Tag: Worship

Wednesday Morning: 23 Jan 2019 – John 6:22-40 ~ the man behind the miracles

Wednesday 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 6:22-40 (NLT)

Jesus, the Bread of Life

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
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Morning Reflection:

“Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.”
– John 6:27

Our reading of John Chapter 6 continues – Jesus’ miraculous sign of feeding the five thousand has left the crowd with a hunger for more…. But more of what? More miracles, and the ability to perform miracles themselves. And when they ask Jesus what they can do to perform miracles, he responds –

“This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
– John 6:29

And that’s where they get hung up – they want the miracles, but not the man behind the miracles. They want daily bread, but not the Bread of Life offered by Jesus. They have seen him, and still they don’t believe in him. And Jesus’ declaration makes no sense to them –

“For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him
should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
– John 6:40

In summary: Believing in miracles won’t get you to heaven, but believing in the man behind the miracles will.

Questions for consideration:

  • What are you seeking from Jesus – your daily bread, the bread of eternal life, or something else?
  • What does believing in Jesus involve for you? Do you consider it work?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: I believe in Jesus Christ – Son of God and Son of Man – whom you sent into the world to give us eternal life. Soften my heart; change my mind; and bend my will that, through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within me, I may become more like him, and be raised with him on the last day – all to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“I Am The Bread of Life” – The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir

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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

Tuesday Morning: 22 Jan 2019 – John 6:1-21 ~ miracles draw crowds

Tuesday 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 6:1-21 (NLT)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”  When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water

That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
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Morning Reflection:

“A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went,
because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.” – John 6:2

Miracles draw crowds. It was true of Jesus, and it’s true today. People are looking for miracles – to heal the sick, to fix what’s broken, and to meet urgent needs.

And so, a huge crowd followed Jesus to a hillside, and ended up hungry with no food in sight. Jesus tasks his closest disciples with feeding them, but the question arises – “With what?” All they can find is a young boy’s lunch. And then Jesus raises the “signs and wonders” bar by turning the boy’s lunch into a banquet for over 5,000 people. People came to see miracles and they weren’t disappointed.

On the miracles:

+ Jesus’ miracles are a response to urgent needs as he sees them – water is turned into wine, a lame man walks, the sick are healed, and the hungry are fed.

+ Jesus’ miracles are a response to seemingly impossible situations that demonstrate his power and authority – the creative power of the Word of God.

On the crowd:

+ The crowds following Jesus were made up of needy people, onlookers, and a few disciples. They are mostly there to see the miracles; the man behind the miracles remains a mystery.

+ The man behind the miracles is slowly being revealed to the disciples. They continue to be amazed – not the least when Jesus comes to them across the water. Remember, they don’t have our advantage of having read John’s Prologue (John 1:1-5).

Questions for your consideration:

  • Can you find yourself in the crowd? Are you a needy person, an onlooker, a disciple, or someone else? How would you describe yourself?
  • Do you have an urgent need for a miracle? What can you give to Jesus for him to transform into something beautiful?
  • How do miracles affect your faith in Jesus? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Thank you for attending to our urgent needs. Hear our prayers for your intervention in seemingly impossible situations. We desperately need your help here and now. But our needs are far greater as we face eternity. Give us the faith we need to believe in you whether our immediate needs are met or not, that we might receive the greatest miracle of all – eternal life. We ask this in your name, and for your glory. Amen.
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“Miracles” – Alisa Turner

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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

Monday Morning: 21 Jan 2019 – John 5:31-47 ~ The Scriptures point to me!

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 5:31-47 (NLT)

Witnesses to Jesus

“If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

“Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
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Morning Reflection:

Information vs Transformation

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life.
But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.”
– John 5:39-40

Is it possible for Bible Study to lead us away from a personal relationship with Jesus? Apparently that was true of the religious leaders that Jesus addressed in today’s reading – they diligently studied the Scriptures, but rejected the one to whom the Scriptures pointed.

Or, to put it another way, they were more interested in information than transformation. They would rather study about Jesus, than leave everything and go with Jesus. Why? Because Jesus challenged their status and security, and offered them instead a guided road trip to the cross.

But isn’t that the choice before us today? The eternal life that Jesus offers is received through a life-changing journey with him to the cross, and beyond. Every morning begins a new adventure that requires the humility and vulnerability to say: “I love you, Lord. Where are we going today?”

Questions for consideration:

+ Are you involved in daily reading / study of the Bible? Do you have a plan? How’s it going?
+ Does your reading / study of the Bible result in learning more about Jesus, or becoming more like Jesus? In what way?
+ Does your reading / study of the Bible result in growing humility and vulnerability? In what way?
+ Does your reading / study of the Bible result in loving God more – Father, Son and Spirit? Does it result in loving others more? In what way?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Speak to me in the reading and study of your Word. Continue the life-changing work that your Spirit has begun within me – my complete makeover into a new creation through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Secure me in your loving-kindness, and fill me with joy-filled anticipation as I awake each day to a new adventure with Jesus – a journey that leads to the cross and beyond, to eternal life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Word Of God Speak” – MercyMe

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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 2nd Sunday of Epiphany – 20 Jan 2019 – John 2:1-11 ~ Jesus’ glory revealed

Second Sunday of Epiphany

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

Opening Prayer

God of wonders, at Cana in Galilee you revealed your glory in Jesus Christ and summoned all humanity to life in him. Show us your transforming power and give us a foretaste of the new wine you keep for the age to come. We make our prayer 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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“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” – Mass Choir, India

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Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11 (NLT)

The Wedding at Cana

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
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Prayers of Intercession:

God of wonders: Reveal the glory of your Son, Jesus Christ, to every tribe and nation. We pray especially  –

+ For believers everywhere who are seeking to follow Christ – unite us in faith, hope and love….
+ For believers facing persecution and dislocation in Africa and the Middle East – shield and protect them, and deliver them from evil….
+ For believers returning to their war-ravaged communities in Africa and the Middle East – sustain them and restore them….
+ For believers everywhere who are sick in body, mind, or spirit – reveal your glory and show them your loving-kindness….
+ For believers everywhere who are preparing to marry – unite them in Christ, and fill them with joy….
+ For believing families everywhere – unite them in Christ, and give them wisdom and sound judgement….

God of wonders: We proclaim to the nations – ‘God is king!’ Reveal your glory in answer to our prayers, we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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“Open up the Heavens” – Vertical Church Band

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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: 19 Jan 2019 – John 5:16-32 ~ God works 24/7 with eternity in mind.

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 5:16-32 (NLT)

So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

“If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.
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Morning Reflection:

God works 24/7 with eternity in mind.

Yesterday I wondered why some people are physically healed in this life, while others are not? The answer, I suggested, was to be found in the sovereignty of God who is always at work for our good, whether we recognize it or not.

In today’s reading, Jesus expands on what he and the Father are up to –

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” – John 5:24

The Father has assigned to his Son the life-giving power and authority to forgive sins and to raise us from death to life. Jesus is not indifferent to our human suffering. Indeed, he experienced suffering beyond our imagination on the cross. But healing of sickness in this life is temporary at best – we will all eventually die. And Jesus’ larger purpose is to take us across that divide – “from death into life.”

The signs and wonders of Jesus, then and now, do provide welcome relief of human pain and suffering. But their larger purpose is to invite us to believe in Jesus, the Son of God, so that we who are dead in sin, will not face the judgement we deserve, but will be made alive in him, now and forever.

I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. – John 5:30

Questions for consideration:  God works 24/7 with eternity in mind.

+ How do you think healing the sick fits into God’s eternal purpose?

+ Can a person be physically healed and yet remain spiritually dead?

+ Why do you think some people fear death and judgement?

+ How do you respond to Jesus’ assertion – “my judgement is just?”

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Lift our eyes off our present troubles and fix our gaze on eternity. Thank you for your saving grace through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive our sins and deliver us from any fear of death and judgement. Have mercy on all those who are sick and suffering and lead them into a saving relationship with you through your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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“This I Believe” (The Creed) – Hillsong Worship

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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