The Way of Jesus | The Kingdom of Jesus | August 16

Sermon by Michael Bailey for August 16, 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 16, 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

Call to Worship - Scripture

Have someone read this scripture aloud:

Psalm 96 : 1 - 6

Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Songs

Pray

Have someone pray this aloud

Psalm 1:1-4

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

Father, Your word is truth, and Your truth is for our good. Open our ears to hear your voice. We need you. Amen.

Sermon

Song

Benediction

Read this aloud:

I will now read this prayer over us as we conclude:

May the grace of Christ, which daily renews us, and the love of God, which enables us to love all, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, which unites us in one body, make us eager to obey the will of God until we meet again, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Following Jesus in Pain and Chaos

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

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Emotionally Healthy Relationships by Peter Scazzero

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

Bible Verses on Oppression

"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.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Fight the Good Fight

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 say a fond farewell to our church planting candidate, Tim Olson, as he unpacks more of 1 Timothy 6.

Questions? Send us an email.

To stay up-to-date with Citizens Church go to their website to subscribe to their newsletter and their social media platforms.

1 Timothy | Fight the Good Fight | July 5

Sermon by Tim Olson for July 5, 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 5th, 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 98: 1 - 4
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
He has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Songs

Pray

Have someone pray aloud, asking for focus, and wisdom as we hear the Word being taught.

Sermon

Benediction

Have someone read this aloud:

Psalm 98: 6 - 9
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Amen

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Warnings to the Rich

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 once again by Pastor Michael Bailey as he unpacks more of 1 Timothy 6.

Questions? Send us an email.

Resources:

The Century of Self (documentary)

Simplicity over Complexity from Following Jesus Together

1 Timothy | Warnings to the Rich | June 28

Sermon by Michael Bailey for June 28, 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

June 28th, 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:

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Let us sing together, remembering and believing the good news of what God has done for us.

Songs

Practice: Thankfulness

Have someone read this aloud:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

As the family of God, we have so many things to thank God for, even in the midst of the hardest and darkest times in life.  Let’s take 30 seconds to pause, then share aloud the things we’re thankful for with each other.

Sermon

Benediction

Have someone pray this to close:

God, You are faithful to provide us with everything that we need, and in Your presence is the fullness of joy and life.  Teach us to trust you with all that we have.  Spirit be near to us as we seek to follow you.  Amen

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Godly Elders and Spiritual Authority

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 once again by Pastor Jon Ludovina as he unpacks more of 1 Timothy 5.

Questions? Send us an email.

1 Timothy | Godly Elders and Spiritual Authority | June 21

Sermon by Jon Ludovina for June 21, 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

June 21st, 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 96:1-6
Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Songs

Practice: Confess Together

Corporate confession is a way for us to lay down our individualism and join with other believers confessing the same thing, as one body in Christ.

Read this confession, from John 1, aloud with everyone present:

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light
We have fellowship with one another
And the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 
and the truth is not in us. 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 
To forgive us our sins 
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Amen

Sermon

Benediction

Have someone read this to close:

Acts 2:24–28 
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Amen

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Care for the Widows

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 Pastor Jon Ludovina as he unpacks more of 1 Timothy 5.

Questions? Send us an email.

Resources:

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

“We’re Not Wired to Be This Alone” by Frank Brunhi, The New York Times

Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton

1 Timothy | Care for the Widows | June 14

Sermon by Jon Ludovina for June 14, 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

June 14th, 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 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.

Song

Practice: Encourage one another

Read this aloud:

Hebrews 3:12-13

“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.”

Take 30 seconds to pray for a way you can encourage someone. How have you seen Jesus working in someone’s life recently? 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.

Song

Have someone pray this aloud:

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

Benediction

Have someone read this to close:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Guard Your Life and Doctrine

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 once again by church planter Tim Olson as he unpacks more of 1 Timothy 4.

Questions? Send us an email.

Resources/Quotes mentioned in this episode:

Check out FollowingJesusTogether.com for resources on how to walk with Jesus.

Also, check out Donald Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.