Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One, says:
‘In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength.’

from Isaiah 30.15

Today’s Proverb

Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.

Proverbs 14.23

There is a practical and a spiritual truth here.

It is generally true that if we work hard we will provide for ourselves and our families (sometimes in financial ways, sometimes in other ways). It is not always the case however – this proverb is how things should be and one day will be – which is why Christians should have a strong concern for justice, so that everyone has equal opportunities. No-one should be disadvantaged because of where they are born (or the colour of their skin, or their accent, or their background, etc).

The spiritual truth is what Paul says about the kingdom of God: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power’ (1 Corinthians 4.20, NIV).

It’s so easy and comfortable to sit around talking. It’s important that we do, because that is how we get to know one another! But if that is all we do, our church family will end up turned inwards onto itself, never looking out, forgetting that there is a hurting, broken, and sinful world that needs the gospel gift of forgiveness every bit as much as we do!

But we can apply this proverb to our worship, too. Worship should be a whole-life activity: it is not simply singing in church on a Sunday (which is why I try not to refer to songs as ‘worship’ or the band as ‘worship group’). When worship is reduced to mere words – sung or spoken – we will be spiritually ‘poor’.

What does ‘worship’ mean to you?

Prayers

Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders. Today we are praying for:

Brown Family (Abbey, Josh, Mike, Sue)

Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.

We also pray for: Prayer Team

Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves.

Church Family Prayer

Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.

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.

Closing Prayer

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.

Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6

May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.