Welcome & Invitation to Worship
Good and loving Father, give us the desire to seek you, and patience to wait for you; give us wisdom to recognise you, eyes to behold you, and hearts to mediate upon you, so that our lives may reflect your own: through the power of the Spirit of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Song of Worship
‘Open the heavens, Lord, and come down….’ Ps 144:5 Let this place erupt with praise…. to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Ps 86:10
What words or ideas spoke to you during that song? What might God be saying to you through it?
Memory Verse
Activity sheet for under 11‘s. Over the summer we’re going to be exploring 5 different superheroes. Are you ready for this weeks superhero?
Acts 21:1-16 – On to Jerusalem
Read by Sue Karsten
1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.
Print off this sheet to help you remember what God is saying to you today.
Sermon
Delivered by Dan Penny
What did you learn from Dan’s sermon? What difference will it make to your life?
Song of Worship
To know God’s leading and guidance we need to listen for His voice. When we look to God we won’t be overwhelmed; for He knows the plans for our lives – ‘plans to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:1
Prayers of Intercession
Written by Pete Clarke
If you’ve been with us over the last eleven weeks, you’ll know that we’ve been on a journey through the book of Acts and have actually covered eleven chapters in this second part of our sermon series. In this time, we’ve followed Paul and companions around Asia (modern day Turkey) and then into Macedonia and Greece as the gospel of Jesus was shared with both Jews and Gentiles and new churches were started. Paul’s three journeys, you won’t be surprised to know took eleven years to complete! Throughout that time Paul’s mission was to introduce people to Jesus, to help them come into a living relationship with God himself. Today the church, and we as part of it, has exactly the same mission!
In the four gospel accounts of the life of Jesus we get insights into what happened when people met with Jesus, and I’d like us to use some of those today to form a framework for our prayers. Although we tend to think that prayer is essentially about us talking to God, as Dan has reminded, we also need to be listening to what God has to say to us.
At the end of each section do join in with the response (in bold)
Jesus, Lord of Life, In your mercy, hear us.
As we come then to pray, take a moment to settle into God’s presence, try to tune in to listening to His voice and as we pray seek to engage with Him. (Pause)
Nicodemus: John 3 vs 1-21
In John’s gospel account we hear about Nicodemus who took the trouble to seek out Jesus, under the cover of darkness, to find out just what He was about. Jesus told him:
“Unless you are born again, you can never get into the Kingdom of God.”
As Jesus explains to Nicodemus being born again referred to a spiritual re-birth. Take a moment to ponder the phrase “born again”.
If you know the reality of being born again then give thanks to God. If you have no experience of this then ask God to meet with you about it. Pray for someone you know who, like Nicodemus needs to meet with Jesus and be born again. Think about where spiritual re-birth is needed in our local, national and global contexts and bring these before God now as you pray.
Jesus, Lord of Life, in your mercy, hear us.
Zaccheus: Luke 19 vs 1-10
The Jewish tax collector, Zaccheus, was reviled by his community for collaborating with the Roman occupation and lining his own pocket in the process. Then, perched in a tree, he encounters Jesus, who, despite his sinful life, shows him the way of love and grace.
“…from now on I will give half my wealth to the poor, and if I find I have overcharged anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four times as much!”
Zaccheus’ meeting with Jesus brought about a radical change in his life. The grace shown to him made him recognise the wrongs in his life and enabled him to turn his life around and bring restoration to those who had suffered by his actions.
Perhaps there is a need for some radical change in your own life. Use the next few moments to bring that to God and make a start on turning things around. In a world where so many things are wrong and change is needed, focus now on one aspect and ask for God’s help.
One area where such change is now desperately needed is in the country of Yemen where a humanitarian disaster is unfolding on a vast scale. Pray for God’s mercy on that country and for his help to change the hearts of the warring factions and those who support them.
Jesus, Lord of Life, in your mercy, hear us.
Bartimaeus: Mark 10 vs 46-52
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who had heard about Jesus and took the opportunity to meet Him as Jesus made his way to Jerusalem and his arrest, trial and crucifixion. When asked the question, Bartimaeus gives a very bold answer in requesting to be able to see and, as He heals him, Jesus commends him for his faith.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
Praying for healing is not always easy and yet we know that Jesus still heals today. With someone you know in mind, simply ask for Jesus help in bringing the healing that is needed.
In addition to physical or mental needs, healing may also be needed in relationships. Use this opportunity to bring before God damaged relationships of which you are aware, and ask for His help in healing them.
In a wider sense we are all too aware of the need for healing in creation. Give thanks to God for the positive things that have happened and take time now to pray about how we manage the challenges of on-going climate change and the environmental impact of the way we live.
Jesus, Lord of Life, in your mercy, hear us.
Mary: Luke 10 vs 38-42
Despite all the domestic demands of hosting Jesus and his friends for dinner, Mary had left her sister Martha to get on, while she (rather boldly for a woman of the time) chose to be with Jesus, sitting at his feet listening to his words.
“There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it…”
Use this time to pray for all those in places of leadership and authority. Give thanks for Elizabeth our queen and her faith in Jesus. Pray for our national leaders as they negotiate the troubled waters of the Coronavirus pandemic, Brexit and international relations. Ask God to help them to have integrity and honesty in the way they work. Pray for all those in our parliament who know Jesus and seek to honour him in their work. Pray now for the leader of just one other nation, that they might make the same discovery as Mary did and come to embrace the reality of Jesus in their lives.
Finally, consider where you stand with Jesus today. Perhaps, for a few moments, opening your hands, in humility and trust as well as with a little courage and resolve, do as Mary chose to do, meet with him and resting at his feet invite him to take his rightful place at the centre of your life.
Jesus, Lord of Life, in your mercy, hear us.
When they asked for guidance about how to pray Jesus taught his disciples in these words. Let’s say the Lord’s Prayer together:
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.
What person, place, or situation has God put on your heart recently? Why do you think this is?
Song of Worship
Slightly different arrangement to a familiar hymn reminding us to stay close to God, listen to His voice and walk in His footsteps.
Final Blessing
As we finish, let’s pray together:
Loving Father, please be with us on this day’s journey. Open our eyes to praise you for your creation and to see the work you have set before us today. Open our ears to hear your words of love for us, and to listen to your gentle, guiding voice.