House Church Worship Guide
Welcome to this week’s House Church. We hope this Guide helps your House Church to meet with the Lord, and with each other, in a very special way.
This guide is designed to be flexible – move and mold the parts as suits your House Church.
Try to make your time as interactive as possible, taking the opportunity to be personal, real, and attentive to what God is doing.
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: Psalm 147
Psalm 147 declares that worship is the best and most fitting response to our God.
He delights in the broken and the humble.
Read these verses, selected from Psalm 147 (NLT) and commit your time to the Lord.
Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
He heals the broken-hearted
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
The Lord supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
Sing out your thanks to the Lord;
sing praises to our God with a harp.
SING!
Pick one, or some, or your own to sing!
CHURCH UPDATE AND PRAYER
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:
Spring Grove Church of Christ
Mini Movers
FAMILY CONNECTION
Click on the Family video and take part.
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:
SCRIPTURE READING: Selected Scriptures
You may remember these verses from last week. They explore the way belief in the good news changes our lives from the inside out.
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Ephesians 5:1-2, 8
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
Romans 15:5-7
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
BIBLE MESSAGE: The Joy of God
Stream this message
RESPOND
Did you have any moments of conviction or insight as you listened to the message? What was God saying to you?
What is your response to the challenge that we should love people the way that Jesus has loved us?
Can you think of one way that the message applies to your life, and your week ahead?
COMMUNION AND PRAYER
When we gather as God’s people, communion helps us to draw close to Jesus. The cross of Jesus shows us God’s love, and portrays the way that we should live.
You could read from Romans 8:31-39 and pray as you share around communion. let His joy be full in you.
BENEDICTION
Remind your group that next Sunday (Nov 13) is a baptism service, and that we’d love you all to help us with our Christmas celebrations.
Ask someone to pronounce this benediction, about the power of the gospel for our lives:
May you go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
May you walk in his footsteps and love with his love.
May you go in the power of the Jesus,
In whose name we go. 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.