Worship Guide for Sunday, APRIL 19TH

For information on these worship guides & instructions on how to access Kingdom Kids curriculum, please click HERE.

Tips for Working through the Order of Worship

We encourage that someone takes the lead in prompting through the prayers, reading, and discussion questions below, as many sections will have a “leader” and a response by “everyone.” Accordingly, each participant is encouraged to follow along on their own device (or displaying this on a screen everyone can see). *Underlined Text is meant to be read together, corporately. Links to the songs have been provided if they would be useful for singing together.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

CALL TO WORSHIP

SINGING
Only King Forever
(Elevation Worship)

Lyrics:

RESPONSIVE READING
This excerpt comes from from the Heidelberg Catechism (learn more here and here), written in 1563 with a particular focus on how the doctrines of the Christian faith provide comfort & hope to believers.

Leader: What do you believe when you say, "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth"?

Everyone:  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son.

I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world.

God is able to do this because he is almighty God, and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.

SCRIPTURE READING
Ephesians 1:3-14
*Note: Scripture reading also available in the sermon video

SERMON
"God the Father Almighty" (Ephesians 1:3-14)
*We encourage you to corporately read along with The Apostles’ Creed in the video

DISCUSSION & PRAYER

Based on Ephesians 1:3-14 & Pastor Ian’s Sermon, discuss the following questions:

1. How does the doctrine of the Trinity help you understand God’s character & nature as Father?

2. How is our adoption in Christ an encouragement to you in this season right now?

3. How does God being our Almighty Father influence the way that we ought to pray? Do your prayers currently reflect this reality?

Spend a few minutes praying together for the following:

• Pray that we would be a community that turns to our Heavenly Father for hope and security in this time of uncertainty and difficultly.

• Pray that we would live in a way that reflects our spiritual adoption in Christ & that we would be full of thanksgiving in being children of God.

• Continue to pray for the Lord to slow the spread of the virus, to heal the sick, to protect those on the front lines of health care, and for leaders making difficult decisions in our city, state, & country.

CONFESSION OF SIN, COMMUNION, & ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*The Lord’s Supper is a meal instituted by Jesus for his followers to specifically remember his death on our behalf (see Matt. 26:26-28 & 1 Cor. 11: 23-26). Partaking in the bread and the cup together is a reminder of where our hope is rooted, and prepares us for the marriage supper of the Lamb that is to come in the New Heavens & the New Earth. Accordingly, only Christians (and Christians with a clear conscience) should partake in this meal. A confession of sin & assurance of pardon bookend communion below to capture our need and response to the death of Jesus.

CONFESSION OF SIN
(Isaiah 53, Psalm 51)

Leader: We all, like sheep, have gone astray. We have all turned to our own way. We have sinned and have been the cause of Christ’s suffering. Please forgive us, we pray.

Everyone: Remove the sins that distance us from you and from those we love and care about. Remove our selfishness, our pride, our envy, and our greed. Remove from us our thoughtless acts and words that hurt one another. Remove from us the tendency to hurt others out of revenge and anger. Please, forgive us. Create in us a clean heart, O Lord. And renew in us a right spirit. Amen.

COMMUNION

Leader:
The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON
(Hebrews 10, Jeremiah 31)

Leader: In the name of the compassionate Christ, you are forgiven. For God has declared, “I forgive your evil ways and remember your sins no more!”

Everyone: Thanks be to God!

SINGING
Give Me Faith
(Elevation Worship)

Lyrics:

BENEDICTION

GIVING

In this unique & difficult time, it's important to remember that the Lord is still at work. We anticipate there being many ministry needs and opportunities in the coming days and weeks. As you are able, consider giving to support the mission & vision of The King’s Church.