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 17.19

When I do courses or preach on sin, most of the time most people think it mostly applies to other people: murderers, abusers, tax dodgers, and so on.

When I (hopefully gently) suggest that things like lying and quarrelling are sinful as well, something like, ‘Well yes but everyone does it so it doesn’t matter,’ or, ‘Not really though,’ or, ‘Not if it doesn’t harm anyone else, surely?’ Or, probably most common, ‘Yes but she tells worse lies than me, and he is far more argumentative.’

Human beings are excellent at spotting flaws in everyone but ourselves. It’s called pride. And that is what this proverb is all about.

When we quarrel we speak out of an attitude that says, ‘I’m right and you’re wrong, and I need to know that you know that.’ ‘Building a high gate’ is about broadcasting our success, our abilities, our – whatever it is that makes us pleased with ourselves. Here is what CS Lewis says about pride:

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays… He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too… If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.

CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

Do you need to make that step? (The answer is yes.) Are you willing to make that step, and start to think of yourself less?

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:

Bishop David

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: Church of England Birmingham

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.