Scripture: Isaiah 40:26-31
Have you caught the chance to get out of the city, stay up late and be outside in the dark August heat to view the Perseid Meteor Shower that dazzles the skies over the Northern Hemisphere this time of year? It peaked last week on Tuesday, but the Perseids are still active for a few more days. I remember when I first saw this awe-inducing display as a teenager. It was unexpected on that summer evening; I had just hoped to see one shooting star when I laid my head down in the grass in the back yard outside my house in the country. Seemingly out of nowhere, I saw a bright tale streak across the sky. Then another. And another. I would have been happy for the sight of one, but I was completely overwhelmed, unable to take my eyes off the skies to go to bed that night. Needless to say, I stayed up very late as every 30 seconds or so, these radiant lights flashed through the sky and I was filled with a sense of wonder. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, And calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, Not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 I don’t know about you, but every so often I feel that need to be filled with wonder again. Sometimes I need to stop and let myself be overwhelmed by the intricate beauty of creation. It helps me remember how infinitely small I am and it reminds me how enormously vast God is and how He is the creative Orchestrator of this world, divinely moving and working all things together for his great purpose and glory. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, The Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, And his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28 When we stop and remember God’s might, his boundless strength and sovereign power, it gives us permission and freedom to be weak, to not know all the answers, to not understand how all the pieces fit together. When life gets messy, as it is most certain to do from time to time, there is a relief in letting go of our need to control every plan, outcome and perception. Why do we believe the lie that we can do it all alone? Why would we even want to when the God who created the universe wants to walk with us, carry us, help us? He gives strength to the weary And increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, And young men stumble and fall; But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 Songs: Indescribable by Chris Tomlin God of All Comfort by Ellie Holcomb “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me……they too will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 10: 14, 16b 1 Timothy 3: 1-8 Leaders in public office seem to be loved and loathed in equal amounts. A Leader can be adored and praised one day and disparaged the next. The truth is that their impact on public life can be huge so accountability and good character are essential. Leadership in the Church is certainly not exempt from this burden. In fact, considering the truth and import of the Gospel, quality of leadership is an imperative. The Gospel is counter cultural in its truth and leads to a transformed lifestyle that is different from that which is seen in the world. The Christian leader should reflect this truth; their lives should tell a story, the Gospel story. In today’s passage Paul is laying out the characteristics of such a leader. If we recall the context that Paul is writing into (we looked at this in my last two blogs) we will be able to see some key issues that he is seeking to address. There are ten qualifications that Paul details (can you identify them?). Notice that these qualifications focus on the quality of the character and lifestyle of the leader not on specific duties. Their lives are to embody the message that they are to proclaim. The ‘overseer’ or bishop (vs. 1) was an individual who looked after the community as a whole. By the end of the first century the word had come to denote a particular office of leadership and may have been allocated to an individual in a leadership team or indeed a person who had responsibility for an area with a number of churches. In St. Aidan’s Anglican denomination Bishops are viewed within an apostolic succession connecting to the early Church. We can follow this growth of leadership from Christ Himself as He appointed the Apostles, Peter as the rock for the Church (Matthew 16: 18) and then gave the Holy Spirit so that the Church grew. We must never forget that Jesus alone is our Shepherd and our only High Priest (Hebrews 7: 22- 8: 2) but clearly He has given roles and gifts of and for leadership. Those who ‘set their heart’ on such a role ‘desire a noble task,’ (vs. 1), they are ‘set apart’ for this service and make vows before God. They are however simply part of the Body of Christ with a specific role, they are to imitate the Lord Jesus and seek to guide His people in His will and whilst doing so witness to the truth of God (vs. 7). As we will consider on Sunday each member of the body needs one another and belongs to one another so please pray for and support your leaders (Romans 12: 1-8). To Ponder: Why do you think the character and lifestyle of the leader is emphasised rather than specific duties? Can defining the duties of the overall leader hinder or even muzzle their effectiveness for the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 9)? Pray: Through your Spirit, heavenly Father, give these your servants grace and power to fulfil their ministry. Make them faithful to serve and constant in advancing your gospel in the world. May they follow the example of Jesus Christ your Son, who washed the feet of his disciples, and set the needs of others before his own. May their life be disciplined and holy, their words declare your love and their actions reveal your glory, that your people may walk with them in the way of truth and be made ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom, with you and your Holy Spirit, belong glory and honour, worship and praise, now and for ever. Amen A prayer from my ordination service – please pray for all Church Leaders. Praise: The Servant King Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCAdWs-ZyEk Bible Verse: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
This year the summer blockbuster movies are conspicuously absent. There are no superheroes flying across movie screens; no daring adventurers seeking lost treasure in humid jungles; and no comic book heroics delivered with comedic one-liners. The only heroics we’ve seen lately are the workers on the front lines, whether in the fight against the pandemic, the relief work in Beirut, or the advocates for social justice. Their courage is real and genuine, not the make-believe hype of Hollywood. Real courage is a frightening word. More often than not, real life heroism in the face of a tragic event is inspired as a matter of impulse. There is little time for the person to think about what needs to be done, only time for reflexive action. Afterwards, these heroes frequently have trouble processing what just happened and are shaken by their experience. Courage, on the other hand, requires the person to count the cost, face the danger and do the right thing anyway. Courageous people are always heroes because they are not motivated by sudden impulses. I’ve lived through times when violence electrified the air around me, and people were fighting everywhere I looked. Truth be told, I didn’t choose those occasions, nor did I feel very courageous, but I did what I had to do to protect the ones I loved. But, this forced courage is different from chosen courage. Most people don’t think about courage, yet many choose to face their hardships rather than quit. Many choose to battle through adversity rather than abandon their responsibilities. Many choose to help others rather than leaving them to suffer. Life requires choices. Think of the choice Jesus had to make in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what lay ahead for Him and could have taken the easy way out. He could have called His legions of angels for protection. He could have avoided the pain and ignominy that lay in wait for Him just hours away by saying “take this cup away from me”. Instead, He weighed the options, counted the cost, and chose to die on the cross so that we might live in eternity. We all have opportunities to choose wisely in life. The weak are beaten down by life. They live in their regrets, wallow in their need, whine in their excuses and often live in bitterness, resenting their challenges, other people and, ultimately, God. Everyone has enough hardships in life to become overwhelmed and succumb to disillusionment and bitterness. Any one of us can allow our thoughts to flow through the gutters and sewers of life, and waste our lives when we squander it on lust, greed, selfishness or anger. But, Jesus offers us another option, the option to love, which He demonstrated in His sacrifice for us on Calvary. Acting on this choice to love requires courage. Abundant living isn’t for the weak of heart. Life is, after all, a contact sport. We can choose the easy, the alluring and the comfortable, but that only results in a weak character. Our society needs those who choose right over easy, who choose pure over alluring, who choose best over comfortable. Our society needs those who put the welfare of others ahead of themselves. In Philippians, Paul encourages us to live courageously. He says that if there is anything that is praiseworthy or admirable, choose to dwell and act on those thoughts. Therefore, choose to accept God’s love and make a difference in the lives of others. Choose to be courageous. Praise be to our God and King! “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4: 23-24 1 Timothy 2: 8-15 On Friday we considered the context of the situation and how Paul may have been seeking to ensure the freedom and truth of the Gospel in the life of that early Church. Today we will briefly look at other Scriptures then see how application may work for us. In other letters to other new Churches Paul also spoke on Worship and roles. For example Paul: spoke of women as co-workers and deacons (Romans 16); he promoted unity for believers over differences based on ethnicity and gender (Galatians 3: 28); he clearly allowed women to pray and prophesy (1 Corinthians 11); he taught on leadership, propriety in worship and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 11-12); and he taught on whole life Worship (Romans 12: 1-2). Clearly as the Church grew matters were arising that had to be understood and dealt with. With this brief understanding of context (from Friday) and bigger biblical view let’s unpack this Scripture before considering application:
Considering the above I do not believe that this passage is primarily about male and female roles but about the worship of the Church in obedience to God in a particular situation. It seems to me that Paul is building the Church up in obedience to the truth of the Gospel and its empowering freedom (for men and women alike). We can therefore learn and apply various truths to our lives today. Simply put the Church is God’s agent of Mission and body of Worshippers. We are called to pray for all, for those in authority, and we are encouraged to worship in humility, and submission with faith, love and holiness. We are to recognise that there are roles for us based on our gifts and who we are; God our creator knows what is best for us. Paul sought to apply these truths in a particular context, we must do the same. The Gospel and therefore the Church is counter-cultural. To worship God in Spirit and in Truth we must work hard to identify prejudice and enculturation that would lead us away. Our worship is to be focused on God, not ourselves, and founded in the Gospel of Christ. To Ponder: How do you think this passage applies to the Church today, what was for then and what are universal instructions? Can you support your answers with Scripture? What views do you hold that are affected by prejudice and/or culture? Pray: Almighty God may we know the power and truth of your Gospel message in our lives. May our eyes be fixed upon your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ so that our lives may truly be a daily offering of worship to you. Reveal our hearts and complete your sanctifying work within that we may give glory to you in all we do and say. Amen Praise: King of Kings Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5IcFWiEpg In Christ there is no east or west Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxG0EhEXA3k “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4: 23-24 1 Timothy 2: 8-15 When igniting fireworks we light the blue touch paper and wait for the explosion. Some passages in the bible are like that. Today’s Scripture, where instructions for Church Worship continue, is such a passage. It cries out for our self-control to enable Gospel understanding and to prevent our emotions and prejudices taking over. It calls for good hermeneutical practice (the discipline of biblical interpretation) to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us God’s truth for application today. Such practice calls us to look at the holistic biblical picture, the context the letter was written within and to understand the language and purpose of the day. Looking at it only from our 21st century perspective will not suffice. As N.T Wright explains passions run high in the Western world on the roles of men and women; there has been huge debate, argument and hurt. Life can get confusing, some men are strongly supportive of ‘women’s liberation’ some women are opposed.* So, to allow us proper consideration we will ponder this passage within two reflections. There have been many interpretations of this passage and I personally believe a good number miss some of the truths within. Remember that this is a letter to a young, growing church, guiding and instructing them over their particular challenges. In this passage Paul was encouraging focus on the Gospel and addressing the roles and behaviour of men and women in worship in their situation. The context for this letter was that it was written to the Church in a culture where other gods were worshiped (think back to Chapter one and Wednesday’s teaching on there being only one God). The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which dominated the city, was a female-only cult where the priests were women. Women led and men were under their authority. In contrast the Jewish culture focused heavily on the family with distinct roles for women; their position though, in society and worship was low. Women could not take part in a service in the synagogue and were hidden from sight. A man came to the synagogue to learn, a woman to hear. Contrasting cultures indeed for a new Church - worship of a false god led by women, worship of the true God where women had no part! Into these structures of society comes the Gospel with the arrival of Jesus Christ; God’s Kingdom impacted both cultures. Worship had changed; God made clear that He desires His children to worship in spirit and in truth. How should the new Church proceed under this Gospel in their circumstances? *Paul for Everyone, The Pastoral Epistles, Tom Wright To Ponder: In today’s reflection we have briefly considered the context into which Paul was writing. Consider the truth of the Gospel (Chapter 2: 5-6); what might Paul have been trying to address in Ephesus with the differing cultures so that the Gospel would bring freedom in their worship of and relationship with God? Pray: Father as we seek to understand your Word that we may obey your will open our eyes to understand by the power of your Holy Spirit. May we lay down our wills at the foot of your cross and follow in the way of Jesus Christ taking your love to the world and thereby worshiping you in Spirit and in Truth. Amen Praise: Here I am to Worship Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaUTv1pXRyU The Church of Christ in every Age Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgSFTvVn20E King David had sinned – adultery, murder, lying – and he thought he had gotten away with what he had done. Several months had passed, yet David seemed to have no remorse. But the Bible tells us, ‘The Lord was displeased” (2 Samuel 11: 27). So God sent the prophet Nathan to David to share a word. Nathan told David a parable designed to help David see the evil he had done by committing adultery with Bathsheba and by having her husband, Uriah, killed. And when David saw himself in Nathan’s parable, his heart was broken by its own corruption.
David confessed his sin and was forgiven and was justified in the presence of God. Later he put this life-saving, heart purifying experience into poetry: Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. (Psalm 51: 1-2) David knew and loved God’s Word. As he penned this psalm in the agony of his guilt, he recalled the words of God’s revelation of himself from Exodus 34: “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (34: 6-7). David understood that there are some who are guilty and never turn to God for forgiveness. But there are some who are guilty, and by a mysterious act of mercy on the part of God, are not counted guilty, but instead are forgiven. David sought to lay hold of the mercy of God by faith, even though that mercy remained to him a mystery. What David couldn’t see clearly became clear: “When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit; He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3: 4-6). King David experienced clearly that there is no sin too far from God’s forgiveness. May we all appreciate this truth - we are never too far from God’s mercy. Prayer – O merciful God, have mercy on me with your unfailing love. Blot out my sins with your great compassion. Wash me clean from all the heavy guilt that burdens me. Purify me from all my sin. Thank you for your incredible mercy. Help me to be merciful to others. Song: Mercy by Amanda Cook “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.”
1 Timothy 2: 5-6b 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 In Paris, France there is a very large round-about with many lanes and multiple entry and exit points. It operates on a one-way system but can be confusing especially to foreign visitors. A newspaper once reported that such a visitor got so confused that they simply drove round and round the round-about until they ran out of fuel. Life can feel like that round-about and we can wonder about all the explanations that we hear for life. In our quoted verse above we are given real clarity – there is one God and one way to Him through Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us. Simple and utterly clear truth. This statement is preceded and followed by instructions for Corporate Worship; the Gospel is at the heart of the Church's Worship. The Church is to pray for all people and especially those in authority so that we might live quiet, godly and holy lives (vs. 1-2). This in itself, if you remember, follows on from chapter one with the encouragement for the Church to hold on to God’s truth. There is one God (vs. 5) which connects to the deeper reality that we were created for a relationship with Him. To have peaceful lives we need to live in that relationship, in obedience and caring for others as we love Him. Christ the mediator has paid the price for us so that we can have that relationship through faith in Him. In light of these truths God’s Church is called to pray with clear goals within His Mission that all people may know the ‘one way’ to God. Here are some of the conclusions we can draw from this passage:
In the confusion of life and in a pandemic where contradictory views exist on how to handle the situation it is reassuring to remember these truths. God calls us to pray for those He has put in authority (vs. 2 & Romans 13: 1-5) and to pray for the souls of all to find the one-way to God. The progress of God’s Mission of Reconciliation is directly proportionate to the prayers of His Church; a huge joy and massive responsibility To Ponder: What prayers can you offer for those in authority, how else might you support them as you obey God? Who can you pray for that they may find the one way to God through Jesus? Pray faithfully for them over a period of time and see what God does. Prayer; Eternal God, the light of the minds that know you, the joy of the hearts that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you: grant us so to know you that we may truly love you, so to love you that we may truly serve you, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Augustine of Hippo (430) Praise: One Way Jesus Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7IQvg6VSNI For the Healing of the Nations Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYFwJitauAM Read: Acts 5:27-42
I love hearing the stories of the early church, the fearlessness of those who had given their hearts to Jesus and committed themselves to making his name famous. Though they faced many trials and much opposition, they persevered and were strengthened by the Holy Spirit, they were assisted by angelic help, and they became victorious in their mission. We read of one such account in Acts 5. In the early days after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension and after the gift of the Holy Spirit was given, Jesus' apostles were meeting in public places, where huge crowds gathered as they performed many miraculous signs and wonders. So many people were being healed that sick people were laid in the streets, just waiting for Peter to walk by so his shadow might heal them! As people were healed and delivered of their afflictions, the number of those who believed in Jesus was increased greatly day by day. This made the high priests and elders of Israel furious with jealousy. They arrested Peter and the apostles, ordered them not to teach in Jesus’ name, and threw them into jail. But during the night, an angel of the Lord came and opened the doors of the cells and directed the apostles to go into the temple courts and share the gospel there. When the temple guard and chief priests realized the cell doors were still locked and guarded but the men were no longer in jail, they were puzzled. Soon someone came and told them the apostles were now in the courts of the temple, preaching about Jesus! Again, the men were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Rather than being intimidated by the questions of the religious leaders, Peter and the apostles shared the gospel with those gathered. As you can imagine, this made the elders all the more furious and they wanted to put the apostles to death. At this point, a man named Gamaliel stood up and called a Time Out. The apostles were put outside and Gamaliel addressed the assembly of elders. He told them of past revolutionaries, Theudas and Judas, who led uprisings of their own, which drew hundreds of people in. But eventually in both cases, these leaders were killed and their followers were dispersed. Then Gamaliel said these powerful and persuasive words of wisdom: “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God.” The apostles were released and though they had been ordered not to, they persisted in teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Shortly after this event, the follower of Jesus named Stephen was martyred and a great persecution broke out against the believers, forcing them to disperse to many places. But this only led to more people hearing the good news. Small house churches formed and multiplied throughout the Roman empire. At every turn, no matter what came against the gospel, and the people who proclaimed it over the years, Jesus’ name continues to be made famous as people hear of his love, sacrifice and victory over death, as they encounter God’s power through his Holy Spirit and as they give their lives over to him in love and devotion. God’s purposes are unstoppable. This is a beautiful truth to stop and consider, especially in times when we are faced with uncertainty and a lack of control. It means we do our part by choosing to obey and follow his leading, and then we let go of our anxieties as we trust Him to take care of the rest, including that which seems impossible. Is there anything you need to give over to God today? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94:17-19 Song: Unstoppable God -Sanctus Real “…..so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”
1 Timothy 1: 18b-19 1 Timothy 1: 18-20 Imagine that you are in the mountains in heavy fog or aboard a boat asea or on a large lake in the same situation. You are having to rely on your compass to direct you. Your compass can be trusted but it takes an effort to follow its direction especially if your own sense of direction is telling you a different route. Your compass will be even more effective if before the fog came down you knew your position. Now translate this to life and faith. For compass read conscience and for the foggy situation read the conflicting and confusing realities of life. Paul has been encouraging Timothy to ensure the Church stays with the truth of God’s Word and Law holding to the Gospel in Christ. He has listed the behaviours that are contrary to this truth and has urged Timothy to command the individuals not to teach such falsehood. As we reach the conclusion of this Chapter there is personal encouragement for Timothy; stay the course hold on to your faith. His conscience will assist acting as a compass giving direction in line with God’s Word and the Gospel. His faith in Jesus Christ and God’s Word will be his anchor in the storms of life. This anchor is grounded in the rock of Jesus Christ. When those storms come it will be well for Timothy to know where he stands with Jesus; this will put him in a stronger position to face what lies ahead. As Paul warns though faith is a battle. Times can be confusing and the old nature working within coupled with the principalities and powers opposed to God make for trials of faith. The application for us is clear. There will be times where we feel lost in a confusing fog of different explanations for life and demands of society. Storms will come our way, this is a reality of life. God has given us His written Word and He has blessed us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, both will guide us in life and enable a ‘good conscience.’ Our faith, founded in Christ, will keep our eyes fixed on God. Faith though needs to be exercised to be strong just like any muscle within our bodies. Working at our relationship with God and our place in His Church is therefore essential. When storms come we will know where we stand, when other false doctrines are suggested we will know the answer. Standing in Christ, in His Church, will help us to avoid the shipwreck of our faith. To Ponder: God changes our being to be more Christlike as we grow in our relationship with Him. Our being directs our doing, our doing if in obedience produces assurance. What steps can you take to remain strong in faith with a good conscience and therefore overcome in the battle of faith? Prayer; Lord as we face the storms of life and battle in a fog of understanding grant us by your grace a good conscience and strong faith. Empower us by your Holy Spirit to hold fast to Jesus Christ and in doing so to reveal your love and truth to others to the glory of your Name. Amen Praise: Will your anchor hold Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQQO8v-0VBo Cornerstone Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 1: 14 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 Sometimes we witness an occurrence or behaviour (in person or through the media) that seems so unbelievably abhorrent that we ask ourselves, “How can a person do that?” There are times also that we are equally disgusted or disappointed with ourselves. As a Police Officer and in my Priestly role (far more the former) I have dealt with people who had committed atrocious acts. In the main though, when interacting with them, the phrase, ‘there but by the grace of God go I,’ would resound in my mind and heart; it was easy to see how many of us could end up in the same situation given different life situations and choices. In our passage today Paul describes himself as the worst sinner (vs. 15-16), recalling his past violence, unbelief in Christ and persecution of others (vs. 13). The truth of Romans 3: 23 is plain to see, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How tragic if this was the end story for the human race! BUT NO the answer to our lost state comes in vs. 14, God pours out His grace, faith and love in Christ Jesus ABUNDANTLY. Paul then gives one of his ‘trustworthy sayings,’ Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (vs. 15)! Paul, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 1-31), intent on further persecutions, met the Lord Jesus Christ; his life was changed for ever. Repentance, in addition to its normal sense, means to turn and go the other way. Paul literally did an ‘about turn’ in life as he repented, received forgiveness by God’s Grace and grew in an incredible faith soaked in the love of Jesus. This is the grace filled salvation God gives in Christ. So be encouraged my friends, no matter our state there is a way to forgiveness and new life, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8: 35). Paul’s past was a motivation for him to love and obey God as he saw and understood the abundant grace poured out upon him. More than that though, he realised that he had been chosen, trusted, appointed and empowered for service (vs. 12). Imagine as well as being forgiven to have such purpose and joy in life. Well, stop imagining, open your arms and receive God’s abundant Grace then live a life of purpose in the service of His Kingdom. Sing with Paul in real praise, “Now to the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen,” (vs. 17) N.B. Praise Him in these words with the hymn selection today, see below To Ponder: Not forgiving others or ourselves can blight life and lead to bitterness that becomes engrained; joy and peace are lost. Do you know the freedom that God’s forgiveness brings, do you in Him need to forgive others or yourself? How does today’s reflection help, what are your next steps? Prayer; Most merciful God we confess to you, before the whole company of heaven and one another. That we have sinned in thought, word and deed, and in what we have failed to do. Forgive us our sins, heal us by your Spirit and raise us to new life in Christ. Amen Praise: Immortal, invisible, God only wise – links to 1 Tim. 1: 17 Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c59R-Ry8q50 Amazing Grace, my chains are gone Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I |
Preachers BlogIn 2024, each week's blog is a follow-up reflection written by the preceding Sunday’s preacher to dig deeper into the sermon topic and explore engaging discussion questions. Archives
June 2024
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