Welcome!
Week 3 begins and how good and gracious has God been to us?!
For every kaleidoscope of trials – God has His kaleidoscope of grace – and more!
His grace is enough – He is enough!
Trust that has been your experience more and more as these weeks have unfolded. I trust too, you have given thought to believers in other countries. Isolation for many is a day to day experience because of their faith and trust in Jesus – relying on secret meetings, unable to speak of their faith and very thankful for gospel radio programmes. It may also give us a clue, to what it looks to be housebound and therefore how critical contact is by other means with the outside world.
I really hope too – it is creating in you a desire to be able to meet up in God’s house with God’s people once again – Reunion Sunday! A taste of heaven awaits! A first Sunday back when we think again of the cross and the risen Jesus and delight to be able to say together in unison – ‘He is not here – He has risen! He has risen indeed!’
But until that day comes – by God’s good grace we continue – the church scattered, but gathered in Christ, around his word and united in fellowship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Let’s pray it together.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The Heidelberg Catechism – a statement of faith – written in 1563, but good I think to remind ourselves of our church history and the strong tenants of faith, built upon the foundation the Apostles laid. Here is the second day in our weekly look…
LORD’s DAY 3
Q6. Did God create people so wicked and perverse?
Answer: No. God created them good1 and in his own image,2 that is, in true righteousness and holiness,3 so that they might truly know God their creator,4 love him with all their heart, and live with God in eternal happiness, to praise and glorify him.5
1Gen 1: 31 2Gen 1: 26 – 27 3Eph 4: 24 4Col 3: 10 5Psalm 8
Q7. Then where does this corrupt human nature come from?
Answer: The fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise.1 This fall has so poisoned our nature2 that we are all conceived and born in a sinful condition.3
1 Gen 3 2 Rom 5: 12, 18 – 19 3 Psalm 51: 5
Q8. But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?
Answer: Yes,1 unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.2
1 Gen 6: 5; 8: 21; Job 14: 4; Isaiah 53: 6 2 John 3: 3 – 5
Some deep doctrines/teachings, again an opportunity to be quiet, to consider the questions and take note – reflect recognising how far short we fall, which magnifies how great God’s love is towards a sinful, needful people.
A prayer of confession and a reminder of the hope, forgiveness, new life we have because of Christ.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you in thought word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. AMEN
Pray for God’s Word to build us up, an open heart to listen to God’s voice – Pray for God to bring an end to the Corona Virus and turn hearts to Him – Pray for churches across Merseyside / Country as they meet today. Pray for our Government. Lastly, pray for ourselves – our church family and wider family and friends.
As we finish our service – let’s listen to a couple of songs, prayerfully think through your standing before Christ – what is He saying to you? How would He have you respond?
Follow and sing along with these words in worship to our Saving God.
(Read together – 1 Corinthians 15: 58)
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
AMEN!
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