LCC Online Service - 20 September 2020
Welcome
Welcome, please click below for the video welcome message.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome to Lusaka Community Church today’s online Sunday Service.
We continue giving thanks to our God for the many gifts and blessings we receive from Hm.
At this point, we are grateful to Him who has been moving with us even through these difficult times, times of uncertainty caused by Covid-19.
We are thankful to observe that the cases of the pandemic have reduced quite significantly. This has led many countries around the globe to reopen schools, colleges and universities, and others are even considering reopening their borders to the outside world.
In every circumstance and situation, God continues to watch over his people and to bless them with peace.
Today, we begin looking at the sermon series based on theme: Biblical Tithing and Offerings.
Ken is going to give us the introductory message to set the tone to the messages that will be receiving for the coming few weeks.
I would like us to read together Psalm 29:1-2 (NIV).
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
From the beginning God called us into existence. He appointed us to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and to reign on earth (Revelation 5:10).
What God has entrusted to us is ours to steward (Psalm 24:1, Matthew 25:14-30).
When the fulness of time came God gave us His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, gladly and sacrificially (John 3:16-17).
Our practice of giving gifts or offerings to God is our confession and response to God’s love and generosity towards us.
Offering gifts and making sacrifices to our God does not only express our submission and allegiance to Him, but the desire to imitate His love and generosity. God calls us to be holy as he is holy; He calls us to be perfect as he is perfect.
We respond to God’s love and generosity by bowing in prayer, making vows and pledges, adoring, worshipping, praising and giving thanks.
This idea constitutes the context in which we are to bring presents and offerings to the house of God.
The practice of giving has been with humanity from the time immemorial.
In African traditional societies, for example, (and in Zambia to be specific) people gave and have continued giving various gifts and offerings to chiefs who they consider to be the owners of the land.
The gesture of giving gifts to chiefs demonstrates loyalty and respect toward them.
In the Book of Genesis (chapter 4) Abel gave to the Lord the first and the best from his flock to demonstrate that God is the owner all we have. All things belong to Him.
The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built altars to the Lord; they offered sacrifices and called upon the name of the Lord.
In the New Testament, Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for our salvation. He died that we may have life.
Jesus did not stop people from giving; he did not stop them from giving tithes and taxes.
He spoke of giving to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (Mark 12:17; Matthew 22:21)
Our God deals with us lovingly, generously and faithfully.
Let us worship and praise Him in songs and music.
Praise and Worship
Please select “play” on the image below and join with us in worshiping our Lord and Saviour.
Song List:
- I Surrender - All Sons & Daughters
- Build My Life - Pat Barrett
- Promises - Maverick City Music
sermon
Sermon - Ken Bowker - Tithing/Giving is an Act of Worship
Scripture: Genesis 14:8-22 / Hebrews 6:19-7:10 / Genesis 28
Please select Play below (depending on your bandwidth it could take a few seconds to buffer and play):
If you have issues playing the sermon, you can download the audio version directly from OneDrive here:
Sermon Download
Prayer
1 I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”
3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen;
I have sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your seed forever
And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.5 The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord,
7 A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones,
And awesome above all those who are around Him?
8 O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9 You rule the swelling of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.
10 You Yourself crushed Rahab like one who is slain;
You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all it contains, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.
15 How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.
16 In Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And by Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.- Psalm 89:1-18 (NASB)
Rejoice in the Lord.
Pray for those in our Church family going through health issues.
Pray for Wyand Nortjie who needs to be evacuated to SA for urgent medical treatment.
Please pray for Annemarie and her boys at this time.
Pray for wisdom for the government in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pray for the prison ministry work.
Pray for the work in Chipata.
Pray for wisdom and guidance for the Elders.
Pray for opportunities to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly as we should.
Please share your praises and prayer needs with any of the Elders via WhatsApp or email the church email or via the Prayer Form so that we can all continue being in prayer for one another.
Giving
We continue to share about the financial needs of the Church because we desire for everyone at LCC to be able to partner with the Church in their giving to further the work the Church is doing. As we seek to finalize the calling of a full-time pastor to LCC, there comes additional financial commitments. We are asking all regular members to join with us in sharing a commitment of giving to the church. We, Elders, are utilizing a simple pledge form, that will only be viewed by the Eldership and does not require you to include your name. If you are able to commit to regular giving, please click on the following link and complete the form: Pledge Form
If you feel led to give to the church, you are encouraged to use online transfer facilities (wire, mobile, & bank). Though we currently do not offer direct debit or credit card donations, some have found TransferWise to be a helpful platform for transferring money locally or internationally (minimal transaction fees).
If you are unable to use contactless methods, you can still drop-off your offering at the church office during regular working hours. You can confirm any details with the church administrator by calling, texting, or WhatsApp: +260966800100
The church bank account details are below if you would like to use online transfer facilities:
Account name: Lusaka Community Church
$ acc #: 8700220232300
K acc #: 0150420232300
Bank: Standardchartered
Branch: Manda Hill
Branch code: 03000
Swift code: SCBLZMLX
Thank you
What a joy to worship together with you today.
If you have any praises or prayer requests, please reach out to us Elders via WhatsApp or email the church email or via the Prayer Form.
Benediction
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
And confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17 (NASB)