Sunday, June 28, 2020 - 10:15 AM
COVID Worship Week Fifteen—Sunday, June 28
Preparatory content
Review our memory verse Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
Worship service
View the worship service on YouTube
Align time
Connect with your group for discussion of our text together.
Questions to probe our text and live it:
- Next Sunday we return to campus. Masks are strongly encouraged, and elbow bumps instead of hugs and handshakes, for now, but the same great people!
Public worship returns to GCC’s campus Next Sunday. We will offer recorded worship services for any who are unable or cautious about returning to meeting all. This should be available late Sunday afternoon (a recording of the morning service on Grace Campus). Please email pastor@hhgcc.org to indicate your interest continuing remote church.
Please stay home if you are running a fever, have a cough, joint achiness (not due to overwork on Saturday!) or any other COVID symptoms.
- What is some of the best news you have ever received and how did it come to you? Would it have mattered if it had come a different way (e-mail, phone call, face-to-face, a picture, conversation with a friend, a video, being there, text, ….)?
- How is any joy we receive from God connected to taking to heart the Bible?
- What stood out to you today from the passage and message Mark shared?
- Give some suggestions that work for you in preparing to receive God word.
Consider the lyrics of this song, Speak, O Lord.
Anything to your suggestions above?
- Pray together:
Ask God to help us find his joy whenever we read his word.
What have these times together meant to you over the past weeks? How can we continue to work to support each other while we pursue together God’s purpose for his people?
Spend time together in prayer for needs you’ve shared.
Pray for this important transition into whatever our “new normal” will be.
