House Church Worship Guide
Welcome to House Church – a space where we grow in community, actively participate in worship, and have room to listen/respond/engage with each other.
Today we start a short series called “Knowing God”. The more we know God as He really is, the more we can walk with him and have His life in us.
Over the next two weeks, we are doing a review of how House Church might look in 2023. The leadership would love to hear your feedback and experiences. Please encourage your members to give feedback. You will be emailed a link to the survey at 10am on Sunday October 2.
How to Prepare:
1. Have a read through this Worship Guide to get the flow of it, see what parts you’ll use, and how you might do transitions. You can print a simple version of it
2. Get communion ready, and any kids resources you need. You can print the lyrics here:
CALL TO WORSHIP
Read this call to worship from Hosea 6 and John 17 and invite someone to pray. We mark this time, setting it aside to worship God.
Oh, that we might know the LORD!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.
Now this is eternal life:
that they know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
SING!
Pick one, or some, or your own to sing!
FAMILY CONNECTION
Watch the video below from Steve and enjoy the activity together.
PARENTS: Click on the Family Resources button to find some colouring in activities and videos for preschool and school age children that you can use at any time:
CHURCH UPDATE AND PRAYER
There is an important church update for you to stream.
Are there any other prayer needs in your group that you can share and lift to God?
Take some time to pray for the church of the week and missionary:
Richmond Methodist Church, Minister Martin Oh
Far East Broadcasting, with Matt Perry
SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 15:5, 9-13
Read these words of Jesus from John’s Gospel.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
BIBLE MESSAGE: The Joy of God
We are thinking about the joy of God today.
Discussion question:
What do you think is the difference between joy and happiness?
Stream this message
(Length: 17 mins)
RESPOND
What was the most helpful part of the message today for you?
· What difference does it make if you believe that God is the most joyful person in the universe?
· What is stopping you from having joy in Christ?
· What are some ways that you can grow your joy in God?
COMMUNION AND PRAYER
You could ask someone from your group to be ready to lead communion
Hebrews 12:2 says that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross and made our salvation possible. When we take communion, we remember that Jesus delights in us, right now, even while we are sinners.
Remember Jesus by taking communion, and let His joy be full in you.
BENEDICTION
Ask sPlease remind people again about the survey You will be emailed a link to the survey at 10am on Sunday October 2nd.
Ask someone to pronounce this benediction from Romans 15:13:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The whole service will stream live at 10am if you would prefer to watch it this way. Click on LIVE CHURCH at www.hopechurch.org.nz. Or from midday on, you can find it by clicking on PAST SERVICES.