This is part of the worship series
"The Lord, Our Shepherd"
Introduction
Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5
Palm Sunday | Maundy Thursday | Easter
Home Devotions
MAUNDY THURSDAY
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Scripture
Revelation 19:6–9
Sermon
“The Last Supper?”
Sermon Ideas
Psalm 23 refers to a table in the presence of enemies. From there the jump to Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper is obvious. Jesus’ past sacrifice has present relevance for each of us as persons who need to “feed” on Christ daily. The passage from Revelation turned the focus to the actual last supper spoken of in Scripture, and it directed us from remembrance of the past to the anticipation of the future that must be part of our celebration of the sacrament. This service primed us for the Easter morning as we anticipated the last words of Psalm 23: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!” Thus, the description of the sacrament as a past, present, and future feast was complete.
Song Suggestions
Note: We created a service of lessons and carols for this evening service, using a variety of Scriptures, Passion season music, and Lenten readings. The litanies we used for this service (as well as for Palm Sunday and Easter) came from the sourcebook Stages on the Way.
“A New Commandment” unknown
“Come to the Table” Michael Card
“There Is a Redeemer” Green
“We Will Dance” Ruis
Litany of Confession
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Reader 1: |
Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. —Jeremiah 50:17 |
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Reader 2: |
My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. —Jeremiah 50:6 |
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People: |
We all, like sheep, have gone astray. —Isaiah. 53:6 |
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Reader 1: |
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? —Luke 15:4 |
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Reader 2: |
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. —Matthew 9:36 |
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People: |
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. —Isaiah. 53:6 |
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Reader 1: |
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. —1 Peter 2:24 |
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Reader 2: |
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. —1 Peter 2:25 |
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People: |
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:6 |
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Lent—Fourth Sunday in Lent
