Today we continue our Sermon Series: “(How to) Keep Calm and Carry On” with a sermon that offers some practical steps into how to stay strong this season by taking “Baby Steps.” Ms. Alison helps us with our Psalm 4:8 memory verse and stay tuned for another inspiring harp solo from Betty Augsburger.

If you’re looking for a great online group to be a part of this Fall, we highly recommend you check out the next Alpha class this Thursday at 7pm. Each week we’ve had a few more participants and it’s a fun way to connect with other Covenant members. It’s easy to check this class out any time so don’t worry if you missed the first session, just email our associate pastor, David Hunsicker, at david.hunsicker@covhsv.org for more information.

Don’t forget to stop by the church office this week to drop off some donations to our Food Drive to help them feed hungry families in our community. Or make an online donation to support Huntsville Assistance Program by clicking here.

Order of Worship:

• Welcome: David Kling
• Children’s Memory Verse & Outreach Spotlight: Alison Kling
• Hymn: “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” performed by Matt Carey and Betty Augsburger
• Sermon: “Baby Steps”, by David Kling
• Offertory: “Barcarolle” by Felix Mendelssohn; performed by Betty Augsburger
• Prayers of the People: Dave Hunsicker
• Hymn: “This is Our God”; by Hillsong; led by Covenant Praise Band
• Charge and Benediction: David Kling

Family & Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Lightning round – go around the circle and take turns reciting as much of Psalm 4:8 as you can remember. This was the homework from last week’s sermon “Last Things First.” If you’ve mastered it – move on to memorizing Psalm 4:7.
2. Have you every had a situation in your own life where you had to focus on taking “baby steps?” What was that like?
3. Read 2 Kings 4:1-7 – taking turns by reading one verse at a time.
4. What details do you notice about the passage that highlight God’s power?
5. If you have time, use the “Instructions” below to do some “solution-focused” thinking / discussing concerning an issue you’re facing now.
6. Close by praying for the person on your right by placing their name into the blank: “I pray that you would grant ___________ the courage to eat crisis for breakfast this week like Daniel, and that [she / he] would sleep in peace at night, for you alone, O LORD, make [her / him] dwell in safety.”

Instructions

First, watch the sermon “Baby Steps” by Rev. David Kling at https://www.covhsv.org/sermons/baby-steps-sermon-3-in-keep-calm-carry-on/

Then use the following questions for private journaling or for discussion with a friend.

Answer the Questions One at a time. DO NOT read ahead. Reading ahead reduces the effectiveness of the exercise.

Feel free to let Pastor Kling know any feedback or reactions at david.kling@covhsv.org

Questions

• Question 1: Consider a challenge you’re facing that you have some control over. For instance, you can’t change the global pandemic. But you MAY be able to change your attitude, your motivation, your work ethic, your relationships, etc. Choose one of these challenges in your life and write it down.

• Question 2: Imagine that the prophet Elisha comes down from heaven and delivers a miracle from God. All of a sudden, your challenge is GONE! What has happened? Write in detail what your solution looks like. Start early in the morning. What does your morning look like now that Elisha has given you a miracle? What does work look like? What do your relationships look like? What do you eat? What do you wear? How do you play? How do you sleep? Write down everything you can think of about your life after the miracle.

• Question 3: Now, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0= “Not at all,” and 10= ”My Best that I can Possibly Achieve” – Give yourself a numerical rating on how you’re dealing with your challenge today.

“Not at all”= 0—-1—-2—-3—-4—-5—-6—-7—-8—-9—-10 = “My Best”

• Question 4: Look at the number you wrote down in “Question 3.” How did you score so highly? What are you already doing that caused you to score that number? For example, if you gave yourself a “2.5,” what have you already done to show you’re doing better than a “2”?

• Question 5: Look at the things you wrote down in “Question 4.” Are there any things on that list that you could do more frequently? Circle them. These might be areas where you can take baby steps forward, just by doing what’s already working, but more often.

• Question 6: Look at the number you wrote down in “Question 3.” Think about what scoring one “half point” higher would look like. For example, if you gave yourself a “2.5,” think about being a “3.” How would you know you had grown to “3”? What would life be like? What clues would you see in yourself or in your problem if you were just one half point better? (this is thinking in baby steps!).

• Question 7: Look at the things you wrote down in “Question 6.” Are there any things on that list that you could try tomorrow? Circle them. Write down your favorite one here.  

• Question 8: SECRET MISSION. If you are doing this exercise with a friend or a family member then this part of the exercise is TOP SECRET. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to choose one day in the next week to be your “miracle day.” Make a SECRET note of which day you’re going to choose. When you wake up that day, imagine that the prophet Elisha really did come down and bring you a miracle from God. When you wake up that day live the whole day as if you were a 10 on your scale. Your problem is solved! You are living the best life you can achieve! As you go through your day – think about how you should handle things differently now that the miracle has happened. There may be big things, there may be very little things. At the end of the day – look at the list. Is there anything you could do again on a “regular” day? Circle these.

Worship Relaunch Information

We offer a small worship service at 10AM. Based on a congregational survey, we anticipate most folks to continue worshipping online – so we will continue to provide excellent worship resources and videos each Sunday for those at home. Together we are united in our commitment to one another and our commitment to Christ, whether worshipping in-person or online!

No reservation or permission is required to attend worship in the sanctuary. However, all participants must wear a mask (we will have some available for you!) and we request that you take your temperature and use the restroom before leaving your home.

The elders request that you make a careful and informed decision about the best way for you to worship in June. For those who intend to attend worship in person, please read the following guidelines carefully when making your decision.

Key Links

For your convenience, here are all the links you need to participate in today’s service!