Reflect (May 14, 2017)

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

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EXODUS - Keep the Sabbath

CALL TO WORSHIP

You have searched us, Lord, and you know us. You know when we sit and when we rise; you
perceive our thoughts from afar. You discern our going out and our lying down; you are familiar with all our ways.

Before a word is on our tongues you know it completely. You hem us in behind and before, and
you lay your hand upon us.

We cannot escape your presence nor can we flee your Spirit. If we go up to the heavens, you are there; if we make our bed in the depths you are there.

For you created our inmost beings; you knit us together in our mothers' wombs. We praise you
because we are fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.

(Based on Psalm 139:1-14)

Song: Rock of Ages

Song: Grace Alone

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Even though we are faced with God's glory and majesty, so often we can feel weighed down by our sin and burdens, feeling like there is no way out. Hear Jesus speak to this when he says:

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

The truth of the gospel is that Jesus' saving work on the cross means we can find rest in Him. In the midst of our troubles we can know his presence with us and find rest

Song: O God

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 20:8-11, looking at what the 10 commandments teach us about keeping the Sabbath. 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: Come Ye Sinners

Song: Jesus Paid it All

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly Father, help us to trust in your goodness and provision. Help us to lean on you, rather
than on ourselves. Remind us of your sovereignty and humble us with the truth that you are
working, when we are not.

Would we truly believe that we serve you both in our work and in our rest, giving glory to Jesus in all that we do. Help us to look to you and only you, to find true rest. Amen.

Song: A Mighty Fortress is our God

BENEDICTION

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (May 14, 2017)

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.

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EXODUS - Keep the Sabbath

SERMON

As Exodus is a big book we won’t read all of the Bible text in our Sunday gathering. Each week we will give you the full section of Exodus here on the blog for you to read in your own time. This is a great way to prepare your heart to hear from God’s word on a Sunday. We'll be slowing down a little now and taking a week to look at each of the 10 commandments. This week Gary Aston will be preaching to us on what it means to keep the Sabbath from Exodus 20:8-11. 

LITURGY

CONFESSION/ASSURANCE

Even though we are faced with God's glory and majesty, so often we can feel weighed down by our sin and burdens, feeling like there is no way out. Hear Jesus speak to this when he says:

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

The truth of the gospel is that Jesus' saving work on the cross means we can find rest in Him. In the midst of our troubles we can know his presence with us and find rest.

MUSIC

• Oh God (Dustin Kensrue): A song reflecting on the reality of God's presence and nearness to us in the midst of our troubles and burdens. 

• Come ye Sinners Poor and Needy (Sojourn Music): A call to come to God in our sin and weakness and find rest for our souls. 

Reflect (May 7, 2017)

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

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DNA - Nurture

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord with our whole heart, together as one body and voice, let us worship God!

Great are the works of the Lord. We remember and delight in the amazing things He has done!

He is full of splendour and majesty and His righteousness endures forever. The works of His hands are faithful and just; He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is His name! Praise be to the Lord!

(Based on Psalm 111)

Song: I Stand Amazed

Song: Jesus

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Every week at Redeemer we take time at this point in our gathering to confess our sin before God. When we're reminded of God's greatness and glory we're humbled to see our own sin and our need for God's grace. At the heart of the Gospel is repentance, so that's why we take a moment every week to repent together. Take a moment to silently confess to him now the ways you've sinned and turned away from him this week... Because of Jesus death and resurrection we can have full assurance that our prayers have been heard. Hear these words of assurance to us now.

We know that our old self was crucified with Jesus so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. So, consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

(Based on Romans 6:6-8)

Song: You Alone Can Rescue

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached the final sermon in our DNA mini-series. He looked at the third aspect of DNA groups: Act, preaching from Mark 8:34-38. 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Song: Mighty to Save

COMMITMENT READING

Let's pray these words together as we prepare to close now:

Father God, thank you for the truth of the gospel; that our old self died with Jesus on the cross and that we now experience new life, a life free from sin. Help us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Jesus, knowing that in Him we find true life.

(based on Mark 8:34-35)

Song: New Again

BENEDICTION

Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (May 7, 2017)

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.

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DNA - Act

SERMON

This week is the last week in our mini-series on DNA groups, looking at what they are and why we're launching them as a church. This week we'll be looking at the 'Act' aspect of DNA groups, as Tom Thrower preaches to us from Mark 8:34-38.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, thank you for the truth of the gospel; that our old self died with Jesus on the cross and that we now experience new life, a life free from sin. Help us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Jesus, knowing that in Him we find true life.

(based on Mark 8:34-35)

MUSIC

• Jesus is the Lord of All (Olly Knight): A new song to Redeemer, celebrating Jesus, the saviour we gather to worship, asserting his power and authority over all.

• See His Love (Tom Lockley): A call to look and reflect on the cross, to see the love shown to us in Jesus' great act of redemption.