"The Resurrection and Our Great Salvation"

Call to Worship (Psalm 150)

Praise the Lord! Praise God in the sanctuary. Praise God in the vault of heaven. Praise God in the earth and skies. Sing praises to the Lord. Shout and sing praises to God. We have witnessed God’s mighty acts. We have seen the Lord’s greatness. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Let everything that draws breath praise the Lord!

Opening Prayer

Breathe the breath of new life into us, O Lord, that we may fully feel the power of your love and the awesome glory of the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ. Prepare us to receive your blessing and then to go from this place to be a blessing to others in your name.

Invitation to the Offering (Psalm 150, John 20, Acts 5, Revelation 1)

What must be done to convince us of God’s unending love? What further proof do we need? We have only to look around us to see what the Lord has done. We have only to look to the One who poured out his life for us, who offered himself in our place, and whose Spirit casts out all doubt and fear. What can we offer in response? Only our very selves, and the fruit of our lives and labor.

Offering Prayer (Psalm 150, John 20)

In our songs and in our words, we give praise to you, Lord. In our worship, study, and service, we bless you. Loving God, you breathe life into our mortal bodies; you complete us and fill our every need. For all that you have done; for all that you have given to us, we worship you. Beautiful savior, with all that we are, and with all that we have, we offer you our thanks and praise. Amen.

Prayer (Acts 5, John 20)

We hear your calling, Lord; how can we keep from singing? How can we keep our lips from proclaiming the good news, that Jesus Christ is risen, bringing healing and forgiveness to all? From the life in his blood he has freed us, making us a royal priesthood. Whether we have seen or believe without seeing, we have found life in his name. In Christ’s name, we give thanks and praise. Amen!

Hebrews 7:23-28 New International Version

“23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” New International Version 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Benediction (Acts 5, John 20, Revelation 1)

Peace to you from the One who is and was, and is to come. Grace and peace to you from the One who loves us and frees us, the One who gives us repentance and forgiveness. As God sent Jesus into the world, so the Spirit now sends us to continue God’s holy work.Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.