REDEEMER AT HOME
JANUARY 17, 2021
“Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is from God...”
—John, the son of Zebedee
Preparation
As a household, give yourselves a few moments to settle in. Take a few deep breaths. Check-in with yourself/household: name the thoughts that are filling your mind in this moment.
Take a few more deep breaths.
Rest in the grace of God that greets you in this moment.
Welcome
We're glad you're with us!
Call to Worship
Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
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In the Bible, God invites us to worship because it is not our natural impulse to come to Him. Still He calls, reminding us of His pursuing love. May we respond out of gratitude.
Opening Prayer
God, all love is your love. Show us the grand and unchanging scope of your love today; shape us to love more like you; and give us the grace to rest in your love, Jesus.
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Prayer is simply conversation with God. Our worship is filled with prayer as we seek to know and delight in our Father.
Song of Hope
Receive and reflect on the words to this song
1. Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole
Chorus: Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end
2. Jesus! What a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my victory wins (Repeat chorus)
3. Jesus! What a help in sorrow!
While the billows o’er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul (Repeat chorus)
4. Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine (Repeat chorus)
Words & music: Matthew Smith
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Music at Redeemer is comprised of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19) that lend poetic voice to our deepest emotions: praise and thanksgiving, anger and sorrow, hope and joy. We sing because we believe God is with us— present in our worship, both receiving and inhabiting the praises of his people.
What is Biblical love?
"The word 'love' is one of the sloppiest words in our language...In the New Testament, 'love' refers to a way of treating people that was defined by Jesus himself."
Song of Hope
Receive and embrace the words to this song
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
...
Music at Redeemer is comprised of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19) that lend poetic voice to our deepest emotions: praise and thanksgiving, anger and sorrow, hope and joy. We sing because we believe God is with us— present in our worship, both receiving and inhabiting the praises of his people.
Prayer of Confession
Before you begin, remember that Jesus was born to show you the Father's love. Nothing you can say or confess will change His love for you! What a gift—what a joy!
Merciful God,
in your gracious presence
we confess our sin and the sin of this world.
Although Christ is among us as our peace,
we are a people divided against ourselves
as we cling to the values of a broken world.
The self-priority and self-gain we pursue
lay waste to our friendships and pollute our communities.
The fears and jealousies that we harbor
sow distrust and set neighbor against neighbor.
We neglect your good gifts of gentleness and curiosity, of love and kindness,
and replace them with self-serving, self-destructing behaviors.
Lord, have mercy upon us;
heal and forgive us.
Set us free to serve you in the world
as agents of your redeeming love in Jesus Christ.
adapted from The Worship Sourcebook (2nd Edition)
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This prayer helps us bring the most shame-filled parts of our hearts and lives to Jesus. Although God already knows everything about us, when we confess to him our wrong, we experience afresh his unending forgiveness and welcome.
Assurance of Grace
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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The assurance is a powerful reminder that God always has grace for the wayward. He never leaves us in our sin. For all who trust in Jesus, this grace is assuredly and undoubtedly yours. Sin is not powerful enough to sway God's love and grace for you.
Scripture
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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Since the earliest days of Christianity, followers of Jesus have read Scripture as part of their worship. We believe God meets us in His word and that we are people who need to be shaped by this encounter.
Message
Brought to you by Paul Ranheim, Formation and Creativity Pastor at Redeemer Longmont
Reflection
Taking time to slowly and prayerfully ponder the scripture passage.
Pause for a minute to take stock of your loves:
- Who is easy for you to love?
- Who is difficult to love?
- Where are you more prone to condemn or ignore than to love?
- How do you think God—who "so loved the world that he gave his son"—loves these particular people/areas?
Then, pray for the Spirit to cultivate love in you for these areas. God delights in filling your heart and life with his love!
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For centuries, Christians have found a variety of ways to slow down and consider God and His word. Especially if this is an unfamiliar practice, we encourage you try being present in this way, asking the Holy Spirit to fill the sacred moment.
Song of Reflection
Sing and reflect upon the words to this song.
1. Let us be known by our love
In every word, in every deed honor the Son
Let our light shine in every eye
Let us be known by our love
(Chorus) For the glory of the Father
For the glory of the Son
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our love
2. Let us be known by our joy
In every home, in every heart sing to the Lord
Let our life show goodness and hope
Let us be known by our joy (Repeat chorus)
3. Let us be known by our peace
In every town, in every tribe Jesus is King
Let us go forth, heal and restore
Let us be known by our peace (Repeat chorus)
Words and Music: Liturgical Folk
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Music at Redeemer is comprised of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19) that lend poetic voice to our deepest emotional expressions: praise and thanksgiving, anger and sorrow, hope and joy. We sing because we believe God is with us— present in our worship, both receiving and inhabiting the praises of his people.
Song of Sending
Allow the words of this song to send you in love!
1. O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be
2. O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshines blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be
3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be
4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be
...
Music at Redeemer is comprised of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19) that lend poetic voice to our deepest emotional expressions: praise and thanksgiving, anger and sorrow, hope and joy. We sing because we believe God is with us— present in our worship, both receiving and inhabiting the praises of his people.
Benediction
Based on 1 Samuel 1:8
Now may He who raises the poor from the dust,
The needy from the ash heap;
And makes them sit with nobles
And inherit a seat of honor,
Bear you through troubled days,
To you who trust in God’s unchanging love.
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God gets the final word of our service—and it is one of grace. Receive this blessing from the mouth and heart of our Father.
Sources: ESV Bible, NLT Bible, The Message
© 2020 Redeemer Longmont