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. As well, there are copies of Our Daily Bread in the front entrance of the church.
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,
As we come to the end of one week
And the beginning of another,
Enjoying Your good creation around us,
Working faithfully in the tasks You’ve given,
We look to You.
We look to You for Your faithful love,
Your strength and help,
Your good care and rest.
We turn our gaze to You,
We love You - You first loved us.
Show us more of Yourself,
Draw us to know You more deeply,
To love You more faithfully,
To grow in Your likeness more fully.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Worship
Psalm 146:1–6, 10
Hallelujah! My soul, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing to my God as long as I live.
Do not trust in nobles,
in a son of man, who cannot save.
When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground;
on that day his plans die.
Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in them.
He remains faithful forever,
The Lord reigns forever;
Zion, your God reigns for all generations.
Hallelujah!
As we consider our Maker, our King, our Faithful & Loving God, we sing with creation - worship to “Creation Sings the Father’s Song.”
Titus 3:4-7
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
We rejoice that Jesus has saved us - at great cost to Himself, His very own blood. He is alive today, and brings us forgiveness of sin, new life, reconciliation with Him - our salvation. We rejoice as we sing, “Nothing but the Blood.”
Prayer Time
Lord our God,
Mighty God, Everlasting God, Sovereign God,
Faithful God, Good God, Compassionate God,
All too often we forget you,
Go our own way,
Trust our own instincts,
Our own strength and wisdom,
What our own eyes can see.
That lands us in all different kinds of trouble, for we sin, we do not naturally love You.
All we like sheep have gone astray, gone our own way, and that leads to destruction.
Lord our God,
Forgive our sin,
Bring us back from our waywardness; we repent.
Thank You for the cross,
For Jesus who died in our place,
That we may be declared not guilty,
That we may be reconciled to You,
That we may have new birth, new life,
That we may have a new nature, the Spirit living in us,
A new heart that loves You.
Lord, we love You;
help us love You more wholeheartedly,
More purely, more fully,
And trust You,
Your strength,
Your wisdom,
Your working in us
In all things.
At this time, bring specific requests on your heart to God in prayer.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
We seek and serve a God who loves us,
Will never leave or forsake us,
Who is faithful and good,
And who will holy us fast.
Worship and sing to “He Will Hold Me Fast”
Message
In your Bible, read Philippians 3:12-4:1
Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.
Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.
So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
Questions for thought:
-How do you see growth in your Christian life over the past while?
-How do we know Jesus? How can we deepen our relationship with Him?
-What about heaven do you look forward to? How can we grow more “homesick” for heaven?
-How can we reflect Jesus in our daily moments and tasks? In response to various circumstances?
As We Go
We’re called to follow Jesus day by day for the rest of our days, loving Him, growing to know Him more, growing more in His character, likeness, the fruit of the Spirit, seeking Him each day.
As we close, worship and sing to this medley of familiar songs about following Jesus:
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will do it.
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.