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
TREASURING THE GOSPEL:
A gospel worth guarding
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord, my soul all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103: 1-12)
Song: O God of Our Salvation
Song: In Tenderness He Sought Me
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
At this point in our gathering - each week - we have a time of confession. That might seem strange, You might ask why? Well when we see God’s greatness and recognise his glory, we are faced with our own humanity and how short we fall of God’s requirements. So time for confession reminds us of our right place before God, Reminds us of our sinfulness, our need for God’s grace and forgiveness and also God’s provision of this grace through Jesus. Right at the centre of the gospel is confession, repentance. It's a life giving practice. Because as we repent, turn from moving away from God & instead running to him, we experience God moving towards us in grace.
Throughout history, God's people have turned from him, time and time again. We are no different. Even though we've been called to God through the loving mercy of Jesus, we so often turn from him to follow different paths. In his word God tells us that we exchange truths about him for lies and follow paths that twist the truth about Jesus. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess where you see this in your own heart. What are some of the lies you're believing about God today? We need God's help in this so let's sing this next song as a prayer, asking for God's help in this and affirming the hope we have of forgiveness in Jesus.
Song: Forgiven
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston started our summer series in 2 Timothy on treasuring the gospel this week. He preached to us from 2 Timothy 1. 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: There is a Fountain
COMMITMENT READING
God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
(2 Timothy 1:9-10)
Song: Grace Alone
BENEDICTION
Brothers and sisters go, through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us and carefully guard the precious truth of the gospel that has been entrusted to you.. (2 Timothy 1:14)
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
