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Mini-Worship
Nov. 12-17, 2024
1. Take a deep breath and center yourself
2. Enter the presence of the Lord
O send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.
3. Confession
My Jesus and my Savior, thank you for making a way for me to go back to God the Father and to give me the Holy Spirit. Your steadfast love continues for me. You have sustained me and open goodness on my life path. I simply want to praise you and thank you. Please draw me near to you and know you more and love you deeper. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
4. Scripture reading
Mark 5:1-20
1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the swine; let us enter them." 13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. 14The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19But Jesus refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you." 20And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
5. Thoughts to ponder
For us in the 21st century, we have to think of a question: why was this passage in Mark preserved and passed down through the church fathers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Are there unclean spirits in our world? What does this passage say to us today?
The passage invited us to ask: What was that power changing that mad man? Indeed, that was the kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. In most epistles, this power was described as the power of the Gospel. Paul used the “law of the Spirit of life” to summarize that power.
Worship is to face to face with God. We enter the presence of God in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus gently cleanses us, resets our minds, hearts, and imparts energy of life. We experience a glorious liberty. We can be free from chains and fretters of pollution and cares of this world. We are renewed and preserved. Look at that mad person in Scripture. Jesus’ power penetrated his soul and physical body. The power from Jesus revived this person, restored him to a right mind, right emotions, right social and relational life. He quietly sat in front of Jesus and wore clothes. He was changed. He was transformed. He had a right mind. He re-entered into people crowd with compassion and with purpose.
Can you think any other place to find a source of life to our everyday living? The faith community is a gift of God to mankind in the world before Jesus returns. The time with God is essential to our living in the world. When we worship God, we return to God, the Lord of Life. We'll find rest, find life to live, and find a “norm.” We are ready to move on.
6. Prayer suggestions
Ask yourself: how much time you have with God- alone and in community worship service? Do you really enter the presence of God and feel different after it? Ask God to help you to experience the joy, liberty and transformation in worshipping Him.
Dear God, I desire to spend time with you, in my personal time and in believers’ community. I long to be touched by your Spirit. Please be gracious to me. Strip away the unclean spirits from the world. Transform me. Reorganize my soul and my mind. Clear my vision. Guide and lead me on this earth journey. I’ll go from strength to strength. In Jesus’ name.
7. Benedictions
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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