PASSING OF THE PEACE

Therefore, since we have been reconciled to with God in our vertical relationship with him through the confessing of our sins and receiving again His grace and His mercy, we need to be reconciled with one another. As a result of this passing of the peace, we are then able to prepare ourselves for going to the Lord’s Supper. Pastor Paul will often say, “May the peace of Christ be with you.” The congregation then responds with “And also with you.” And this is how we will greet one another as we shake hands.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

After being reconciled with one another as the Church, the people of God, we want to hear and take prayer requests from another. Pastor Paul will simply take requests from people, asking us to share simply what are those praises and requests/concerns that the family of Missio Dei Church needs to share with their family members as well as call upon the Lord for. Pastor Paul will then bring these requests before the Lord in prayer, praying over the list of praises, requests, and concerns.

STEWARDING GOD’S GIFTS TO US

Giving must be a joyful response to God's grace! Paul put it this way: "I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:8-­â€9). What a test! Paul says the difference between giving to gain favor with God and true Christianity is that a Christian wants to give as generously as he or she received. You always give effortlessly to those things that give your life meaning.

For Missio Dei Church, we believe that we are to give generously first and foremost to our local church. It is our hope, that as Christ continues to reveal himself to us, and we come to know this rich and generous God and discover more of the King of Kings that we would respond worshipfully and generously through our giving. [4]

SERMON

God has chosen to work in the lives of his people by using his written and preached Word. Preaching was the primary activity of Jesus and the apostles. The Scripture says preaching is a “foolish” means to convince and convert people, but that God has chosen this “weak” means to ensure that we give him credit for changing lives rather than crediting the eloquence or creativity of a minister. The Gospel is the uniting reason why we are a Church, and the preaching of the Gospel ought to be a strong motivator in our coming together for worship.

LORD’S SUPPER/COMMUNION

Jesus instituted this meal for the spiritual nourishment of his people, to be received by faith. We don’t know how he uses this meal to strengthen and feed us, but experientially we know that he does, just as his Word promises. At the Table we remember his death for us on the cross, and we anticipate his second coming and the wedding feast of the Lamb that we are to enjoy with him then. The Supper is a time of thankfulness, rededication, reassurance and hope for the Christian. The Church invites any baptized Christian who is a member of a church that proclaims the Gospel to participate. We are also warned that God requires us to come in sincerity and truth, so we must search our hearts and repent of our sins before we come to the Table.

BENEDICTION

The greeting from God at the beginning of a service and God’s blessing at the end of the service frame the entire worship liturgy. Just as we begin with God’s gracious invitation, so we end with God’s promise to always be with us. In the benediction the dialogue of worship shifts from the people’s response to God’s parting words. The words of benediction (a Latin word meaning “to speak well” or “to speak a good word”) are intended to bring a blessing.

Of all of the actions that are part of the “sending,” the blessing, or benediction, is arguably the most important and the least understood. It is so important because it sends worshipers on their way with a parting word of God’s grace and blessing. This is much more fitting to the Christian gospel than ending either with a command, which can imply that the Christian life is only about working hard to earn God’s favor, or with merely a well-wish, which fails to convey the beauty and power of God’s promise to go with us. Yet the benediction is often misunderstood in these ways, such that it is turned into a command, a well-wish, or simply a farewell. The following resources provide many benedictions that appropriately convey God’s grace and blessing.

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[4] Taken from Missio Dei Church’s pastoral letter on "Theology of Worship"