God's outlandish promises
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: This passage, which begins the Abraham narratives of Genesis, shows the great patriarch leaving his land in obedience and response to God's call and outlandish (but nonetheless eventually fulfilled!) promises, thereby setting into motion the history of the people of God - not only (as it turns out) the Israel that derived directly from him, but the New lsrael, the Church, in which the promises were renewed and expanded.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 33)
Leader:
The words of God are trustworthy!
People:
THE WORKS OF GOD ARE FAITHFUL!
Leader:
God loves righteousness and justice,
People:
AND FILLS THE EARTH WITH STEADFAST LOVE!
Collect
Holy God of Israel, you called Abraham to become the father of a great nation. Grant us our own vocations and destinies in your plan, and the exceptional faith of that great man: that, hearing your extraordinary promises and incredible prospects for us, we may respond and find fulfillment as he did. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Sustaining God of the Church, we confess to you our seeming inability to believe your Word or to respond faithfully to your commandments or your promises. We seek our own goals and destinies under our own powers, and find life empty and meaningless. Forgive us, O God, and grant us the grace and the faith of Abraham, so that we may follow your will and find our way to fulfillment and completion in you, your coming Reign, and your Christ. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Lent
Second Lesson: Romans 4:1-5 (6-12), 13-17
Theme:
Sharing the faith of Abraham
Exegetical note: Paul here substantiates his key notion of justification by faith (i.e., trust in God's grace) by appealing to Abraham as one who was justified, not by virtue of his works of obedience to the law, but because God graciously "reckoned" righteousness to him. That Paul regards Abraham as a model is obvious in v. 16, in which the patriarch is called "the father of us all," precisely because the promise that rests on grace is guaranteed to everyone who shares his faith.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 33)
Leader:
Behold, the eye of God is upon all who hope in God's steadfast love!
People:
AND GOD DELIVERS US FROM DEATH TO LIFE!
Leader:
Our souls wait upon God!
People:
AND WE TRUST IN GOD'S HOLY NAME!
Collect
God of wondrous love, you graciously called Abraham to an unconditional faith and an unbelievable future. Instill such a faith in us: that, drawn into an ongoing relationship with you, we also may realize the marvelous destiny that always awaits your people. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of boundless mercy, we confess that we do not really put our faith in you and your grace, but try instead to make our fortunes and build our futures through our own abilities and achievements; and we admit that we lead pointless and pitiful lives as a result. Forgive us, O God, and give us the faith of our father Abraham and our mother Sarah, who centered their lives and placed their hopes in your promises, and found fulfillment in your will and your word. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Lent
Gospel:
John 3:1-17
Theme:
The inspiring power of the cross
Exegetical note: The discourse that connects the basis for the most common expression of popular piety ("born again" in v. 3) and the most quoted verse of the New Testament (v. 16) is surprisingly cryptic. One of the clearest allusions is in v. 14, which recalls the serpent lifted up by Moses in Numbers 21:9ff., the very sight of which cured the Israelites of snake bite. The implication that merely beholding the crucified Christ cures sin points to the inspiring power of the cross.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Sisters and brothers, let us speak of what we know!
People:
LET US BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN!
Leader:
God loved the world enough to give a Son!
People:
THAT ALL OF GOD'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!
Collect
Almighty God, you loved the world enough to send a son, who loved the world enough to die. Set before us the image of the crucified Christ: that, moved by his compassion, we may find within us the kind of faith that brings health and life, not only to ourselves, but also to our sin-sick world. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Good and gracious God, we confess that we often lose sight of the cross, the image of which should inform and inspire every moment of our lives; that we devote ourselves instead to images of worldly status and success; and that we thus seek salvation not in self-giving faith but in self-serving folly. Forgive us, we pray, and impress upon our imaginations the compelling image of the crucified Christ, which alone can bring the eternal life and perfect peace that you have promised all who believe. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 33)
Leader:
The words of God are trustworthy!
People:
THE WORKS OF GOD ARE FAITHFUL!
Leader:
God loves righteousness and justice,
People:
AND FILLS THE EARTH WITH STEADFAST LOVE!
Collect
Holy God of Israel, you called Abraham to become the father of a great nation. Grant us our own vocations and destinies in your plan, and the exceptional faith of that great man: that, hearing your extraordinary promises and incredible prospects for us, we may respond and find fulfillment as he did. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Sustaining God of the Church, we confess to you our seeming inability to believe your Word or to respond faithfully to your commandments or your promises. We seek our own goals and destinies under our own powers, and find life empty and meaningless. Forgive us, O God, and grant us the grace and the faith of Abraham, so that we may follow your will and find our way to fulfillment and completion in you, your coming Reign, and your Christ. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Lent
Second Lesson: Romans 4:1-5 (6-12), 13-17
Theme:
Sharing the faith of Abraham
Exegetical note: Paul here substantiates his key notion of justification by faith (i.e., trust in God's grace) by appealing to Abraham as one who was justified, not by virtue of his works of obedience to the law, but because God graciously "reckoned" righteousness to him. That Paul regards Abraham as a model is obvious in v. 16, in which the patriarch is called "the father of us all," precisely because the promise that rests on grace is guaranteed to everyone who shares his faith.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 33)
Leader:
Behold, the eye of God is upon all who hope in God's steadfast love!
People:
AND GOD DELIVERS US FROM DEATH TO LIFE!
Leader:
Our souls wait upon God!
People:
AND WE TRUST IN GOD'S HOLY NAME!
Collect
God of wondrous love, you graciously called Abraham to an unconditional faith and an unbelievable future. Instill such a faith in us: that, drawn into an ongoing relationship with you, we also may realize the marvelous destiny that always awaits your people. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of boundless mercy, we confess that we do not really put our faith in you and your grace, but try instead to make our fortunes and build our futures through our own abilities and achievements; and we admit that we lead pointless and pitiful lives as a result. Forgive us, O God, and give us the faith of our father Abraham and our mother Sarah, who centered their lives and placed their hopes in your promises, and found fulfillment in your will and your word. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Lent
Gospel:
John 3:1-17
Theme:
The inspiring power of the cross
Exegetical note: The discourse that connects the basis for the most common expression of popular piety ("born again" in v. 3) and the most quoted verse of the New Testament (v. 16) is surprisingly cryptic. One of the clearest allusions is in v. 14, which recalls the serpent lifted up by Moses in Numbers 21:9ff., the very sight of which cured the Israelites of snake bite. The implication that merely beholding the crucified Christ cures sin points to the inspiring power of the cross.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Sisters and brothers, let us speak of what we know!
People:
LET US BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN!
Leader:
God loved the world enough to give a Son!
People:
THAT ALL OF GOD'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!
Collect
Almighty God, you loved the world enough to send a son, who loved the world enough to die. Set before us the image of the crucified Christ: that, moved by his compassion, we may find within us the kind of faith that brings health and life, not only to ourselves, but also to our sin-sick world. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Good and gracious God, we confess that we often lose sight of the cross, the image of which should inform and inspire every moment of our lives; that we devote ourselves instead to images of worldly status and success; and that we thus seek salvation not in self-giving faith but in self-serving folly. Forgive us, we pray, and impress upon our imaginations the compelling image of the crucified Christ, which alone can bring the eternal life and perfect peace that you have promised all who believe. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
