Themes
The Church • The Assembly • God’s people • The Bride of Christ • Principalities • Powers • The gates of hell • Strength • Perseverance • Hope
It can seem like the powers on Earth are shifting. And against God’s assembled people, principalities seem aligned and strengthened, unlike before. It feels dismal and disorienting, but here we are. Gathered to His name. Gathered to practice together the habits and behaviors, the attitudes and ways of His Kingdom. And not even the doors to the World of Death stand a chance.
Scripture reading
Matthew 16:18
This call to worship1 is about God’s assembled people—those who meet together in His name.
On this rock I will build My church. The powers of hell will not be able to overcome it.
Prayer
God of earth and heaven, You have built this small community, this assembly of Your people, right here at Beaverdam. You have built Your whole church, the one that’s spread across the planet— Your people, from every nation and every tongue. You have prepared a bride for Your Son, Jesus Christ— the One to whom You have given the highest place and to whom You have given all authority, in heaven and on earth. And yet, Father, it can seem like the powers on earth are shifting. And against Your assembled people, principalities seem aligned and they are strengthened unlike before. It’s as if Your enemy has come in at night and has sown a great many weeds amongst Your wheat— false teachers, false gospels, false prophets, false hopes have sprung up. It feels dismal and disorienting, and it even seems like Your church may not be prepared or resistant. But here we are. Gathered again to Your name. On this Sunday morning. Gathered to practice together the habits and behaviors, the attitudes and ways of Your Kingdom. And Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and King, He said that not even the gates of hell would stand a chance against Your church— Your gathered and practiced people. He promised that we will be given the strength to endure and persevere. You have promised us Your ultimate power. You have given to us Your Spirit. And not even the doors of the World of Death will ever be stronger than Your church. Father, help us this morning to know again that Your people will always prevail. That the bride You are preparing will be white as snow. That Your church will stand. That not even the last and most horrible assault of the forces of the underworld will be able to overtake Your rock —or overtake Your assembled people— that have been erected upon it. Renew our strength this morning. Take away our angst and our fear and our feeling of impending doom. For You are our God. And Your Spirit dwells here within us. And Jesus is here in our midst. And He is our Lord. And He has been to hell and back. And He has defeated our enemy. And under no circumstance will the Gates of Hell break through His protective power that is here in His assembled people. Restore our hope, we ask, in the name of Jesus Christ, our King and our bridegroom, Amen
This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians who gathered at Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on Sunday, March 21, 2021.