Category: House Church Series

Our Struggle

24/8/2022

Sentence:

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness”. Ephesians 6:12

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 6:10–20
Luke 10:17-20

Questions:

Read Ephesians 6:10-20.
What does it mean to be 'in the Lord'?
Where do the various parts of armour come from and how do we 'put them on'?
Discuss each 'piece of the armour - describe what they involve, examples of how this is a character of God
Discuss which part of the armour you might need to work on and what you might do to develop in that area

Be imitators of God as dearly loved children

14/8/2022

Sentence

"Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15–16

Collect

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings

Apologies there is no live recording of this service but you can listen to the sermon via the audio link below:

Questions

1. Recall some of the encounters Jesus had with people (on slide 4 I had Jesus meeting Zacchaeus, Jesus Washing feet and Jesus with the woman caught in adultery….there are others of course ) and discuss under what ‘ministry’ each of the encounters would come.

2. The Bishop’s response to Jean Valjean is based around Luke 6:30b. Apart from the Lord’s injunction to be merciful, which the bishop would be endeavouring to imitate, what in his encounter with Valjean would have helped him to make the decision he did? What does this say to us in our encounters with people?
3. Discuss ‘Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect’. Matthew 5:48. We know that this is impossible so what is God asking of us?.

Putting Away

3/8/2022

Sentence:

“So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 4:17-24
Ephesians 4:25-32
John 6:35, 41–5

Questions:

Inerrancy

13/7/2022

Sentence:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus
you call us together and send us out as a new family,
formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Deuteronomy 32:45-47
2 Timothy 3:14-17
John 1:1-5

Questions:

Discuss any problems you have with the bible - it could be the content of particular passages, the way it has come together, etc. Note any common ones for further study. In the same way, discuss the things you appreciate about the bible.
In what ways does scripture itself claim to be God's word? Think both Old and New Testament
Discuss this quote, 'Denying biblical infallibility thus exchanges manageable problems in the text for unmanageable perplexities in theology and spiritual life.' What issues are we finding difficult to navigate at the moment in terms of our understanding of God and our current cultural context?
What is an area of biblical study that you would like to engage in further? What will you do to engage in that?

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Philippians 2

15/6/2022

Sentence:

‘If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2

Collect:

God of all authority, enable us to hear your call and do what you ask of us. Forgive us for judging others, help us to embrace the outcast and the downtrodden. Transform our lives so that everything we do may proclaim your generous love. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Bible Readings:

Philippians 2:1-18
Philippians 2:19-30
Mark 15:16-20

Quick Links:

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LITURGY

COMMUNION

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Children's Resources:

ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS
Check out this week's Bible Explore for a children's talk, craft and activities based around Te Pouhere.

A Tale of Two Cities

18/5/2022

Sentence:

"And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God." Revelation 21:10

Collect:

Alleluia, King Eternal; grace and wholeness show your glory: deliver us from sin’s oppression; free us from despair; and have us stand to reflect the glory of Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings:

Revelation 22:10, 22-22:5
John 14:23-29

Questions:

Discuss your understanding of the book of Revelation. How does the context, as described in chapter 1, affect how we read the letter.
Name some of the ways our society manifests aspects of Babylon today
What practices and ways of thinking might God be calling you to distance yourself from at the moment?
What practices will you commit to that represent the way of Jesus?

Quick Links:

RESOURCES

LITURGY

COMMUNION

MUSIC

Music Resources

PRAYER

Prayer Resources

HEALTH & SAFETY

Children's Resources:

VIDEO:

Overview: Revelation 12-22 (for older kids - shown above)
Book of Revelation for Kids - Revelation 21 & 22

ACTIVITIES

The Future is Now!

11/5/2022

Sentence:

Then the one sitting on the throne said: I am making everything new." Revelation 21:5

Collect:

Alleluia, God Eternal; love marks your presence. Plant in us your love, nurture in us your likeness, and let us reflect your glory. For you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings:

Revelation 21:1–6
Acts 11:1–18

Due to technical issues we were unable to livestream this service. An audio recording will be available on our "sermons" tab from the 17th of May 2022.

Questions:

Revelation is often seen as prophetic writing. Is this true? How is it relevant to today?
How do you respond to the image of Jesus being like a Kinstugi potter?
Read Psalm 31:12. In what ways are we like broken pottery?

Quick Links:

Quick Links:RESOURCES

LITURGY

COMMUNION

MUSIC

Music Resources

PRAYER

Prayer Resources

HEALTH & SAFETY

Children's Resources

RESOURCES:

Making Things New Lesson Plan and activities
Revelation 21 Bible Study Quiz
Visit Bible Explore for more resources

Palm Sunday 2022

6/4/2022

Sentence:

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Luke 19:38

Collect:

May God our Creator, walk with us during this season of Lent. May we enter more deeply into the passion of Jesus and come to depend more completely on his Spirit, that we may live a life that shines with the light of the resurrected Christ. Amen.

Readings:

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29
Luke 19:28–40

NOTE: There will be no prerecorded message this week. Please skip to the sermon section of the Livestream 9am on Sunday. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Questions:

How are you coming back to worship? Celebrating or ….?
What are you expecting/hoping for going forward?
What is a 'kingdom' thing that could come out of this?

Quick Links

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LITURGY

COMMUNION

MUSIC

Music Resources

PRAYER

Prayer Resources

HEALTH & SAFETY

Children's Resources

VIDEOS:

The Story of Easter - The Triumphal Entry (shown above)
How to make a Harakeke (Flax) Cross

ACTIVITIES & CRAFT:

Visit Bible Explore for a range of fabulous activities, including how to make Palm Sundaes, chalk printed palm leaves, donkey masks and palm leaves.

The Saviour We Need

10/3/2022

Sentence

"Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord". Luke 13:35b

Collect

May God our Creator, walk with us during this season of Lent. May we enter more deeply into the passion of Jesus and come to depend more completely on his Spirit, that we may live a life that shines with the light of the resurrected Christ. Amen

Readings

Questions

What is a negative experience you have had lately? Sometimes these things are just bad but can you talk about a time when they served God's purpose?
Share a time when you witnessed someone standing up for an unpopular truth and discuss how they went about it.
Discuss a time when you have had a wrong perspective and were confronted with it. How did you respond?
How might we know we are under the form of judgement of being left to our own devices? What might our response be to that?
Can you state what God is doing in your life at the moment? In the life of the church, the town or our nation?

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LITURGY

COMMUNION

MUSIC

Music Resources

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HEALTH & SAFETY

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VIDEO:

As a Hen Gathers Her Chicks

ACTIVITIES:

CRAFT:

Sunday 20th February - The Character of the Disciple

16/2/2022

Sentence

And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5

Collect

God of welcome, we encounter you in those different from us; enlarge the tent of our lives to embrace both friend and foe, so that we grow to be more like you; through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings

Sermon

Questions

When was the last time you were in a conflict situation
What are some things that help in conflict situations - to remain in the room, to be open and kind?
What are you seeing in terms of God’s purposes at this time - what is the good he intends?
What might God be calling you to do to be part of that?

Quick Links

RESOURCES

LITURGY

COMMUNION

MUSIC

Music Resources

PRAYER

Prayer Resources

HEALTH & SAFETY

Children's Resources

Video:

Joseph Forgives His Brothers

Activities:

Craft:

We have a variety of tools that we are working on to help small groups 'connect'. These include activities that you can choose to do together as a small group worship service.
Remember that these are simply a starting point for your small group - you may discover other tools or activities that suit you better. If you do discover something fabulous, please share it so others may also be encouraged.

We thank the Diocese of Wellington for their work in forming the framework for the house church liturgy.

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