House Church Worship Guide
Welcome to this week’s Worship Guide! May you be blessed as you open your ears, eyes and hearts to God, and be an encouragement to each other.
Remember to encourage anyone who is feeling unwell to stay home. Think about how you can be caring for one another over these weeks.
Find a simple version of the guide you can print here
You can find song lyrics for the songs here:
Use this Worship Guide flexibly, encourage others to participate, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit leading you.
1. CALL TO WORSHIP
God delights in the unity of His people, one in His love, one in the blood of Christ, one in humility and peace. Read this call to worship.
From Psalm 133:
A song of ascents. Of David.
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Ask someone to set this time apart for God, dedicating it to Him.
2. SING
Here’s some songs you could sing together – pick which ones you want. If someone has an instrument, maybe you could do your own?
3. FAMILY CONNECTION
Click on the Family video and then discuss this question: (Length: 7 mins)
What could someone do if Jesus does not feel like he is a "never ending treasure" to them? If He becomes cold or boring?
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: 4 mins)
The update gives you a few things to pray about. What else would you like to pray for?
The Leadership are also asking for prayer and feedback as we look to the next form of gatherings, as Covid restrictions ease. The current plan is to meet in House Church and online until Easter. We plan to share changes ahead in the next few weeks.
What else would you like to pray for?
Take some time to pray for the church of the week and missionary:
Generosity and the church’s financial stewardship
The Ukraine War
Richmond Community Church, Ross Ferguson and Andy Lauderman
Warkwick and Osvalda Malcolm
5. SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 2:1-5
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6. BIBLE MESSAGE
Stream this message on Colossians 2:1-5, and the supernatural unity we can have in the sufficiency of Jesus.
(Length: 20 mins)
7. RESPOND
Have a chat about the worship time today. Here are some possible questions you might ask:
How did you feel your heart touched by God’s Word today?
What can you do to strengthen the unity of Hope Church?
If God was saying something to you personally today, what would it be?
8. BENEDICTION
Ask someone to pronounce this benediction as we finish our time:
May the way that we love each other show that we are followers of Jesus,
May we rest in the sufficiency of Jesus, our Lord,
May your heart have courage, and your hands have strength,
To be the presence of Jesus in the places you go this week.
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.