Welcome to our Online Church Gathering!
We're gathering online as a church family to worship God, hear from His Word, and to pray and talk together. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and make yourself comfortable!
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.’
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Prayer
Spend a few moments praying through the Psalm
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Praise God that he is our refuge and strength, meaning that we do not fear, even when it seems like the world is falling apart (v1-3).
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Praise God for His power and sovereignty over the whole world (v6, v8-9).
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Praise God that He is with us in all situations; our fortress and refuge (v1, v7, v11).
Let's Praise God Together!
Feel free to join in singing along at home, or just to listen. We've made sure to use lyric videos so the words will appear as the song plays.
Also available on this Spotify Playlist
Reflecting on the Psalm we’ve just read, these songs draw on themes of God as our strength, refuge and anchor throughout our suffering. Despite the situations going on around us, globally and personally, we can sing “It is well, with my soul” because as Christians we can always trust in God. Remember, God is with us in all situations, He is always faithful and He is always good.
It Is Well
You Never Let Go
Christ The Sure And Steady Anchor
Goodness Of God
Kid's Church
Our friends over at Hope Church have put together a great resource for kid's church with songs, games, colouring in sheets to print and a story.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Today's Sermon
Where is God in a Pandemic? (Romans 8:18-39)
Sermon by: Pete Gower
Reflection Questions
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Why is it important that we remember both God’s sovereignty (he is in control) and his goodness during times of trouble?
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How does the cross assure you of God’s love in times of suffering?
Why is it important that we remember both God’s sovereignty (he is in control) and his goodness during times of trouble?
How does the cross assure you of God’s love in times of suffering?
Let's Respond to God in Song
Use these songs to help you respond to what you've heard. Again, we've used lyric videos so the words will appear as the song plays.
Also available on this Spotify Playlist
These songs declare that He is our one defence, our righteousness, our cornerstone, our hope and that He is Lord of all. No matter how great the suffering, we can always put our trust in God.
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