Follow me!

A call to worship.

Themes

Kingdom of Heaven • Risk • Investing • Incomparable value • Follow me • Treasure • Courage • Adventure

We haven’t been called to a set of lifestyle choices or to becoming nicer people but to a revolutionary kingdom requiring a commitment of everything we have.

We’ve calculated the risk of investing all for the Kingdom. We know it’s of unquestionable incomparable value and requires all we have.

---

Scripture reading

Matthew 13:44–46

---

This call to worship¹ is about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, about what it’s worth, about what we’d give for it.

Jesus said: 

The Kingdom of Heaven 
is like treasure
hidden in a field. 
When a man found it, 
he hid it again, 
and then in his joy 
went and sold all he had 
and bought that field.

---

Prayer

Father, here we are, again, 
gathered as Your assembled people 
to worship You 
and to once again 
practice together 
the conduct and customs 
of Your Kingdom.

At some point, 
in one way or another, 
You opened our eyes 
to discover Your Kingdom. 
And in that moment, Father, 
nothing else mattered. 
For it is worth
everything we have 
and everything we are. 

We’ve calculated the risk, Father,
of investing all 
for Your Kingdom. 
We know it’s of unquestionable incomparable value 
and requires all that we have.

We’ve heard You say, “Follow me!”

You have called our lifetimes into question, Father.
And You have reoriented us 
toward the ultimate treasure 
of Your Kingdom.

Father, help us again this morning, 
to see that You haven’t called us 
to a set of lifestyle choices, 
or to becoming nicer people, 
but to a revolutionary kingdom 
requiring a commitment 
of everything we have. 

Restore our courage this morning, Father. 
Not to cautiously avoid sin, 
but to courageously do your will.
To live as agents... in Your Kingdom
with boldness, 
adventure,  
fearlessness...
and with reckless abandon.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Your son, 
the One who calls us into Your Kingdom, 
and Who is here in our midst 
at this very moment, 
Amen

---

1. This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on March 7, 2021.