We’re not able to meet together as church family today and for the coming weeks. Although, by necessity, we have to stay apart physically, we’re standing together to love, support and encourage one another. So, in around 90 different homes, we’ll sing the same songs, pray the same prayers and look together at God’s word to us, as we look to Matthew 16:13-28. There are some activities for those aged 14 or under to do and a bible talk from Rich for us to listen to.
For each person in your home, you’ll need a copy of this service sheet, a bible, print outs of the children’s sheets (if needed) and your computer or tablet to click on the links below. Please note that the songs are being played from YouTube, if one of the annoying adverts pop up, click on the ‘skip ad’ button.
Today’s service sheet can be downloaded here
Today’s resources for E Kids can be found here
The thinking behind the song choices is explained in italics
WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER
Watch the video of Richard’s welcome and intro by clicking here
Let’s start our service by declaring that all our hope is built on Jesus death for us.
SONG – listen by clicking here
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name.
Christ alone, cornerstone,
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love.
Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all.
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
My anchor holds within the veil.
Christ alone, cornerstone,
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love.
Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all.
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless stand before the throne.
BIBLE READING – Isaiah 53:3-6
The prophet Isaiah spoke these words hundreds of years before the time of Jesus, predicting what kind of messiah was to come.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
These words were fulfilled in Jesus’ suffering on the cross, which our next song describes.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
nailed to a cross of wood.
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath –
we stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain written on Your face,
bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought, every evil deed
crowning Your bloodstained brow.
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath –
we stand forgiven at the cross.
Now the daylight flees,
now the ground beneath
quakes as its maker bows his head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
‘finished!’ the victory cry.
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath –
we stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see my name
written in the wounds,
for through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death,
life is mine to live,
won through Your selfless love.
This, the power of the cross:
Son of God – slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.
BITESIZE 2
Click to watch as Richard speaks to Stephen Baraniak, Minister of Rylands Community Church.
PRAYERS
Read aloud the prayers printed below.
Loving heavenly Father, we thank you for Rylands Community Church and the work that they are doing to make Jesus known in the Rylands area. We pray for their online holiday club. We pray that many families who do not yet know you will engage with it and it will lead to people of all ages looking at the bible together and coming to trust Jesus. We pray for relationships in the church family: that you will enable the church family to love one another well and speak your word to one another. Amen.
Our gracious God, we thank you for Emily and for the way you brought her to know Jesus personally. We pray for her starting her new job. Please help her to settle quickly. May she know what she needs to do and how to do it. We pray for good relationships within her team and that you would give her opportunities to speak about Jesus with them. And we pray for all the healthcare workers in our Emmanuel church family that you would give them peace in these uncertain times and the energy to keep going. Amen.
We pray for members of our church family away on holiday at the moment. We pray that you would keep everyone safe and that times away would be really refreshing. Wherever we are, please keep us trusting Jesus and please help each of us to deny self, take up our cross and follow Jesus each day. Amen.
We pray for our Discover Church Sunday next week. We pray that many visitors would engage with our virtual service. And we pray for your help to invite our friends, family members, neighbours and work colleagues to join in with our virtual service. Amen.
Let’s all say The Lord’s Prayer together
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.
As we come to think about Jesus, the Christ, and his suffering for us, we pray that we too will be living sacrifices.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Consider Christ the source of our salvation,
that he should take the penalty for me.
Though he was pure, a lamb without a blemish,
he took my sins and nailed them to the tree.
My Lord and God, you are so rich in mercy,
mere words alone are not sufficient thanks.
So take my life, transform, renew and change me
that I might be a living sacrifice.
Consider Christ, that he could trust his Father
in the garden of Gethsemane.
Though full of dread and fearful of the anguish,
he drank the cup that was reserved for me.
My Lord and God, you are so rich in mercy,
mere words alone are not sufficient thanks.
So take my life, transform, renew and change me
that I might be a living sacrifice.
Consider Christ, for death he has defeated,
and he arose, appeared for all to see.
And now he sits at God’s right hand in heaven
where he prepares a resting place for me.
My Lord and God, you are so rich in mercy,
mere words alone are not sufficient thanks.
So take my life, transform, renew and change me
that I might be a living sacrifice.
Watch the bible talk video for the reading and bible talk from Rich by clicking here
BIBLE READING
Matthew 16:13-28
16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
BIBLE TALK
The glory of the cross
Talk outline:
1. The most important question:
Who is Jesus?
2. The most important decision:
Will you follow Jesus?
In our closing song let’s praise God for Jesus’ sacrifice for us and commit to follow him.
SONG – listen by clicking here
I once was lost in darkest night
yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
a rebel to Your will,
and if You had not loved me first,
I would refuse You still.
But as I ran my hell-bound race,
indifferent to the cost,
You looked upon my helpless state
and led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed;
You suffered in my place.
You bore the wrath reserved for me,
now all I know is grace!
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.
Now Lord, I would be Yours alone
and live so all might see:
the strength to follow Your commands
could never come from me.
O Father, use my ransomed life
in any way You choose,
and let my song forever be:
my only boast is You!
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.
CLOSING PRAYER
That’s the end of our service but do link up now with others from Emmanuel!
Some material in this service is © Used by permission CCL Licence # 1102690. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.