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Mini-Worship
September 12-17, 2022
1. Take a deep breath and center yourself
2. Enter the presence of the Lord
Psalm 117
(M) Praise the LORD, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
(W) For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
(All) Praise the LORD!
4. Adoration prayer
Everlasting God, thanks, you are here and today. Your steadfast love and faithfulness provide a stability in our everchanging world. We want to see you. We want to look up to you. In your love and beauty, we are transformed to better. Sins are forgiven. Burdens are cast out. Energy level is renewed. Hope for tomorrow is given. O, God, I praise you. You are so good. In Christ Jesus’ name. Amen.
5. Confession
O most loving and merciful God, you have searched me and known me. Nothing of I is hidden from you. Jesus, I come to you just as I am. At the foot of your cross, please receive me, renew me, reorganize me, reconcile me, and reset me. I desire to move on with newness in a new week. Guide and lead me. Keep me and bless me as I go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
6. Scripture reading
Luke 9:18-27 (NIV)
18Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19They answered, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen." 20He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." 21He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." 23Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 26Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
7. Thoughts to share
In Jesus’ time, people confused about who Jesus was. There were many guesses. Very few truly grasped who he was. During those years he grew and carried out his mission, Jesus faced a challenge between a “real I” and the “I” defined by others.
Others said, you are John the Baptist. You are Elijah. You are a prophet.
Jesus said about himself: I am I AM. I am Christ. I am the suffering servant to come.
A real self knows his/her own life purpose and mission. He/She is not afraid to pursue and to live out his/her potential. He/She may experience misunderstanding, judgment, doubt and disbelief. But He/She also trusts in that God who gives him/her the unique life vision to guide him/her and to complete him/her.
If you are struggled with who you are, you are not alone. Jesus knew that struggle. He understands it. He can help. You can ask God to show what your life mission and life vision are. You can ask God to guide you all the way and to complete your dream. Along the way, you can believe in yourself. Be patient. Be perseverant. Be persistent.
Remember, in order to know who I am, we must include God’s understanding of 'I' in the knowledge about my self. In His creation, he always said, 'that is good'. Do you believe that you are good? You are marvelous? You are wonderful? 'Good' never meant perfect. God knew from beginning that we were short of his glory, which was called sin. He let Jesus to complete us and to remake a new “I”. So you see, we must adopt God’s understanding of 'I' into the knowledge about our self-understanding. Do you want to follow Jesus? Adopt His knowledge about yourself.
8. Prayer suggestions
Dear God, you understand the struggle of 'who I am' in this world. I give you thanks for it. I am the precious one whom you have paid the price to redeem. I believe that I am good. I am sure that you have a life mission and purpose for me. I am waiting upon you to discover it. I trust you to guide me and complete me. Also, help me to have a big heart and bright eyes to discern, to accept and to respect others’ real “selves.” In Jesus’s name.
9 Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
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