Lent | Friday 25 March 2022: Psalm 32; Joshua 4:14-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-15 ~ What is our responsibility to the Lord?

Lent | Friday 25 March 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts
are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon
the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered
affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of
Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Because we understand
our fearful responsibility to the Lord,
we work hard to persuade others.
(2 Corinthians 5: 11)

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Psalms: Psalm 32 – Forgiven – Sons of Korah
Greg Wansink

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OT Reading: Joshua 4:14-24 (NLT)

4:14 That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.

The Lord had said to Joshua, “Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to come up out of the riverbed.” So Joshua gave the command. As soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant came up out of the riverbed and their feet were on high ground, the water of the Jordan returned and overflowed its banks as before.

The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.

Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

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The Fear of the Lord – First Baptist Dallas Choir & Orchestra

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NT Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-15 (NLT)

5:6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

We Are God’s Ambassadors

5:11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
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Nimekupata Yesu ( Since I have you Jesus…I have everything I need) Ambassadors of Christ Choir Rwanda

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Closing: faith and worship | John Birch

God’s love surround you, God’s Spirit guide you,
God’s whisper cheer you, God’s peace calm you,
God’s shield protect you, God’s wisdom arm you,
wherever God may lead you.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lent | Thursday 24 March 2022: Psalm 32; Joshua 4:1-13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 ~ What will our new bodies be like?

Lent | Thursday 24 March 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

We want to put on our new bodies
so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
God himself has prepared us for this,
and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 5: 4b-5)

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Psalms: Psalm 32 – The Corner Room

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OT Reading: Joshua 4:1-13 (NLT)

Memorials to the Jordan Crossing

4:1 When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’”

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”

So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.

Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day.

The priests who were carrying the Ark stood in the middle of the river until all of the Lord’s commands that Moses had given to Joshua were carried out. Meanwhile, the people hurried across the riverbed. And when everyone was safely on the other side, the priests crossed over with the Ark of the Lord as the people watched.

The armed warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh led the Israelites across the Jordan, just as Moses had directed. These armed men—about 40,000 strong—were ready for battle, and the Lord was with them as they crossed over to the plains of Jericho.

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For God Is With Us by for KING & COUNTRY
Landon’s Lyric Videos

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NT Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 (NLT)

4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

New Bodies

4:5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

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All Things New – Big Daddy Weave

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you: Help us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ O God, without whose beauty and goodness our souls are unfed, without whose truth our reason withers: Consecrate our lives to your will, giving us such purity of heart, such depth of faith, and such steadfastness of purpose, that in time we may come to think your own thoughts after you; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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Closing: ACNA | BCP2019

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Romans 15:13)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lent | Wednesday 23 March 2022: Psalm 39; Numbers 13:17-27; Luke 13:18-21 ~ What is the Kingdom of God like?

Lent | Wednesday 23 March 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

“What is the Kingdom of God like?
How can I illustrate it?
It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden;
it grows and becomes a tree,
and the birds make nests in its branches.”
(Luke 13:18)

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Psalms: Psalm 39 – Poor Bishop Hooper

god remind me just how brief
my time on this shallow earth will be

god remind me that every single morning
my days are numbered and they’re not that many

how fleeting this life is

my entire life is but a moment to you
at very best a breath in the way you see it see it see it
heaping mounds of wealth are merely shadows on the move
all our busy rushing ends in nothing nothing nothing nothing

so where can my hope go
where can my hope go
my hope is in you
in you alone

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OT Reading: Numbers 13:17-27 (NLT)

13:17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)

So they went up and explored the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. Going north, they passed through the Negev and arrived at Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—all descendants of Anak—lived. (The ancient town of Hebron was founded seven years before the Egyptian city of Zoan.) When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs. That place was called the valley of Eshcol (which means “cluster”), because of the cluster of grapes the Israelite men cut there.

The Scouting Report

After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces.

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Mustard Seed – David Ashley Trent

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NT Reading: Luke 13:18-21 (NLT)

Parable of the Mustard Seed

13:18 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

Parable of the Yeast

13:20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

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The Kingdom of God – Taize
Johan ter Beek

The kingdom of God is justice and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Come, Lord, and open in us
the gates of your kingdom.

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Prayer: ACNA / BCP2019

+ O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Closing: faith and worship | John Birch

God bless the steps you take
and the path you tread.
May they bring you safely
to where God needs you
at the start of this new day

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lent | Tuesday 22 March 2022: Psalm 39; Ezekiel 17:1-10; Romans 2:12-16 ~ God will judge your secret life.

Lent | Tuesday 22 March 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

This is the message I proclaim—
that the day is coming when God,
through Christ Jesus,
will judge everyone’s secret life.
(Romans 2:16)

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Psalms: Psalm 39 – Make Me Know My End – Karl Kohlhase
A prayer for a diminishing ego.

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OT Reading: Ezekiel 17:1-10 (NLT)

A Story of Two Eagles

17:1 Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers,
covered with many-colored plumage,
came to Lebanon.
He seized the top of a cedar tree
and plucked off its highest branch.
He carried it away to a city filled with merchants.
He planted it in a city of traders.
He also took a seedling from the land
and planted it in fertile soil.
He placed it beside a broad river,
where it could grow like a willow tree.
It took root there and
grew into a low, spreading vine.
Its branches turned up toward the eagle,
and its roots grew down into the ground.
It produced strong branches
and put out shoots.
But then another great eagle came
with broad wings and full plumage.
So the vine now sent its roots and branches
toward him for water,
even though it was already planted in good soil
and had plenty of water
so it could grow into a splendid vine
and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit.

“So now the Sovereign Lord asks:
Will this vine grow and prosper?
No! I will pull it up, roots and all!
I will cut off its fruit
and let its leaves wither and die.
I will pull it up easily
without a strong arm or a large army.
But when the vine is transplanted,
will it thrive?
No, it will wither away
when the east wind blows against it.
It will die in the same good soil
where it had grown so well.”

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ZION – Aaron Shust

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NT Reading: Romans 2:12-16 (NLT)

2:12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

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Search Me Oh God and Know My Heart Today – A.B. Simpson (CMA)
Garden State Baptist Church Old Bridge NJ

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Prayer: faith and worship | John Birch

+ Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners. (1 timothy 1:15)

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Closing: ACNA | BCP2019

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our
hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may
perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lent | Monday 21 March 2022: Psalm 39; Jeremiah 11:1-17; Romans 2:1-11 ~ God will judge you impartially.

Lent | Monday 21 March 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

There will be trouble and calamity
for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—
for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
But there will be glory and honor and peace from God
for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
For God does not show favoritism.
(Romans 2:9-10)

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Psalms: Psalm 39 – (Show Me My Life’s End) – The Psalms Project

OT Reading: Jeremiah 11:1-17 (NLT)

Judah’s Broken Covenant

11:1 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of my covenant with them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant! For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God.” I said this so I could keep my promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey—the land you live in today.’”

Then I replied, “Amen, Lord! May it be so.”

Then the Lord said, “Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town throughout the land and say, ‘Remember the ancient covenant, and do everything it requires. For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, “Obey me!” I have repeated this warning over and over to this day, but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.’”

Again the Lord spoke to me and said, “I have discovered a conspiracy against me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they beg for mercy, I will not listen to their cries. Then the people of Judah and Jerusalem will pray to their idols and burn incense before them. But the idols will not save them when disaster strikes! Look now, people of Judah; you have as many gods as you have towns. You have as many altars of shame—altars for burning incense to your god Baal—as there are streets in Jerusalem.

“Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, for I will not listen to them when they cry out to me in distress.

“What right do my beloved people have to come to my Temple,
when they have done so many immoral things?
Can their vows and sacrifices prevent their destruction?
They actually rejoice in doing evil!
I, the Lord, once called them a thriving olive tree,
beautiful to see and full of good fruit.
But now I have sent the fury of their enemies
to burn them with fire,
leaving them charred and broken.

“I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who planted this olive tree, have ordered it destroyed. For the people of Israel and Judah have done evil, arousing my anger by burning incense to Baal.”

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Ancient Words (Robin Mark)

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NT Reading: Romans 2:1-11 (NLT)

God’s Judgment of Sin

2:1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

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Day of Judgement – Christ Church Mayfair

Day of Judgement! Day of wonders!
Hear the awe-full sound,
louder than a thousand thunders
shakes the vast creation round.

Jesus calls: the dead awake,
rise from earth and sea.
All the powers of nature shaken
by His look prepare to flee.

When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.

Every knee shall bow before Him;
every heart exposed.
All the stains of our rebellion
clear before His judgement throne.

When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.

Under earth and Heaven’s black-ened sky,
gracious Savior; You were lifted high,
bearing all the curse that my sin deserved
as You bled upon that cursed tree.
God the Judge hangs cursed for me.

Rise now, sinner, come to Jesus
pard-ning grace to know.
Meet Him now as gracious Savior
not just then as Judge alone.

When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.

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Prayer: faith and worship | John Birch

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners. (1 timothy 1:15)

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Closing: faith and worship | John Birch

Bring to my sinfulness
the cleansing waters of your forgiveness,
that having washed,
I might know refreshment and release.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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