Woship Resources 2008-2009 — Year B: Be a Sanctuary of Christ's Peace

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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lose Your Life for Jesus

Ordinary Time (Proper 19)

Scriptures: Proverbs 1:20–33; Psalm 19; James 3:1–12; Mark 8:27–38/8:28–43 IV;
II Nephi 11:95–115; Doctrine and Covenants 49:5

Distribute an “invitation for ministry” card to each member of the congregation as they enter. The cards should include contact information for pastoral ministry within your congregation. Before the service, ask someone to share their testimony of the joy of giving their life to Jesus.

For the worship center, display depictions of events in the life of Christ and his followers or a setting centered on the sacraments of the church.

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship: Psalm 19:1–4

Time of Blessing: Turn to your neighbor and greet them with the words of the Psalmist.

“Praise the Lord and seek him; and your heart shall live forever.”

*Hymn of Praise: “Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing” SP 31
OR “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” HS 30

*Prayer of Invocation

*Response Hymn: “Let the Words of My Mouth” HS 461
OR “I Love You, Lord” NS 18

Testimony of Baptism: “Getting Wet for Jesus”

This is a chapter found in Courageous Witness by Jared Munson (Herald Publishing House, 2003) 26–29.

Someone good at storytelling could present this testimony as if they were the author, or it could be read by a younger member of the congregation.

Ministry of Music: “For Those Tears I Died”

This song is by Marsha J. Stevens, Copyright 1972, Bud John Songs, Inc. (EMI Christian Music Publishing; CCLI Song Number 13948).

OR “O Jesus, Thou Art Standing” HS 385

Sharing of Testimony

Ask someone to share their testimony of the joy of giving their life to Jesus.

Responsive Reading

All: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

Congregation Side 1: The decrees of the Lord are sure,

Congregation Side 2: Making wise the simple.

Congregation Side 1: The precepts of the Lord are right,

Congregation Side 2: Rejoicing the heart.

Congregation Side 1: The commandment of the Lord is clear,

Congregation Side 2: Enlightening the eyes.

Congregation Side 1: The fear of the Lord is pure,

Congregation Side 2: Enduring forever.

All: The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

—Psalm 19 adapted

This reading can be adapted by using a leader and the congregation as readers, readers from the right and left sides of the congregation, or each line being done by several readers.

Pastoral Prayer of Thanksgiving

Offer a prayer thanking God for the joy of discipleship existing within the community.

Scripture of Proclamation: Mark 8:34–37

Sermon of Invitation

Based on Mark 8:27–38

Moment of Meditation

Having distributed the invitation cards to the congregation before the service, invite them now to meditate on their life’s journey. If they feel a need for ministry in any area of their life, have them place their card (after filling in their name) in the offertory basket or give it to one of the congregation’s ministers.

Hymn: “Lord, I Give You” NS 32
OR “Take My Life and Let It Be” HS 408

Disciples’ Generous Response

Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ. Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information as part of your offertory ministry. Visit www.CofChrist.org/generositystories to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.

Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes

Prayer for Peace see page 27

*Hymn of Benediction: “Touch Me, Lord, with Thy Spirit Eternal” HS 409
OR “Song of Shalom” SP 40

*Sending Forth

“Behold, I say unto you, Go forth as I have commanded you;… Behold, I will go before you, and be your rereward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded; behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen.” —Doctrine and Covenants 49:5c, d

*Benediction

*Response

*Postlude

Invitation for Ministry Card

Scripture of Invitation

“The Lord God…does not anything except it be for the benefit of the world; for he loves the world, even that he lays down his own life that he may draw all...to him…. And he invites them all to come to him and partake of his goodness; and he denies none that come to him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembers the heathen, and all are alike to God.”

—II Nephi 11:96, 113

Please place this card in the offertory plate or hand it to one of our ministers if you would like one of them to assist you in your life’s journey. We would welcome the opportunity to pray with you and invite you to share in the sacraments that will strengthen you on your journey. These include ministries of blessing, baptism, confirmation, administration to the sick, marriage, and the Lord’s Supper.

Name___________________________________________

Contact Information_________________________________

For more information please feel free to contact our pastor:

Pastor’s Name________________________________________________

Pastor’s Contact Information______________________________________

Sermon Helps

Scriptures: Proverbs 1:20–33; Psalm 19; James 3:1–12; Mark 8:27–38/8:28–43 IV

Exploring the Scriptures

After Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ—the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Chosen One—Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things. He would be killed and then raised from the dead. Though Jesus said this plainly, the disciples found it difficult to digest. What Jesus called the ways of God were different from human ways. If they were to be his disciples, he invited them to be on the side of God and not on the side of the world.

This teaching took place with the multitude, in public, and was meant for all Christians. Jesus explained that the self-chosen way of the Son, in obedience to the divine plan, was the pattern for his followers. They were called to a life of sacrifice. They were to lose their lives for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s. However, by doing so, they would save their lives and would be acknowledged by the Son of Man when he came. The following things should occur:

  1. Disciples should deny themselves, making themselves not an end, but a means, in the kingdom of God and for Christ’s sake.
     
  2. They should take up their cross, meaning taking upon themselves the burdens of others’ lives, putting themselves without reservation at the service of Christ in preparing a way for the kingdom, and putting themselves in the struggle against evil.
     
  3. They should follow Jesus, saying no to self and yes to God until the end of their life, pursuing Christ’s mission to proclaim the good news, and providing compassionate ministries doing and living peace and justice in the world.
     
  4. Whoever would save their life would lose it. The word “save” means to preserve, safeguard, keep in health. Jesus’ words record the truth that we may save life by escaping from burdens, sacrifice, and conflict. But in so doing we cannot escape from the solitary confinement of self.
     
  5. Whoever would lose their life for Jesus’ sake, and for the gospel, would save it. The great servants that humanity honors are those who have forgotten themselves. They have been brought out of grief to find abundant life in service.
     
  6. Disciples should not be ashamed of Jesus’ words. The word ashamed in Mark refers to a halfhearted apologetic attitude.

In a world that has disregarded Jesus and his message of peace, in a day when it appears more clear than ever before that no other foundation for human survival can be led than the one laid on the peace of Jesus Christ, this is not a day for apology, but for tremendous affirmation. This is not a day to be ashamed of the word of salvation to a world increasingly lost. We are challenged to do, obey, and live the peace of Jesus Christ, even if it means to lose our own life. This is the cost of discipleship.

Central Ideas
  1. Jesus is the Messiah and will undergo great suffering and rejection.
     
  2. Disciples must take up their cross and lose their lives for others.
     
  3. Those who seek to save their life will lose it; those who lose their lives for the sake of the gospel will gain it.

Questions for the Speaker
  1. Who do you say that Jesus is? How do you come to that answer?
     
  2. When have you “rebuked” Jesus as Peter did in this story?
     
  3. When have you given your life for another?
     
  4. When have you saved your life and disregarded another’s need?

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