Due to national emergency and state-wide ban on assembly amidst the spread of COVID-19, Citylight is unable to gather for corporate worship. Instead, we encourage you worship in your home–on your own or with family and friends. Below is a suggested order of worship with prayers, Scripture readings, songs and sermon.
order-of-service-for-March-22-1Download
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GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP
PRAYER:
Begin this time of home worship with prayer, thanking God for this opportunity to worship Him and asking God to focus your thoughts and affections to praise Him.
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CALL TO WORSHIP: Lamentations 3:19-26 (ESV)
- read together in unison
19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
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SONG: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (Austin Stone Worship)
VERSE 1:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
CHORUS:
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
VERSE 2:
I could not love Thee, so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises fell not to me.
Then without warning, desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee.
VERSE 3:
I have no merit to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy, how pleasing thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy.
VERSE 4:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
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SONG: “You Never Change” (Austin Stone Worship)
VERSE 1:
Oh may I run to no other refuge
No other rest for my soul
Oh may I drink from no other fountain
Where living waters will flow
PRE-CHORUS:
Jesus You're all I need (2X)
CHORUS:
You are my life may You be lifted high
There is no other like Jesus Christ
You are my story You're my everything
You are my glory my God and my King
You are my rock and You never change
VERSE 2:
No other power can break the darkness
No other hand that can save
Forever faithful Your love is stronger
I trust in no other name
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
My strength to stand all of my days are in Your hand
My light to see Your glory goes before me
My strength to stand all of my days are in Your hand
My light to see Your glory goes before me
My King You reign my rock and You never change
No You never change
CHORUS (2X)
You never change (repeat)
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PRAYER:
Spend several minutes in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in this. Here is a suggested approach to this time of prayer.
- praise and thanksgiving: Thank God for who He is — His presence, His character, His promises and His work.
- confession: Confess your sin to God and thank Him for the forgiveness which is ours in Christ Jesus. Confess any fear or anxiety and ask God for comfort and peace.
- petitions and supplications: Pray for God’s mercies in this time of pandemic. Pray for the sick and suffering. Pray for our leaders. Pray for medical professionals and first responders. Pray for those who are facing economic uncertainty.
- petitions and supplications: Pray to know God’s presence more in this time, to love and trust Jesus more. Pray that the church is revived by God’s Spirit and that many more come to saving faith in Christ.
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GOD SPEAKS TO US IN HIS WORD
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Romans 8:18-39 (ESV)
- have one or more read aloud
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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OLD TESTAMENT READING: Psalm 91 (ESV)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
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SERMON: “Protection in the Presence of God” (Psalm 91)
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DISCUSSION:
Home worship can also incorporate discussion like City Groups. Here are a few suggested questions:
- God cannot be fully explained in analogy, but the Scriptures give us many pictures to know God. What again are the pictures of God in this Psalm ? Which one or two are most striking to you this day? Explain.
- This is not touched upon in the sermon, but who quotes this Psalm in Luke 4:10-11 (cf. Matt. 4:6)? How is this Psalm misapplied there? How can we misinterpret and misapply this Psalm?
- Nevertheless, this Psalm does declare that there is protection in God’s presence for the one who trusts God. How then do understand this promise, especially in the revelation of Jesus Christ?
- How are you encouraged and challenged by God’s Word this day (Lam. 3, Rom. 8, Psalm)? What does it look like for you to be a doer of God’s Word (cf. James 1:22-23) in these days of trouble?
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GOD CALLS US TO RESPONSE
SONG: “My Hope Is Built” (Norton Hall Band)
VERSE 1:
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
REFRAIN:
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
VERSE 2:
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.
REFRAIN
VERSE 3:
His oath, his covenant, his blood
supports me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
REFRAIN
VERSE 4:
When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne!
REFRAIN
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SONG: “Yet Not I But Christ Through Me” (CityAlight)
VERSE 1:
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me
VERSE 2:
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me
VERSE 3:
No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me
VERSE 4:
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
ENDING:
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Yet not I but through Christ in me
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GIVING:
To worship in giving to the ministry of the gospel at Citylight, go HERE for instructions on how to give – https://citylightroanoke.com/give/.
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GOD SENDS US FOR WITNESS AND WORK IN THIS WORLD
SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
- have one aloud or read in unison
2 Corinthians 4:6 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank God for this time of worship, and ask Him for blessing into this new week of witness and work, especially in these days of uncertainty and trouble.
ENCOURAGEMENT:
In this day of social distancing, send a text or make a call, encouraging someone today in life and faith. Check in with someone who may be lonely or anxious. If you know someone with a need and you can fill, serve that person in the name of Christ, loving both in word and deed.