During this time where our public gatherings are not able to meet, each Sunday we are providing you with a liturgy that you can use at home. You can use it in a number of ways: on your own, with your family, or with others from our church community via video conferencing. Our suggestion is that you take time to move through each of the sections below, listening to the songs, reflecting on the liturgy and hearing the word preached exactly as we do on a Sunday. As you move through it why not talk with others or, if you are on your own, message someone from your City Group or DNA Group to share something that really struck you.
As you do this remember that we are still the church even when we can’t gather together as the church.
CALL TO WORSHIP
There are many things that happen in the world and in our lives that we struggle to understand and make sense of. Tragedies strike, disappointments mount up and life throws up all kinds of challenges. In the midst of this the Christian hope is not just that we have a God who is great and in control but also a God who is good. A kind & gracious heavenly Father who cares for and watches over his people. So begin your time of worship today with these wonderful and comforting truths from Psalm 145.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.
[Psalm 145:8-10]
SONG: Fountain of Goodness (Olly Knight): A song of praise, celebrating our God who is the fount of all that is good.
Fountain of goodness beauty ever-streaming love
Pouring out every blessing on your perfect Son
Father before all things
Your joy was found in him
Radiant light of heaven ever-cherished Son
Knowing such perfect closeness
With your Father one
Jesus you came to us to share all that was yours
Our God is good He’s shown such love
Now adopted in the Son to you we come
And we delight in you our God
You loved us first and now our hearts are yours
Giver of life for ever resting on the Son
Bringing the joy of knowing all the Father’s love
Spirit you’ve made us Christ’s
Now we’re as loved as him
Our God is good He’s shown such love
Now adopted in the Son to you we come
And we delight in you our God
You loved us first and now our hearts are yours
CCLI Song # 6358617
Mike Reeves | Olly Knight
© 2012 Song Solutions Daybreak (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
SONG: Come Praise and Glorify (Sovereign Grace): A call to praise and glorify the God who has shown his grace to us in Christ.
Come praise and glorify our God
The Father of our Lord
In Christ He has in heav'nly realms
His blessings on us poured
For pure and blameless in His sight
He destined us to be
And now we've been adopted through
His Son eternally
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
Come praise and glorify our God
Who gives His grace in Christ
In Him our sins are washed away
Redeemed through sacrifice
In Him God has made known to us
The myst'ry of His will
That Christ should be the head of all
His purpose to fulfill
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
Come praise and glorify our God
For we've believed the Word
And through our faith we have a seal
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit guarantees our hope
Until redemption's done
Until we join in endless praise
To God the Three in One
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
CCLI Song # 6167664
Bob Kauflin | Tim Chester
© 2011 Sovereign Grace Praise (Admin. by Integrity Music)
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Today we return to our sermon series in the gospel of Mark and we’ll look at Jesus calling the twelve disciples. The call that Jesus makes to all is to ‘follow him’. Being a Christian means being a person who follows Jesus. But our sinful hearts so often twist and turn away from following Jesus. We follow our own sinful desires and so often find ourselves lost down destructive pathways. So take a moment to confess your sin, the ways you have failed to follow Jesus this week.
But the beauty of the gospel is that the heart of Jesus is towards sinful and failing people like us. He knows us and as we confess he encourages us come back to him. Hear his words to your heart today:
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
[Jhn 6:37]
Let the truth and comfort of his words draw you back to him today.
SONG: Look What God Has Done (Ghost Ship): A call for us to look again at what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. To remind our hearts of the identity we have in the Gospel and to give God all the glory.
Look what God has done
He redeemed us with His blood
We were lost and dead in sin
He came for us
Look what God has done
He adopted us in love
We were orphans without hope
Now His Children
Who are we that He would save us
Who are we that He would send us
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's church
Through all generations
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's work
Forever and ever
Look what God has done
Through His sacrifice we’re one
Sinner’s unified by grace bound together
Look what God has done
By His Spirit through His son
By the power of His hand He is sending
Who are we that He would save us
Who are we that He would send us
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's church
Through all generations
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's work
Forever and ever
Lift your hands and praise Him
See His great compassion
See His mercy for us
Raise your voice and thank Him
See the church He's building
See the lost He's saving
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's church
Through all generations
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's work
Forever and ever
Look at Jesus Christ
He redeems His precious bride
By His costly sacrifice we’re invited
See the wisdom of His ways
In the mystery of grace
Every age and every race we’re united
Who are we that He would save us
Who are we that He would send us
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's church
Through all generations
To God be glory through Christ our Savior's work
Forever and ever
CCLI Song # 7061244
Brian Eichelberger | Cam Huxford | Zach Bolen
© 2015 Hymnographer (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
Remaining portion is unaffiliated
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Because of Christ's work on the cross, his death and resurrection, we have been brought back into communion with our God and have been made righteous. We have peace with our creator, our heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit unites us together in Jesus.
We normally express that peace with one another in our gatherings by greeting those around us. In this time where we can’t do that take a moment to pray for someone who is part of our church family instead.
SERMON The Gospel of Mark- [Mk 3:7-21] Watch the pre-sermon message and then the sermon.
This week we’re re-starting our series ‘The Gospel of Mark’. Click here where you will find this week’s sermon.
RESPONSE
Take a few minutes to reflect on how God was speaking to you from his Word. Ask that the Holy Spirit would take the truth and use it to change and transform you.
SONG: Jesus Paid it All (Kings Kaleidoscope): A hymn that centers on the price Jesus paid to save us from our sin and the new life we are raised to in Christ.
I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness
Watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all
Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Jesus died my soul to save
And melt my heart of stone
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Oh praise the One
Who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
Oh praise the One
Who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
(REPEAT)
CCLI Song # 7065567
Chad Gardner
© 2015 Moms Like Us Too (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
SONG: Jesus is the Lord of All (Olly Knight): A glorious reminder that Jesus reigns over all. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
All creation sings His praise
For by His word all things were made
He holds the keys to life and death
Sustains us by his very breath
Stars and galaxies were made
For the glory of His name
Earth and Heaven declare His ways
O Christ the matchless King be praised
Jesus is the Lord of all
Jesus is the Lord of all
You're the one we bow before
Jesus is the Lord of all
He left his throne and crown behind
To stoop so low that he would die
The Lord of all was crucified
His hands were pierced instead of mine
But death could not contain the Christ
For Jesus rose in power to life
He claims the church for which he died
To reign with Him his spotless Bride
Jesus is the Lord of all
Jesus is the Lord of all
You're the one we bow before
Jesus is the Lord of all
A day will come when wars will cease
When nations stand in unity
Every voice will sing to Him
Our great victorious King of Kings
Jesus is the Lord of all
Jesus is the Lord of all
You're the one we bow before
Jesus is the Lord of all
CCLI Song # 7070739
Olly Knight | Tom James
© 2016 Song Solutions Daybreak (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
COMMITMENT READING
As we close our time of worship today we remember that we are called to follow Jesus and cling hold of him. But his grip on us is what truly keeps and sustains us and that grip will never falter. Read the words of Psalm 63 that express this double sided truth:
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
[Ps 63:6-8]
SONG: Oh God (Citizens): An assurance that God is present with us in our struggles, when we feel alone and far from Him he is with us. A wonderful reminder that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
In the valley oh God You're near
In the quiet oh God You're near
In the shadow oh God You're near
At my breaking oh God You're near
Oh God You never leave my side
Your love stands firm through all my life
In my searching oh God You're near
In my wandering oh God You're near
When I feel alone oh God You're near
At my lowest oh God You're near
Oh God You never leave my side
Your love stands firm through all my life
Height nor depth nor anything else
Could pull us apart
We are joined as one by Your blood
Hope will rise as we become more
Than conquerors through the One who loved the world
Oh God You never leave my side
Oh God Your love will stand firm through all my life
CCLI Song # 6534493
Zach Bolen
© It's All About Jesus Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
BENEDICTION
Close your time of worship with this benediction:
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.
[1 Peter 5:10-11]
Peace be with you