REDEEMER AT HOME
JANUARY 3, 2021
“Yielding to God's will can be hard.
And sometimes, it really hurts.
But it always brings peace.”
—John Perkins
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.
Now listen as God invites you to worship and know Him.
Welcome
We're glad you're with us!
Call to Worship
Amos 5:4
Thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live."
Come and worship the God of life!
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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, our souls find rest in you because you are our Savior, our Healer, and our Life. Please capture our affections this morning with your generous love. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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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
Listen and reflect upon the words to this song.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation
Come, all you hear, now to His temple draw near
Join me in glad adoration
Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning
Sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
Sent by his gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriends you
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee
Op'ning to the Sun above
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee
Op'ning to the Sun above
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him
Let the Amen sound from His people again
Gladly forever adore Him
Words: Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth Music: Traditional
Words: Henry Van Dyke. Music: Ludwig van Beethoven
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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 Peace?
The Bible uses multiple words to talk about the peace Jesus brings. This little video helps unpack their meaning in their original context.
Song of Reflection
Listen and reflect upon the words to this song.
Verse 1:
You heard the cry of our hearts
And You came down
Freely You gave us Your love
Showing us how
Pre-Chorus
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me shine light and
Chorus:
May Your love cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
Verse 2:
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You're calling
Pre-Chorus
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me shine light and
Chorus:
May Your love cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
Bridge:
Hope for the hopeless, Your love is
Strength in our weakness, Your love is
May we love, as You love
Ending:
May we love, as You love
May we love, as You love
Music by the Brilliance
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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.
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!
Our Father,
Forgive us for not loving as you love.
[Pause to reflect and silently confess]
Faithful God,
enable us to receive your love all the more deeply
That we, being filled with your love,
might be an aroma of grace to those around us.
Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
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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
based on 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24a
This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good.
Know that in Christ you are forgiven and given His peace.
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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.
Setting the Stage
A written meditation from Justin Chappell
As we round the corner on a new year, it’s customary to reflect on what’s behind us and make resolutions for what’s ahead. This time of year usually holds a renewed sense of hope and wonder for many of us. We say things like: "this is the year that I lose those 25 lbs," or "this is the year that we’ll grow our family," or "this is the year I’ll confront my fear of _____."
Resolutions are both inspiring and insightful. More than just a good idea for the year ahead, they are little markers that highlight where we long for peace and wholeness in our life. They function like a little flag that pops up and says, “Hey! Over here! This is a place in my life that could use a little work and some good news!”
But resolutions can be exhausting too. Many of us prefer to pass on the whole resolution thing because we get tired of watching our longings for good things fade into the distance. But what if we looked at this differently? What if the resolutions and longings that greet us to start a new year are actual desires for peace and wholeness in a life that’s filled with disruption and brokenness? If that were the case, then we’d need some assurances that we didn’t have to hold ourselves or our resolutions together (because we all know how good we are at holding a new year’s resolution together for 12 months).
Such hope and assurance is on display in Colossians 1:15-20.
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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.
Scripture
Colossians 1:15-20
"[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
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For centuries, Christians have gathered to hear God's word preached, explained, and applied. We believe the word of God contained in the Bible are words of life, joy, and true freedom.
Reflection
Taking time to slowly and prayerfully ponder the scripture passage.
Take a couple minutes to discuss these questions:
- If you had to make a resolution for 2021, what would it be?
- What are the deeper longings behind your resolution?
Re-read Colossians 1:15-20. Meditate on these realities:
- Jesus was active in making all things and he is active in holding all things together — which includes you! Consider where your resolutions for 2021 are attempts to hold yourself together. Rest in Jesus’ ability to hold you together; savor the peace that comes from this rest.
- Jesus has made, and continues to make, peace (shalom). Consider where your resolutions for 2021 are longings for peace between you and God, you and someone else, you and your body, you and work. Rest, knowing that Jesus gives you his peace. Ask Jesus to make peace in the areas of your life most needing it right now.
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Since early in Christianity, followers of Jesus have developed numerous 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.
Prompted Prayer
Take a few minutes to pray, using the following prompts as a guide.
- For a heart that pursues peace over self-protection or being right
- For your enemies and those who would seek your harm
- For the ability to trust Jesus in holding you, and everything around you, together
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We pray for ourselves, our community, and our world because God asks us to. Pray not only reaches God's loving ears, but also changes our hearts to love what he loves.
Song of Reflection
Listen and reflect upon the words to this song.
Verse 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 / joy / peace
Verse 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
Verse 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
Words and Music: © 2015 Matt Armstrong, Ryan Flanigan, Micah Massey, Nate Moore
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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.
Benediction
Romans 5:1 & 15:13
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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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