Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.
*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering
THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS - The Cleansing
CALL TO WORSHIP
Everything in this earth is constantly pouring out praise to God. Creation sings to his glory and today we want to join that chorus of praise.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth
(Psalm 8)
Song: Behold our God
Song: Come Thou Fount
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've just sung that we're prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love. And that's something that's true of all of us. God tells us in his word that we've worshipped and served created things rather than him, our creator God. The truth is that if we look to these things to give us meaning, hope and happiness, they will ultimately fail us. God himself, is the only one who can provide us with these things. But we forget this and end up creating idols in our hearts, that take our worship and attention away from God. Every week at Redeemer, we take a moment to confess to God together, let's pray these words now, asking that God would direct our worship back to him.
Merciful God, we confess that in our longing, we have worshipped the idols of this world instead of worshipping you, the one true God. We realise the sin in our own hearts and ask for your forgiveness and mercy. In your grace, would you direct our eyes back to you.
God tells us in His word that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Song: Lead us Back
PASSING OF THE PEACE
TESTIMONY
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached to us this week from Matthew 21:12-17 looking at Jesus as he cleanses the temple. Click here to listen to that sermon.
COMMUNION
Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.
POST COMMUNION READING
Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
Song: Nothing but the Blood
Song: See His Love
COMMITMENT READING
When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.
He washed us by the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(Titus 3:4-7)
Song: Be Thou My Vision
BENEDICTION
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!
(Jude 24-25)
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.