Hosea 11: 1, 3-4 and 8-9
Psalm 105: 1-7
Matthew 10: 7-15
Building Better Community
Hosea 11: 1, 3-4 and 8-9
Psalm 105: 1-7
Matthew 10: 7-15
Click here to see Matt’s video for Day 33
Hosea 10: 1-3, 7-8 and 12
Psalm 115: 3-10
Matthew 10: 1-7
Click here to see David’s message for Day 32
Hosea 8: 4-7 and 11-13
Psalm 103: 8-12
Matthew 9: 32-end
Click here to see Matt’s video for Day 31
Hosea 2: 14-16 and 19-20
Psalm 145: 2-9
Matthew 9: 18-26
Click here to view the service streamed live at 10.30am on Sunday 5th July
Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for 4th Sunday of Trinity –
“A New Church for a New Age (Part 4):
The work of the Spirit to inspire and provide a ‘Blueprint’ for the Church in Mark ch1 – part of the focus for “40 Days on the Life and work of the Spirit” – by Jack Levison
Bible Readings:
Key Bible Reading:
Mark ch1: 1 – 45 – Mark is unique in beginning his Gospel account of Jesus from the point of Jesus’ baptism rather than from the point of Jesus’ birth. In doing so, Mark is trying to tell us something, something about the sort of person Jesus is and also the people we are called to be, to offer love and compassion for a broken world and to do so through the guidance and sustenance of the Holy Spirit. We are going to explore this further in our service today. (See also the Bible text itself and notes below for download with highlighted passages)
Supporting Text:
The following are the two parts of Jesus’ great commission – King and Servant, taken from the words God spoke over Him at His baptism in the river Jordan, “You are my Son, who I love, in you I am well pleased.” (Mark ch1:11).
The first part of this famous saying comes from,
Psalm 2 – from which we get the lines, “You are my son [my daughter], who I love” (Psalm 2:7) and which points us to the anointing and the responsibility of a monarch, a King or a Queen for his/her people.
And the second part of the saying comes from,
Isaiah chs 42-53 – where Isaiah reveals a strange but hugely significant character known as “The Servant,” or as Isaiah 53 records “the Suffering Servant.” From Isaiah 42:1 we get the lines, “with you I am well pleased” but maybe read especially Isaiah ch53. It is both unique and incredibly insightful and prophetic.
Set Readings for today:
Zachariah 9:9-12 – this passage from Zachariah is the famous prophecy that “when the King comes, he will come riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.” Words, of course, Jesus fulfilled when He rode into Jerusalem hundreds of years later.
Romans 7:15-25 – Paul wrestles with one of the great problems we can have as human beings, let alone as Christians, in that why is it we can know what is good for us, we can know what is the ‘right’ thing to do, yet we choose to do different, sometimes even the opposite. Paul wrestles with himself and his inner conscience in and through this passage – isn’t great therefore to discover we’re not alone? We too can struggle to live out our internal desire to follow Christ even when it is tough and full of self-doubt.
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-end – Jesus describes to His audience how fickle people can be – some complaining about John the Baptist and his ministry, others criticising and contrasting him for “not being more like John the Baptist,” almost the day after. And yet, in amongst our blindness, hardness of heart, and our easy judgementalism, Jesus speaks out these words, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I shall give them rest.”
Jesus lifts people out of the situations they are in, even if they are of their own making, and seeks to set them out on the road in the sure and certain knowledge they are a ‘forgiven people.’
Against all odds, Jesus chooses this moment to reveal His true identity to the world and the enormity of what these words would truly cost Him.
Hymns and Songs for 4th Sunday after Trinity:
Traditional:
Song for Refection:
Thank you again to Liz Chappell and her grandsons, Hugh and Toby who have kindly recorded their version of John Stainer “I saw the Lord” (based on Isaiah 6) – https://youtu.be/P0fMtJl3uqU
Modern Music:
Videos:
Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49 and 58-end
Romans 7: 15-25a
Matthew 11: 16-19 and 25-end
Last week, we looked at the rich story that lies behind the image of Hope “the Tree of Jesse” offers us in Isaiah ch11 and 12. This week, we are going to explore how Mark, in his opening chapter about the life and ministry of Jesus, Mark ch1, gives us both inspiration and a bit of a ‘blueprint’ as to what some of the key qualities a Church could include as we emerge from Lockdown. This follows from the fact that two of our readings this week in our “Daily Blog,” looking at the life and work of the Holy Spirit, have also come from Mark ch1.
PLUS
An Opportunity to “Share an AGAPE CELEBRATION together” as part of our Livestream Service. All you will need is:
Look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.
And afterwards, join us for the ‘Virtual’ Coffee Morning and catch up. Afterwards, why not join us for the next of our ‘virtual’ Coffee and catch up? See the “New Creation Facebook Page” for details of how to join.
Matt