Though we are starting the chapter that deals with living into eternity, this week the focus is really on the foundations of our faith. Paul tells the Corinthians to hold firmly to the faith that they first heard, the good news of Jesus Christ. So, this week could be a week for creeds, for affirmations of faith, for recommitments to the discipleship path. Maybe it is time for an altar call or another way to give folks a chance to recommit themselves to Jesus or to the church. It would be good to remind ourselves of the fundamentals of our faith, the great commandment from Matthew 22:37-39, the great requirement from Micah 6:8, these basic statements of who we are as Christians and to reclaim them and recommit ourselves to walking in the way of Christ.

The Call to Worship

As followers of Jesus Christ,
living in this world-
which some seek to control,
but which others view with despair-
we declare with joy and trust:

Our world belongs to God!

From the beginning,
through all the crises of our times,
until his kingdom fully comes,

God keeps covenant forever.
Our world belongs to him!

God is King! Let the earth be glad!

Christ is Victor; his rule has begun. Hallelujah!

The Spirit is at work, renewing the creation. Praise the Lord!

Come, Lord Jesus! Our world belongs to you.

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/it-takes-grace-1-corinthians-15.

Responsive Benediction

(based on 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4 and Acts 10: 39-43)

Remember the Good News that we have received and proclaimed this day–
the Good News in which we stand and through which we are being saved.
We will remember and hold tightly to the truth we proclaim with joy!
Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures said that he would.
But the story doesn’t end in death.
Christ was raised on the third day, just as it was promised!
We are witnesses to this Good News,
and God commands that we do not keep this news to ourselves!
We will testify to all that Christ is Lord!

Written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet website. Reposted, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/04/responsive-benediction-easter.html.