Prepare (March 18, 2018)

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing

---

THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS - The Supper

SERMON

This week Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Matthew 26:17-35 as we take a look at the last supper together.

LITURGY

COMMUNION

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

(Matthew 26:26-28)

MUSIC

• When I Survey: A reflection on the cross of Jesus, focusing on the blood shed for to save us from our sin. 

• See the Lamb of God: A celebration of Jesus, the lamb who was sacrificed for us, who will one day return. 

Reflect (March 11, 2018)

Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.

*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering

---

THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS - The Cleansing

CALL TO WORSHIP

Everything in this earth is constantly pouring out praise to God. Creation sings to his glory and today we want to join that chorus of praise. 

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet. 

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth

(Psalm 8)

Song: Behold our God 

Song: Come Thou Fount

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that we're prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love. And that's something that's true of all of us. God tells us in his word that we've worshipped and served created things rather than him, our creator God. The truth is that if we look to these things to give us meaning, hope and happiness, they will ultimately fail us. God himself, is the only one who can provide us with these things. But we forget this and end up creating idols in our hearts, that take our worship and attention away from God. Every week at Redeemer, we take a moment to confess to God together, let's pray these words now, asking that God would direct our worship back to him.

Merciful God, we confess that in our longing, we have worshipped the idols of this world instead of worshipping you, the one true God. We realise the sin in our own hearts and ask for your forgiveness and mercy. In your grace, would you direct our eyes back to you.

God tells us in His word that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Song: Lead us Back

PASSING OF THE PEACE

TESTIMONY

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us this week from Matthew 21:12-17 looking at Jesus as he cleanses the temple. Click here to listen to that sermon. 

COMMUNION

Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.

POST COMMUNION READING

Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.

We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.

With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.

We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.

Song: Nothing but the Blood

Song: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.

He washed us by the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(Titus 3:4-7)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!

(Jude 24-25)

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (March 11, 2018)

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing

---

THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS - The Cleansing

SERMON

This week Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Matthew 21:12-17 looking at the cleansing of the temple. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.

He washed us by the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(Titus 3:4-7)

MUSIC

• Nothing But the Blood:  A song that reflects on the cleansing and purification from sins we can know because of the blood Jesus shed on our behalf. 

• Lead us Back (Sojourn Music): A song that confesses our idols before God and pleas that he would lead us back to life in him again.

Reflect (March 4, 2018)

Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.

*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering

---

THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS - The Entry

CALL TO WORSHIP

As we begin our new series on the final days of Jesus today, we're going to begin our gathering by celebrating Jesus, our promised King! Hear these words from the prophet Zechariah as we start our gathering now:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

(Based on Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:9)

Song: The Lion and the Lamb

Song: This is Amazing Grace

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung of Jesus as the King of kings, the one who is above all others, yet we are so often to reject his rule over our lives. Instead of enjoying God's good and loving rule, we set ourselves up as king and give ourselves a position we were never intended to have. We believe the lie that we will be most happy, most free, when we are in charge and God is not. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess to God this tendency in your own heart now. When we're faced with who Jesus is, we can't help but see him to be a King worth putting our trust in. At the cross, Jesus dies for us, those who've turned away from Him so that we can be part of his kingdom and know him personally. God tells us in his word:

For Christ came into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through him should be saved. (John 3:17)

What wonderful news that is for us! Jesus is the King who rules with kindness and grace and came so that we might be saved.

Song: You Alone Can Rescue

PASSING OF THE PEACE

TESTIMONY

PREACHING OF THE WORD

We started our new sermon series this week in the final days of Jesus. Tom Thrower preached to us from Matthew 21:1-11, listen to that sermon here.

COMMUNION

Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.

POST COMMUNION READING

Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.

We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.

With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.

We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.

Song: How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Song: Hallelujah What A Saviour

COMMITMENT READING

As Christians we have the hope of a day where Christ will return as King and establish his rule and reign forever. Hear these words that speak of that day now:

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

(Revelation 21:3-5)

Song: Revelation Song

BENEDICTION

May you leave knowing Jesus as your true king. May you know the comfort of his presence with you. May you know the confidence of his rule over you. And may our lives reflect more and more the beauty of our King.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.