Reflect (March 24, 2019)

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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ROMANS - The first Adam and the second Adam

CALL TO WORSHIP

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.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:6-11)

Song: Look What God Has Done

Song: A God Who Saves

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

God tells us in his word that we were once alienated from him, cut off and separated by our sin. Without him we are weak and broken, like we've just sung. God invites us to bring our weakness to him. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess the sin that separates you from him. The truth of the gospel is that God didn't leave us as we were, hear this truth about our identity in Christ now:

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

(Ephesians 2:13)

Song: Made Alive

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 5:12-21 looking at Jesus as the new Adam. 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Song: Christ is Risen

COMMITMENT READING

Our identity in Christ is one of new life. Let's read these words as a commitment as we prepare to go now:

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Song: New Again

BENEDICTION

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (March 24, 2019)

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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ROMANS - The first Adam & the second Adam

SERMON

This Sunday Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Romans 5:12-21, looking at the first Adam and the second Adam.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

MUSIC

• A God Who Saves (Sovereign Grace): A newer song to us that speaks of the salvation we can know in Christ. That whilst we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.

• Made Alive (Citizens): A song that reminds us of the new life we now know in Christ. He has brought us from death to life through his blood.

Prepare (March 17, 2019)

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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Acts 29 France Update: John 10

SERMON

This Sunday we have Christopher De La Hoyde joining us from France to give us an update on church planting across French-speaking Europe whilst reminding us of the gospel that is worthy to be preached across the globe from John 10: 7-18.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, you are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

(Ephesians 2:19-20)

MUSIC

• O For A Thousand Tongues (Zach Sprowls): A song that looks forward to our eternity with Christ where we will have endless songs of praise for our King.

• Here is Love: A reminder of the depth of love that has been shown to us as God sent his son to save us from our sin, this is the greatest demonstration of love.

Reflect (March 10, 2019)

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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ROMANS - Justification & Joy

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the LORD! Let us give thanks to the LORD with our whole heart, together as one body and voice, let us worship God! Great are the works of the LORD.

We remember and delight in the amazing things he has done! He is full of splendour and majesty and his righteousness endures forever.

The LORD is gracious and merciful. The works of his hands are faithful and just. He sent redemption to his people and has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is his name! Praise be to the LORD!

(Based on Psalm 111)

Song: How Great Thou Art

Song: Fountain of Goodness

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that our God is good and has shown such love to us. The greatest expression of God's love was shown to us in Jesus. It was in love that God sent his son to die for us that we might know life. Hear these words from our passage today that speak of this:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess the sin that separates you from God and to thank him that he has shown his love to you in this way.

We're going to sing out in light of that truth together now.

Song: A God Who Saves

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 5:1-11 on the joy we can know through justification. 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: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, help us to rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.

Thank you that you have poured your love into our hearts and that we have the Holy Spirit to help us. Help us to rejoice in the truth that we have been reconciled to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Based on Romans 5:3-5, 11)

Song: Before the Throne of God Above

BENEDICTION

Brothers and sisters, as you go, look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.