Worship at home service – 13 September 2020

There is no gathered worship service at Tawa Baptist this Sunday 13 September 2020, due to the ban on gatherings over 100 people. We encourage you to have church at your place instead. Following is a suggested format for a ‘do it yourself’ worship service at home. 

Call to Worship

You may like to light a candle as a reminder that Christ is present and read this prayer…

Almighty God, you are the author of life, the ground of our being and the giver of meaning. We come before in the strong name of Jesus, our Saviour and our friend. Make us mindful of your presence as we focus on you. 

Sung Worship

Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – just google them on YouTube or download on Spotify. Today’s songs were chosen by Ewan.

♫         Come let us sing for joy to the Lord              

♫         Everyone needs compassion (Mighty to Save)        

Offering

Take this opportunity to make your financial offering to the Lord by on-line banking to your local church &/or a charitable organisation who support the poor.

Nominate someone to pray the following prayer…

Lord Jesus, you are the way, the truth and the life. In you we find a pattern and purpose for living. We thank you for the many ways you visit us with your grace. Open the door of our hearts and minds to receive the good things you want to give. And open our mouths and hands to bless others as you have blessed us. Amen.   

Scripture Reading

Read aloud the following verses from Matthew 16:13-18…

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it.

May the Lord bless the reading of His word.

Intercessory Prayer

This week’s prayer was prepared by Ewan. You may want to take turns reading paragraphs of the prayer out loud or nominate someone with you to lead the prayer…

Dear Lord,

We have been told to bring our prayers and intercessions to you because you care for us.  As we seek to share your love with others, we come before you now with our concerns and thanks.

We give you our thanks for the good outcome for those of our fellowship who have recently had surgery.  With so much going wrong in our world, we are grateful for such positive news.  We ask that you would continue to strengthen and heal those in our church who are not in good health.

We see so much turmoil in the world at the present time, Lord, and we ask that you would intervene.  There are those who worship you who do not understand that it was your love that sent Jesus to save us, and that we are called to love those around us.  Covid-19 has up-ended society across the world and turned people to think more of themselves than of others. 

We ask that you would guide our government in its planning and decision making so that New Zealand may minimise the impact of the virus.  We see evidence of poor governance elsewhere in the world, and we ask that you would show compassion for countries that are suffering badly from it.

We note too the dreadful fires in Lesbos and the western USA.  Beirut is also continuing to suffer after the explosion.  There is little that we as individuals can do to help in these issues, but you have the power and love to intervene. 

We ask, Lord, that you would work through your people across the world and move them to show your love to those in need.  You loved the world so much that you sent your Son to bring us eternal life.  Your people, world wide, need to continue to bring love to all who are in need.

Our Father, we bring our prayer to you in the name of Jesus, that we may be part of the love you have for our world.

Amen

More Sung Worship

Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – just google them on YouTube or download on Spotify.

♫         Father in heaven how we love you                

♫         Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise

♫         God and God Alone               

Sermon

You can either read the sermon notes, found on the ‘2020 Sermons’ page of this website, or listen to an audio recording of the sermon via the following link:

Closing Song

Listen and/or sing along to the following song – just google on YouTube or download on Spotify.

♫         Cornerstone (My hope is built on nothing less…)     

Benediction

 ‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you his peace. Amen.’