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Woship Resources 2009-2010 — Year C: Live Generously, Love Courageously
Return to Year C: 2009-2010
Resource Index
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner
Ordinary Time (Proper 25)
Scriptures: Joel 2:23–32: Psalm 65; II Timothy 4:6–8,
16–18; Luke 18:9–14; Alma 1:40; Doctrine and Covenants
83:17c
Building on the worship center from the last three weeks, add several items
representing the scripture from Luke (e.g., representation of the ten
commandments or “the law” and a cross) and/or illustrations by the children’s
Sunday school classes representing the parable.
Prelude
*Season of Song Select 2 or 3 of the following.
“Earth and All Stars” HS 49
“Praise Him, Praise Him” HS 68
“All Creatures of Our God and King” HS 72
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" NS 33
“Now Sing to Our God” NS 40
OR use the following songs from Integrity’s iWorship video series.
“Forever,” “You are Holy (Prince of Peace),” and “Here I Am to Worship”
found on iWorship DVD D, UPC/EAN: 000768234013.
Prayer for Peace
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
Leader: Be glad, O people of Zion.
People: Rejoice in the Lord!
Leader: I am the Lord, your God.
People: Rejoice in the Lord!
Leader: I will pour out My Spirit on all people.
People: Rejoice in the Lord!
Leader: Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream
dreams, your young men will see visions.
People: Rejoice in the Lord!
Leader: And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
All: Rejoice in the Lord!
—Joel 2:23–32 NIV adapted
*Song of Praise: “Rejoice in the Lord, Always” Worship & Rejoice 650
This is a campfire song. Lyrics can also be found at
www.higherpraise.com/Lyrics4/RejoiceInTheLord.hum. This song can
be sung in a round.
*Invocation
Consider using a “popcorn” prayer where the presider leads the
congregation in a directed prayer. The presider gives short introductory
statements that the people randomly complete. Suggested introductory
statements might include the following: “We praise you for…,” “Thank you
for…,” “Forgive us for…,” and “Help me to….”
Scripture Lesson: “Dwelling in the Word” Use Luke 18:9–14.
Have the scripture read two or three times by different people. The
intent of Dwelling in the Word is to allow the scripture to be heard in a
new way and to speak to the hearer/reader differently than perhaps ever
before. After several readings of the scripture, ask the congregation to
reflect on the following questions. Answers may be shared in small groups or
in the “popcorn” testimony time following Dwelling in the Word.
Questions for Consideration
1. What verse or phrase captures your attention in the scripture?
2. What is the scripture’s message of good news for you?
3. How can you share the message of this scripture with others?
Season of “Popcorn” Testimonies
Ask two or three people, preferably of varying ages and genders, to be
prepared to respond to one of the questions mentioned previously. Then, open
up sharing to anyone in the congregation. Sharing may be brief (a sentence
or two), in a similar fashion as the popcorn prayer.
Ministry of Music
OR“Lay Your Hands” NS 27
OR “We Would See Jesus” HS 217/218
Message
Based on Luke 18:9–14
Scripture for Confessional Reflection: Doctrine and Covenants 83:17c
Just as we ask our God for mercy, let us grant mercy, justice, and truth.
Let us share Christ’s peace.
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.
Base the offertory statement on Alma 1:40. After the offertory statement,
have the congregation read the following:
We impart to you, Lord, of our abundant gifts. Guide us in our
choices as we strive to follow and share with those of less abundance.
May our gifts be of comfort to the poor and needy, the sick and
afflicted. We pray, Lord, we will have the sight to see and the wisdom
to answer the needs of your people. Amen.
—Claudia Schooler in Prayers and Readings for
Worship, Vol. 2, Peter Judd, ed.
(Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 1996), 80.
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
*Hymn of Commitment: “Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly” HS 403
OR “Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing” SP 31
OR “We Have the Power to Share the Light” R-17
*Benediction
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Joel 2:23–32; Psalm 65; II Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18; Luke
18:9–14
Exploring the Scriptures
The first verse of this passage is most telling. It indicates to whom Jesus
is addressing the parable. We might call them self-righteous: they were
convinced of their own goodness and superiority over others they deemed less
worthy. Jesus has a lesson for them and for us.
Going up to the temple—the highest place in the city—to pray, was expected of
all Jews. In this story, both men were doing their duty. However, we quickly see
a great difference in their attitudes. Pharisees were known for the importance
with which they held obedience to the law, most specifically their
interpretation of what the law required. They prided themselves on how
completely they adhered to the law’s provisions. The Pharisee began by
expressing thanks that he was not like other people whom he saw as falling short
of the law’s requirements. Then he reeled off a couple of what are likely his
many accomplishments (fasting and tithing). So far, so good.
The story then moves quickly to the other pray-er, the tax collector, one who
was despised by his fellow Jews, because he worked for the occupying Romans. His
attitude stood in stark contrast to that of the Pharisee. The tax collector knew
he had done wrong and was immediately contrite. He distanced himself from the
Pharisee and assumed a humble posture, looking down. He pleaded for mercy and
claimed himself as a sinner. But what had he done that caused him to see the
need to confess? We are not told. Some think that tax collectors, as is inferred
in the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8), usually took more from the
people than they should and kept some for themselves.
Back to the Pharisee for a moment. He had obeyed the law and seemed to have
done no wrong. Yet, in verse 14 we are told that it was the tax collector, not
the Pharisee, who “went…home justified.” Typical of many of Jesus’ “reversal”
parables, we are told that the humble will be exalted and the self-exalted made
humble. But why?
One key to this parable, and a lesson for us today, may be in the way that
the Pharisee’s attitude and judgment of others separated him from them. Jesus’
ministry was all about including others, especially the marginalized. The
Pharisee’s attitude, on the other hand, was one of exclusion—despising all those
he thought did not live up to his standards. This parable counsels against
judging others as inferior, less spiritual, or further away from God than
ourselves. When we justify ourselves by boasting of our righteousness, we
actually move ourselves farther away from the justification that comes from
God’s grace and God’s righteousness. We are all advised to follow the lead of
the tax collector in this parable and humbly pray. In the words of today’s
theme: “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Central Ideas
1. Boasting of our accomplishments leads to arrogance and blindness to
our dependence on God.
2. Humility and confession express our dependence on God and our
connection to others.
3. Always seeing ourselves as sinners brings us closer to God and to each
other.
Questions for the Speaker
1. In which character of this parable do you see yourself most often?
2. When have you been prideful of your own obedience to what you think
God wants of you? How has this made you feel?
3. Do you consider yourself a sinner? How does such confession bring you
closer to God and to others?
4. How can you avoid being judgmental of others?
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