After Pentecost | Tuesday 17 Sep 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O Lord,
you have taught us that without love,
all our deeds are worth nothing:
Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of charity,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you;
grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Keep your mind on things above,
not on worldly things.”
(Colossians 3:2)
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From Psalms: Psalm 73 // Psalm 73 Hymn ‘Surely God is good’ // Psalm Musicals – Christian Music Channel
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OT Reading: Proverbs 25:1-28 (GW)
25:1 These also are Solomon’s proverbs that were copied by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah.
Advice for Kings
25:2 It is the glory of God to hide things
but the glory of kings to investigate them.
⌞Like⌟ the high heavens and the deep earth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
Take the impurities out of silver,
and a vessel is ready for the silversmith to mold.
Take a wicked person away from the presence of a king,
and justice will make his throne secure.
Do not brag about yourself in front of a king
or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,
because it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put down in front of a prince
whom your eyes have seen.
Do not be in a hurry to go to court.
What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?
Present your argument to your neighbor,
but do not reveal another person’s secret.
Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you,
and his evil report about you will never disappear.
⌞Like⌟ golden apples in silver settings,
⌞so⌟ is a word spoken at the right time.
⌞Like⌟ a gold ring and a fine gold ornament,
⌞so⌟ is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.
Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day,
⌞so⌟ is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him:
He refreshes his masters.
⌞Like⌟ a dense fog or a dust storm,
⌞so⌟ is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give.
With patience you can persuade a ruler,
and a soft tongue can break bones.
When you find honey, eat only as much as you need.
Otherwise, you will have too much and vomit.
Do not set foot in your neighbor’s house too often.
Otherwise, he will see too much of you and hate you.
⌞Like⌟ a club and a sword and a sharp arrow,
⌞so⌟ is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
⌞Like⌟ a broken tooth and a lame foot,
⌞so⌟ is confidence in an unfaithful person in a ⌞time of⌟ crisis.
⌞Like⌟ taking off a coat on a cold day
or pouring vinegar on baking soda,
so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart.
If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink.
⌞In this way⌟ you will make him feel guilty and ashamed,
and the Lord will reward you.
⌞As⌟ the north wind brings rain,
so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.
Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
⌞Like⌟ cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from far away.
⌞Like⌟ a muddied spring and a polluted well,
⌞so⌟ is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person.
Eating too much honey is not good,
and searching for honor is not honorable.
⌞Like⌟ a city broken into ⌞and⌟ left without a wall,
⌞so⌟ is a person who lacks self-control.
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Simple – Bethel Music, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson
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NT Reading: Colossians 3:1-11 (GW)
Live as God’s People
3:1 Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne. 
Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.
Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him. You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator. Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.
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Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me – Brentwood Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra // Great Church Music
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+ 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.
+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
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- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
+ Almighty God, your truth endures from age to age: Direct in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may speak your truth to make the heart of this people wise, its mind discerning, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Jews began to criticize Jesus for saying, “I am the bread that came from heaven.” They asked, “Isn’t this man Jesus, Joseph’s son? Don’t we know his father and mother? How can he say now, ‘I came from heaven’?”
When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. It was a very large stone. As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man. He was dressed in a white robe and sat on the right side. They were panic-stricken.
The Peanut Gallery 