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 another week of House Church! Hopefully you are finding your rhythm, as we gather and worship together in homes.
God has things to say and do in your lives today. Use this Worship Guide flexibly, encourage others to participate, let the Holy Spirit minister. God is among us, doing a work of reconciliation!
1. CALL TO WORSHIP
We were once enemies of God and strangers to His love. But not now! Through Jesus, God draws us near. May we draw near as God invites us to worship:
From Psalm 89
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
52 Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
Ask someone to set this time apart for God, dedicating it to Him. Confess our desperate need of Him.
2. SING
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: 9 mins)
Spend a moment to thank Jesus for his amazing love and work on the cross that makes a way for us to be reconciled with God.
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. CHURCH UPDATE AND PRAYER
Stream the following church update (Length: 6 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: Tasman Church, Pastor Greig Caigou.
Missionary: Frank and Joanna Fleitas, Melanie and Benji.
5. SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 1:21-23
Ask someone to read Colossians 1:21-23 and pray for God’s Word to touch our hearts, heal and equip us.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.
This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
6. BIBLE MESSAGE
Stream this message from Mark on Colossians 1:21-23.
(Length: 17 mins)
7. COMMUNION AND PRAYER
Reconciliation. The process of restoring a broken relationship.
We have been reconciled to God. We have been reconciled to each other. Jesus is the only true, deep way this can happen, without covering the cracks or minimizing the mess.
Jesus was alienated from God the Father so we could be reconciled. He has stood in our place. Remember the cross. It is so powerful that creation itself will be turned inside out and be renewed.
Ask a few people to pray with gratitude as you remember Jesus by taking communion.
8. RESPOND
Have a chat about the worship time today. Here are some possible questions you might ask:
What is your immediate heart response to today’s gathering?
If God was saying something to you personally today, what would it be?
What one thing do you feel like God is calling you to do, and how can the group support you?
9. BENEDICTION
Ask someone to pronounce this benediction as we finish our time:
May the God of peace send you into this week as a messenger of reconciliation.
May you be an instrument of love and a sower of peace.
May the blessing of God Almighty, Father Son and Holy Spirt rest upon you this day and forevermore. 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.