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
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.Psalm 86:8-10
Songs of Invitation
Confession of Sin
God of grace and truth,
in Jesus Christ you came among us
as light shining in darkness.
We confess that we have not welcomed the light,
or trusted the good news to be good.
We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst,
expecting little, and hoping for less.
Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope,
so that we may receive the fullness of your grace,
and live in the truth of Christ the Lord.
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 23
Q: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
A: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective.
Community News
Game time after service
Will Tam will be hosting a mafia-like game after service on Sunday, 21 December. If you’re free, stay around and join in the fun!
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.
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.
Important Dates
| December 7 | Covenant prayer corner 8:30am @ Christ College |
| December 7 | Receiving Judy into membership During service @ Christ College |
| December 13 | Christmas carols outreach 5pm @ Burwood Presbyterian Church |
| December 25 | Combined Christmas service 9.30am @ Burwood Presbyterian Church |
Membership
Membership vows
- Do you reaffirm your faith in God as your Heavenly Father, in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and in the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier?
- Do you promise to submit to the authority of the local elders as they exercise pastoral oversight in this congregation?
- Do you promise to persevere in the diligent use of the means of grace, to seek the peace and welfare of the church, and faithfully to support its work and worship?
Membership welcome
In the name of the Lord Jesus the only King and Head of the Church and by authority of the Session we welcome you to the work and worship of this congregation and pledge to you our Christian fellowship. Thus united, we pray that all of us may grow into the likeness of Christ, being faithful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bible Reading
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Outline
Children of God
1 John 2:28-3:10
Josh
Introduction: Identity is Everything
1. Don’t be discouraged: Five confirmations that you are God’s child!
Confirmation 1: you take after your Father
Confirmation 2: you are growing yourself in purity
Confirmation 3: you have a new relationship to sin
Confirmation 4: you have the indwelling Holy Spirit
Confirmation 5: you practise costly love
Implications
2. Don’t be deceived! Three marks of a child of the devil
Mark 1: the practice of sin
Mark 2: the practice of lawlessness
Mark 3: the absence of costly love
Implications…
3. The Son of God appeared…
To take away the guilt of sins
To take away the practice of sins
To destroy the works of the devil
Implications…
Conclusion: The gospel call
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
Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Romans 16:25-27