Happy New Year & welcome to our virtual service!

We’re really glad you can join us for this service. Everything you need for the service is on this webpage. Simply press the red play button on each of the videos as you come to them. You might like to print out the service sheet below and if you have children under the age of 14 with you – there are activities for them which you can also download below.

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

Watch the video of Rich’s welcome.

SONG

As we continue our series on Ephesians, our first song reminds us how God has blessed us.

BITESIZE

Today’s Bitesize is totally Pointless!

BIBLE READING

Our first reading speaks of what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Philippians 1:27 – 2:4

^1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.  This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.  So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

In our next song, we encourage one another to live for Christ.

SONG

PRAYERS from Josh and Becca Milsom

CONFESSION

In Philippians 1 we are told to ‘let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ’. We confess that often we do not live in this way.

Despite our encouragement in Christ
and comfort from his love,
we do not love as we should.
Lord please forgive us,
and help us to live like Jesus.
We often act from rivalry and conceit,
And consider ourselves more important than others.
Lord please forgive us,
and help us to live like Jesus.
We look to our own interests,
ignoring the interests of others.
Lord please forgive us,
and help us to live like Jesus.
We do not share the mind of Jesus
in how we live and act.
Lord please forgive us,
and help us to live like Jesus.

Our Lord Jesus humbled himself by being obedient to death, even death on the cross.
His death has won full and free forgiveness for all who trust in him.
Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for us. Amen.

Before we look at our bible reading this week we remind ourselves how Jesus has saved us and ask that He would speak to us.

SONG

Speak, O Lord, as we come to you
to receive the food of your holy Word.
Take your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness,
that the light of Christ might be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
all your purposes for your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
holy reverence, true humility;
test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail –
let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
help us grasp the heights of your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
that will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on your promises,
and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till your church is built
and the earth is filled with your glory.

BIBLE READING and TALK by Richard Hopkins. 

BIBLE READING – Ephesians 4:1-6

^4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

TALK OUTLINE

Walking worthily means putting ourselves out

Walking worthily means prioritising unity

• Praying

• Contributing

• Supporting

• Including

In our closing song we celebrate what God has done for us, His church and commit to maintain our unity.

SONG

CLOSING PRAYER from Rich Adam

^{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.}