Worship for Theme of Expectancy

Scriptures reflecting the theme of Expectation

Ephesians 3v.20-21 ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen’
Romans 15:13 ‘Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’
or from The Message: ‘May the God of great hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!’
Psalm 20:4 ‘May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfil all your purpose.’
Psalm 37:4 ‘Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.’
Proverbs 13:12 ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.’
Isaiah 65:24 ‘Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.’

Scriptures that may be used to base a talk on the theme of Expectancy

Luke 7:1-10 The Centurion Servant healed: The Centurion expected Jesus to answer his need
1 Kings 18v.16-39 Elijah on Mount Carmel : Elijah expected His God to answer his prayer
Luke 1:5-23 & 57-66 The birth of John the Baptist: Contrary to human expectation John the Baptist is born
Luke 9: 12-17 The Feeding of the Five Thousand: Jesus provided beyond the expectation of those present

Hymns & Songs reflecting the theme of Expectation

My hope is built on nothing less
In Christ alone
There is a hope so sure
God is working his purpose out
B e thou my vision
Our God is a great big God
Our God is an awesome God
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
How great Thou art

Order of service for an act of worship based on the theme of Expectation

Welcome (Setting the scene)

Focus Time (Including a call to worship)

Prayer Time (Acknowledging God’s presence)

Worship Time (Song and hymns of praise)

Bible time (A sermon, children’s talk or young people’s address)

Creative prayer Time (An interactive prayer of expectation)

Story Time ( A testimony to God’s faithfulness)

Response Time (Songs and hymns of response)

The notes below give one way the worship time may be developed.

Welcome Time: (Adapt the following according to the age group present).

Welcome those present and then apologise that you are not quite ready to begin. Ask the assembled group if they mind waiting for a few moments. Pause for a moment or two. Create a sense of anticipation and expectancy by looking at your watch, craning your neck, looking around, interspersed with comments like…. sorry to keep you waiting… we won’t be long… we were expecting another guest… I don’ think they’ll be long etc. Point to an empty chair positioned near the front and explain it is for a special guest. Have a bouquet of flowers and a gift wrapped and explain how these are for the guest you are expecting. Build up the atmosphere of expectancy before sharing that, of course, the most special guest at any act of worship is God Himself. We should always expect to meet God when you gather to worship. Introduce the theme of the worship ‘Be Expectant’.

Focus Time:

Use Ephesians 3v.20 as a call to worship
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Prayer Time:

Acknowledging the presence of God and your expectation that through His Holy Spirit He will bless you all

Worship Time

Select three or four worship songs which celebrate the fact that God is with us:

The King is among us
As we are gathered Jesus is here
Comer now is the time to worship

Bible Time:

Choose a Bible focus relevant to the age group present e.g. Explore the story of 1 Kings 18v.16-39. Tell the story of the conquest on Mount Carmel in an interactive way engaging the young people in the story. Draw out the message that:

God is able – God can do it!
Elijah prayed, ‘Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” In response, God sent the fire, even though the prophets of Baal all said ‘Oh no He can’t!’
God will do more that we think
God’s fire not only consumed the sacrifice (which would have been enough) but it also consumed the wood and the stones and the dust and even licked up the water!!! God gave ‘immeasurably more’ than we can ask or imagine!
God received glory
When all the people saw this mighty act, they fell to their faces and began to call upon the name of the Lord!

Creative Prayer Time:

PARTY POPPER PRAYERS (lots of mess, but worth it!)

Give each person a party popper. Remind the group that they should expect that God will answer their prayers and respond to their requests! Isaiah 65:24 says: ‘Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.’ Pray that God will bless the work of GB around the world, that more young people may hear about Jesus, that more lives will be changed etc. Add any specific prayers relating to your local or national aspirations! Wait until the end of the prayer and get the whole group to let off their party poppers together with one great big ‘Amen!’ Explain that party poppers are usually used to celebrate! By celebrating your prayer together, you are celebrating the goodness of God and expecting that He will answer your prayers. Refer again to Isaiah 65:24 ‘Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.’ The release of the poppers celebrates that He has heard and you are EXPECTING Him to answer.

Story Time

Invite someone to share a personal story of how their prayers were answered and they learnt that they were right to expect great things from God.

Response Time

Close your time together by singing a praise and worship song that reflects God’s faithfulness and helps us to anticipate His response to our prayers.