Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Obedience

Sermon Illustrations on Obedience

Opening Prayer Inspired by John 4

 We remember the woman at the well –

  her questions, her truth, her witness.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us,

  so we too may ask deeply,

  reveal ourselves deeply, and

  share your Good News deeply.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us,

  so we may worship you in spirit and truth.

Amen. 

Opening Prayer Inspired by John 4 © 2022 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com


Father,

as we go to our homes and our work this coming week

we ask you to send the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Open our ears- to hear what you are saying to us in the things that happen to us and in the people we meet.

Open our eyes- to see the needs of the people round us.

Open our hands- to do our work well, to help when help is needed.

Open our lips-to tell others the good news of Jesus, and bring comfort, happiness and laughter to other people.

Open our minds-to discover new truth about you and the world.

Open our hearts-to love you and our fellow men [and women] as you have loved us in Jesus.

Caryl Micklem, Ed., Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship, Erdmans Publishing Co, 1973.


Listen and Act

ONE:

Joseph is silent

He listens and acts

ALL:

Lord, help us listen

Still the noise around us and in us

Still the urgency and anxiety

Still the destruction and falsehood

Lord, help us listen

Break through with your still, small voice

with your calm and clarity

with your leading and light

You reveal the needed next steps

You provide all we need to make the journey

Lord, help us listen and help us act

Amen

Listen and Act © 2022 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com


(Prayers of Adoration)

Holy, Holy, Holy – Father, Son and Holy Spirit: three times holy: 

We love you – though we struggle to fully comprehend You. 

We follow you – though we don’t know where you might take us. 

We praise you – though we see only glimpses of your glory and wonder.  

We trust you – because You’re worthy of our belief, trust and faith. 

(Prayers of Confession)

Yet, we admit there are times our love, obedience,  

praise and trust leave much to be desired.  

Too often our love’s only a passing feeling and not a lasting action;  

we obey only when it’s convenient;  

our praise is limited to when things are going well  

and our trust is more in ourselves than in you.   

Forgive us, as in the quiet we tell only you  

what we’re too ashamed to say before anyone else.  (silence…

Richard Herman