Prepare (May 20, 2018)

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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EZEKIEL - A Just God

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching to us this week from Ezekiel 18 looking at the justice of God and the nature of sin and repentance.

LITURGY

ASSURANCE

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds we have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:22-24

MUSIC

• Made Alive (Citizens and Saints): A song that reminds us that we have been made alive in Christ. A celebration that we are no longer dead in our sin! 

• Jesus Paid it All:  A hymn that reflects on the price Jesus paid to save us from our sin, that he gave his life so that we might have new life. 

Reflect (May 13, 2018)

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.

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EZEKIEL - Serve the City

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the LORD, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God
as long as I live.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them he remains faithful for ever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those
who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The LORD reigns for ever, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Based on Psalm 146

Song: O For a Thousand Tongues

Song: Everlasting God

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've already heard that God is a compassionate God, we've just sung that he defends the weak and comforts those in need. When we're reminded of God's character, we realise how far short we fall from his standards. Instead of looking to serve those in need, we use our time, money and resources for selfish gain. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess these ways before God.

Father God, forgive us for using the good gifts you have given us to serve ourselves rather than others. Help us to see the needs of those around us and use all that we have to meet them. Remind us of your generosity, shown to us in Christ, when he gave himself up for us. Help us to show that generosity towards others in how we love and care for them. Amen.

Song: Forgiven

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week was our Serve the City gathering. Gary Aston preached to us from Ezekiel 18:1-9. 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

COMMITMENT READING

Our great hope for being generous people, is that we have a generous saviour. Jesus is our great and perfect example. Hear these words that speak of this now:

Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(Philippians 2:6-8)

Father God, When we see your lavish generosity shown in Jesus, would we respond with generosity towards others. Help us to see our responsibility to the poor and to share what we have with those in need. Help us to look to Jesus, our true treasure. Amen

Song: In Christ Alone

BENEDICTION

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (May 13, 2018)

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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EZEKIEL - Serve the City

SERMON

This week is our Serve the City gathering where we get to hear about the different projects going on over the weekend as well as pray for works going on in our city. Gary Aston will be preaching a shorter message to us from Ezekiel 18:1-9.  

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the LORD, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them he remains faithful for ever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The LORD reigns for ever, for all generations. Praise the LORD.

Based on Psalm 146

MUSIC

• Forgiven (Sovereign Grace Music): A new song to us at Redeemer that confesses to God the way sin controls our lives and reminds us of the forgiveness we can know in Christ. 

• Everlasting God (Brenton Brown):  A song of praise that celebrates our God who gives strength to the weary, defends the weak and helps those in need, 

Reflect (May 6, 2018)

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.

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EZEKIEL - A Picture of 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: Doxology

Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Song: Indescribable

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 satisfy. But we forget this and end up creating idols in our hearts, that take our worship and attention away from God. In his word, God describes himself as being a jealous God. He is deserving of all our worship, yet we take the worship that belongs to him and give to other things. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess to God the idols that take your attention away from him. Ask that God would take away your idols and help you turn back to him. 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, God has not turned away from us. The next song is a new one to us at Redeemer, it reminds us that through the blood of Christ, we are forgiven from our idolatry.

Song: Forgiven

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us on the picture of idolatry in Ezekiel from chapters 8-10. 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: How Deep the Father's Love 

Song: There is a Fountain

COMMITMENT READING

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things
that are on earth.

We ask, Father God, that you would help us to put idolatry to death and what is earthly is in us. Having put off the old self, give us all that we need to put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of you our creator. Amen.

(Based on Colossians 3:1-10)

Song: Christ is Risen

BENEDICTION

May the God of peace guard your hearts from the false and fading comforts of idols and may he lead you on to find true satisfaction in the blessings that only He can provide. Go now in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.