Description
Mark 8:27-38
Rumors of who Jesus was spread around villages and towns. Some claimed He was just a teacher, a prophet, or John the Baptist. Peter said Jesus was indeed the Messiah and worthy of following. Jesus taught his disciples that He must die and be resurrected, but Peter rejected this message because of his own concerns and desires. Jesus rebuked him and called the crowd to heed a bold message. To follow Christ is to pick up your cross and deny yourself daily. It’s to unashamedly follow Jesus and risk losing everything on this earth, and gaining eternity in Heaven. So, who do you say Jesus is?
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
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.)
Great I Am
Jared Anderson, ©2011 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing (IMI))
Jesus Messiah
Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves,©2008 Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services)
[Traditional Options]
Come Follow Me, The Savior Spoke
ELW 799; LBW 455; LSB 688; LW 379
Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense
LBW 340; LSB 741; LW 266
Christ Be My Leader
LSB 861; LW 365; WC 107; WAR 453
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Our God is the Covenant Keeper.
Worshipers
He keeps His promises to His faithful.
Pastor / Worship Leader
He calls us to be His fruitful servants, to follow Him wholeheartedly and undeniably, and to be transformed by His Holy Spirit.
Worshipers
He is worthy to follow, worthy of every breath that escapes us, and worthy of all worship. We praise the name of the Lord!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
God of Abraham and Sarah, You embraced Your people in Covenant and promised them Your blessing. Through Your Son Jesus Christ, we are made righteous in Your eyes. You’ve gone before us, enduring all temptation, succeeding in resurrection to grant us new life in You. May we be Your vessels here on this earth as we follow You.
Worshipers
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
In this time of confession, let us abandon our own sinful desires and renounce the sin that entangles us.
Worshipers
We renounce the sin in our lives in the name of Jesus Christ. We replace this sin with the righteousness found only in Jesus!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We let go of our own plans and join the Lord’s plans.
Worshipers
We accept His forgiveness and obey His command to take up our cross and follow Him.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we pour ourselves out as You pour in Your Spirit. We follow You right into suffering.
Worshipers
We follow You right into the heart of the Father. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Abram was 99 years old when the Lord told him of His plans to increase his posterity and make a covenant with him. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah and promised Abram a son.
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
