Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).
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Opening
Speak these words out loud:
Jesus said, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.’
Acts 1.8 (NIV)
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.
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful. (NIV)
Listen to your father; without him you would not exist. When your mother is old, show her your appreciation. Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense—these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell. A righteous person’s parents have good reason to be happy. You can take pride in a wise child. Let your father and mother be proud of you; give your mother that happiness. (GNB)
Proverbs 23.22-25
‘What is truth?’ Pontius Pilate said to Jesus (John 18.38, NIV).
It is a simple question. Jesus had told Pilate, ‘The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me’ (John 18.37, NIV).
What is ‘truth’? In the modern world ‘truth’ has become relative, i.e. meaningless. Things can be ‘true for me’ or ‘true for you’. Politicians can lie without consequence – I read recently that 1,400 of Donald Trump’s Facebook posts in 2020 were provably false. He got kicked off Facebook, but his followers still believe everything he said – and now he’s peddling those lies on his own platform.
It is instructive that when Jesus spoke to his disciples he didn’t say, ‘I am a truth’, or, ‘I am one option you could choose to believe’. NO! He said ‘I am THE truth.’
The question we face isn’t, ‘what is truth’ – Jesus has given us the answer to that one. No, the question is, ‘will I listen to the truth?’ The question we face isn’t abstract, it’s practical.
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:
Price Family (Ash, Elsie, Emilia, Matt)
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: Lonely & Bereaved People
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.