Reflect (July 9, 2017)

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


EXODUS - Covenant Life and Going Home

CALL TO WORSHIP

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

(Psalm 95)

Song: Rejoice 

Song: Come Praise and Glorify

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Every time we are reminded of God's greatness, we see how far we are from him. We are quick to find our identity in so many places, other than him. Yet the truth of the gospel is that our identity has been transformed by Jesus. Hear these words of assurance to us now from 1 Peter:

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.

(1 Peter 2:9-10)

Song: Grace Alone 

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us from Exodus 21-31 looking at how God establishes a new people, a new presence and new priesthood. 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: Jesus Paid it All 

SongMighty to Save

COMMITMENT READING

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

Song: Cornerstone

BENEDICTION

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.

Prepare (July 9, 2017)

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing


EXODUS - Covenant Life and Going Home

SERMON

As Exodus is a big book we won’t read all of the Bible text in our Sunday gathering. Each week we will give you the full section of Exodus here on the blog for you to read in your own time. This is a great way to prepare your heart to hear from God’s word on a Sunday. This week Tom Thrower will be preaching to us from Exodus 21-31. 

LITURGY

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

MUSIC

  • Rejoice (Dustin Kensrue): A call to praise God and gaze upon His glory. A reminder that, even in the midst of our trials and suffering we still have reasons to rejoice in the Gospel.

  • Come Praise and Glorify our God (Sovereign Grace): A call to praise and glorify the God who has shown His grace to us in Christ. 

Reflect (July 2, 2017)

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


EXODUS - You Shall Not Covet

CALL TO WORSHIP

The immeasurable greatness of God's power towards us has been shown to us in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.

He is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion. He is above every name that is named, not only in this age but in the one to come.

God put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things. He is the head of the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

(Based on Ephesians 1:15-23)

Song: Look What God Has Done 

Song: Jesus

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that Jesus set aside his crown and left his throne to become a servant. He has given us the greatest gift of grace and yet we so often become dissatisfied with him. We crave so many other things, hoping that they will satisfy our needs, yet they fail us time and time again. Take a moment to reflect on that now, in the quiet of your own hearts.

God tells us in his word that though he was rich, Jesus became poor so that by his poverty we might become rich. There is life-giving treasure to be found in Jesus and that's what we get to enjoy by following him.

Song: Made Alive 

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us from Exodus 20:17 and Luke 12:13-21, helping us to see what the Bible teaches on coveting. 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: When I Survey 

SongMan of Sorrows

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly Father, You have told us in your word that you will never leave us nor forsake us, and so we can confidently say:

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Help us to keep our lives free from the love of money, being content with what we have, and thankful in all circumstances. Amen.

Based on Hebrews 13:5-6

Song: It is Well

BENEDICTION

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.

Prepare (July 2, 2017)

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing


EXODUS - You Shall Not Covet

SERMON

As Exodus is a big book we won’t read all of the Bible text in our Sunday gathering. Each week we will give you the full section of Exodus here on the blog for you to read in your own time. This is a great way to prepare your heart to hear from God’s word on a Sunday. We'll be slowing down a little now and taking a week to look at each of the 10 commandments. This week Tom Thrower will be preaching to us on coveting from Exodus 20:17. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly Father, You have told us in your word that you will never leave us nor forsake us, and so we can confidently say:

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Help us to keep our lives free from the love of money, being content with what we have, and thankful in all circumstances. Amen.

Based on Hebrews 13:5-6

MUSIC

  • Look What God Has Done (Ghost Ship) :A call for us to look again at what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. To remind our hearts of the identity we have in the Gospel and to give God all the glory.

  • Made Alive (Citizens and Saints): A song reminding us of the riches that are ours in Christ and the identity we now have in Jesus.