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
2 CORINTHIANS 2&3
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Psalm 95:1-7
Song: Rejoice
Song: This I Believe
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
If we were honest today there is probably a list of things we are struggling with: Maybe areas in which we’ve sinned, or doubts & unbelief, maybe struggling through things happening in our lives,
or maybe wondering how God would allow our struggles, maybe you are even angry with what God is doing in your life. In all of this, we have an invitation to come to God. Its not an invitation to get everything straightened out in our lives, then come to God. Rather it is a invitation to come with all our sin and struggles and frustration and lay them at the foot of the cross, To allow the grace of God to bring our souls to rest in the righteousness, the perfection, that Jesus give us!
Let's remind our hearts of this truth by reading these words together:
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood.
Romans 3:23-25
Song: Shine into our Night
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Steve Robinson from Cornerstone Church Liverpool joined us and preached to us from 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6. 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: When I Survey
Song: Jesus Paid it All
COMMITMENT READING
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Song: It is Well
BENEDICTION
Go, today, trusting in the Father who forgives us through His son, Jesus and reminds us that we’re loved and forgiven through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.
