This Sunday we're going to be concluding a series that we've been doing in our all-age services since January 2019. Obviously, this one is going to be a bit different to the rest, as we won't actually be in the church building. The series has been called 'Holy Habits' and it is based on the book 'Holy Habits' by Andrew Roberts. The Holy Habits picked out in this book (it doesn't claim to be an exhaustive list) are taken from one of the descriptions of the church that we find in Acts - in Acts 2:42-47. Holy Habits are not something that we do in order to be a Christian or to try and impress God. Rather they are habits that we look to develop because as we do we will become more and more like Jesus. This week we're going to be looking at the Holy Habits of Gladness and Generosity. As well as making videos about different books of the Bible, The Bible Project also make videos that explore a particular theme that runs throughout the Bible. Well, they've made a video on Generosity which explores how selfishness is the result of not trusting that God is the generous host who can be trusted.
Someone suggested to me that I include a 'spot the difference' element into my Wednesday morning assembly videos - apparently, it's something that Joe Wicks does. Well I guess I can. If it's good enough for Joe Wicks... Today's assembly is looking at the story of breakfast on the beach from John 21. Having denied even knowing Jesus, Peter has decided to go back to what he knows best - fishing. But Jesus has forgiven Peter, and now he wants Peter to forgive himself. Jesus still has a lot more for Peter to be doing. We all mess up at times, and we get it wrong and we let Jesus down. But he is loving and forgiving. He gives us a new start and a second chance. And a third, fourth, fifth...
In this week's school assembly, we have moved on in the life of Peter. Now we are in Jesus' final few days before his death and resurrection. Peter has made all kinds of claims about standing by Jesus, about not letting him down, about his loyalty, no matter what the cost. And yet within a few hours of making those claims, Peter has denied knowing Jesus three times - just as Jesus said he would. Peter is devastated by what he has done. One of the reasons I'm so grateful that the gospel authors didn't try and airbrush out the disciples' failings is because I often see myself and my failings in them. I don't know about you, but I've certainly made claims and promises to God which have then fallen through for one reason or another. Things I would do every day. Things I'd never do again. The list goes on. Yet Jesus knew that Peter would deny him before he did it. He knew that Peter would deny him before he called him and invested three years of his life into him. Jesus loved Peter before his denial and afterwards too - but that's getting into next week's assembly. We often find it more difficult to forgive ourselves than to forgive others. And sometimes when we let God down we find it even more difficult. Yet his love and his forgiveness is bigger than anything we can do.
As we continue our Sunday teaching series looking at Paul's Prayers, this coming week our starting point is going to be Paul's prayer for Philemon. Philemon was a member of the church in Colossae. In fact, that church actually met in his house, and Philemon may well have been a leader of that church. Already Philemon is showing God's love to people practically, and Paul thanks God for that fact. But there is something more that Paul hopes that Philemon will do. Here is the Bible Project video for the book of Philemon. Philemon is a really short book, so quite easy to miss, but very quick to read. It's less than a page long you'll find it just before Hebrews.
Don't get Philemon confused with Philippians. This week we're looking at Phil. 4-7 - you can distinguish between Philemon (e.g. Phil. 4-7) and Philippians (e.g. Phil. 1:8-9) because Philemon only has verse numbers, as it has no chapters.
The series has been called 'Holy Habits' and it is based on the book 'Holy Habits' by Andrew Roberts.