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:

Let us take up the cross and follow Jesus,
whatever the cost.

from Luke 14.27-28

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 16.23

When I was at school we had the opportunity to join a regional mock law court thing (I forget what it was actually called), where different students would learn about how to be a judge / court reporter / barrister / etc – and then do mock trials. It was a competition – I also forget whether my school won or not. The last of the great storytellers, me…

But the point is, to be part of the team we had some debate trials (ha ha) where we were given a point of view and had to argue it in class, against people who were given the opposite point of view. The rest of the class then voted for the winning debate team.

Interestingly, I found it nearly impossible to argue strongly for something I simply didn’t believe in / thought (or knew) was a lie. That’s probably a good thing for someone who ended up being a vicar – but it was a major issue for me trying to get into the mock court trial thing.

Speaking true wisdom begins in the heart. Why? Because speaking wisdom is less about the right words, and far more about the right character. I might know all the right things to say (I don’t), be able to argue anything in a law court (I can’t), but if it doesn’t come the heart, no-one would listen.

Friends, it’s important to know the truth. There is right and wrong. We are either with Jesus, or against him. There are not ‘many ways up the mountain’, there is one: Jesus. He is the only way to the Father.

But, unless we live his way, no-one will listen to us bleating on about him. Unless we allow him to transform us from the inside out, beginning with the heart, our words – even the right words – will ring hollow.

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:

Bruce & Judith Ackers, Tony & Janet Land

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: Reopening – Wisdom & Safety

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.