Alternative Approach #1

Five Services Spaced Throughout the Year

Service 1: Follow Me

A. Scripture

Any of a number of texts in which Jesus calls disciples to “follow me.”

Matthew 4:18-22 and parallels
Matthew 8:18-22 and parallels
Matthew 9:9-13 and parallels
Matthew 28:18-20.

It is important for the congregation to grasp, at the beginning of this journey of discipleship, that making disciples—those who are committed to following Jesus—is the main task of the church. Making disciples is not only the mission of the church across the seas, or across town, but the vital work of the church in every congregation.

B. Service Planning

The suggestions will follow the classical structure of worship using six movements, Gathering, Confession, Word, Prayer, Sacrament, and Sending. These apply whether a congregation worships in a more “traditional” or more “contemporary” manner. Most of the suggestions for prayers, litanies and other words are from The Worship Sourcebook (TWS). Because of copyright permission issues, we are not able to reproduce them here. For each numbered suggestion below, the first number refers to the page, the second to the entry on that page.

Gathering
TWS 65.15
TWS 68.26

Hymns and Songs
“Cry of My Heart” SNC 81
“Gather Us In” SNC 8
“Knowing You” All the Best Songs (Lilenas, 2001), 244
“Lord God Almighty” SNC 9
“The Lord My Shepherd” PsH 23
“We Come, O Christ, to You” PsH 238
“Shout to the Lord” SNC 223

Confession and Assurance
TWS 90.12
TWS 121.31
TWS 501.2
TWS 565.16

Hymns and Songs
“Good to Me” SNC 71
“Lead Me, Guide Me” PsH 544
“When We Walk With the Lord” PsH 548
“Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult” PsH 553
“O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee” PsH 573
“Shine On Me SNC 51
“Change My Heart, O God” SNC 56
“Give Me a Clean Heart” SNC 64
“Listen, God Is Calling” SNC 65

Word
TWS 144.32
TWS 63.27
TWS 171.46

Hymns and Songs
“More Like You” by Lincoln Brewster © 2002 Praise! Music
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” PsH 493
“This Holy Covenant Was Made” SNC 173
“Jesus Calls Us, O’er the Tumult” PsH 553
“Will You Come and Follow Me” SNC 267
“Here I Am, Lord” SNC 268
“You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” SNC 269

Prayer
The Discipleship Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
      most gentle example,
      most perfect model,
      most patient guide
      faultless standard of faithfulness,
Grant that I may so know you,
      so love you,
      so walk in your steps,
      that you also walk in mine,
Compassionate Master;
Patient long-suffering Lord,
      Forgive my sins,
      cover my faults,
      cleanse my heart,
      plant your humility,
      pull up the weeds of pride,
      root out vengeance,
      cultivate your love in me.
Because you are my light—
      shine on me.
Because you are my life—
      live in me.
Because you are my joy—
      rejoice in me.
Because I am your dwelling place—
      take possession of me.
Because I am your instrument—
      make me holy and ready for your use.
Rabbi and Master,
Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior,
      Mold me and teach me
      that I may be your disciple.
      Serving you now and always in the world you died to save,
      looking forward to the new creation that will dawn at your return.
      Amen.

Hymns and Songs
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” SNC 203
“Take, O Take Me as I Am” SNC 215

Sacrament
TWS 316.7
Hymns and Songs
“As Your Family, Lord” SNC 246
“As We Gather at Your Table” SNC 245
“Remembering with Love and Hope” SNC 249
“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” SNC 258
“We Are People on a Journey” SNC 260
“As We Walk Beside You” PsH 299
“Praise the Lord, Rise Up Rejoicing” PsH 313

Sending
TWS 591.1
TWS 352.1
TWS 352.2
TWS 352.3
TWS 352.4
TWS 363.10

Hymns and Songs
“He Leadeth Me” SWM 198
“May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” PsH 291
“Thuma Mina” SNC 280
“Trust and Obey” PsH 548
“We Are Marching in the Light of God” SNC 293
“Go to the World” SNC 294
“Song of Hope” SNC 282

Service 2: Called

A. Scripture

Any of a number of texts that feature Jesus, or God’s call.

John 15:9-17 (“You did not choose (call) me, but I chose you. . . .”
Luke 6:12-15 or Matthew 10:1-4 (Here the focus might be on the names and descriptions of the disciples. Some were related as family. There was a tax collector (collaborator), a zealot (revolutionary), and a traitor. (See Fredrick Dale Brunner’s treatment of the text in The Christbook.)

B. Service Planning

Gathering
TWS 57.4
TWS 68.27
TWS 77.62
TWS 635.13

Hymns and Songs
“Behold, What Manner of Love” SWM 237
“Every Move I Make” SWM 18
“Jesus Christ Is with Us” SWM 7
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” SWM 39
“Cry of My Heart” SNC 81
“Gather Us In” SNC 8
“Knowing You” All the Best Songs (Llienas, 2001)
“Lord God Almighty” SNC 9
“The Lord My Shepherd” PsH 23
“We Come, O Christ, to You” PsH 238
“Shout to the Lord” SNC 223

Confession and Assurance
TWS 92.20
TWS 93.21
TWS 121.31

Hymns and Songs
“Good to Me” SNC 71
“Lead Me, Guide Me” PsH 544
“When We Walk with the Lord” PsH 548
“Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult” PsH 553
“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” PsH 573
“Shine on Me” SNC 51
“Change My Heart, O God” SNC 56
“Give Me a Clean Heart” SNC 64
“Listen, God Is Calling” SNC 65

Word
TWS 157.15
Q. But why are you called a Christian?
A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ
   and so I share in his anointing.
      I am anointed
      to confess his name,
      to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,^4
      to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil
      in this life,
      and afterward to reign with Christ
      over all creation
      for all eternity.
—from Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 32

The church is a gathering of forgiven sinners,
called to be holy, dedicated to service.
Saved by the patient grace of God, we deal patiently with others.
Knowing our own weaknesses and failures,
we bring good news to all sinners
with understanding of their condition, and with hope in God.
We grieve that the church, which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope,
and spans all time, place, race, and language,
has become a broken communion in a broken world.
When we struggle for the purity of the church
and for the righteousness God demands,
we pray for saintly courage.
When our pride or blindness blocks
the unity of God’s household, we seek forgiveness.
We marvel that the Lord gathers the broken pieces
to do his work, and that he blesses us still
with joy, new members, and surprising evidences of unity.
We commit ourselves to seeking and expressing
the oneness of all who follow Jesus.
—Our World Belongs to God, st. 42-43

Hymns and Songs
“More Like You” by Lincoln Brewster © 2002 Praise! Music.
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” PsH 493
“This Holy Covenant Was Made” SNC 173
“Jesus Calls Us, O’er the Tumult” PsH 553
“Will You Come and Follow Me” SNC 267
“Here I Am, Lord” SNC 268
“You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” SNC 269
“I Offer My Life” SNC 218

Prayer
TWS 217.26
TWS 414.11
TWS 590.3

The Discipleship Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
            most gentle example,
            most perfect model,
            most patient guide
            faultless standard of faithfulness,
Grant that I may so know you,
            so love you,
            so walk in your steps
            that you also walk in mine,
Compassionate Master;
Patient long-suffering Lord,
            forgive my sins,
            cover my faults,
            cleanse my heart,
            plant your humility,
            pull up the weeds of pride,
            root out vengeance,
            cultivate your love in me.
Because you are my light—
            shine on me.
Because you are my life—
            live in me.
Because you are my joy—
            rejoice in me.
Because I am your dwelling place—
            take possession of me.
Because I am your instrument—
            make me holy and ready for your use.
Rabbi and Master,
Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior
            mold me and teach me
            that I may be your disciple.
            Serving you now and always in the world you died to save,
            looking forward to the new creationthat will dawn at your return.
            Amen.

Hymns and Songs
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” SNC 203
“Take, O Take Me as I Am” SNC 215

Sacrament
TWS 255.4
TWS 291.5
TWS 316.7
TWS 315.6

Hymns and Songs
“As Your Family, Lord” SNC 246
“As We Gather At Your Table” SNC 245
“Remembering with Love and Hope” SNC 249
“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” SNC 258
“We Are People on a Journey” SNC 260
“As We Walk Beside You” PsH 299
“Praise the Lord, Rise Up Rejoicing” PsH 313

Sending
TWS 516.7
TWS 591.1
TWS 352.1
TWS 352.2
TWS 352.3
TWS 352.4
TWS 363.10

Hymns and Songs
“Bring Forth the Kingdom” SWM 236, SNC 123
“Here I Am, Lord” SNC 268
“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” SNC 77
“May the Mind of Christ My Savior” PsH 291
“Oh, I Know the Lord” PsH 367
“The Servant Song” SNC 277
“He Leadeth Me” SWM 198
“May the Mind of Christ My Savior” PsH 291
“Thuma Mina” SNC 280
“Trust and Obey” PsH 548
“Will You Come and Follow Me” SNC 267
“We Are Marching in the Light of God” SNC 293
“Go to the World” SNC 294
“Song of Hope” SNC 282

Service 3: Created

A. Scripture

The major theme of this service is that we have been created and recreated by God for his service as disciples of Jesus Christ. Since baptism is the sign and seal of this recreating work of God by his Holy Spirit, and baptism is so closely tied to Jesus’ Great Commission, this would be a good time to focus on the meaning of baptism in the lives of Christians.

Matthew 3:13-17. Baptism bookends this gospel. Jesus’ ministry begins with his baptism by John, and at the end he gives his “great commission” in which the first act of making disciples is baptizing them. (See the helpful comments of Fredrick Dale Brunner in The Christbook.) Disciples are recreated in their baptism to receive a new identity, the same one which was given to Jesus at his baptism—“You are my beloved . . .”
Colossians 2:6-12
Romans 6:1-10

B. Service Planning

The suggestions will follow the classical structure of worship, using six movements, Gathering, Confession, Word, Prayer, Sacrament, and Sending. These apply whether a congregation worships in a more “traditional” or more “contemporary” manner. Most of the suggestions for prayers, litanies and other words are from The Worship Sourcebook (TWS). Because of copyright permission issues, we are not able to reproduce them here. For each numbered suggestion below, the first number refers to the page, the second to the entry on that page.

Gathering
TWS 521.5
TWS 521.1
TWS 522.2
TWS 523.6
TWS 523.7

Hymns and Songs
“Blessed Assurance” PsH 490
“Refiner’s Fire” All the Best Songs (Lilenas, 2001), 157
“Baptized in Water” PsH 269
“We Know That Christ Is Raised” PsH 271
“Come to the Water” SNC 234
“Crashing Waters of Creation” SNC 237
“Sing a New Creation” SNC 241

Confession
TWS 130.8
TWS 524.1
TWS 524.3
TWS 525.1
TWS 525.2

Hymns and Songs
“And Can It Be” PsH 267
“Change My Heart, O God” SNC 56
“Create in Me a Clean Heart” SNC 49
“Give Me a Clean Heart” SNC 64
“This Is How We Know” SWM 127
“Come to the Water” SNC 234
“Surely It Is God Who Saves Me” SNC 74
“We Cannot Measure How You Heal” SNC 69

Word
I am called Christian
because by faith I am a member of Christ
and so I share in his anointing.
I am anointed
to confess his name,
to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,
to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil
in this life,
and afterward to reign with Christ
over all creation
for all eternity.
We call him “our Lord”
because—
not with gold or silver,
but with his precious blood—
he has set us free
from sin and from the tyranny of the devil,
and has bought us,
body and soul,
to be his very own.
—from Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A’s 32, 34

Hymns and Songs
“Baptized in Water” PsH 269
“We Know That Christ Is Raised” – PsH 271
“Come to the Water” SNC 234
“Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” PsH 465
“Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!” SNC 44
“Jesus Is Our King” SNC 18

Prayer
TWS 525.1
TWS 526.3

Hymns and Songs
“Dwell in Me, O Blessed Spirit” PsH 427
“Holiness” by Scott Underwood, © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing

Sacrament
TWS 255.4
TWS 291.5
TWS 528.1
TWS 528.1
TWS 529.2

Hymns and Songs
“How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sound” PsH 487
“Jesus, Name Above All Names” SNC 114
“You Have Put on Christ” SNC 244
“Remembering with Love and Hope” SNC 249
“Table of Plenty” SNC 247
“As Your Family, Lord” SNC 246

Sending
TWS 516.7
TWS 529.1
TWS 529.1

Hymns and Songs
“Fill Thou My Life” PsH 547
“I Offer My Life” SNC 218
“Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” PsH 264
“Take, O Take Me As I Am” SWM 227
“Sing! A New Creation” SNC 241
“O Christ the Great Foundation” 177
“Go, My Children, with My Blessing” SNC 284

Service 4: Crafted

A. Scripture

The major theme of this service is that disciples of Jesus Christ are uniquely crafted by God for service. While there are many ways in which we are crafted by God, from the way we’re wired in creation to the unique experiences of our lives, this is a good opportunity to focus on the general idea that God made us for his service. One text that wonderfully highlights that crafting is Ephesians 2:10. Others you might consider include the following:

1 Corinthians 12:1-31 (or smaller sections)
Romans 12:3-8
John 15:1-8

B. Service Planning

The suggestions will follow the classical structure of worship, using six movements, Gathering, Confession, Word, Prayer, Sacrament, and Sending. These apply whether a congregation worships in a more “traditional” or more “contemporary” manner. Most of the suggestions for prayers, litanies and other words are from The Worship Sourcebook (TWS). Because of copyright permission issues, we are not able to reproduce them here. For each numbered suggestion below, first number refers to the page, the second the entry on that page.

Gathering
TWS 473.23
TWS 74.52
TWS 65.12

Hymns and Songs
“Cry of My Heart” SNC 81
“Gather Us In” SNC 8
“We Come, O Christ, to You” PsH 238
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” PsH 253
“Be Still, for the Presence” SNC 11
“Lord Most High” SNC 47

Confession and Assurance
TWS 94.25
TWS 98.35
TWS 129.7
TWS 121.31

Hymns and Songs
“Be Still, for the Presence” SNC 11
“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” PsH 287
“Lead Me, Guide Me” PsH 544
“When We Walk With the Lord” PsH 548
“Good to Me” SNC 71
“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” PsH 573
“Shine on M” SNC 51
“Change My Heart, O God” SNC 56
“Give Me a Clean Heart” SNC 64
“Listen, God Is Calling” SNC 65

Word
TWS 144.32
TWS 171.46

Hymns and Songs
“More Like You” by Lincoln Brewster © 2002 Praise! Music.
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” PsH 568
“This Holy Covenant Was Made” SNC 173
“Jesus Calls Us, O’er the Tumult” PsH 553
“Will You Come and Follow Me” SNC 267
“Here I Am, Lord” SNC 268
“You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” SNC 269
“If You and I Believe in Christ” SNC 274
“We Are Members of Christ’s Body” SNC 178
“Take Us As We Are, O God” SNC 125

Prayer
The Discipleship Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
      most gentle example,
      most perfect model,
      most patient guide,
      faultless standard of faithfulness,
Grant that I may so know you,
      so love you,
      so walk in your steps
      that you also walk in mine,
Compassionate Master;
patient long-suffering Lord,
      forgive my sins,
      cover my faults,
      cleanse my heart,
      plant your humility,
      pull up the weeds of pride,
      root out vengeance,
      cultivate your love in me.
Because you are my light—
      shine on me.
Because you are my life—
      live in me.
Because you are my joy—
      rejoice in me.
Because I am your dwelling place—
      take possession of me.
Because I am your instrument—
      make me holy and ready for your use.
Rabbi and Master,
Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior,
      Mold me and teach me
      that I may be your disciple.
      Serving you now and always in the world you died to save
      looking forward to the new creation that will dawn at your return.
      Amen.

TWS 190.4
TWS 244.19
TWS 245.26

Hymns and Songs
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” SNC 203
“Take, O Take Me as I Am” SNC 215

Sacrament
TWS 316.7
TWS 315.6

Hymns and Songs
“As Your Family, Lord” SNC 246
“As We Gather at Your Table” SNC 245
“Remembering with Love and Hope” SNC 249
“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” SNC 258
“We Are People on a Journey” SNC 260
“As We Walk Beside You” PsH 299
“Praise the Lord, Rise Up Rejoicing” PsH 313

Sending
TWS 358.41
TWS 359.45
TWS 352.2
TWS 352.3
TWS 363.10

Hymns and Songs
“He Leadeth Me” SWM 198
“May the Mind of Christ My Savior” PsH 291
“Thuma Mina” SNC 280
“Trust and Obey” PsH 548
“Will You Come and Follow Me” SNC 267
“We Are Marching in the Light of God” SNC 293
“Go to the World” SNC 294
“Song of Hope” SNC 282
“Bring Forth the Kingdom” SNC 123
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” PsH 568

Service 5: Commissioned

A. Scripture

Acts 1:1-8. Disciples are commissioned to be Christ’s witnesses. Work out some of the ramifications of that witness in daily life. What are our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth?
Romans 12:1-2. This important text lays out the breadth of our commission as disciples, and the transformation of heart and life it requires.
Matthew 28:18-20. You may wish to return to this foundational text as the year comes to an end. This time the focus can be on each disciple making disciples, and the ways we can imagine that happening in our lives and our churches.

B. Service Planning

Gathering
TWS 523.5
TWS 63.7
TWS 71.39
TWS 73.47

Hymns and Songs
“We Are One in the Spirit” by Peter Scholtes, © Copyright 1966, F.E.L. Publications
“Psalm 95: Come, Worship God” SNC 25
“Jesus Is Our King” SNC 18
“Gather Us In” SNC 8
“Knowing You” All the Best Songs (Lilenas, 2001), 244
“God, You Call Us to This Place” SNC 14
“Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns” PsH 539
“Shout to the Lord” SNC 223

Confession and Assurance
TWS 92.20
TWS 753.1
TWS 565.16

Hymns and Songs
“Good to Me” SNC 71
“When We Walk with the Lord” PsH 548
“Cry of My Heart” SNC 81
“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” PsH 573
“Shine on Me” SNC 51
“Change My Heart, O God” SNC 56
“Give Me a Clean Heart” SNC 64
“Listen, God Is Calling” SNC 65
“I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light” PsH 77

Word
TWS 144.32
TWS 143.27
TWS 166.35
TWS 171.46

Hymns and Songs
“More Like You” by Lincoln Brewster © 2002 Praise! Music
“You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” SNC 269
“Lord, Speak to Me” PsH 528
“Seek Ye First” PsH 209
“Church of God, Elect and Glorious” PsH 533
“Through All the World” SNC 279
“Christian Hearts in Love United” PsH 513
“I Offer My Life” SNC 218

Prayer
The Discipleship Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
      most gentle example,
      most perfect model,
      most patient guide,
      faultless standard of faithfulness,
Grant that I may so know you,
      so love you,
      so walk in your steps
      that you also walk in mine,
Compassionate Master;
patient long-suffering Lord,
      Forgive my sins,
      cover my faults,
      cleanse my heart,
      plant your humility,
      pull up the weeds of pride,
      root out vengeance,
      cultivate your love in me.
Because you are my light—
      shine on me.
Because you are my life—
      live in me.
Because you are my joy—
      rejoice in me.
Because I am your dwelling place—
      take possession of me.
Because I am your instrument—
      make me holy and ready for your use.
Rabbi and Master,
Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior
      Mold me and teach me
      that I may be your disciple.
      Serving you now and always in the world you died to save,
      looking forward to the new creation that will dawn at your return.
      Amen.

TWS 574.8

Hymns and Songs
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” SNC 203
“Take, O Take Me as I Am” SNC 215
“Lord, Make Us Servants” SNC 204
“Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love” PsH 601

Sacrament
TWS 316.7

Sending
TWS 358.41
TWS 517.2
TWS 710.5
TWS 363.10

Hymns and Songs
“Christ Is the World’s True Light” PsH 600
“My Friends, May You Grow in Grace” SNC 288
“May the Mind of Chris, My Savior” PsH 291
“Thuma Mina” SNC 280
“Go, My Children, with My Blessing” SNC 284
“Will You Come and Follow Me” SNC 267
“We Are Marching in the Light of God” SNC 293
“Go to the World” SNC 294
“Song of Hope” SNC 282
“Lord of All Hopefulness” PsH 558