Welcome to the Midtown Midweek, a resource to equip you to be with Jesus and become more like Him as we continue the conversation from Sunday’s teaching.
Questions? Send us an email.
Greetings From 2020 | Following Jesus in Pain and Chaos | August 9
Sermon by Jon Ludovina for August 9, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Worship Guide
August 9, 2020
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Pray
Have someone pray for your time together, or read this prayer aloud:
Jesus, help us focus our hearts and minds on You during our time together. Help us to remember that You are with us by Your Spirit. Help us to sing, remembering the truth about who You are and who You’ve called us to be.
Call to Worship - Scripture
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Song
Song
Pray: Have someone pray this aloud
Jesus, Your words are truth. Help us to hear the truth and respond in love and obedience. Amen.
Sermon
Song
Benediction
Have someone pray this aloud to close:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen.
Kidtown and Student Guides
Midweek Podcast | Following Jesus in a Cancel Culture
Welcome to the Midtown Midweek, a resource to equip you to be with Jesus and become more like Him as we continue the conversation from Sunday’s teaching.
Questions? Send us an email at teaching@midtowncolumbia.com
Resources mentioned
Greetings From 2020 | Following Jesus in a Cancel Culture | August 2
Sermon by Adam Gibson for August 2, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Worship Guide
August 2nd, 2020
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Pray
Have someone pray for your time together, or read this prayer aloud:
Dear Lord, focus our attention and our hearts. Let our time be a blessing to You and to us. Help us grow in unity and understanding together.
Call to Worship
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
The call to worship for today is from Psalm 103
Psalm 103:8, 13-14, 17-18
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Song
Song
Pray
Read this aloud:
Philippians 4:6 says do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Lord, thank you that we can bring all our anxiety and frustrations to you. Remind us that we are made family and friends with you. Open our ears and our hearts today as we hear your word. Calm our restless hearts with your Spirit. Help us focus and rest in these next moments, amen.
Sermon
Song
Benediction
Everyone read this prayer aloud:
Father God,
Be with us this week,
As we seek Your kingdom here in Columbia
Jesus Christ,
Be glorified in our lives,
As we remember, we are secure in You
Let your Holy Spirit,
Remind us of Your truth often,
and move us to love our neighbors, as Christ has loved us
Amen.
Kidtown and Student Guides
Midweek Podcast | Following Jesus in the Midst of Injustice
Welcome to the Midtown Midweek, a resource to equip you to be with Jesus and become more like Him as we continue the conversation from Sunday’s teaching.
Questions? Send us an email.
Resources
"When Racial Justice Meets Spiritual Practices" from Following Jesus Together (Spotify | iTunes | Google Play)
Generous Justice by Tim Keller
Social Justice, Critical Theory, and Christianity by Neil Shenvi
Greetings From 2020 | Following Jesus in the Midst of Injustice | July 26
Sermon by Michael Bailey for July 26, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Worship Guide
July 26, 2020
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
We invite you to stand as you sing, to help position yourself to be engaged and focused as you participate in the gathering of God’s people.
Call to Worship
Have someone read this scripture aloud to begin:
Psalm 9:1-2
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Let’s sing of the greatness of our God with thankfulness in our hearts for what He’s done.
Song
Practice: REFLECT AND REJOICE
Take a minute to sit in silence and reflect on the past week. What can you praise God for in the midst of this season?
After a few moments, if you are participating with others, ask specific people to share what came to mind.
After sharing, have someone pray, or read this aloud:
Father, thank you for how you continue to provide and show up in the mess of this life. Help us always remember your provision and the depth of your love for us. Father you are all we need, you are everything.
Song
Pray: Have someone pray this aloud
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may hear your Word with joy. Amen.
Sermon
Song
Benediction
Have someone pray this aloud to close:
Help us, Lord, that what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and that what we believe in our hearts we may practice in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Kidtown and Student Guides
Midweek Podcast | Following Jesus in a Polarizing Political Climate
Welcome to the Midtown Midweek, a resource to equip you to be with Jesus and become more like Him as we continue the conversation from Sunday’s teaching.
Questions? Send us an email.
Resources
Following Jesus Together the Podcast (iTunes | Spotify | Google Play)
Christ and Culture by Richard Niebuhr
Christ and Culture Revisited by D.A. Carson
Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel by Russell Moore
Greetings From 2020 | Following Jesus in a Polarizing Political Climate | July 19
Sermon by Jake Blair for July 19, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Worship Guide
July 19, 2020
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
We invite you to stand as you sing, to help position yourself to be engaged and focused as you participate in the gathering of God’s people.
Call to Worship
Have someone read this scripture aloud to begin:
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Let us sing this morning remembering God’s grace and goodness.
Song
Practice: ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Read this aloud:
Hebrews 3 says: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
After this next song we’re going to take a couple of minutes to encourage those with you. How have you seen Jesus working in someone’s life recently? During this next song think of at least one way you can encourage someone in your life.
Song
Now, take some time to text them, and tell them why you’re thankful for them. If you have others in the room with you (physically or virtually), pray for specific ways you can encourage them.
Pray: Father God, you have spoken to us through your Son. Let your written Word now be spoken and heard by each of us. Give us ears to hear and hearts to understand. Amen.
Sermon
Song
Benediction
Father God, help us to remember that You are alive today and active wherever we find ourselves. Remind us of the good news and reality of the Gospel. Amen.
Kidtown and Student Guides
Midweek Podcast | Hardship & Glory
Welcome to the Midtown Midweek, a resource to equip you to be with Jesus and become more like Him as we continue the conversation from Sunday’s teaching.
This week we’re joined by Midtown Lexington pastor Brandon Clements as we start our new teaching series.
Questions? Send us an email.
Greetings From 2020 | Hardship & Glory | July 12
Sermon by Brandon Clements for July 12, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Worship Guide
July 12, 2020
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
We invite you to stand as you sing, to help position yourself to be engaged and focused as you participate in the gathering of God’s people.
Call to Worship
Have someone read this scripture aloud to begin:
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Song
Practice: Lament
Have someone read this aloud:
Psalm 13:1-4
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long will I store up anxious concerns within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?
Consider me and answer, Lord my God.
Restore brightness to my eyes;
otherwise, I will sleep in death.
My enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,”
and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
The world is broken. Things are not the way they should be, and we can talk to God about that. In Psalm 13, David is reckoning with how things are broken in his life, and he brings those things honestly to God. Following in David’s form, let’s take a couple minutes to lament in prayer to God the things that we’re sad, angry, or confused about.
(Take 2 minutes to pray silently)
Have someone pray this to close: Lord, have mercy on us. Lead us through Your word and Spirit to trust you.
Amen
Read Scripture and Pray for the Sermon:
Have someone read this scripture aloud and pray
1 Peter 2:9-12
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may hear your Word with joy. Amen.
SERMON
Reflection: Trust & Follow
Psalm 13:5-6
But I have trusted in your faithful love;
my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
I will sing to the Lord
because he has treated me generously.
Just as David recognized the brokenness in his life and the world around him, he turned in the Psalm to trust God and sing. As we reflect on God’s word and sing, let’s remember that in the midst of all the brokenness, we can trust in God’s faithful love and believe that He will one day make everything right.
Song
Benediction
Help us, Lord, that what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and that what we believe in our hearts we may practice in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.