Welcome
Thank you for joining us in gathered worship today! At Covenant, we believe that true hope, joy, meaning, and redemption is found in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we hope that you will be moved towards greater love for Jesus and one another as we pause to praise, pray, and ponder under God’s Word.
The emphasis throughout our Sunday service is that worship is all about God. We gather to worship Him. Our gathered worship is that it is foundationally and fundamentally about God. In our service, we will: worship our Heavenly Father for his miraculous deeds, bear witness to Jesus Christ the Son and the hope he brings through his death and resurrection, be moved to engage with the mission of God through the power of the Holy Spirit as we wait for the return of Christ. All of these activities of worshipping, witnessing, and waiting will be shaped and formed by God’s divine revelation as it is given to us in Holy Scripture.
Our understanding of Scripture, God’s divine action, and theology will shape the flow of our service. Therefore, our worship service is “liturgical” and what you hold before you is our weekly liturgical document. Originating from Greek, this word means, “work of the people”. This means our service is both corporate and communal in nature. We are not individual consumers of a product, but join others in community to participate together in engaging with God. At different points in the service, there will be opportunities to join the liturgy, and we encourage you to enthusiastically participate in these corporate moments of response.
We hope your time with us serves to encourage and fill you with hope and joy.
Call to Worship
No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.
Jeremiah 10:6-7
Songs of Invitation
Confession of Sin
O Gracious God
Please forgive us, we pray.
Remove the sins that distance us from you and from those we love and care about. Remove our selfishness, our pride, our envy, and our greed.
Remove from us our thoughtless acts and words that hurt one another.
Remove from us the tendency to hurt others out of revenge and anger.
Forgive us please.
Create in us a clean heart, O Lord.
And renew in us a right spirit.
All: Amen!
Word of Assurance
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
Congregational Prayer
Offering
Weekly Catechism
New City Catechism for Kids – Question 17
Q: What is idolatry?
A: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator.
Community News
Covenant Preliminary Vision and Values now available
Session is pleased to release a document setting out the preliminary vision and values that we have been working on for the last two months. Thank you for your patience and prayers. To access the document, click the link below:
https://covenantchurch.com.au/aka/vision
Save the Date for our Big Day In!
Block out your calendars for the following: Saturday 25 October 4pm to late; Sunday 26 October 8am to 3pm. Planning for our Big Day In is underway!
Sunday school and Extreme teachers/helpers
Every parent wants the children and youth of Covenant to come to a saving relationship in Christ and to know God in his word. We need more members of the Covenant family to teach and help at Sunday school and Extreme. Please see Robyn, Gloria, Jayden, Caroline or Dan for more details.
Zachary Lam’s baptism and lunch
Zachary Lam will be getting baptised on Sunday, 28 September during the Sunday service. Danny and Jess will be opening up their home after the service for lunch. Everyone is warmly invited to the baptism as we formally welcome Zachary into our covenant family, as well as to the lunch afterwards. More details to come.
Important Dates
| September 14 | Vision and Values Q&A After service @ Christ College |
| September 19 | Praise & Prayer evening 7:30pm @ La Lune Market, North Strathfield |
| September 28 | Zachary Lam’s baptism During service @ Christ College |
| October 25 | Big Day In (Day 1) 4pm @ Christ College |
| October 26 | Big Day In (Day 2) 8am to 3pm @ Christ College |
Bible Reading
- 1 Peter 2 NIV
- 1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Outline
Steadfastness, a Virtue
1 Peter 2, 5:10-11
Warren Chan
Boat with ballast
Steadfastness and BAU
Gospel Truths
- Holy purpose
- Prestigious status
- Delight of God
Applications
- Crave
- Cultivate
Songs in Response
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.Numbers 6:24-26