House Church Worship Guide
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 here:
2. Get communion ready, and any kids resources you need. You can print lyrics for the songs here:
3. Think about whether your group could go smaller by planting another group, or go larger by inviting another family/person
Welcome to week three of House Church! Today’s worship is shamelessly, extravagantly, deliberately centred on Jesus. May you know His presence as you worship together. May your love for him be renewed
Use this Worship Guide flexibly – it’s here to serve you.
Encourage others to participate. Get people to share, be sensitive to what God is doing, have courage to share your hearts.
Be sensitive to the tension in the world and the pressures in our lives.Jesus meets us where we are at, and leads us on.Seek to encourage unity and strength in Him.
1. CALL WORSHIPPERS TO LOOK AT JESUS CHRIST!
What you believe about Jesus will determine everything about you. It determines how you worship today. Let Jesus draw you into worship:
Matthew 16:13-16
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
John 20:28
27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Invite someone(s) to pray, making Jesus the overt focus of your attention and affection.
2. WORSHIP BY SINGING
Choose from the following songs to sing. Or, find your own favorites that are both singable and faithful to the truth of God’s Word
3. FAMILY CONNECTION
We believe in multigenerational, God-centred worship. This means helping all ages come to know and believe in Jesus – with faith like a child
Click on this Family video and take part in the activity (Length: 7 mins)
Follow up questions (When you have watched the video): Who is Jesus?
Some family songs you could sing
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:
Families, please note that you will need to prepare these colouring and Right Now Media resources ahead of time if you plan to use them.
4. SHARE YOUR JOURNEY
Ask some of your group members to share what it was like to have your eyes opened to the greatness of Jesus for the first time.
How did it happen? What was going on in your life? What were you attracted to about Jesus?
5. CHURCH UPDATE AND PRAYER
Stream the following church update (Length: 2:30 mins)
The update gives you a few things to pray about. What else would you like to pray for?
Take some time to pray for the church of the week and missionary:
Church: Richmond Baptist, Pastor David Jensen
Missionary: Jo Borlase
6. TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Ask someone to read Colossians 1:15-20
Pray
Then watch this message on one of the most important passages about Jesus in the New Testament (Length: 21 mins)
7. RESPOND
Here’s a great song you could use to give some space to respond:
What a Beautiful Name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5L6QlAH3L4
Or, you could have a chat about the message. Here are some possible questions you might ask:
If this is really true about Jesus, how should you respond?
What one sentence of praise would you like to give to Jesus?
If God was saying something to you personally in this message, what would it be?
8. COMMUNION AND PRAYER
Give everyone a moment of silence to confess their sin, their need of Jesus, and their desire for him to be supreme in their lives.
We take communion to remember that Jesus has “made peace, through his blood, shed on the cross.”
It is amazing that Jesus used his power and authority to serve and sacrifice his life. True power is manifested in sacrifice – not controlling, demanding, or winning. As we remember how Jesus has treated us, we are equipped to sacrifice and love others.
9. BENEDICTION
A benediction is a blessing. We are blessed to go and to live for Jesus.
Use this one from 2 Peter 3:18:
18 (May you) grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
10. LEAVE A COMMENT
This step helps us to remember and encourage everyone else who is meeting around the region.
Leave a comment at the bottom of this page sharing a sentence or two about your House Church and what you go up to.
SELFIE TIME
Grab a selfie together and send the photo to lisa@hopechurch.org.nz
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.
Share a few sentences about your group and what you got up to. Let’s encourage each other as we meet in different locations.