These are extraordinary times. Though we are unable to gather together for worship this morning due to the precautions surrounding COVID-19, we still have an opportunity to worship at home, and as we each do so, we do so together, united in spirit as we seek God together. Follow through this post, pausing to think about each reading, listening to each song, praying at the appropriate times, and listening to the recorded message, for a personal or family worship time at home. Please note - there is information at the bottom of this resource about how to give in this time.
To all who are weary and in need of rest;
to all who mourn and long for comfort;
to all who feel lost and worthless and wonder if God even cares;
to all who fall and desire victory;
to all who sin and need a Saviour;
to all who hunger and thirst for righteousness;
And to whoever else will come,
We offer welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ:
the friend of sinners,
the lover of his enemies,
the defender of the weak, and
the justifier of those who have no excuses left!
(The welcome from Immanuel Nashville)
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, Our Lord Jesus,
On this Lord’s day,
We take this time out of our day,
Though we could be doing any number of things,
To seek You,
To worship You,
To know You.
Refresh us by Your love,
Restore us by Your grace.
We come to You this morning.
Call to Worship
Psalm 150
Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary.
Praise him in his mighty expanse.
Praise him for his powerful acts;
praise him for his abundant greatness.
Praise him with trumpet blast;
praise him with harp and lyre.
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and flute.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;
praise him with clashing cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the LORD.
Hallelujah!
We take joy in the Lord our salvation, our strength. Listen and sing along to this medley of “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” and “Joyful, Joyful”
Deuteronomy 10: 14, 17-21:
The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the LORD your God, as does the earth and everything in it… the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing. You are also to love the resident alien, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt. You are to fear the LORD your God and worship him. Remain faithful to him and take oaths in his name. He is your praise and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awe-inspiring works your eyes have seen.
See our God. See Him reigning. See His love for us. See Him bringing us safely home. See His faithfulness. See the great things He has done and put your confidence to Him.
As you consider who God is and what He has done, listen and sing along to “Behold Our God”
Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore him
Confession of Sin, Assurance of Forgiveness
“If we say, ‘We have no sin,‘ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)
Our Lord God,
Holy is Your name, Your whole being. You are pure and completely righteous. We sin. How we need Your cleansing work, Your righteous-making work, in us.
Lord, give us eyes to see ourselves honestly and clearly.
Give us eyes to see our sin,
Hard as it may be for us to see.
Much as we might want to justify ourselves,
Humble us, that we may see our sin for what it is:
Vile, abhorrent to you, bringing destruction and death.
Help us to see our sinful nature,
At war with the Spirit in us.
Reveal our sin.
Lord, we confess our sin… (At this moment, take some time to confess particular sin).
“If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 2:1-2)
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for bearing the condemnation and punishment for my sin. We praise You for Your mercy and grace for us!
Listen to “Jesus, Thank You”:
By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end
Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
Prayer Time
Reader 1: Lord, I appeal to you.
My God I trust in you…
Reader 2: No one who waits for you
will be disgraced.
1: Make your ways known to me, Lord;
teach me your paths.
2: Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation ;
1: I wait for you all day long.
Remember, Lord, your compassion
2: and your faithful love,
for they have existed from antiquity.
All: God, redeem Your people from all all our distresses.
(from Psalm 25)
Lord, Your faithful love and compassion have existed from forever past. That’s the love and compassion You have for us today. We can be confident in You! We can be confident in You, moreover, because Jesus has saved us and brought us safe in Your care.
So as we worship from home, in the midst of social distancing or sheltering at home, we remember that though our circumstances are new, and we may feel afflicted, Your mercies are also brand new every morning. Lord, in our distresses and anxieties and concerns, remind us of Your faithful love and good compassion!
With that in mind, we pray…
(At this moment, take time to pray for specific prayer needs on your heart).
Lord, thank You for Your faithful love and compassion -
We pray all these things in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Message
First, watch this brief video dramatizing the story of Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi from Acts 16:16-26
Philippians 1:1-11
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
As We Go
Consider:
-How can we treasure one another, even though we are social-distancing?
-How can we encourage one another with what God is doing, even in hard circumstances?
-Whose spiritual maturity will you pray for today?
May we see God at work in us,
May we fix our eyes on Him,
May He lead us in this time.
As we close, listen to “Be Thou My Vision”
Grace to you
and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen. (Philippians 1:2)
Giving
Kingsboro
You can give by e-transfer at kingsborobaptist [at] gmail.com. As well, you can mail or drop off offerings at Kingsboro Baptist Church, 3055 East Point Road, Kingsboro, PE, C0A 2B0. We have set up a box there at the entrance for you to put your offering envelopes.
South Lake
Please forward offerings by mail to Lilian Humphrey at 367 Munns Road, Kingsboro, PE C0A 2B0 OR if you would prefer to make other arrangements, please contact Lilian by phone or private message to set this up.