SermonStudio

Call To Worship
From the hymn, "Jesus, All for Jesus" which emphasizes giving our all for the Lord, as he himself emphasized to the rich ruler in the Mark passage.
Leader:
Jesus,
People:
All for Jesus.
Leader:
All I am and have
People:
And ever hope to be.
Leader:
All of my ambitions,
People:
Hopes and plans,
Leader:
I surrender these now,
People:
Into your hands.
Leader:
For it is only in your will
People:
That I am free
Leader:
To be
People:
All you made me.
Leader:
We worship you,
People:
Savior and Lord,
Leader:
Amen.

Option two.
Leader:
O how lovely is your name, O Lord.
People:
O how lovely is your name.
Leader:
Mighty wonders and mercies you afford.
People:
O how lovely is your name.
Leader:
Creation cries out
People:
And all the heavens sing
Leader:
Of the glorious workings of the King.
People:
Deliverance has come,
Leader:
And the time is now
People:
To offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Leader:
Thank you, Lord!
People:
Praise you for all your gifts.
Leader:
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord.
People:
Amen.

The rich ruler found it tough to let go of all he had. We find it tough, too. But it is all just baggage weighing us down!
Leader:
Cell phones and VCRs;
People:
Microwave ovens and laptops;
Leader:
Big-screen TVs and DSL connections;
People:
Cars that start themselves,
Leader:
And global positioning systems;
People:
PDAs and CD burners.
Leader:
Stuff!
People:
Gadgets!
Leader:
Toys!
People:
The world's little treasures.
Leader:
But they are nothing more than
People:
Things that pass away.
Leader:
Come now, let's put away our stuff,
People:
Let's let go of our baggage
Leader:
And open ourselves to the treasure of treasures,
People:
The God who loves us,
Leader:
Forgives us,
People:
Strengthens us,
Leader:
And brings us joy!
People:
Let us celebrate our riches.
Leader:
Amen.


Prayer Of Confession
Based on Jesus' teaching about wealth in Matthew 6.
Leader:
For where your treasure is
People:
There will your heart be as well.
Leader:
O Lord, forgive us our attachments to things not worthy of our hearts.
People:
Forgive us for investing our minds,
Leader:
And emotions,
People:
In things.
Leader:
And strengthen us to break free
People:
From the love of stuff,
Leader:
That we might give our hearts only to that which is worthy,
People:
Love of you,
Leader:
Service to those in need,
People:
Neighbors and friends,
Leader:
Lovers and children,
People:
And whatever else is of you,
Leader:
That our lives might count,
People:
Rather than be wasted on things of little value.
Leader:
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

Option two.
Leader:
Father, we ask with hearts
People:
Tainted with selfishness,
Leader:
And we seek after things
People:
That you have declared unimportant,
Leader:
And we have knocked
People:
On all the wrong doors.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And turn our hearts to you
Leader:
So that all our asking,
People:
And seeking,
Leader:
And knocking,
People:
Will be in pursuit of the things of God.
Leader:
We ask it in Jesus' name.
People:
Amen.

Another option. This one deals with the lordship of Jesus.
Leader:
Jesus Christ is Lord.
People:
Ahh -- excuse me.
Leader:
Yes.
People:
That word "Lord" isn't very popular today.
Leader:
True. What's your point?
People:
Well, what does it mean?
Leader:
Lord?
People:
Yes.
Leader:
It means master, leader, king.
People:
Really?
Leader:
Yes. When we say Jesus is Lord we mean he is our Master.
People:
So you follow him?
Leader:
Yes.
People:
Then what about all the gossip I hear from you?
Leader:
Ahh, well, ahh ...
People:
And you do sometimes tell little fibs.
Leader:
Well, yeah, but ...
People:
And your thought-life is kind of dark.
Leader:
I'm working on it.
People:
And then there is your ...
Leader:
I get the point. Pray with me -- Father, forgive us ...


Assurance Of Pardon
There is good news and bad news this morning. The good news is that forgiveness is available and freely given. We can drink at that fountain any time we desire to.

The bad news is that transformation; getting free of the stuff of this world and attaining the abundant life God wills for us requires that we surrender ourselves and our agendas and our things all to him.

So, rejoice, you are forgiven! But don't stop there, move on, lay yourself down on the altar of God's will for you. It is only then that the real joy of being a Christian will be yours.


Prayer Of Dedication
Introduction to the prayer:

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Let us pray: Lord, we are the rich young ruler. We have much to lose in following you. Reveal to us in our hearts this morning that in truth, without following you, we will ultimately lose everything. Turn us to you, completely.


Pastoral Prayer
This will be a guided imagery prayer.
Introduction to the prayer:

In the moment of silence to come this morning, see the face of Jesus. Picture him filling you up with whatever you need: power, comfort, peace, joy, energy, love, forgiveness, whatever it be -- see him just pouring it into you.

Pray with me: Lord -- just a moment in time, that's all we have here, but you can make this moment one of significance. In this moment, as we give ourselves back to you, fill us, overflow us with love, and truth, and power, and forgiveness, and life. As we see you in our mind's eye this morning -- fill us.

(Pause here)


We also ask this morning that you fill those we have named in our time of sharing joys and concerns. Fill them with what they need as well. Amen.


Benediction
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."


Hymns

Are Ye Able?

Come All Christians Be Committed

Footsteps Of Jesus

I Gave My Life For Thee

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

I'll Go Where You Want Me To, God

I'll Live For Him

Jesus Calls Us

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Jesus, Master, Whose I Am

Heart And Mind, Possessions, Lord

I Am Thine, O Lord

Living For Jesus

Lord, I Am Thine, Entirely Thine

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone

My Life, Dear Lord, I Give To Thee

O Jesus, I Have Promised

Once To Every Man And Nation

Take My Life And Let it Be

Where He Leads Me

Wholly Thine


Contemporary Choruses

I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever, Martin Smith

I Will Offer Up My Life

Light My Fire

Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Paul Baloche

We Will Fly


Other Music

I Will Listen, Twila Paris
I will listen to God and follow.


Creative Ideas
For stewardship season.

This little skit might be used as a stand-alone -- a sermon illustration -- a children's sermon -- or a call to the offering.
As the skit begins a loud person -- dressed as a clown -- enters down the center aisle. This person is pushing a wheelbarrow full of money. He or she makes a point of talking to members of the congregation about the money. The actor should ham it up -- saying things like:
"O how rich I am!"
"Check me out -- a wheelbarrow full of money."
"Hey buddy -- would you like some -- aaahhh -- I don't think so!"
"What will I do with all my money today?"

As the clown wheels down the aisle she notices the offering baskets sitting out in a prominent place. She says loudly something like the following:
"I think I will be generous today and give a lot of money to the church."

As the money is placed in the basket she continues,
"Yes, I am so generous -- look how much I am giving." (Shows the congregation)
"Did you give this much, buddy? I don't think so. I should get some kind of award for this."

As she takes her wheelbarrow, still quite full of money, and leaves, she should be patting herself on the back with words like:
"My, O my, I am a generous soul ain't I? God is gonna be happy with me today ..."

After she is gone, a quiet woman enters and walks up to the offering basket. She says:
"O, I wish I could give as much as that rich woman, but all I have is this penny."

She looks around guiltily and drops her penny in and hurries off.

Then the narrator or preacher ends the little skit with these words:
"Jesus -- upon seeing the rich offer their tithes and watching a poor woman place the little she had in the basket -- asked his disciples: 'Who has given more, this widow, or the rich?' "
"I tell you," he said, "she has given more, for they -- out of their abundance -- gave a small portion, but she, having nothing -- gave all she had."

You should go and do likewise.