09/02/2020: Build your House upon the Rock
09/02/2020: BUILD YOUR HOUSE UPON THE ROCK
CALL TO WORSHIP: PSALM 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
READING: Micah 6:6-8
What Does the Lord Require?
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Questions to be answered:
What does (vs 8) “do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God” mean to you, in your life and personal context? How can you, practically speaking, live-out this God expected practice? In other words -what does “doing justice” mean? What does “loving kindness” mean? What will it mean for you to walk “humbly with God”?
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READING: Acts 5:35-39
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Questions to be answered: How do you discern God’s Will from the plans of people? How do you implement God’s Will in your life, and not simply enforce your own will – as if it were God’s Will – all the while pretending that you are about His work?
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READING: Luke 6:46-49
Build Your House on the Rock
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Questions to be answered:
What will you need to do, what will you need to develop and what will you need to change to get this building work on the rock of Jesus done, in your life?
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PRAYER THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
“Jesus is always going to be the focus of everything I do. I am going to always challenge our leadership and our fellowship groups; our Bible study meetings; our mission projects and organisations; our youth, our young adults and children’s ministries; our ministry and care groups our data and worship teams and choirs – and the church family here – to live and act in a way that shows Jesus at the centre of everything! I am not going to accept anything less from myself nor from anyone else at STMC.
Let the rain of God’s Spirit fall on us, and this place – as we build on the rock of Jesus this year – in Jesus name!
Amen.”
God bless for the week ahead.
Rev. Tim
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