The Way of Jesus | The Practice of Prayer | October 25

Sermon by Brandon Clements for October 25, 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

October 25, 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.

Call to Worship - Scripture

Have someone read this scripture aloud:

Exodus 34:6b-7a

The Lord, the Lord, is God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…

Song

Pray

Have someone pray for your time.

Sermon

Songs

Benediction

Have someone read this aloud to close:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | The Right Kind of Notice

This week we’re joined by Michael Bailey as he unpacks more of this week’s sermon. Plus, Michael shares his favorite thing about Columbia right now.

Questions? Send us an email.

Quotes/Resources mentioned

Dallas Willard

“The kind of people who have been so transformed by their daily walk with God that good deeds naturally flow from their character are precisely the kind of people whose left hand would not notice what their right hand is doing. As, for example, when driving one’s own car or speaking one’s native language. What they do they do naturally, often automatically, simply because of what they are pervasively and internally. These are people who do not have to invest a lot of reflection in doing good for others. Their deeds are “in secret” no matter who is watching, for they are absorbed in love of God and of those around them. They hardly notice their own deed, and rarely remember it.”

Recapturing the Wonder by Mike Cosper

Also check out our series resources

The Way of Jesus | The Right Kind of Notice | October 18

Sermon by Michael Bailey for October 18, 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

October 18, 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.

Call to Worship - Scripture

Have someone read this scripture aloud to begin:

Romans 8:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.

Let’s sing and confess our need for God’s grace, and proclaim His provision and mercy for us.

Songs

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.”

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.

Sermon

Song

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 | On Enemy Love

This week we’re joined by Jake Blair as he unpacks more of this week’s sermon. Plus, Jake shares his favorite thing about Columbia right now.

Questions? Send us an email.

Quotes/Resources mentioned

Justin Martyr

We who formerly treasured money and possessions more than anything else now hand over everything we have to a treasury for all and share it with everyone who needs it. We who formerly hated and murdered one another and did not even share our hearth with those of a different tribe because of their customs, now, after Christ’s appearance, live together and share the same table. Now we pray for our enemies and try to win those who hate us unjustly so that they too may live in accordance with Christ’s wonderful teachings, that they too may enter into the expectation, that they too may receive the same good things that we will receive from God, the ruler of the universe.

Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan Pennington

"Tough Texts with Todd: Psalm 137 and Dashing Babies" - Food Trucks in Babylon podcast

“Try Jesus” - Tobe Nwigwe

Also, check out our series resources

The Way of Jesus | On Enemy Love | October 11

Sermon by Jake Blair for October 11, 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

October 11, 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.

Call to Worship - Scripture

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 lightWe have fellowship with one anotherAnd 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

Song

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 | On Retaliation and Becoming People of Peace

This week we’re joined by Pastor Allen Tipping as he unpacks more of this week’s sermon. Plus, Allen shares his favorite thing about Columbia right now.

Questions? Send us an email.

 Also, check out our series resources

The Way of Jesus | On Retaliation and Becoming People of Peace | October 4

Sermon by Allen Tipping for October 4, 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

October 4, 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

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: 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. Choose at least two people to share.

Song

Sermon

Song

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 | On Integrity and Becoming Truth-Tellers

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.

 Also, check out our series resources

The Way of Jesus | On Integrity and Becoming Truth-Tellers | September 27

Sermon by Brandon Clements for September 27, 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

September 27, 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

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Songs

Practice

Pray aloud together.  We learned in our 1 Timothy study of the power of prayer and how God uses it to bring about His purposes in the world.  Take 30 seconds to 1 minute to pray for God’s kingdom to come into the world.  You can pray for the healing of someone who is sick, a neighbor or friend to come to know Jesus, and anything in between.  If you are gathering with more than one person, give multiple people an opportunity to pray. Pick one person to open the time of prayer and then have another designated to end prayer.

Sermon

Song

Benediction

Have one person read this aloud, and everyone else is invited to read aloud with them.

Creator and Mighty God,
You have promised strength for the weak, 
Rest for the laborers, light for the way, grace for the trials, 
Help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love. 
Creator and Mighty God, 
Help us to continue in Your promise. 
Amen.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | On Lust & Objectification

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.

Recommended Resources

Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible by David Instone-Brewer

Divorce and Remarriage in the Church by David Instone-Brewer

The Way of Jesus | On Lust & Objectification | September 20

Sermon by Michael Bailey for September 20, 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

September 20, 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

1 Peter 1:3-5 says,

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

Pray

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

Sermon

Song

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 | From Murderers to Reconcilers

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.

Recommended Resources

Sign up for the Fall round of Recovery here

Digging Deeper chart

Practice Journaling

Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith

Good and Angry by David Powlison

What is Jesus Was Serious? by Skye Jethani

The Way of Jesus | From Murderers to Reconcilers | September 13

Sermon by Jon Ludovina for September 13, 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

September 13, 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 one person read the confession below, and a different person read the scripture of assurance that follows:

Confession

Most merciful God, we confess
That we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, 
By what we have done, and by what we have left undone. 

We have not loved you with our whole heart; 
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, 
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; 
That we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, 
To the glory of your Name. Amen.

Assurance

Psalm 103:8, 10-12
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Songs

Pray

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

Sermon

Song

Benediction

Have someone read this aloud:

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

Excerpts from Galatians 5 
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Lord help us walk in Your Spirit, forgiving one another, and seeking reconciliation. Lord give us the strength to repent, and root out any anger or frustration, that ultimately keeps us from You. Amen.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | Jesus and the Bible

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.

Recommended Resources

“Why Sinai Still Matters” (podcast episode from Food Trucks in Babylon)

To begin learning about how to the Bible works, check out The Bible Project

We also did a sermon in the Spring on the Law, that you can check out here

Some verses on biblical rewards - Mt. 5:12, 2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Cor. 3:8-15, Luke 19:11-27, Luke 12:33-34, Mt. 6:19-21

“Christian Responsibility and Mosaic Law” (article by The Village Church)

The Way of Jesus | Jesus and the Bible | September 6

This study of this gospel account aims to equip Christians and churches to trust and follow Jesus.

Sermon by Jon Ludovina for September 6, 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

September 6, 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 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

Let’s sing the words of scripture together, and pray that the Truth shapes our hearts through it.

Songs

Pray

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

Sermon

Song

Benediction

Have someone 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 | Salt and Light

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.

Recommended Resources

Y’all Bible Translation

"Willow Creek: 'We’ve Really Upset the Christ-Centered People’" from The Gospel Coalition

Reveal Where are You? by Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson (research from Willow Creek)

"What 'Able to Teach' Means and Doesn’t Mean" by IX Marks

FollowingJesusTogether.com

The Way of Jesus | Salt and Light | August 30

Sermon by Jon Ludovina for August 30, 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 30, 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 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.

Songs

Pray

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

Sermon

Song

Benediction

Have someone read this aloud:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | The Beatitudes

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.

Recommended Resources

The Way of Jesus series resources

A Breakdown of the Beatitudes by Midtown Fellowship

The Way of Jesus | The Beatitudes | August 23

Sermon by Adam Gibson for August 23, 2020.

Check out our blog on the Beatitudes for a breakdown on what each one means.

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 23, 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 66:1-2, 4, NRSV

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; 
sing the glory of his name; 
give to him glorious praise. 
All the earth worships you;
they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name.

Songs

Pray

Have someone pray for your time listening to the sermon together

Sermon

Song

Benediction

Read this aloud:

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

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Kidtown and Student Guides

Midweek Podcast | The Kingdom of Jesus

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.

Recommended Resources

The Way of Jesus series resources

The Kingdom of God (lecture) by Dr. Jonathan Pennington