Tag: Worship

Monday Morning: 28 Jan 2019 – John 7:25-36 ~ sent by God

Monday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 7:25-36 (NLT)

Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”

When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”

The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”
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Morning Reflection:

The controversy surrounding Jesus continues – is he, or isn’t he, the Messiah? Many who hear him believe, while the Jewish leaders continue to plot his demise.

In the middle of it all, Jesus shouts out:

“I’m not here on my own.
The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him.
But I know him because I come from him,
and he sent me to you.” – John 7:28-29

In essence Jesus is telling the Jewish leaders and people, “I know God and you don’t, but God has sent me here to straighten you out.” Can you imagine how that would play out today at the Western Wall in Jerusalem? Jesus would be mobbed and arrested immediately, unless God intervened.

“Sent from God” revealed Jesus’ origins, authority, and destiny –

+ Jesus is the eternal Word of God made human being.

+ Jesus’ preaches, teaches, and heals under the full authority of God.

+ Jesus’ physical safety is determined by the purpose of God.

Questions for consideration –

Some churches have a purpose statement that can be applied to all believers –

“To know Christ, and to make him known.”

  • Is that true of you? How does that work out in your life?
  • What helps you know Christ better? What hinders you?
  • What helps you to make Christ known? What hinders you?
  • With God’s help, what next step can you take?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You have revealed yourself to us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Show us how we can know him more; and transform our lives, through the power of your Word and Spirit – that we might love you with our all, and love those around us as he has loved us. All to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“All I once held dear” – Robin Mark

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

The 3rd Sunday of Epiphany – 27 Jan 2019 – Luke 4:14-21 ~ “The time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

Third Sunday of Epiphany

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

Opening Prayer

Lord God, whose compassion embraces all peoples, whose law is wisdom, freedom, and joy, fulfill in our midst your promise of favor, that we may receive the gospel of salvation with faith and, anointed by the Spirit, freely proclaim it. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“O for a Thousand Tongues” – St Michael’s Singers

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Gospel Reading: Luke 4:14-21 (NLT)

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
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Prayers of Intercession:

Heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on us that we may demonstrate the Good News of great joy given to us through your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray especially for –

+ Church leaders around the world – that they may faithfully preach and teach your Word….
+ All believers – that we may listen to your Word and faithfully put it into practice….
+ Persecuted believers – that they be delivered from evil and refreshed in faith and hope….
+ The poor, the captive, the blind, and oppressed – that they might experience your favor….
+ The sick in body, mind, and spirit – that they may experience healing in this life, and perfect wholeness in the life to come….
+ Those who have died in Christ – that all your promises to them may be fulfilled as they enter into the glory of your presence….

Heavenly Father: Your words are spirit and life. Soften our hearts, change our minds, and bend our wills, that we may become joy-filled bearers of your Good News through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Joy of the Lord” – Rend Collective Experiment

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Blessing – Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do far more than all that we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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

Saturday Morning: 26 Jan 2019 – John 7:1-24 ~ the blinding effect of sin

Saturday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 7:1-24 (NLT)

Jesus and His Brothers

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.

Jesus Teaches Openly at the Temple

But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.

So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”

The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”

Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
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Morning Reflection:

In today’s reading, Jesus reluctantly travels from Galilee to Jerusalem to participate in the Jewish Festival of Shelters already in progress. He is reluctant because the Jewish leaders are already plotting to kill him, and his appearance will only provoke them further.

Why does Jesus and his teaching cause such division and hatred? Two verses stand out –

“The world… hates me because I accuse it of doing evil.” – John 7:7

“Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know
whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” – John 7:17

Sin blinds us from believing in Jesus and accepting his teaching. How did that work out in today’s reading?

+ Authority: Theological training valued over plain truth of God’s Word.

+ Legalism: Ignores the Spirit of the Law, while adhering to the letter.

+ Disobedience: No interest in understanding or obeying the God’s will.

+ Superficiality: Unwillingness to accept Jesus as God’s Son – for fear their sins will be exposed.

“It is difficult for us to believe because it is difficult for us to obey.”
– Soren Kierkegaard –

Questions for consideration:

  • How often do you read the Bible yourself?
  • What role do Bible notes or commentary play in your reading?
  • Do you believe that you can understand the plain truth of the Bible yourself?
  • What role does your faith community play in your understanding the Bible?
  • Once you understand what the Bible says, how willing are you to do what it says?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Drive away the fog of sin that clouds my ability to trust and obey the plain truth of your will, revealed in the life and teaching of your Son, the living Word of God. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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“Open My Eyes That I May See”

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Friday Morning: 25 Jan 2019 – John 6:59-71 ~ The Holy One of God!

Friday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 6:59-71 (NLT)

He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.
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Morning Reflection:

On Accepting Hard Truths

In today’s reading, the crowd of 5,000+ has abandoned Jesus, and to the Twelve remaining Jesus asks – “Are you also going to leave?”

In John Chapter 6, the story has moved from the miracle (feeding five thousand), to the man behind the miracle (Jesus, the Bread of Life), to the mystery behind the man (God’s sovereignty over eternal life). And now as Jesus teaches in the synagogue, the crowd is flabbergasted – except for the Twelve.

What made the difference? The Twelve were willing to accept Jesus’ teaching even if they didn’t fully understand everything he said. And so it is today.

+ Only people who are born of the Spirit can accept the hard truths found in God’s Word.

+ Only people who are willing to confront their sin can accept the hard truths found in God’s Word.

+ Only people who are willing to confront their cultural and religious biases can accept the hard truths found in God’s Word.

+ Only people who are given to Jesus by the Father can accept the hard truths found in God’s Word.

And in the end, they are the ones who see, believe, and receive the eternal life that Jesus offers.

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Questions for consideration:

  • What comes to mind when you think of “hard truths” in God’s word?
  • How do you respond when a “hard truth” relates to you, or your lifestyle?
  • Do you believe that Jesus is “the Holy One of God”?
  • What difference does it make?

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Morning Prayer:

Sovereign God: Our lives are in your hands – send us your Spirit that we might confess your Son, Jesus Christ, as “the Holy One of God” and believe in him for eternal life. Confront our sin and cultural biases that run counter to your Word; and, in your mercy, forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Strengthen us in faith that we might love and serve you, and faithfully follow Jesus to the Cross, and beyond. All to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“No Turning Back” – For King And Country

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Thursday Morning: 24 Jan 2019 – John 6:41-58 ~ the mystery behind the man

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 6:41-58 (NLT)

Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
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Morning Reflection:

The Mystery behind the Man.

“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
and I will raise that person at the last day.” – John 6:54

It shouldn’t surprise us that the crowd was confused by Jesus’ response to them in John 6:54. How could the son of Joseph have come down from heaven? How could he give them his flesh to eat? And what did this have to do with living forever? It was all a mystery to them.

And so it remains a mystery today – 2,000 years after Jesus’ instituted these words in the Lord’s Supper, the church continues to debate their meaning. But one thing is certain – ritual aside – eternal life is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in God’s Son – the Lamb of God who takes way the sins of the world.

“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”
– John 6:56-57

Questions for consideration:

  • How do you feed your faith – “remain in” Jesus Christ?
  • How do these “means of grace” help you develop intimacy with Christ -Bible reading/study, prayer, worship, and the Lord’s Supper? Something else?
  • Do you have a “healthy eating” plan to feed your faith in Christ?  What’s involved?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You have drawn me to your Son, Jesus Christ, and by your grace I have placed my faith and trust in him. Fill me with your Spirit, that your life might flow in me and through me. Nourish my faith through the means of grace you have given us, that I might remain in your Son, now and forever – all to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“Body Broken (Mystery of Grace)” – Diana Rose Dawson & W. Zachary Taylor

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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