Guide for Home Worship
April 19, 2020
The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday. To access the recorded songs and sermon, use the embedded audio players in each section.
Please note: the song and sermon audio may not be available until Saturday evening.
Printable Worship Guide
Printable Children’s Bulletin
Time of Reflection
“The best way out is always through.”
~ Robert Frost (1874-1963), American poet
“I was taught the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.”
~ Marie Curie (1867-1934), French physicist and two-time winner of the Nobel Prize
“One of the most interesting and remarkable things Christians learn is that laughter does not exclude weeping. Christian joy is not an escape from sorrow. Pain and hardship still come, but they are unable to drive out the happiness of the redeemed.”
“The central reality for Christians is the personal, unalterable, persevering commitment God makes to us. Perseverance is not the result of our determination, it is the result of God’s faithfulness. We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous, because God sticks with us.”
~ Eugene Peterson (1932-2018), American minister and author
“While other worldviews lead us to sit in the midst of life’s joys, foreseeing the coming sorrows, Christianity empowers its people to sit in the midst of this world’s sorrows, tasting the coming joy.”
~ Tim Keller (1950-present), American pastor, theologian and Christian apologist
“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
~ Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), renowned English preacher and pastor
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955), physicist and developer of the theory of relativity
“And when finally the bottom fell out
I became withdrawn
The only thing I knew how to do
Was to keep on keepin’ on
Like a bird that flew
Tangled up in blue.”~ Bob Dylan (1941-present), excerpt from Tangled Up In Blue
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Romans 5:1-8 (ESV)
LEADER: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
PEOPLE: Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
LEADER: Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character
PEOPLE: And character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
LEADER: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
PEOPLE: For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group or sing along to recorded versions)
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
(John Rippon, Joseph Funk, 1787)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame will not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose.
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
PUBLIC DOMAIN
RESPONSIVE READING: Adapted from 1 Peter 1
LEADER: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
PEOPLE: According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
LEADER: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
ALL: Though we have not seen him, we love him. Though we do not now see him, we believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of your souls.
HOUSE OF GOD FOREVER
(Jon Foreman)
God is my shepherd,
I won’t be wanting,
I won’t be wanting.
He makes me rest in fields of green,
With quiet streams.
Even though I walk through the valley
Of death and dying,
I will not fear ‘cause You are with me,
You are with me.
CHORUS:
Your shepherd’s staff, comforts me,
You are my feast in the presence of enemies,
Surely goodness will follow me
Follow me
In the house of God forever.
God is my shepherd,
I won’t be wanting,
I won’t be wanting.
He makes me rest in fields of green,
By quiet streams.
Even while I’m walking through the valley
Of death and dying,
I will not fear ‘cause You are with me,
You’re always with me.
(CHORUS)
©2008 Rubadub Rublishing Publishing 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)
- What has “perseverance” looked like for you during this current pandemic?
- In light of that last question, how have you seen God using these challenges in your own life or in the lives of others?
- Consider ways that we can be praising God for these things?
Prayer Time
(have an open time of prayer or appoint one or two to pray)
- Confess your sins and struggles as God leads
- Knowing that He’s a Father to us, express your needs to Him
- Offer Him your praise and thanksgiving
Listen to Sermon
“A Faith That Works Through Perseverance”
preached by Pastor Doug Cooper
James 1:2-4, 12 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Confession of Faith
Adapted from The Belgic Confession (1561), Article 16
LEADER: What do you believe about your Savior Jesus Christ?
CONGREGATION: We believe that we have no access to God but through our Mediator and Advocate Jesus Christ who became man, having united in one person the divine and human natures. Who else is there in heaven or on earth that loves us more than Jesus Christ? Though he was in the form of God, he made himself of no reputation, and took the form of a man and of a servant for us, and was made like us in all things. Where could we go to find a God that loves us as much as this—a God who laid down his life for us, even when we were his enemies? Who is there that has so much power and majesty, indeed all power in heaven and on earth, and yet cares for us so much?
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Song
(sing as a group 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 #1791178