Prepare (July 23, 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

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EXODUS - Tabernacle Fills with Glory

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 is the last week in our Exodus series. Alex Passmore will be rounding off the series by preaching to us on God's glory from Exodus 35-40. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

MUSIC

• Behold our God (Sovereign Grace Music): A call to behold and look upon the glory of God, giving him the praise and worship he deserves.  

• Shine into our Night (Sovereign Grace Music): A song of confession, admitting our tendency to turn away from God even when faced with his glory and majesty. 

Reflect (July 16, 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

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EXODUS - Idolatry

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise be to you, Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

You are a great God who has power and glory and majesty and splendour. Everything in heaven and earth is yours and you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

(Based on 1 Chronicles 29:11-13)

Song: All Creatures of our God and King

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. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess to God the idols that take your attention away from God....

The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus died to save us from our idolatry. Even though we have turned from him, time and time again, in Jesus, he has not turned away from us.

Song: Lead us Back  

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Alex Passmore preached to us from Exodus 32-34 looking at what the Bible teaches on Idolatry. 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: Here is Love

Song: Before the Throne of God Above

COMMITMENT READING

How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord Almighty! My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

(Based on Psalm 84:1-10)

Song: O For a Thousand Tongues 

BENEDICTION

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (July 16, 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 - Idolatry

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 Alex Passmore will be preaching to us on idolatry from Exodus 32-34. 

LITURGY

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

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.

The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus died to save us from our idolatry. Even though we have turned from him, time and time again, in Jesus, he has not turned away from us

MUSIC

• Lead us Back (Sojourn Music): A song of confession, confessing to God the ways we have turned away from him and a plea that he would lead us back to life in him. 

• O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Zach Sprowls): A song of longing, looking forward to the day we will be with God, singing his praises, forever. 

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

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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 

Song: Mighty 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.