Reading the Bible in 2021

I am always a bit wary about writing anything that suggests that being a Christian is primarily about doing things rather than about a relationship. Especially when we are on the verge of a new year and we are often contemplating our failures in the year just gone, and looking to improve in the year to come. 

If you're anything like me, then topics like Bible reading and prayer, are always fairly close to the top of the list of things I could do better.

There is no doubt that 2020 has been very challenging and whilst there is the hope that successful vaccines are going to finally see an end to the disruption caused by Tiers and Lockdowns - it is also clear that the next few months are going to be really challenging. The NHS is already experiencing pressures that are greater than they were back in March and April - and we haven't even seen the impact of the Christmas relaxation of measures start to come through in the figures yet. The start of term for secondary schools has been delayed. And other stricter measures may well need to be announced in the next few days.

Within this sort of context, there are going to be times when we will need to be reminded of God's promises. Times when, if we were to go just on how things looked or how we felt, we might find ourselves lacking the hope or the joy or the peace that God wants us to know.

Although we can be reminded of these things at church or by a friend, one of the primary ways in which God speaks to us is through the Bible. So I would encourage us all to make the time and space to read the Bible and pray in the new year - not so that we can tick a box each day, or feel that we are somehow a better Christian than last year - but so that we deliberately put ourselves in a place where God can speak to us. So that when it is hard, and dark, God can remind us of those things that are true - even when it doesn't look like it or feel like it.

If this is something that you have never done before and you're looking for a place to start I would recommend something like the Lectio 365 app. Each day there is a 9-11 minute audio which includes a couple of short readings, some prayers and some thoughts for reflection. Ideally, you will have the time to pause and reflect and respond. To find out more click here.

Maybe daily Bible reading is something that you are familiar with and you've been thinking about the challenge of reading through the whole Bible in a Year. There are lots of different schemes out there - you will need to read about 3 chapters a day. Some simply start at the beginning with Genesis 1-3, Genesis 4-6 etc. Others follow an Old Testament, Psalm and New Testament pattern (Genesis 1, Psalm 1, Matthew 1...).

If this is something you have thought about and you're still looking for a programme to follow I have heard good things about the Bible in One Year app from HTB with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. To find out more click here.

Another programme that I have followed in the past is from the Bible Project. Alongside the daily readings their short videos help you to understand the big picture of each book, or biblical theme. To find out more click here. Or you can visit your app store.

Of course, there is no need to commit to a year-long programme - there are plenty of shorter schemes out there. Maybe rather than the whole Bible in a year, you could tackle the New Testament in a year.

Many (printed) Bibles have a range of reading ideas as do most Bible reading apps - such as YouVersion.

Also, organisations like the Bible Society and Scripture Union have daily readings and reflections on their websites and phone apps.

If you can't decide where to start then how about John's gospel - which we're going to be looking at on our Sunday mornings this term - maybe starting with a section a day. Or else what about the Psalms? Start by asking God to speak to you through his word.

Not all fruit goes in a fruit salad

This morning I had another assembly, continuing our series of characters from the Old Testament, taken from the Lion Storyteller Bible.

Today's character was Solomon - one of Israel's most successful kings. Solomon is perhaps best known for his wisdom.

They say that knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom. Wisdom is not about being clever. Or knowing lots of information. Wisdom is about making the right choices, good decisions. And in particular biblical wisdom is about obedience to God. It's about knowing God, and what God would want us to do in any situation, and then doing it.

Proverbs is a book full of short sayings from a father to his son about how to live - from Solomon to his son. It includes the verse, 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding' (Proverbs 9:10).

We might not be very clever. We may not know a lot. We may not have a university degree or letters after our name. But that doesn't mean we can't be wise - living our lives in such a way that we make good choices and right decisions - which
please God.

You and whose army?

Tomorrow I get to do my second real-life assembly since March. For the Wednesday assemblies this term we are looking at characters from the Old Testament and tomorrow we're looking at Gideon. You can read about Gideon in Judges 6-8. This series we've been using the Lion Storyteller Bible which is a great resource.

God has a job for Gideon: he wants him to deliver Israel from their oppressors - and at this point in their story, that's the Midianites.

A bit like Moses, Gideon starts off with a whole load of excuses as to why God's got the wrong person - he's the weakest, he's the smallest - but God's having none of it because he has promised to be with Gideon.

So Gideon puts together an army of 32,000 men - and God's response: that's too many! Those who are afraid are allowed to leave - now there are 10,000. But that's still too many for God. Finally, Gideon ends up with 300. 

And armed only with trumpets and flaming torches Gideon, his 300 men, and God defeated the Midianite army - who end up killing each other.

Why is it that so often, our first response when God asks us to do something is to say 'no', to come up with excuses, and suggest that God has got the wrong person! I expect that's often the case because we're looking to ourself and our own resources - rather than looking to God to be the one who will act and provide.

What's God been asking you to do? And how have you responded?

Get out of jail free

There's an interesting conversation in 2 Kings 5 between Naaman and Elisha. Having just acknowledged that there is no other God in all the world except for Israel's God, Naaman then asks Elisha if it is ok if he carries on bowing down to Aram's god, Rimmon.

We didn't have time to explore this on Sunday, so here's the next in our Taking it Further videos.

Whatever you do, don't touch the ...

Tomorrow I get to do my first real-life, in-person, assembly since the 11th of March. Of course, this means that there won't be an assembly video with a spot-the-difference to post here.

This term we're looking at charcters from the Old Testament with a selection of stories taken from the Lion Storyteller Bible written by Bob Hartman and illustrated by Krisztina Kàllai Nagy. I'm starting with 'A Sad Day' - the story of Adam and Eve eating from the tree in the centre of the garden which you can read about in Genesis 3.

Why is it that when we are told not to do something, or not to touch something, or not to go somewhere - suddenly that is the only thing that we want to do? 

If you've got small children (or even not so small children) at home you will not need to be told that this is the case. Take a hot dish out of the oven, put it in the middle of the dinner table, utter the words 'don't touch - it's really hot, I've just taken it out of the oven'. Return to the kitchen to get something else. Count, '1...2...3...' and see how far you get before you hear a cry 'Ouch - that's hot - Dad, I've burnt my finger'. (I'm not suggesting you try this out at home - never leave small children and hot dishes unsupervised.)*

What is it about us? 

Are we afraid that we might miss out on something? 

Don't we trust the person who has just told us 'not to ...'? 

Is there a feeling of 'it's not fair'? 

Do we assume that we know best and therefore we'll be the judge of what we can or can't do? 

Or are we simply rebellious and just don't want to do what we are told?

I expect that it's a mix of all these things - and this is what is going on in this story from Genesis 3. Do I trust God enough to allow him to be the one who says what is good and bad? Do I trust God to know what is best? Do I trust God enough not to think that I'm missing out?

When Peter, in 1 Peter 2:24, talks about dying to sin and living for righteousness - part of that means a daily decision to trust God, to choose to do things God's way rather than my way. And to trust that when God says 'don't...' He really does know best.

*Hopefully this additional line is acceptable to the H&S department.

Not the Old Testament again

 This week we've started a new Sunday morning teaching series called 'An unchanging God in an ever-changing world'.

The Old Testament is not always the easiest part of the Bible to read and teach from. Not that is is necessarily difficult to understand - although at times it is - but we often come across parts that are: 

• hard to read - maybe it's a story about God's people killing a whole people group including women and children,
• hard to apply - what have ancient laws about mildew or wearing clothes made from cotton and polyester got to do with my life in 2020,
• hard to reconcile with the nature of God that we see in the New Testament in the life of Jesus.

But when Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16 about all Scripture being God-breathed and useful - the only Scripture Paul had was the Old Testament.

Jesus' understanding of a compassionate and gracious God came from his reading of the Old Testament.

If you just look at your Bible you will see that about 3/4 of it are the Old Testament and therefore it is really important that we engage with this part as well as the bit we might be more familiar and comfortable with.

This is one of the reasons why, here at CBC, we return to the Old Testament for a term every year. Since 2014 we have spent each Autumn working through the story of Israel's history from their escape from Egypt in Exodus through to the division of the kingdom in 1 Kings and the encounters between Elijah and Ahab. And this term we're picking up where we left off at the start of 2 Kings.

Over the last few years, there have certainly been passages that I would not choose to preach from. They have not been easy. But if we believe that 'all Scripture' is inspired by God then we need to engage with all of it - and the discipline of working our way through the books of the Old Testament in this way is a good one.

(We won't be doing 1 Chronicles next year though - for reasons that will become clear in this series.)

Whilst the story of 2 Kings happened a long time ago, in a culture very different to ours, to people who had a very different view of the world to us, if we believe that all Scripture is inspired and we believe that the Bible is a living word then these stories will speak to us as the Holy Spirit takes them and applies them to our lives.

And, what is more, these stories will speak to us in our current context - living through a global pandemic with all the medical, financial, social etc implications and impact that that brings.

You'll find the first talk in this series, from 2 Kings 2 below.

Who's really pulling the strings?

In a normal year, today would have been the first day of our annual Holiday Club. Obviously, this is not a normal year, and therefore we have not been able to prepare and deliver a normal Holiday Club. But we have been able to produce a virtual Holiday Club. This is a mix of daily YouTube videos and Activity Packs that were delivered in advance. We launched the first video today and have had a great response. It has been good seeing the children send in their photos and videos.

There is lots that I enjoy about Holiday Club - including the fifteen minutes where the team get together before the children arrive to reflect briefly on the passage/story for the day and pray together.

This year we're looking at the story of Daniel, and today the focus was on the captivity and Daniel's training from Daniel 1.

For Daniel, his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, and for many others this would have been a traumatic experience. No doubt they saw people brutally killed during the attack on Jerusalem and throughout the cruel march to Babylon. The Temple was ransacked and much of the city detroyed. For most people, these events were evidence that Nebuchadnezzar's god was bigger and stronger than the God of Israel.

And yet the author of the book of Daniel wants us to see things differently. Whilst it might look as if things were out of God's control - three times in this chapter we see a different perspective. 

It was God who handed Judah into Nebuchadnezzar's hands (verse 2). It was God who caused hardened Babylonian officials to show favour to Daniel (verse 9). And it was God who was the source of Daniel's learning and wisdom (verse 17).

Daniel knew that he could trust God because ultimately God was in control.

However bleak things might look for us today - God is ultimately in control - and therefore we can trust him.

Why one and not the other?

Today is the final assembly in my online series looking at the life of Peter. We've reached the point in Acts where Peter moves into the background, being based mainly in Jerusalem, and Paul comes to the fore as the good news of Jesus spreads far and wide.

But there is still one more dramatic story in chapter 12 although Peter was involved in the Council at Jerusalem in chapter 15. Whilst not material that lends itself to a primary school assembly, the events of chapter 15 are certainly significant in the progress of the church as it became increasing Gentile in makeup.

Back to chapter 12 and Peter's miraculous escape from prison.

We're currently heavily involved in preparation for our virtual Holiday Club - on the story of Daniel (the first half at least). And many of the teaching points revolve around statements like 'we can trust God because he is able to save us from...' And whilst that is certainly the case for Daniel and his three friends, we know too many examples of where that has not been the case.

Here we read about Peter's miraculous escape from prison, and whilst there are modern-day stories of Christians miraculously escaping from prison, there are also stories of Christians who aren't released from prison. Christians being martyred for their faith. Christians dying of Covid-19. 

It's interesting to note that chapter 12 starts with the imprisonment and execution of James - who would have been a close friend of Peter. Why did God rescue Peter and not James?

I wonder what the Christians gathered in Mary's house were praying. Were they praying for Peter's release? If so, they didn't seem to have much faith given their surprise at his presence at the front door. Or were they praying for his strength to remain faithful to the end - which was surely only hours away? He certainly seemed to be at peace - fast asleep in his cell.

There are so many questions that we are simply not going to be able to answer. 

Peter clearly didn't expect God to rescue him, and yet that didn't stop his ongoing obedience and faithfulness. He was prepared to face prison and execution without the expectation that God would intervene every time to keep him safe and well. 

Very little of the Bible makes much sense without the big picture - not just the big picture in terms of the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church, but also the big picture in terms of eternity. Clearly, God had more work for Peter to do in the life of the church in Jerusalem. But both Peter and James knew that even death was not the end of the story. 

They would have both known the book of Psalms - many of the Psalms they would have known off by heart. Psalm 56:11 says, 'In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'

The answer to that question is not 'nothing'. But no doubt Peter and James read this Psalm in the light of Jesus' words, in Matthew 10:28, 'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell'.

Obviously, I didn't go into most of that in the actual assembly.

Getting ready for Sunday

This Sunday, as we continue our series on Paul's Prayers, we're thinking about what it means to 'live a life worthy of the Lord' - a prayer that Paul prayed for the Christians in a place called Colossae. 

For a bit of background to this church and Paul's letter to them here's a helpful video from the guys at the Bible Project.

To eat or not to eat

Welcome to July. We're over halfway through the year and rapidly approaching what would normally be the end of term but with so many of the 'markers of time' having been removed due to the Covid-19 lockdown it really doesn't feel like July.

But there is still today - and then two more Wednesday's to go before the 'summer holidays' begin. So that's three more assemblies on the life of Peter.

Today, we're looking at one of the most significant stories in the book of Acts - the story of Peter and Cornelius. Look at how many words Luke dedicates to this story and then skim through the rest of Acts to see where the story is either retold in some detail or referred to. This really is a very significant and key story in Luke's telling of the story of the early church.

In today's assembly, we're going to focus on Peter's vision of the sheet. Next week we'll unpack the significance of this in Jew-Gentile relations and what God was teaching Peter at this time.

The food laws were a key signpost of who was 'in' and who was 'out'. And until this event, there is no way that Peter would have entertained the thought of entering into a Gentile (non-Jewish) home, let alone eating a meal there. Even having been with Jesus and seen him go and eat with people like Zacchaeus, Peter was still not in the position to make the jump to accepting Gentiles as being a part of the kingdom of God.

This story has much more significance than simply allowing Peter to eat a bacon roll.

Don't just listen

It's Wednesday - which means another assembly on the life of Peter. For the last few weeks we've been looking at the difference the Holy Spirit has made in Peter's life. 

As the church grew in the early chapters of Acts all kinds of people were becoming Christians. They came from all kinds of backgrounds and were welcomed into this community of people called 'the church'. Some would have come from a Jewish background, but others from a Roman or a Greek background. And many of them would have had exposure to more than one of these influences and therefore their beliefs and practices were probably a bit of a mix.

And whatever background they came from, the gospel would have challenged different aspects of their culture. One of the main challenges for many of them would have been the challenge of getting alongside people who they would never normally have mixed with. And not just getting alongside - but recognising them as your brother or sister.

Today's assembly looks at the story from Acts 6 where the church leaders have to address the complaint that one cultural group is being overlooked in the daily distribution of food to the needy. There's no suggestion that this was deliberate discrimination. It was more likely to be an oversight given the rapid growth of the church: 120 to 3000+ to 5000+ within the space of a few weeks.

But the apostles' approach was to delegate the responsibility for the distribution of food to a group (of men) who were certainly predominantly, if not exclusively, from the same cultural background as the neglected group. They were also recognised within the whole community as being 'full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom'.

The local church is a culturally diverse body. Not necessarily in terms of ethnicity and race - depending on where 'local' is - but certainly in terms of plenty of other groups within our society. There will be a spread of educational experience, a spread of financial income, a spread of ages, a spread of church background etc.

How do we respond within a local church community when a 'complaint' (to use the word from Acts 6:1) is made that the way things are being done favours one group at the expense of another? One of the lessons we learn from Acts 6 is the importance of not just listening to 'complaints' but involving those from the 'disadvantaged group' in being a part of the solution. Not just some acknowledgement that everyone is equal but genuine inclusion at an organisational level that shows that everyone is not just equal, but that everyone belongs.

The Lord's Prayer

In our service yesterday we were celebrating diversity within the church as well as exploring issues of justice - especially in light of the Black Lives Matter movement which has recently risen to prominence following the killing of George Floyd in the US last month. 

One of the highlights for many in our service was hearing the Lord's Prayer prayed in the languages that are spoken within our small church community.

You can, of course, watch our whole service - you'll find it here.

What a difference

What a difference the Holy Spirit, and spending time with Jesus, has made in Peter's life.

It's Wednesday, which means it is another school assembly, continuing our series looking at Peter's life.

In today's story, Peter has been arrested because he just won't stop talking about Jesus. And even when he is faced for a formidable group of religious leaders he is able to answer all the questions with confidence and boldness. The religious leaders can't help but notice that he has spent time with Jesus. That has made an incredible difference in Peter's life.

And even when they tell him to be silent he challenges them. "Which is right in God's eyes - to listen to you, or to him?"

Getting ready for Sunday

This Sunday we're looking at another of Paul's prayers from the book of Ephesians. You'll find the Bible Project video for Ephesians here.

Spot the difference

It's Wednesday again, which means that there is another assembly ready to watch, which means that there is another 'Spot the Difference' competition.

Last week's spot the difference was quite tough - at least that was the feedback I got. Feedback ranged from 'did you forget to do a spot the difference?' to 'I've looked and looked and can't see anything - can you give me a clue?'

Just to be clear of the rules - the difference that you are looking for is between the beginning and the end of the video. Something changes between the start and the end. I'm not interested in differences between this video and the last video. Anyway, the answer is in this week's video.

The theme for the assemblies is the life of Peter. We started in the gospels and now we're working our way through the first part of Acts. Last week we looked at the story of Pentecost, when God sent the Holy Spirit, who filled all the disciples. And what a difference the Holy Spirit made.

As we read on now into Acts anyone should be able to spot the difference. The disciples have gone from a group of people who are still fearful of the authorities, to those who are boldly declaring the truth about Jesus. They even use phrases like 'you put him to death' when talking about the crucifixion. They're not afraid to talk about Jesus in the Temple, right under the noses of the religious leaders who had had Jesus arrested and killed. They are changed from a group of people who don't really understand what Jesus is all about, to those who are able to perform miracles.

The Holy Spirit made all the difference and the good news is that the Holy Spirit continues to make all the difference in the lives of Christians today.

Some background info

This Sunday, as we continue our series on Paul's Prayers, we're going to have a couple of readings from Paul's letters - one in Colossians and the other from Thessalonians. If you want a bit of 'Bible Project' background to those two letters then here are two helpful videos.






If you want to explore more from the Bible Project then click here.

Justice - what does the Bible have to say?

The team at the Bible Project, based in Portland, in the US, chose not to release a new video this week as planned, but instead paused to create "space for the important conversation being had about justice".

Yesterday they flagged their theme video on justice. It's well worth a watch as we reflect on issues that are very much front-page news at the moment.

How are we supposed to respond?

I hope that we've all been shocked and upset by the stories and scenes that we have seen coming out of America over the last week. I hope that we're deeply concerned that we still need to state 'black lives matter' and that it's still acceptable to believe and behave as if some people are worth less than others.

A lot has been said on social media over the last days - but is that ever enough? And what can we do? What should we do?

Here are a series of articles and responses from representatives within the BUGB.

https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/579501/George_Floyd_our.aspx

Pentecost Assembly

Last week was half-term - although it seemed much like the week before - so there was no Wednesday assembly. But today we're back, looking at Peter's story. This week we're looking at Pentecost, as Peter's story moves from the gospels into the book of Acts.



Although Christians now celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, originally Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath after Passover - or seven weeks after Easter Sunday. You can find all the details in Leviticus 23:15-22 and similar passages in Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Over time Pentecost became the day when Israel celebrated the giving of the law, which was given to Moses.

The Holy Spirit coming on the day when Isreal was celebrating the giving of the law adds significance to Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbour,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

Lessons from the Lockdown

We have been told that this is a very risky time in the fight against coronavirus. The danger is that we mistake a careful relaxing of the rules for a return to normal behaviour and as a result cause a spike in infections.

Depending on our personal situation, today might not have made much difference at all. We've just carried on as we have for the past ten weeks. But for others, things over these next few days may take a few steps back towards 'normality'. 

There is another danger with this stage.

During the first few weeks of lockdown, I heard and read many people discovering things that they had forgotten in the busyness of everyday life. For us, some of the positives of this time have included daily walks, daily family devotions after breakfast and playing a lot more board games. 

I've had conversations with others about making sure that things don't go 'back to normal' when this is all over - but that we do things differently because of the lessons from the lockdown.

And the danger is that we forget those lessons as the restrictions start to ease. As more things come back into our lives other things will have to make way. That's when we need to ask what we did learn over the last ten weeks? What our priorities are going to be? Because we can't do everything. So if we're going to make space and time for some of the things that we've rediscovered in lockdown, there are going to be other things that we're not going to be able to pick up again, even though we're allowed to.

The danger is that we just drift back to where we were. So now might be a good time to take stock once again. What are the things we want to hold on to from this time? And how are we going to make the space and time for those things to happen?

Midday Prayers Saturday 30th May 2020

Although Thy Kingdom Come doesn't finish until tomorrow (Pentecost Sunday), this is our last midday prayers - as tomorrow at 12pm we will be meeting virtually together as a church after our morning service.

Here is the outline of today's midday prayers.

Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

[Pause]

Rejoice: I choose to rejoice in God’s unfailing love today, joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 48.

Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
    in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[b] is Mount Zion,
    the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.
…
9 Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
    the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go round her,
    count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
    view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
    to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide even to the end.

Spend some time worshipping God.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UzNujfU39A 

Ask:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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.

Spend some time praying together, using the following points as prompts if you want.

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to put on your heart the desires of heaven for your 5
• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.

Yield:

Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.

Amen.

Midday Prayers Friday 29th May 2020

Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

[Pause]

Rejoice: I choose to rejoice in the God who heals our brokenness joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 147.

Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the broken-hearted
    and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
    and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
    his understanding has no limit.
6 The Lord sustains the humble
    but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
    make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
    he supplies the earth with rain
    and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
    and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Spend some time praising God.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wBy5KcDcAg 

Ask:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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.


Now spend some time bringing your five friends and others to God:

• Pray for yourself and those others the Lord sends to help show your 5 their route home to God, that they would know the loving father running to greet them.

• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.

Yield:

Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.

Some background for Sunday

This Sunday as we continue our series looking at Paul's Prayers, we're going to be thinking about Paul's Prayers for those he was writing to - that they would know God better. Our starting point is a passage in Ephesians. 

Throughout this series, we haven't had the time to look at the background of each letter in any detail. But understanding the background helps us in our attempt to understand and apply God's word for us today. We need to understand what Paul was saying to them, before we can understand what God is saying to us.

So, if you want some background on Ephesians, here is the Bible Project video.

Midday Prayers Thursday 28th May 2020

For those of you who are not able to join us at midday for prayer as a part of Thy Kingdom Come, here are today's prayers, readings and video.

Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

[Pause]

Rejoice: I choose to rejoice today for you are the God who knows me better than I know myself in the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 139.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,’
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand –
    when I awake, I am still with you.

Spend a few minutes praising our God

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTPFcCXMoo 

Ask:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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.

Spend some time asking God, and particularly,

• Pray for the eyes of your 5 to be opened to all that Jesus offers them and that they would turn their faces to him and enjoy the warmth of his love.

• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.

Yield:

Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.

Midday Prayers Wednesday 27th May 2020

Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

[Pause]

Rejoice: I choose to rejoice today as I hear God’s voice over and in creation in the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 29.

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendour of his[a] holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
    Sirion[b] like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks[c]
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord is enthroned as King for ever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
    the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Spend a few minutes praising God.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqqXkz7mUnU 

Ask:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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.

Spend some time praying for the following:

• Pray for your 5 that they would know that they never have to face anything alone, but that in their need they would call on God for help.

• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.


Yield:

Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.

Midday Prayers Tuesday 26th May 2020

Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

[Pause]

Rejoice: I choose to rejoice today in the assurance that God will bear my burdens, joining in the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 68.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, 
who daily bears our burdens.
20 Our God is a God who saves; 
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.

Spend some time praising God.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxdt2JbxUGM 

Ask:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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.


[Open prayer time]

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of your 5 now, as you pray for specific things that you know they face.

• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.

Yield:

Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.

What is the current value of R?

As I watched the video that we're going to be using in today's midday prayers I couldn't help my mind going to 'R'.

If you're reading this somewhere other than the UK, or at some point in the future, you may wonder what 'R' is. But if you're living in the UK at this time, we've heard so much about 'R'. 'R' is what the scientists are calling the current Rate of Infection for the coronavirus. If R = 2 then each person who has the virus, on average, infects 2 others, who each go on to infect 2 others etc. To control the virus you need the value of R to be less than 1, as then the number of cases begins to fall.

In this video, Archbishop John Sentamu talks about how last year he was praying for five people to come to know Jesus. Some of those people did, and they, in turn, went on to pray for five more. Imagine the impact if the five people you are praying for, all chose to follow Jesus and they, in turn, prayed for five more ...

Midday Prayers for Monday 25th May 2020

As we continue to pray for our friends and neighbours to come to know Jesus, here is the text of today's midday prayers and a link to the Thy Kingdom Come video for day 5.

Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

[Pause]

Rejoice: I choose to rejoice today in the certainty that God is my refuge, joining in the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 18.

1 I love you, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and I have been saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
    my cry came before him, into his ears.

An opportunity to pray out our prayers of praise.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtJMsEVEIfA 

Ask:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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.

Pray for those we know, focusing on 

• Praying for the Holy Spirit to bring an understanding of life in all its fullness that will be theirs as your 5 put everything they have at the disposal of God.
•
• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.

Yield:

Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.

Amen.