Gathering Liturgy | August 9
CALL TO WORSHIP
Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him victory. The Lord has made his victory known; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen our God’s victory. Let the whole earth shout to the Lord; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing. Sing to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and melodious song. With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout triumphantly in the presence of the Lord, our King. Let the sea and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it, resound. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains shout together for joy before the Lord. (From Psalm 98)
SONG | Tis So Sweet
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
I prayed to the Eternal One my God, praising His greatness and confessing our sins: Lord God, You are great and awesome! You are always faithful to the covenant You made with us. Your unfailing love extends to all who love You and keep Your commandments. But we have sinned and wronged You. We have acted wickedly in our rebellion, going so far as to disregard Your commandments and regulations. But You, O Lord our God, still show us compassion and forgiveness even though we have openly rebelled against You. We have not obeyed the voice of the Eternal our God. (From Daniel 9)
If we go around bragging, “We have no sin,” then we are fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth. But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. (1 John 1.8-9; The Voice)
SONG | Touch the Sky
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason, God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2.5-11)
SONG | None But Jesus
SCRIPTURE READING
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”
“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
“Lord,” said Philip, “Show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14.1-14)
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
SERMON - TRUST VS. MISTRUST | Notes
Trust you will know and experience the (presence) of Jesus during your life.
Isaiah 53:3; John 14:1
Jesus followers will spend (eternity) with him in the presence of the Father.John 14:2-4
“This is the next life’s most simple, compact, intimate, and adequate definition.” - Dale Bruner
Jesus is the way that we (enter into) the presence of God.
John 14:5-7; Psalm 25:8-12; John 1:14
Through trusting Jesus, we can (experience) the presence of God (today)!
Jesus promises that his followers will do great (works) in his name.
Jesus will do whatever his disciple (ask) in his name.
"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." - William Carey
John 14:12-14; John 1:18
Jesus offers us the (peace) of his presence for our troubled hearts.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, 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, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11.23-26)
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
(For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.”
(For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.”
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
SONG | Good Good Father
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GIVING
Builders Meeting, tonight at 6:00 pm through Zoom.
We will talk about some adjustments we are going to make.
We have a few big announcements and things to celebrate with you all.
And we will spend time encouraging one another and praying.
Stay updated through the Weekly.
In the Weekly, you’ll get some news from New Circle as well as items like the Midweek Meditation. Christopher produces this 10 minutes video each week to help you meditate upon the Scripture that we will be focusing on the following Sunday as a way to prepare your heart and mind.
You also will find links to information from NCC Kids. NCC Kids is sending Weekday Devotions to all of the families in our church. If you want to receive them and are not please reach out to Amy. And if anyone would like to help us be able to have age-specific class meetings over Zoom for our students please let Amy know as well.
If you do not receive it you can text “NewCircle” to 66866 to sign-up.
Examine takes place now each Saturday at 10:00 am through Zoom.
BENEDICTION
Mirror Image, Indelible, Irremovable, Unerasable, Unforgettable, Enduring, Endearing, Undoing, Unmistakable, Likeness, Exact image, Lasting Impression, Very Nature. “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” (Ben Witherington)
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1.1-4)
Peace be with you! And also with you!
