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 Revelation Matthew 13:53-58. 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 Paul’s welcome and intro by clicking here
Our opening song praises God for sending Jesus, and urges the earth to hear his voice.
SONG – listen by clicking here
To God be the glory, great things He has done.
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
who yielded His life an atonement for sin
and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice.
Come to the Father through Jesus the Son
Give Him glory; great things He has done.
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God.
The vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son.
But purer and higher and greater will be
our wonder, our worship when Jesus we see.
BITESIZE
Click here as we hear from the Elliot Connect Group.
BIBLE READING – Isaiah 42:1-9
700 years before Jesus was born God said that he would send him as his servant.
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.’
This is what God the LORD says –
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth
with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.
We’re often very aware of how much we let Jesus down. In our next song we ask that he will use us despite our fears and failures.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Everyone needs compassion
love that’s never failing:
let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness,
the kindness of a Saviour,
the hope of nations.
Saviour, he can move the mountains.
My God is mighty to save,
he is mighty to save.
Forever – author of salvation.
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as you find me,
all my fears and failures:
fill my life again.
I give my life to follow
everything I believe in;
now I surrender.
Shine your light and
let the whole world see.
We’re singing
for the glory of the risen King!
(repeat)
PRAYERS
Click here as Brian Davies lead us in our prayers this morning.
As we start our new series in the book of Matthew, we ask God in our next song to speak to us and increase our faith in him.
SONG – listen by clicking here
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.
Watch the bible talk video for the reading and bible talk from Richard by clicking here
BIBLE READING
Matthew 13:53-58
13:53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his home town he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his home town and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
BIBLE TALK
The shadow of rejection
Talk outline:
1. Can you cope with Jesus… or is he too hot to handle?
2. Is your trust really in Jesus… or is it in yourself?
In our closing song, we ask that Jesus would be at the very centre of our lives, as he should be.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Jesus, be the centre
Be my source, be my light Jesus
Jesus, be the centre
Be my hope, be my song Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide Jesus
CLOSING PRAYER
Click here to watch the video as Paul closes our service in prayer.
That concludes our service. We’ll be meeting up as a church on Zoom from 12.00-12.30pm – details are on the service sheet – do come along!
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.