House Church Worship Guide
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25.
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
Let us come with expected hearts. God’s voice calls us to worship, right now, together, in this time set apart for Him:
From John 1
In the beginning was the Word.
In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The true light that gives light to everyone has come into the world.
And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.
From His fulness, we have received grace upon grace.
This is our Jesus who we gather to worship.
When we pray to get started, we invite God’s Spirit to guide us and minister to us. We open every area of our lives to be cleansed, renewed, and changed. Jesus is our head, our host – he welcomes us.
2. SING
God’s people are a singing people. You can’t shut us up. Praise erupts! Choose some of these songs to sing…..
3. FAMILY CONNECTION
Watch the video, then take part in this "Sword Drill" (Bible race): (Length: 8 mins)
Bible race: 2nd Corinthians 8:9
Joyful thought: Jesus is our saviour. He was willing to do anything to make sure we could reconnect with God. Because of the work that Jesus did at the cross we are offered grace, a free gift worth more than anything.
Bible race: Matthew 8:3
Joyful thought: Through Jesus we see God's love and kindness to all people, no matter how yucky or lonely they may feel. Jesus continues to love and bring healing to all people.
Bible race: John 1:14
Joyful thought: God was willing to step into our messy world because he loves us. Jesus is not just a little piece of God, He is still fully, 100% God. Jesus is all the good things about God and none of the bad things about humans. He is the hero at the centre of God's big rescue plan.
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: 3 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.
(Why? We want to see the Covid peak pass; many are being blessed by House Church and the experience of intimacy and community; its quite challenging to have live services and online happening well at the same time; mostly, we want to listen to how the Holy Spirit is guiding us going forward).
We plan to share changes ahead in the next few weeks. If you would like to give feedback to the leadership, please email mark@hopechurch.org.nz
Here’s the plan for Easter Weekend:
Online Good Friday service, Friday 6:30pm
In-person, Easter Sunday Celebration Service, 10am, Outdoors at Teapot Valley, followed by BBQ! (all welcome, all encouraged to gather with us)
Easter Sunday Online, 10am (for those unable to gather)
Note especially the live gathering at Teapot to celebrate Easter! It’s gonna be a party, so bring all your family and friends! (just not covid!)
Take some time to pray for the church of the week and missionary:
Richmond Methodist Church, Minister Martin Oh
Barnabas and Gwendoline Charles, India
5. SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
This week’s passage is arguably the summary verse in the book of Colossians. You could take some time to memorise it (notice how it has two key lines, “as you have received….continue….”).
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
6. BIBLE MESSAGE
Stream this message on Colossians 2:6-7.
(Length: 23 mins)
7. SHARE AND RESPOND
Take some time to think about your life (and the events of your week – the good, the bad, the ugly), and how God’s Word speaks to you today.
Why has God had you listening to this verse in exactly this chapter of your life?
What is one thing you have learnt today?
What is one thing you need to stop?
What is one thing you need to start?
8. COMMUNION
Communion is a great time to remember how we received Jesus Christ as our Lord.
We did that by grace, through faith, in the finished work of Jesus. We did that with empty hands held out, receiving all His grace for all our needs.
As you share communion, you could invite people to share one sentence expressing their gratitude for Jesus.
9. BENEDICTION
May you be “blessed” and “sent” as we finish our time. Remember that Hope Church exists to make disciples of Jesus – go and get stuck in! Here’s a benediction to read:
Today we proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord!
All of him, in all his riches, for all our needs, in every moment.
Now…..go in his name, by His grace, with His love,
Into a world that so desperately needs him.
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.