Guide for Home Worship

September 13, 2020

Welcome

Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.

If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
  • Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
  • Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
  • Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
  • Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.

Time of Reflection

“It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.”
~A Common Proverb

“My hands, head, face, legs, hips, hormones, private parts, voice, feet, fingers, feelings, were all made by Him and for Him. Apparently, this body was never mine to begin with – it was given to me from Somebody, for Somebody. Somebody who’d made it for glory and not shame. Until I got to know Him though, my identity would be made up of whatever dust that flew up from the devil’s feet as he ran through the earth.”
~Jackie Hill Perry, writer and hip-hop artist

Q. 4. What is God? A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one? A. There is only one, the living and true God.
Q. 6. How many persons are there in the godhead? A. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.
~Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So, one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
~A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), pastor and author

“Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.”
~J.I. Packer (1926-2020), theologian in his most famous work Knowing God

Opening Prayer

(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)

Call to Worship

Isaiah 6:1-5 (NIV)

LEADER: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

CONGREGATION: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.

LEADER: At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

CONGREGATION: “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Songs & Liturgy

(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD
(Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901)
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me every where.

This is my Father’s world,
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heav’n be one.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
RESPONSIVE READING
Adapted from Isaiah 40:12-18 (NASB)

LEADER: Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
And marked off the heavens by the span,
And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,
And weighed the mountains in a balance
And the hills in a pair of scales?

CONGREGATION: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
Or as His counselor has informed Him?


LEADER: With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?
And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge
And informed Him of the way of understanding?

CONGREGATION: Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;
Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.


LEADER: Even Lebanon is not enough to burn,
Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering.

CONGREGATION: All the nations are as nothing before Him,
They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.


ALL: To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare with Him?
BEHOLD OUR GOD
(Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, Ryan Baird, Stephen Altrogge)
Who has held the oceans in His hands?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at His voice.
All creation rises to rejoice.

CHORUS:
Behold our God, seated on His throne.
Come, let us adore Him.
Behold our King, nothing can compare,
Come, let us adore Him!

Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of His words?
Who can teach the one who knows all things?
Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?
(CHORUS)

Who has felt the nails upon His hands.
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man?
God eternal, humbled to the grave,
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign!
(CHORUS)

BRIDGE:
You will reign forever! (Let Your glory fill the earth)
You will reign forever! (Let your glory fill the earth)
You will reign forever! (Let your glory fill the earth)
You will reign forever! (Let your glory fill)
(CHORUS)
©2011 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). CCLI #1791178

Sharing

(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)

Prayer Time

(You may have an open time of prayer or select someone to pray)

  • Pray for our nation – that the good news of Jesus Christ would draw people to know God genuinely and personally.
  • Pray for those suffering from the ongoing spread of the coronavirus.
  • Pray for those experiencing racial injustices; specifically, that God would bring hope, reconciliation, and restoration through the good news of His Son.
  • Pray for those in authority at every level in our country, that they would govern wisely and justly.

Listen to Sermon

“The Study of God”
preached by Pastor Don Willeman

Confession of Faith

The Apostles’ Creed (circa 5th Century)

LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?

CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic** church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.

Amen.


*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”

Sharing Time

(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)

Song

(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST
(Jordan Kauflin)
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place.
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ.
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ.
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.
©2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) CCLI License #179117

Benediction

(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)

Luke 12:29-32

LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

PEOPLE: Amen!