Gathering and Praise

Have everyone focus their minds and their hearts on worshiping God.


Have someone read these words:

All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the LORD

and he rules over the nations.

(Psalm 22:27-28, NIV)


Have everyone pray together:

You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being. Amen.

(Revelation 4:11, NIV)


Have everyone in your house name a favorite song about the greatness of God. Consider listening to some of these songs and singing them together.


Confession

Have someone read these words:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live."

(Luke 10:25-28, NIV)


Have someone pray:

Eternal God, we confess that often we have failed

to be an obedient church:

we have not done your will;

we have broken your law;

we have rebelled against your love;

we have not loved our neighbors;

we have not heard the cry of the needy.

Forgive us, we pray.

Free us for joyful obedience.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Have someone read these words:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

(John 3:16–17, NIV)


Have each person share one way your family could serve or show love to someone else this month.


You can contribute to the ministry of the church online Give Now or by mailing a check to PO Box 9339, Fresno, CA, 93791. Our special offering for May is for our partner Christian schools (Fresno Christian Schools and Hanford Christian School). The offering will be divided equally between the two schools.


Teaching on 1 Kings 12:1-24

Sending

Here are some prayer requests:

• Give thanks to God with Brian and Joni V for the birth of a baby girl, Evelyn Faye, born May 1st.

• People who who were lonely before and are lonelier now, especially those in nursing homes, like Madison V’s grandpa Dave.

• People who are oppressed under authoritarian governments, like those in North Korea.

• Leaders and individuals around the world who must make difficult decisions about loosening stay-at-home restrictions.

• The people of the United States, as we struggle with partisan divisiveness when we need to be working together.

• People who have lost jobs and income, owners of closed businesses, and all those who are longing to get back to work.

• People who work in the food supply chain.

• Andrea B’s relatives, Phil and Christi S in South Dakota, who were both hospitalized with COVID-19.

• Nan W’s mother, who broke her pelvis and is in rehab in Florida.

• Carol E, who is making plans to move to assisted living.


Share other prayer requests and have someone write them down. Have someone pray for the things you have written down.


End your prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.


Have someone read these words:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

(Numbers 6:24-26, NIV)


Some prayers and portions of prayers reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources.