Author: Jon Pratt

  • Blessed are the Peacemakers

    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

    Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.

    Psalm 16:2

    Songs of Invitation

    Confession of Sin

    Lord God, we humbly plead with you to forgive us of our many sins and failures.
    Blot them out. Wash away each guilty stain in the blood of Jesus who died for our forgiveness. Remove our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.

    And having forgiven us, change us, sanctify us through and through, remove our desire to sin, take from us that spirit of rebellion which is our great weakness, and replace it with a spirit of glad and willing surrender to all your perfect will. In Jesus’ name

    All: Amen!

    Word of Assurance

    Blessed is the one, whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
    Blessed is the one, whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

    Psalm 32:1-2

    Congregational Prayer

    Offering

    Regular giving to support our ministry as a gospel partner can be made by direct deposit into our account.

    Account Name: Covenant Presbyterian Church

    BSB: 032 060

    Account: 663 486

    Weekly Catechism

    New City Catechism for Kids – Question 22

    Q: Why must the Redeemer be truly human?

    A: That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin.

    Community News

    Covenant Session summary reports
    Covenant Session summary reports are available for meetings up to 2 Nov 2025. Please use this link to access: https://covenantchurch.com.au/aka/sessionsummary

    Ministry Update 2025-26
    The elders will be holding a Ministry Update after service on Sunday, 30 November. This will be an opportunity for us to give thanks for how God has led us through 2025 and to look ahead to 2026. We will also be holding a Q&A.

    Please send in any questions via our feedback form: https://covenantchurch.com.au/aka/feedback

    Christmas carols outreach with BPC
    Burwood Presbyterian Church (BPC) has invited us to participate in their Christmas outreach on Saturday, 13 December, starting from 5pm. There will be carols, food, crafts, games and gifts. You are welcome to come and invite friends and family along.

    BPC is also looking for helpers for games and craft, welcomers, evangelism, and set-up and security. If you would like to help, please let one of the elders know by 21 November.

    Combined Christmas service
    The BPC and Covenant Sessions held a friendly meeting on 10 November to discuss partnership opportunities. We have agreed to hold a combined Christmas service at the BPC site. We look forward to seeing our regulars and newcomers coming together to hear the good news this Christmas.

    Covenant sermons available as podcasts
    Jayden has kindly set up a podcast feed for Covenant sermons. You can now access sermons on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or add the following feed URL to your favourite podcast client. Find out how to follow us, or listen online here! https://www.covenantchurch.com.au/sermons/

    Important Dates

    November 30Covenant Ministry Update 2025-26
    After service @ Christ College
    December 7Covenant prayer corner
    8:30am @ Christ College
    December 13Christmas carols outreach
    5pm @ Burwood Presbyterian Church
    December 25Combined Christmas service
    9.30am @ Burwood Presbyterian Church

    Bible Reading

    1. Matthew 5:21-26 NIV
    2. Numbers 35:9-29 NIV

    All: Thanks be to God.

    Sermon Outline

    Blessed are the Peacemakers

    Matthew 5:21-26

    Jon Pratt

    1. Anger and God’s law

    2. Anger and God’s judgment

    3. Anger and God’s reconciliation Spiritual Zion

    Songs in Response

    Apostle’s Creed

    I believe in God the Father Almighty
    Creator of heaven and earth.
    I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord;
    Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
    Born of the Virgin Mary,
    Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    Was crucified, dead, and buried;
    He descended to the dead;
    On the third day he rose from the dead;
    He ascended into heaven,
    and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
    From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Spirit;
    the holy catholic [universal] Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body;
    and the life everlasting.
    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