Opening Worship Set
● The Lion and the Lamb
● King of Kings
● Thank You, Jesus for the Blood Applied
Welcome, Offering Introduction, and Prayer
Video – Scars by Storyloop (This video can play while the offering is being collected)
Explanation of Service: Jesus has scars because of His love for us. Tonight, we are going to envision everything that Jesus has done for us from a different perspective – the perspective of heaven. We sometimes sing The Lion and the Lamb. But how often
do we sing that song without thinking about where that imagery of Jesus comes from? All the time. So tonight, let’s consider the sacrifice of our Lord from a different viewpoint. In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John had a vision of Heaven, complete with the twenty four elders, worshiping angels, and people from every tribe, language, and ethnicity. Together, as we walk through this scripture, let’s imagine what it must have felt like to John to experience this scene of worship from around the throne of God.
The Apostle John writes…“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. There
was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?’” (Revelation 5:1-2)
The One who is seated on the throne is God the Father. In His right hand is a scroll with writing on both sides. The scroll represents God’s plan for the world and His ultimate plan for redemption. It is so important that it is sealed with seven seals so not just anyone can open it. Whoever opens it has to be someone special, someone important, someone worthy…
“But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.” (Revelation 5:3-4)
Right there in Heaven, the Apostle John broke down into tears because no one was able to open the scroll. He wasn’t simply crying over the scroll but what it represented. He was crying because no one was able to open and share God’s redemption plan.
People not being able to open the scroll demonstrates the inability of people to redeem themselves. Let’s face it. We are not worthy to redeem ourselves. Think about it, if no one can open the scroll and get to the plan of redemption, then who can possibly be
redeemed? No one.
Many of us have faced moments where our strength falters, our wisdom fails, and we finally realize our own limitations. In this scripture, we are invited to surrender our reliance on self and recognize our desperate need for a Savior. In the moments when we feel unworthy or overwhelmed by the complexities of life, remember that Jesus is the One who is worthy. He is the One who can open the scrolls of our lives, revealing purpose and fulfillment beyond our understanding and frankly, beyond our wildest dreams. No matter where we are right now, remember all He has done for us and that He will never fail nor leave us nor forsake us. We simply have to trust in God.
Song – Trust In God
Prayer – (something like this) – Lord, I trust in You. When I encounter limitations, help me to trust in Your wisdom and sovereignty. Please help me to always find the comfort and strength I need in knowing that Jesus is worthy and holds the answers and the key to all that is sealed before me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Lion and the Lamb scripture: “But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.” (Revelation 5:5-7)
Explanation: Why is it that John was able to stop weeping? Because Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the heir to King David’s throne, the Lamb that was slain, stepped into the scene. Remember we said that it would take someone really special to open the seals and
reveal God’s plan of redemption. It took Jesus, the only One who ever lived a totally sinless life. The One who became sin for us. The One who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. The One who Satan thought was dead, but
who instead defeated death, hell, and the grave.
The Lamb is Worthy Scripture: Jesus stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of God the Father. The
Bible says…. “When He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words: You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it, for You were slaughtered, and Your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And You have caused them to become a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10)
Explanation: Did you catch that? The scripture said that the blood of the Lamb, or Jesus, has paid the ransom for our souls. Because of that, we can spend eternity with Him, worshiping Him alongside the elders, the beings, and the angels, and a massive group of people from every tribe, nation, and language.
He Is Worthy Scripture: Then I looked again and heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne, and of the living beings and the elders. They sang in a mighty chorus, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ (Revelation 5:11-12)
Spoken – Stand and say those words with me…
Speak in Unison: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Explanation: Just like in the Apostle John’s day, there’s so much happening in today’s world, so much stuff that causes us to shake our heads in disbelief. We see the sin of the world around us and then we look at our own sin, and we realize that without Jesus, the one who died for us, the one who is worthy to open the scroll revealing God’s salvation plan, we are all doomed. Let’s thank the Lord for Jesus right now as we sing…
Is He Worthy – by Andrew Peterson (Cece Winan version)
Decision Time/Communion – Reprise of Thank You Jesus For the Blood Applied
Prayer of Blessing and Closing
*This Good Friday service was initially created for Celebration Church in New Orleans
**Image courtesy of Jack Prommel
JohnJFrady.com 