Author: S

  • Never Alone In Mission

    Welcome

    Thank you for joining us in gathered worship today!

    At Covenant, we are a church that is bound to God and to each other by grace, growing and serving together in love, and living and sharing the hope that we have in Jesus.

    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. 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.

    Our service is shaped by the Bible—God’s Word to us. Because of that, our worship follows a shared pattern each week. Christians sometimes call this pattern a “liturgy.”

    “Liturgy” simply means “the work of the people.” It reminds us that worship isn’t a performance or a product—it’s something we participate in together. Throughout the service, you’ll have chances to join in with prayers and spoken responses, and you’re warmly invited to take part.

    We hope your time with us serves to encourage and fill you with hope and joy. 

    Call to Worship

    I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
    I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

    Psalm 9:1–2

    Songs of Invitation

    Confession of Sin

    Holy God,
    we confess that we do not revere you as we should.
    In our daily lives, we are prone to neglect you, we often disobey you,
    and we fail to treasure you above all things. Though we stand guilty and condemned,
    we praise you that Christ bore the penalty of our transgressions against you. Lead us to reject our wayward ways.

    Work in us through your Holy Spirit, and let not the passions of the flesh
    nor the lust of our mind bring our spirit into slavery. May we yearn once again to live as obedient children, loving you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
    In His precious name, we pray,

    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

    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 Catecism

    New City Catechism for Kids – Question 27

    Q: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?

    A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith.

    Community News

    Covenant Session summary reports

    Covenant Session summary reports are available for meetings up to 16 Feb 2026. Please use this link to access: https://covenantchurch.com.au/aka/sessionsummary

    Covenant 2026 calendar

    Want to know what is going on at our church this year? Please visit and subscribe to the Covenant 2026 calendar: https://www.covenantchurch.com.au/calendar/

    We would love for you to journey and plan your calendar with us.

    Important Dates

    March 8ChurchLife Hub
    After service @ Christ College
    March 21Easter in the Park
    10am @ Burwood Park
    March 22Annual Congregational Meeting
    After service @ Christ College

    Bible Reading

    Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)

    Acts 16:1-15 (NIV)

    All: Thanks be to God.

    Sermon Outline

    Never Alone In Mission

    Acts 13:1-3, 16:1-15

    Joshua S

    1. Mission bonds us together in Christ

    2. Mission builds the Church

    3. Mission is an invitation

    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

    Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

    Colossians 3:16-17
  • Children of God

    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 7Covenant prayer corner
    8:30am @ Christ College
    December 7Receiving Judy into membership
    During service @ Christ College
    December 13Christmas carols outreach
    5pm @ Burwood Presbyterian Church
    December 25Combined 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

    1. 1 John 2:28-3:10 ESV
    2. Romans 8:12-17 ESV

    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