Here's Jesus!
Worship
Bright Intervals
40 Brief Worship Services and Meditations for Any Occasion
Object:
Greeting and Call To Worship
God so loved the world that God sent the only begotten Son, so that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you for bringing to us the gift of God's mercy and forgiveness. We give thanks that you came to this earth to live the same life we experience each day, and to know its joys and its heartaches. Even more, we are grateful that the Risen Christ is our daily companion. Be present with us now in our worship, and to you be all glory. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Special Hymn
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
The origin of this hymn is somewhat difficult to trace. One tradition says that it was first called the "Crusaders' Hymn" because it was said to have been sung by the German knights on their way to Jerusalem during the Crusades. Most scholars, however, believe that this hymn was originally a folk song sung by the people in the district of Glaz, in Lower Silesia. A final stanza that begins "Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations" was added by a Lutheran pastor, Joseph Seiss, from Philadelphia. Whatever its origins, this hymn is a wonderful tribute to the Lordship of Christ.
Scripture Reading
Philippians 2:5-11
Meditation
During a children's sermon, a pastor asked the children, "What is gray, has a bushy tail, and gathers nuts in the fall?" One little boy raised his hand and said, "I know the answer should be 'Jesus,' but it sounds an awful lot like a squirrel to me!" That little fellow sitting in church knew that Christianity is Jesus Christ! In the Philippian Letter, Paul has written one of the most beautiful hymns of praise to Jesus. Do you recall how on the Tonight Show for many years, when he introduced Johnny Carson, the announcer would say, "H-E-E-E-R-E'S Johnny?" In like manner Paul is saying to us, "H-E-E-E-R-E'S Jesus!" But just what does Jesus mean to the Christian?
Paul speaks first about the Christ Who Is Above Us. Jesus is more than a good person; Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth. He is God in human flesh and there is no one quite like him. Until recently there was a rule in Philadelphia that no building could go higher than the hat on the statue of William Penn. That's how a Christian thinks of Jesus. Jesus is our model for life on earth. Jesus is the Savior who died on the Cross for our sins. Jesus is the one through whom we pray to God, and Jesus is the Lord of life to whom we surrender our hearts.
But Paul also wants us to ponder the mystery of Christ In Us. A Christian is someone in whom the Spirit of Jesus lives today. Paul in his many letters uses the phrase "in Christ" at least 164 times. That is not mere poetic language. It is living so close to Jesus that we gradually become like Jesus. It was said of Saint Francis that he lived so closely to Jesus that eventually people could see in Francis' hands the same nail prints that were in Christ's hands on the Cross.
The world sometimes doubts this sense of the Living Christ's presence with us. A little boy spilled some milk at the dinner table and his mother told him to go out on the back porch and get the floor mop. He went to the back door and looked out. It was very dark and he was frightened. His mother said, "Don't be afraid; Jesus is with you." The little boy opened the door and said, "Jesus, if you're really out there, would you please hand me the mop!" We understand that little boy's dilemma, but down through the ages Christians have experienced that wonderful sense of Christ's Presence within us.
Paul adds one more dimension to his understanding of Jesus -- the Christ Beyond Us. Jesus goes before us like a good shepherd. There is nothing we will face in this life or the next that Christ has not already experienced. He is the pioneer of our faith journey, the one who goes before us to show us the way to a right relationship with God. A little boy was watching a parade when President Theodore Roosevelt passed by riding on his horse. The little boy took off his hat and said to his parents, "Someday, I want to be like him." That's how a Christian feels about Jesus Christ!
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us through the power of your Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus every day. Surround us with the assurance of your love and your presence with us, not only today, but always. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make God's face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up God's countenance upon you and give you peace, both now and forevermore. Amen.
God so loved the world that God sent the only begotten Son, so that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you for bringing to us the gift of God's mercy and forgiveness. We give thanks that you came to this earth to live the same life we experience each day, and to know its joys and its heartaches. Even more, we are grateful that the Risen Christ is our daily companion. Be present with us now in our worship, and to you be all glory. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Special Hymn
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
The origin of this hymn is somewhat difficult to trace. One tradition says that it was first called the "Crusaders' Hymn" because it was said to have been sung by the German knights on their way to Jerusalem during the Crusades. Most scholars, however, believe that this hymn was originally a folk song sung by the people in the district of Glaz, in Lower Silesia. A final stanza that begins "Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations" was added by a Lutheran pastor, Joseph Seiss, from Philadelphia. Whatever its origins, this hymn is a wonderful tribute to the Lordship of Christ.
Scripture Reading
Philippians 2:5-11
Meditation
During a children's sermon, a pastor asked the children, "What is gray, has a bushy tail, and gathers nuts in the fall?" One little boy raised his hand and said, "I know the answer should be 'Jesus,' but it sounds an awful lot like a squirrel to me!" That little fellow sitting in church knew that Christianity is Jesus Christ! In the Philippian Letter, Paul has written one of the most beautiful hymns of praise to Jesus. Do you recall how on the Tonight Show for many years, when he introduced Johnny Carson, the announcer would say, "H-E-E-E-R-E'S Johnny?" In like manner Paul is saying to us, "H-E-E-E-R-E'S Jesus!" But just what does Jesus mean to the Christian?
Paul speaks first about the Christ Who Is Above Us. Jesus is more than a good person; Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth. He is God in human flesh and there is no one quite like him. Until recently there was a rule in Philadelphia that no building could go higher than the hat on the statue of William Penn. That's how a Christian thinks of Jesus. Jesus is our model for life on earth. Jesus is the Savior who died on the Cross for our sins. Jesus is the one through whom we pray to God, and Jesus is the Lord of life to whom we surrender our hearts.
But Paul also wants us to ponder the mystery of Christ In Us. A Christian is someone in whom the Spirit of Jesus lives today. Paul in his many letters uses the phrase "in Christ" at least 164 times. That is not mere poetic language. It is living so close to Jesus that we gradually become like Jesus. It was said of Saint Francis that he lived so closely to Jesus that eventually people could see in Francis' hands the same nail prints that were in Christ's hands on the Cross.
The world sometimes doubts this sense of the Living Christ's presence with us. A little boy spilled some milk at the dinner table and his mother told him to go out on the back porch and get the floor mop. He went to the back door and looked out. It was very dark and he was frightened. His mother said, "Don't be afraid; Jesus is with you." The little boy opened the door and said, "Jesus, if you're really out there, would you please hand me the mop!" We understand that little boy's dilemma, but down through the ages Christians have experienced that wonderful sense of Christ's Presence within us.
Paul adds one more dimension to his understanding of Jesus -- the Christ Beyond Us. Jesus goes before us like a good shepherd. There is nothing we will face in this life or the next that Christ has not already experienced. He is the pioneer of our faith journey, the one who goes before us to show us the way to a right relationship with God. A little boy was watching a parade when President Theodore Roosevelt passed by riding on his horse. The little boy took off his hat and said to his parents, "Someday, I want to be like him." That's how a Christian feels about Jesus Christ!
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us through the power of your Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus every day. Surround us with the assurance of your love and your presence with us, not only today, but always. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make God's face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up God's countenance upon you and give you peace, both now and forevermore. Amen.
