Sunday, March 22, 2020

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home - March 22, 2020

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home


$          Home Worship Guide
$          Church Family News
$          More Help for Parents

Introduction

Dear Church Family,

I wish we were meeting together tomorrow morning in person, but we’re going to have to wait.

I think this deprivation, however, is a good opportunity for each of our families to worship in our own homes. The early church often met in homes, and thousands of churches across the world still do every week! I hope that each of our families make the most of this opportunity and help revive this ancient practice even after this public health crisis has passed.

Worship at home is not just for families with small children. Every household no matter what size or what age can take part. And it can be more interactive. The smaller the group, the easier it is! I’m hoping that each family hears the voice of each family member tomorrow.

We’ve created a simple 8 step guide for home worship. Feel free to modify it for your household: add, subtract, use the good websites or Christian TV/Radio to supplement. There are lots of resources out there, and I’m glad to recommend some great ones.

I’ve given a few ideas and pointers for each step in the plan.

I’ve also recorded a short message and posted it on YouTube and Facebook that gets us all on the same page. Let’s join each other in the “comments section” as our virtual foyer to discuss the message afterwards!

We’re going to have to do it this way again next Sunday, as well, so please give us your suggestions of what we can do improve this resource and to help your family worship our Lord.

Pick a time now to gather your household to worship the Lord Jesus Christ!

In His Grip,

- Pastor Matt

P.S. Don’t be afraid to sing! Nobody is listening but you and your God (and He gave you that voice!). If you need help, look up the songs on YouTube or Spotify, but don’t just listen; sing!

Home Worship Guide

           
1. Call to Worship

            Have someone read Psalm 95:1-7.

            Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2. Worship in Singing

            As a household sing, “O Worship the King” by Robert Grant (1883).

            O worship the King all-glorious above,
            O gratefully sing his power and his love:
            our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
            pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

            O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
            whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
            His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
            and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

            Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
            It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
            it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
            and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

            Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
            in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
            Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
            our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

            O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
            whom angels delight to worship above!
            Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
            in true adoration shall sing to your praise!
            

3. Worship in Thanksgiving

The Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Have each member of the household share at least one thing they are thankful for this week.

            Put what your family is thankful for in the “comment” section of the video!

4. Worship in Bible Memorization

            As a family recite our “Hide the Word” verse for this Spring: Matthew 28:18-20.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
           
5. Worship in Prayer

            Take prayer requests and pray for each other.

Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

6. Worship in the Word

Watch or read Pastor Matt’s short message “I Always Pray with Joy” from Philippians 1:1-11. Follow along in your Bible.

Some families (especially with teens) will want to watch the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.

In the message, Pastor Matt encouraged us to brainstorm wise ways to love others as a family this week. “How can we be a blessing?”

            Message Notes

            1. _______________________ In the Gospel.

            2. _______________________ of God’s Work.

            3. _______________________ for Smart Love.


  
7. Worship in Singing

Sing “In ChristAlone” (Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2002)
             

8. Sent Out to Serve
Have someone pray for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and look into a week of opportunities and challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.



More Help for Parents



Church at Home by Minno                            


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