Calls to Worship
| Leader: | The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." |
| People: | Come. |
| Leader: | Let everyone who is thirsty come. |
| People: | Come. |
| Leader: | Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. |
| People: | Come. |
| Leader: | The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." |
| People: | Come, Lord Jesus! |
| Leader: | Jesus invites us to come. We invite Jesus to come. Jesus is here among us. Come, let us worship the one who was, who is and is to come. |
| Hymns |
HWB |
MH | Songs | |
| O have you not heard |
606 |
556 |
Freedom is coming (Freedom, O freedom) | |
| O let all who thirst |
495 |
-- |
Jesus, we celebrate your victory | |
| O healing river |
579 |
-- |
The Lord reigns, the Lord reigns | |
| Woman in the night |
223 |
-- |
The Lord reigns and blessed be my rock | |
| Jesus, remember me |
247 |
-- |
Lord of lords, king of kings | |
| Give thanks with a grateful heart |
Offering Suggestion
Gather the offering as a response to the sermon. Highlight the
fact that we have freedom to serve Jesus and not be enslaved to
money.
Thought for today: "I am never so free as when I am His slave."
Sermon Starter:
Freedom is something we as Americans love to talk about from an
individualistic point of view. Jesus' prayer for unity and love
gives true freedom. The story of Paul and Silas in Ephesus offers
many fruitful examples of the contrast between those who are free
in the eyes of the world and those who are truly free in Christ.
The liberating act of Paul and Silas toward a slave girl lands
them in jail where their worship demonstrates their true freedom
in the midst of outward chains and serves to bring salvation and
liberty to the jailer in charge of imprisoning them.
Story: Juan in jail
Juan is in jail. His wife, four-year-old daughter and one week-old
son are at home alone. But Juan is not wasting his time. There
is only one other Hispanic in his block and he has no interest
in Bible study. Juan's pastor gives him a bilingual New Testament
and he organizes Bible study with his interested English speaking
cellmates. He would really rather be with his family and back
at work, but since that isn't possible right now, he will find
and do what is possible. He can't go to church but he can be church
for himself and for others. He can't walk out in the fresh air
but his spirit is a breath of fresh air to those around him. He
can't sing in the pew at but his can life be a song in the dreary
routine of prison life. Paul and Silas still live.
Created by Paul D. Leichty