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 the promise that Jesus will reign for ever as we look to Daniel 7:13-14. There are some activities for those aged 14 or under to do and a bible talk from Richard 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
The theme of our service today is that Jesus will rule for ever. Our opening song encourages us to praise him.
SONG – listen by clicking here
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou, burning sun with golden beam
Thou, silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three-in-One
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
All the redeemed washed by His blood
Come and rejoice in His great love
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Christ has defeated every sin
Cast all your burdens now on Him
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
He shall return in pow’r to reign
Heaven and earth will join to say
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Then who shall fall on bended knee?
All creatures of our God and King
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
In Revelation 4 and 5, the apostle John sees heaven. He sees a scroll in God’s hand, but no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll. John starts to cry because there was no-one who was worthy to open it….
READING FROM REVELATION 5
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
Heaven is filled with praise for Jesus, the king of kings. We join in with that praise in our next song.
SONG – listen by clicking here
King of Kings, majesty
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest friend,
strong deliverer, beginning and end.
All within me falls at your throne.
Your majesty, I can but bow.
I lay my all before you now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve,
I live to serve your majesty.
Earth and heaven worship you.
Love eternal, faithful and true,
who bought the nations, ransomed souls,
brought this sinner near to your throne.
All within me cries out in praise!
PRAYERS
[Say aloud the prayers that are printed here on the sheet. If there’s more than one of you, you might like to take it in turns who says the prayer out loud. If it’s just you or you’re with people who aren’t able or confident in reading then say them all yourself!]
Heavenly Father, we thank you for Debs and the work that she and Luke do with Crossteach. We pray for them, in this time of furlough. Please would you help Debs to trust you during this time and trust your good plans and purposes. During this time when she can’t work, please help her to know how you want her to serve you, and help her each day in the frustrations and difficulties. We pray that you would provide for the financial needs of Crossteach for the coming days and long-term. Amen.
Lord God, you tell us in your word, through the prophet Malachi: “I am a great King, and my name will be feared among the nations.” We pray that one of the results of this coronavirus is that you would be treated as the great king that you are. Particularly in nations where few people acknowledge Jesus as king, we pray that many people would turn to you, in repentance and faith during this time. Amen.
We pray that we would treat you as king ourselves. Please would you forgive us for the times when we act as though we are king. Help us to acknowledge you, the one true king, and put you first in every area of our lives. Amen.
We pray for those with responsibility for making decisions in our country and across the world. Please would you grant them great wisdom. In your goodness, enable them to listen to good advice, ignore bad advice, and know the difference between the two. In our own country, we pray that you would grant great wisdom over any lifting of lockdown and how it should happen. Amen.
Help us to trust you, king Jesus, in every aspect of our lives. And we pray that as we trust you, we would point others to you so that family members, friends, work colleagues, classmates and neighbours would come to know you and trust you as their king. Amen.
In our next song, we continue to praise Jesus, our God, that he will reign for ever.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Strength will rise
as we wait upon the Lord,
we will wait upon the Lord,
we will wait upon the Lord. (repeat)
Our God, you reign forever.
Our hope, our strong deliverer.
You are the everlasting God,
the everlasting God.
You do not faint, you won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak,
you comfort those in need,
you lift us up on wings like eagles.
Watch the bible talk video for the reading and bible talk from Richard by clicking here
BIBLE READING
Daniel 7:9-14
9 “As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgement,
and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
BIBLE TALK
Jesus will rule for ever
His rule is an everlasting rule, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
In our closing song we encourage one another to behold our God, seated on his throne.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Who has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at his voice;
all creation rises to rejoice:
Behold our God! Seated on his throne,
come let us adore him.
Behold our King! Nothing can compare:
come let us adore Him!
Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of his words?
Who can teach the one who knows all things?
Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?
Who has felt the nails upon his hands
bearing all the guilt of sinful man?
God eternal, humbled to the grave;
Jesus, Saviour, risen now to reign!
MEN: You will reign forever!
WOMEN: Let your glory fill the earth! (repeat)
CLOSING PRAYER
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ – to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ. Amen.
That concludes our service. As you make your drink of choice now, why not link up with your Connect Group or with other friends from church?
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.