Service for week beginning 25th of October
Many are invited but few are chosen
Light candle and say the prayer
Jesus light of the world,
bless us in our worship now
Light up our hearts
and make us lights to the world Amen
Play and sing along with this hymn All people that on earth do dwell
Lets pray
We bring ourselves to a moment of quiet, to a place of peace, to this place of safety and welcome.
We bring ourselves to cast off the cares of the world
and for a time to reflect on you, Lord God,
that our batteries may be recharged,
our direction be refocused and our energy renewed; that we may let go of things that hamper us
and be free to care gently for those we share time with.
God what we are going through these last few months and with still months to come you have been with us, and you will stay with us, you are our saviour and our sanctuary, you have been strong for us and have showed us the true way and in uncertain times you have also fetched reality to us and we through you have found new strength in what we do and in the way forward, we do try our best, but at times we do weaken, forgive us at these unguarded moments, we trust in you our Lord and our God.
In Jesus name we pray who taught us to pray saying
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts.
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. AMEN
Read Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, 35 and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. 36 “Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ 40 The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Hymn Make me a channel of your peace
Our reading from Matthew this morning, in this passage the Sadducees ask JESUS the question “Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the law”. Jesus had a choice of 613 commandments. The verse which Jesus – quotes is Deuteronomy 6:5. – “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Strength – Might).” That verse was part of the Shema the basic and essential creed of Judaism, the sentence with which every Jewish service still opens, and the first text which every Jewish child commits to memory.
It means that to God we must give a total love, a love which dominates our emotions, a love which directs our thoughts, and a love which is the dynamic of our actions. All religion starts with the love which is total commitment of life to God.
The second commandment which Jesus quotes comes – from Leviticus 19:18. – “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”
Our love for God must show in our love for others.
But it is to be noted in which order the commandments come; it is love of God first, and love of others second. It is only when we love God that other people become lovable. The biblical teaching about human beings is not that we are a collections of chemical elements, not that we are part an obscure unloving creation, but that men and women are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-7).
It is for that reason that human beings are lovable.
The true basis of all democracy is in fact the love of God.Take away the love of God, and we can look at human nature and become angry at those who cannot be taught; we can become pessimistic about those who cannot make progress; we can become callous to those who are cold and calculating in their actions.
The love of humanity is firmly grounded in the love of God.
If I asked you where could you find the greatest love story – The greatest love story cannot be found on the Hollywood screen, nor can it be found in the latest romantic novel. It is in one of the New York Times bestsellers list, and according to Guinness World Records, it is the best-selling book of all time.
It’s the Bible. And its message of love is displayed in one simple, yet powerful verse. In which many have heard, even memorized by many, both Christian and non-Christian alike.
It’s John 3:16. God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.This small, but powerful and remarkable verse, clearly is the most significant love story throughout history, the love displayed in this verse turned the tables of time, transcend the hearts of men, crossed from eternity, took on mortality, made in the form of man, and made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s the greatest love story ever told.This verse, by far, is one of the greatest love stories ever told, the whole message of the Bible can be summed up in this one verse. And no one can truly comprehend its power, because it surpasses the mind to understand the depth of it fully. Yet, it is the greatest love story ever told.
This verse displays a love that is priceless, but freely given to all. It’s so powerful that it brought down kings and kingdoms, yet its humility is expressed in its willingness to forgive.
God loves; God is love, He is its author of it and all that flows from Him, flows from His love; everything from the gift of salvation to the answer of the simplest prayer is given to us in love.
Love gives; In this world of take, God demonstrates His love by giving, He gave His most precious gift; His only son. Love Believes; The Bible tells us that love believes all things (1Corinthians 13:7). God believed in you enough to sent His son to die for you.Love is sacrificial; He gave us His only son. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for the atoning of our sins. Love is everlasting; God’s love endures forever; it’s not based on circumstances; it based on who He is; Love. God loves us so much that there is nothing in heaven or earth can separate us from it (Romans 8:38-39)
To be truly religious is to love God and to love those whom God made in his own image; and to love God and other people, not with a vague sentimentality, but with that total commitment which issues in devotion to God and practical service of others.
(pause for a moment and reflect)
In your time of prayer now humbly come before God and ask the Holy Spirit to help you love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Ask him to reveal God to you in a deeper way and remind you of things you may have forgotten. Let God minister his love to you.
When you feel ready, ask God to speak to you about loving your neighbour.
Hymn Lord you have come to the seashore
Benediction
Go In Peace To Love And Serve The Lord And The Blessing Of God Almighty Father, Son And Holy Spirit
Be with Us All – Today And Ever
Amen