PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE
A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARK:
We recognize that family worship has its unique challenges depending on your family’s size and stage of life. Therefore, we have prepared a complete worship service (below) for our entire church family because we are convinced that Sunday is so much more than a sermon. And this is one way for us to be worshiping the same way even though we are apart.
We suggest that you test the worship and sermon links before you gather your family. After you have done this, we encourage the leader of the house to read the prayers and appoint other readers as necessary to encourage greatest participation.
After the sermon is over, we encourage you to discuss the sermon and ways to live out its application.
covid-19 and christian conscience
TEXT: romans 14:1-12
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE (6.7.2020)
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Let us turn our hearts to the Lord in worship, praising him for all that he is and has done…
Psalms 145:1–4
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
OPENING WORSHIP:
“Blessed Be Your Name”
“Behold Our God”
affirmation:
Revelation 5:6-10
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Worship:
“His Mercy Is More”
prayer of lament:
Oh God we stand in need of mercy. We need you to act in compassion toward us!
As we gather today, we are reminded of the many people in our nation who have gotten sick, died, or lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus. Many feel uncertain, anxious, or depressed. Many are lonely. Many do not know when they will be able to return to work. There is confusion and disagreement on how best to reopen. Many are upset with decisions being made by public officials.
Lord have mercy!
And in the midst of this crisis we are again confronted with injustice in our society. We grieve that George Floyd died while in the hands of those who are called to protect and defend life. We grieve for his family and friends. We lament the reality that many minorities feel insecure around law enforcement. And we lament that their concerns are not due to one isolated incident.
Oh God we pray for justice to be done, for the wrongs to be punished, for equal treatment to prevail. Your word says that “The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed” (Psalm 103:6). Lead our nation in paths of righteousness. May the voices of those who have peacefully protested move the heart of our nation toward truth and justice. We need your intervention!
Lord have mercy!
And Lord we grieve today for those whose businesses and lives have been destroyed due to senseless looting. Many who were already in pain are now hurting even more! Bring restoration and healing. Correct the injustice of those who have exploited this painful time as a chance to incite violence.
And for the honorable police officers who daily seek justice, and who are now paying the price for others’ offenses, would you give them strength to move forward in love.
Lord have mercy!
And Lord we remind ourselves that in the midst of chaos and confusion, you offer lasting hope and peace. The world is not as it should be, nor will it remain this way forever. Lord, we pray, sovereignly move history along the course you have set. Bring the New Creation! End the misery of this world. And in the time that remains would you draw many to yourself!
WORSHIP:
“Is He Worthy”
Prayer :
Lord we are told that your word is, “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). As we come now to hear your word explained and applied, would you please expose the true condition of our hearts? Would you reveal areas of pride and self-reliance, places of misplaced trust and false hope. Show us ways in which we are harboring unforgiveness or bitterness or secret sin. Then Lord we pray that you would apply the sweet salve of your grace to the area of need so that it might heal and make us whole. Do this by your Spirit as your Word is proclaimed! Amen.
READ SERMON TEXT:
Romans 14:1-12
SERMON:
Pastor Mark Kernan
COVID 19 and Christian Conscience
Main Point: Differences of opinion between fellow believers should never cause division within the local church
Three Questions:
I. Who are these weak people?
II. What is the conflict?
III. How did Paul think the church should solve the problem?
Three Principles:
1. God always appeals to the mature believer first when it comes to issues of opinion. (14:1)
2. Disagreements over Christian freedom should never result in divisiveness. (14:3)
3. Diverse practices that are motivated by the glory of God and do not violate the revealed will of God should never divide the people of God. (14:4–12)
CLOSING WORSHIP:
“Great is Thy Faithfulness”