Sermonstudio

Call To Worship
These two Calls To Worship reflect the sorrow over sin that David felt in our reading from 2 Samuel, and that he expressed in the Psalm.
Leader:
Guilty as sin,
People:
No doubt about it.
Leader:
The defendant stood no chance.
People:
The only question left
Leader:
Was life or the death penalty.
People:
Death was deserved.
Leader:
But, when the verdict came down,
People:
Shock! Amazement!
Leader:
For the judge said
People:
"Guilty as charged"
Leader:
And the penalty?
People:
"Death by crucifixion."
Leader:
And then the judge continued in a strangely sad voice, saying, "And the penalty shall be served by my own Son,
People:
Jesus."
Leader:
God's grief is our joy.
People:
We have been set free.
Leader:
Come, let us worship God.
People:
Amen!

From Psalm 51.
Leader:
Have mercy on me, O God,
People:
In your great tenderness,
Leader:
Wipe away my faults;
People:
Wash me clean of my guilt;
Leader:
Purify me of my sin.
People:
For my sin is constantly on my mind.
Leader:
I have sinned against none other than you,
People:
Having done what you declared to be wrong.
Leader:
So, you are justified in passing sentence on me,
People:
And blameless in judging me.
Leader:
Yet, I pray, Lord, that you would hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
Leader:
Put a new and righteous spirit within me.
People:
Restore to me the joy of your presence,
Leader:
And keep my spirit steady and willing.
People:
Amen.


Prayer Of Confession
General confessions of sin for this week.
Leader:
So much entertainment,
People:
We fill our lives with amusements.
Leader:
Television and movies;
People:
Nintendo and the Internet;
Leader:
Extreme sports and video arcades;
People:
Virtual reality and fantasy games.
Leader:
But what of using our gifts?
People:
What of making music?
Leader:
And creating works of art?
People:
Or building a cabinet with your hands?
Leader:
Or growing a glorious garden?
People:
And what of your song?
Leader:
Or poem or story?
People:
Or your sermon or lesson?
Leader:
Or healing touch or word?
People:
What of using your gifts to bring joy,
Leader:
And have joy?
People:
Yes, what of these things?
Leader:
Lord, forgive us.
People:
Amen.

Option two.
Leader:
Stagnant!
People:
Stalled out!
Leader:
Sliding back.
People:
Stuck.
Leader:
Lord, these words describe many of us right now.
People:
We have allowed circumstances,
Leader:
Satan,
People:
Sadness and sorrow,
Leader:
To short-circuit our growth in you.
People:
Forgive us for our lack of effort,
Leader:
Help us to stir one another to love
People:
And other good works,
Leader:
So that we may continue toward
People:
The wholeness,
Leader:
And holiness,
People:
That you desire for us.
Leader:
We pray it in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.
People:
Amen.

This one confesses actions and attitudes that lead to disunity and division.
Leader:
For focusing on skin color,
People:
Style differences,
Leader:
Theological nuance,
People:
Unfamiliar cultural practices,
Leader:
And all of our other differences,
People:
And allowing those differences,
Leader:
To come between us in Christ,
People:
Father, forgive us.
Leader:
And turn our eyes
People:
And hearts
Leader:
To the truth that there is one God,
People:
One Lord,
Leader:
One baptism,
People:
One Body of Christ,
Leader:
Of which we are all a part. Amen.

Finally, a unison prayer based on Ephesians 4.
Lord, we pretend to be grown-up; we pretend to be mature in Christ, but in truth we remain like infants, tossed to and fro by every wind of teaching that comes along. The latest "New Age" craze sucks us in. The chic religion of the month entices us. What we need is a commitment to know the truth and teach it to others. When we take up this pursuit of truth, with love as our companion, then we will find peace and stability, and the church will once again become a force in our world.

We make this commitment today, Lord. Strengthen us to keep it. Amen.


Assurance Of Pardon
Forgiveness comes only with repentance. So know this, this morning; God is faithful to forgive if we sincerely turn away from our sin.

Let us turn and receive his freely given forgiveness.


Prayer Of Dedication
Father of all giftedness; author of every talent and blessing; fill us with a knowledge of our abundance and richness. Teach us to use this abundance as a fountain from which to slake the thirst of those in need. Teach us to give generously of our abundance and to share of the gift you have given -- the gift of yourself.


Prayer For Illumination
Ephesians 4:4-6
Leader:
There is one body and one Spirit,
People:
And one hope that belongs to us all,
Leader:
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
People:
One God and Father of us all,
Leader:
Who is above all
People:
And through all
Leader:
And in all.
People:
Work in us now, O Lord. Amen.


Pastoral Prayer
Regarding our penchant for sin.
Lord of all love -- remind us this morning that even the best among us -- Billy Graham -- Mother Teresa -- the best of the best -- even these are tainted with sin and self. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." "All we like sheep have gone astray." "There is none righteous -- no not one." Sin pervades us.

Teach us the subtle but beautiful skill of hating sin -- in ourselves and others -- but loving the sinner as you love.

We are so prone to judge -- to condemn -- to hate -- even to harm those who we believe to be sinful -- or wrongheaded in their beliefs. They become the enemy -- the infidel. We forget that they are also your children. We forget that your love extends to each of them. We forget that we -- the church -- we are your instruments for carrying this love to all, friend and foe alike. Turn our self-righteous hearts of stone to hearts of flesh that we might be better messengers of the God who is love.

We pray it all in the name of Jesus the Christ -- whose love led him to set aside his power and to suffer and die for the sake of revealing God's love. Amen.

Option two.
Lord, the obstacles are enormous, the temptations are great, the battle is often overwhelming, and without you we will flounder and fail. Without you we will succumb to our doubts; give in to our temptations; be defeated by our enemy.

But with you, and in you, we are more than conquerors.

So be with us now as doubts assail us; as temptations surround us and the enemy attacks us.

In the face of circumstances that create doubt; in the face of tragedy; job loss; fearful world situations and more ...

In the face of these -- assure us that you will prevail.

In the face of temptations that pull us down; in the face of addictions to alcohol, work, sex, and more ...

In the face of these -- strengthen us to be victors.

In the face of the enemy who whispers of bitterness, self-hatred, condemnation from others, and more ...

In the face of these -- speak the truth to us, that we might be conquerors not only in the next life, but here and now as well.


Benediction
John 6:35
Jesus declared, "I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Be filled in Christ.


Hymns

Amazing Grace

At Calvary

Before Thee God Who Knowest All

Chief Of Sinners

Come, Humble Sinner

Come Ye Sinners Poor And Needy

Delay Not, O Sinner, Draw Near

I Lay My Sins On Jesus

If My People's Hearts Are Humbled

Just As I Am

My Sins, My Sins, My Savior

My Soul Is Sad And Much Dismayed

Only A Sinner

Sin When Viewed By Scripture Light

Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus

We Will Stand

When O'er My Sins I Sorrow

When Sinners See Their Lost Condition

Whiter Than Snow


Contemporary Choruses

At The Cross

Do You Feel The Mountains Tremble?

Give Us Clean Hands

Light The Fire Again, Brian Doerksen

Open Our Eyes, Lord


Other Music

I'll Lead You Home, Michael W. Smith
God will lead us home when we get lost.