Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 9 March 2014

 

Call to Worship a responsive prayer:

Leader: Gentle... People: yet powerful...Leader: Lowly...People: yet almighty...

Leader: Shepherd...People: yet King.

Leader: In your gentleness, guide us. People: In your power, strengthen us.

Leader: In your lowliness, strip from us our selfish pride which only destroys us.

People: In your greatness, lift us up that we might aspire to greater things.

Leader: O God, who is our shepherd and our King;

People: O Christ, who was crucified and is now risen from the dead.

Leader: O Spirit who comforts and empowers;

People: O great One in Three, Holy Trinity, this hour, set us free to worship. Amen

Leader: Dear people of God's Kingdom, let's worship God together: The Lord be with you... People: And also with you. Amen.

Hymn TIS 147 "To God be the glory" God has done great things! He created everything that exists in its amazing beauty but that isn't what this hymn is referring to. God has redeemed us from our broken, damaged state and offered us forgiveness - all we have to do is accept that forgiveness. And this hymn praises Him for that.

Do we claim that forgiveness and give praise to God for making such an amazing gift available. Many of us do in a worship service but how many of us sit down with God, one on one, and have that conversation on a personal level?

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

In this prayer Hugh led us in confirming our intent to worship God in many ways during the service, then appealed to God for his help in making us realise anew the strength of Jesus’ devotion to us, shown through his sacrifice for us. Then thanks was given for our relationship with God and Hugh asked that we be empowered to show God as a living god, to the world. We then confessed the gravity of our sins and asked for forgiveness and cleansing.

Offering. Simply returning to God, what is his.

Hymn TIS 717  "Give thanks with a grateful heart" Again the focus is on God's work of sacrifice by which we are made whole and fit to live with Him. As the hymn says, regardless of any material possessions, we are made rich; regardless of any physical or worldly power, we are made strong.

Bible Readings Psalm 32. "Rejoice" - Happy are those whose transgressions are forgiven. As the psalmist says, if we try to hide away, there is no relief from our tormented situation but if we open ourselves to God (who knows all about us anyway) and ask for forgiveness, we will be surrounded by His love.

Matthew 4: 1 - 11.The temptation in the wilderness. And the answer to this temptation and any we may experience: Away with you, Satan...Worship The Lord your God and serve only him.

Reflection: Hugh spoke to us about "Jesus' first day on the job" when he was confronted with three major temptations, the most basic and fundamental temptations in life.

"Jesus spent forty days and forty nights in the Wilderness, to be in communion with God and to reflect upon his upcoming ministry." It was during this time that Satan confronted Jesus.

Hugh made the point that this time demonstrated that innocence and goodness are not synonymous: that true goodness comes out of a struggle with evil, which is what happened during these temptations. Hugh also added that if we think about the temptations that we encounter they usually fall into one of these types.

Stone to bread: after fasting for so long this would have been a real challenge. Satan was asking Jesus to misuse his power but we are not made for things, we are made for intimacy, for family. Hugh reminded us that in this fast moving world we can easily lose track of who we really are.

Fall on Rocks: this is a temptation to misuse scripture. We must never use scripture to judge others or justify our own self-willed behaviour.

Serve the Wrong Master: this is a strong temptation in the Western world, where we are often offered an opportunity for "success" or "wealth" or "comfort" if only we will serve someone or something other than our Lord.

"Being a Jesus' follower means living with temptation for the rest of your life" but we can conquer them by following Jesus.

Hymn TIS 256 "From Heaven you came, helpless babe" vv 1,3,4. A hymn focussing our attention on the coming Easter and the events of that time and the implication for our lives.

Prayers of the People and The Lord's Prayer

Hugh prayed to Almighty God that he will reconcile all things unto himself so that his love and compassion may be made known to all. Hugh prayed that the church should be made strong and that the leaders of our nation will execute justice and righteousness.

He asked that all people be made free from oppression and live in peace and then prayed for those known to us who are in need. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymn TIS 745 "Seek ye first" A reminder of key scripture to focus our minds on our true path: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God"; "Ask and it shall be given to you" and "We shall not live by bread alone". And praise to God for showing us that way.

Benediction

"The Lord bless and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you; and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit go with you for ever and ever.        Amen."