SermonStudio

Call To Worship
From Psalm 30.
Leader:
I will exalt you, O Lord,
People:
For you lifted me out of the depths.
Leader:
O Lord, I called to you for help and you healed me.
People:
You brought me up from the grave;
Leader:
Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;
People:
For his anger lasts only a moment,
Leader:
But his favor lasts a lifetime;
People:
Weeping may remain for a night,
Leader:
But rejoicing comes in the morning.
People:
You, O Lord, turned my mourning into dancing;
Leader:
I will give you thanks forever.
People:
Amen.

God can overcome the leprosy of Naaman, and that of the man in Mark 1. God can also overcome our problems. This Call To Worship celebrates that.
Leader:
At the edge of the Red Sea,
People:
Pharaoh's fearsome army bearing down,
Leader:
Nowhere to go,
People:
Staring annihilation in the face,
Leader:
But God made a way.
People:
In the desert,
Leader:
Dying of thirst,
People:
God gave water from a rock.
Leader:
In the wilderness
People:
With no food,
Leader:
But manna and quail came
People:
From the hand of God.
Leader:
At the edge of financial ruin,
People:
In the desert of depression,
Leader:
Wandering the wilderness of the broken heart,
People:
But God makes a way.
Leader:
Never abandoning us.
People:
Never giving up on us.
Leader:
Rejoice -- God is with us.
People:
Hallelujah! Amen!


Prayer Of Confession
Based on Naaman's attitude in 2 Kings 5.
Leader:
Always wanting to do things ourselves.
People:
That's us, Lord.
Leader:
Rugged individualists!
People:
That's us.
Leader:
Go it alone.
People:
Depend on no one.
Leader:
Never admit weakness.
People:
Never ask for help.
Leader:
(Pauses) Lord, like Naaman, we refuse to depend on you.
People:
We think we can manage our lives,
Leader:
Without following your guidance
People:
Or drawing on your strength.
Leader:
Forgive our foolish thinking.
People:
Amend our attitudes,
Leader:
That we might turn to you all in circumstances
People:
For wisdom,
Leader:
Guidance,
People:
Power,
Leader:
And perseverance.
People:
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

This one focuses on our immaturity in faith -- immaturity being an attitude that prevents us from true dependence on God.
Leader:
Childish;
People:
He did it.
Leader:
Selfish;
People:
Life is about me.
Leader:
Immature;
People:
Faith lacking depth.
Leader:
Anxious;
People:
Not resting in you.
Leader:
Impatient;
People:
Now!
Leader:
Impulsive;
People:
I want.
Leader:
These words, Lord, too often describe us.
People:
Forgive us.
Leader:
Heal us.
People:
Grow us.
Leader:
For the sake of our Lord Jesus.
People:
Amen.

This one looks at the same selfish attitudes more broadly. This also relates to the 1 Corinthians passage in that our lack of disciplined living prevents us from reaping the rewards of faith.
Leader:
O Lord, whose very name is love, we mean to do well,
People:
But our intentions are soon discarded.
Leader:
We try to be faithful,
People:
But we are diverted by many things.
Leader:
We don't wish to harm anyone,
People:
But in selfishness we hurt others.
Leader:
We know we need help,
People:
But we refuse to admit it.
Leader:
We know others need our help,
People:
But we turn away.
Leader:
We are much like the man who Paul speaks of;
People:
Who runs the race of life aimlessly and without discipline;
Leader:
Who fights the fight of faith by waving his arms wildly without effect.
People:
Lord, heal us of our selfishness;
Leader:
Overcome our aimless living by reminding us of your purpose;
People:
Teach us the discipline required;
Leader:
So that we may be made whole,
People:
So that we may gain the prize,
Leader:
Living fully every day.
People:
Amen.


Assurance Of Pardon
Use this one if you are focusing on the passages dealing with leprosy and healing.
Leader:
There is good news for the sick.
People:
We need to hear this news.
Leader:
God's touch is like no other. It heals all the way to the soul.
People:
How do we get this medicine?
Leader:
Open your hearts to him. Repent of your sin, and let him do his magic in you.
People:
Lord, we give ourselves into your hands.
Leader:
Let us know your healing. Amen.

Use this one if you are preaching about running the race.
Hear this good news: No matter how often the distractions distract you; no matter how many times the temptations tempt you away from God; no matter how the worldliness of this world steers you astray; your Father always -- always -- awaits your return with open arms.

So stop chasing the things that pass away and go home to God! Amen.


Prayer Of Dedication

Let us pray: In all of our lives, Lord, from the choices we make with our money; to the use of our time; to the ways we spend our energies; we rededicate ourselves and all that we have to pursuing the things of God. May we never find ourselves disqualified from enjoying the eternal presence and power of God by failing to run the race wholeheartedly. In the name of the one who gave his all, Jesus Christ. Amen.


Prayer For Illumination
Leader:
God above and beyond us,
People:
We get stuck in our limited ways of seeing things
Leader:
And thinking about things.
People:
Open our ears to whatever new truth
Leader:
You wish to offer us this morning.
People:
In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.


Pastoral Prayer
The last part of this prayer can be used by those who use the pastoral prayer as a time to pray for members of the congregation with specific concerns. Otherwise just leave that line out.
Let us pray: Our minds say, "God is greater than we are. God knows better than we do. God's ways are higher and more perfect than ours."

But our hearts too often say, "Keep control! Hold on! Do it your way and stay safe."

Father in heaven, help us to break the power of fear in our lives. Empower us to live the life you have called us to live; the life you guide us into; the life of selflessness, of love, of adventure; that we might contribute to the enrichment of the lives of others, and that our own lives might become truly abundant.

Hear our prayers for those we love. Show us how to love them and strengthen us to do that loving ...


Benediction
From 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Living the Christian life, says Paul, is like running a race. His challenge to us is that we run in such a way as to win the prize, a prize which for us is a crown, a life, that will last forever.

Christians, go forth and run the race!


Hymns

Be Firm And Be Faithful

Broad Is The Road

Fully Surrendered

I Will Never Turn Back

Last Mile Of The Way, The

Let Thoughtless Thousands Choose

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone

O How Happy Are They Who The Savior Obey

O Thou My Soul, Forget No More

Onward, Christian Soldiers


Contemporary Choruses

Lord, Reign In Me, Brenton Brown

My Life Is In You, Daniel Gardner

Sanctuary, John W. Thompson

You Are My All In All, Dennis Jernigan


Other Music

If You Want Me To, Ginny Owens
A beautiful confession to God. "I will do whatever you want."