to give, and we choose to take.

You call us to go, and we choose to stay.

You call us to speak of Your love, and we choose to remain silent.

You call us to surrender, and we choose pride.

You call us to come to You, and we choose to hide.

Forgive us, we pray, and empower us to live in joyful obedience to You.

 

Pastor            Jesus died and rose again not that we might live to ourselves, but that we might be freed to be the vessels of God, set apart to                          impact His Kingdom.  We are no longer enslaved by our sinful entitlements, thinking it’s all about us.  We have been                                        redeemed, purified and set apart.  Our lives have meaning and purpose, as God moves through us into the world.  We are His                  temple, and all that we do is in service to Him.

ALL                  Amen.

 

Time of Praise and Worship

Arise

Don Moen & Paul Baloche, ©2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Musi Cry Of My Heart

Terry Butler, ©1991 Mercy Publishing

You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)

Marc Imboden & Tammi Rhoton, ©1994 Imboden Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Martha Jo Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

[Traditional Options]

Lord Jesus Christ Be Present Now

ELW 527; LBW 253; LSB 902; LW201; NCH 324

Come To Calvary’s Holy Mountain

HFG 276; LBW 301; LSB 435; LW 96

O God of Mercy, God of Light             

ELW 714; LBW 425; LW 397; LSB 852 

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

First Reading:  Exodus 20:1-17

God establishes the way in which His people are to live, as He gives His commandments. 

1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal.16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”