Even though we cannot worship together in person, we still believe we can and should worship together in spirit. Therefore, as we meet in our own homes, let us commit ourselves to reading, singing and praying together as a church family.
In order to get the most of our worship we need to approach it with the right attitude and expectation. We want to humble ourselves before our Lord in these difficult days, and we want to enter His presence with joy and expectant hearts. To help in this regard we offer these suggestions:
Prepare: Take a few moments to pray and prepare. Get out of bed, get dressed, and get your mind ready to worship. Before the livestream starts, make sure everything is ready (the livestream, Bibles, notes etc).
Gather: If you are with your family, gather them all together with as little distractions as possible. Turn off other social media and background noise and focus on the time of worship.
Engage: In the various scripture readings and prayers included below, be intentional of including the whole family. Take turns reading and encourage everyone to pray. It is important to be engaged and responsive when we come to worship.
Sing: There will be time to sing as we worship in our homes. Although it may seem ‘awkward’ at first, don’t be scared to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Remember we are singing together before the Lord, He is the object of our worship.
Rejoice: Let there be reverence, but let there also be joy! Although we are scattered, our God is with us, and He pleased when we meet to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Presenting Ourselves to The Lord
Read and pray Romans 6:13 as we humble ourselves before the Lord.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx9-0v9m2Sg[/embedyt]Reading: John 11:1-53
Questions
- What do we learn about Jesus in these verses? What stands out about Him?
- According to Jesus, what purpose did Lazarus’ sickness have? How should this change the way we see suffering and sickness?
- What did Martha believe about the resurrection? Is having resurrection life only available to us on the last day or can it be enjoyed now? If so, how?
- Read John 1:4, Acts 3:15, and Hebrews 7:16. What, in these verses, is a definitive attribute of Jesus? What does this truth teach us about who He is and what He has come to do?
- To what kind of life are we raised to in Christ? (To help read Romans 6:4, Ephesians 2:4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 14:7-9, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 4:8-11, John 16:22; John 17:3)
For further study
- Read Genesis 3:15, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Matthew 12:28, Luke 4:18-19 and Luke 10:18. What victory has Jesus come to accomplish?
- Read Colossians 2:13-15 and Hebrews 2:14-15. What has Jesus done to achieve this victory? How does the Lazarus event point to this victory?
- This victory might not seem total. Read Ephesians 6:10–18, 1 Peter 5:8–9, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14. How do we reconcile these verses with the above passages?
- Finally, read Romans 16:20 and Revelation 5:9–14. What do these verses say regarding Jesus’ conquest over death and the powers of darkness, and how do they offer us hope in what has been accomplished through the work of Christ Jesus?
A Promise to Remember
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
ROMANS 8:11
Prayer
- Pray over what you have learnt today.
- Pray for one another (e.g. spiritual and physical wellbeing).
- Pray for the church (e.g. the leadership, the sick, the elderly).
- Pray for our country at this time (e.g. wisdom, safety, unity).
- Pray for your neighbours or unsaved friends or family.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c6pl6CaiD0[/embedyt]O LOVER TO THE UTTERMOST,
May I read the meltings of thy heart to me
in the manger of thy birth, in the garden of thy agony,
in the cross of thy suffering, in the tomb of thy resurrection,
in the heaven of thy intercession.–
I think of thy glory and my vileness,
thy majesty and my meanness, thy beauty and my deformity,
thy purity and my filth, thy righteousness and my iniquity.–
Thou hast loved me everlastingly, unchangeably,
may I love thee as I am loved;
Thou hast given thyself for me,
may I give myself to thee;
Thou hast died for me, may I live to thee,
in every moment of my time,
in every movement of my mind,
in every pulse of my heart.–
May I never dally with the world and its allurements,
but walk by thy side, listen to thy voice, be clothed with thy graces,
and adorned with thy righteousness.–
THE VALLEY OF VISION, CHRIST IS ALL.
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible
EPHESIANS 6:23-24
Resources
RC Sproul “Knowing Christ: The I AM sayings of Jesus” (Video)
Ebenezer Erskine (1680-1754) “Christ The Resurrection and The Life”