Sunday 13th September: This is our 26th week of On-line worship.
Major Miriam Scutt
Announcements:
1- Sunday Stroll
Listen and Learn From The Master
Introduction:
Good morning from Bedford Congress Hall, I am Miriam Scutt and I welcome & invite you to join with us in our worship wherever you are. Our theme for today is to Listen & Learn from the Master. Who of us can remember our early school years? How good were we at listening to the teachers who taught us the 3 RS as they were once known – Reading Writing & Arithmetic?
These three subjects were the grounding on which all our future knowledge and life skills were developed.
Today I want us to consider 3 Rs in our Spiritual Life; I want us to think about RESTING, REFLECTING AND RECOGNISING. For a short time this morning, I want us to put to one side any other thoughts that could easily distract us, and sit at the feet of Jesus, the greatest teacher of all time, and listen and learn from him how to re-evaluate our lives so that we can live life at its highest & best potential.
Before we do this, let’s begin our worship by singing song number 940 in our S.A songbook ‘We’re an Army’. After which Prem, Beena & family will lead us in prayer followed by a scripture reading brought to us by Charles.
These three subjects were the grounding on which all our future knowledge and life skills were developed.
Today I want us to consider 3 Rs in our Spiritual Life; I want us to think about RESTING, REFLECTING AND RECOGNISING. For a short time this morning, I want us to put to one side any other thoughts that could easily distract us, and sit at the feet of Jesus, the greatest teacher of all time, and listen and learn from him how to re-evaluate our lives so that we can live life at its highest & best potential.
Before we do this, let’s begin our worship by singing song number 940 in our S.A songbook ‘We’re an Army’. After which Prem, Beena & family will lead us in prayer followed by a scripture reading brought to us by Charles.
Song: We're an Army Fighting for a Glorious King
Salvation Army Songbook #940
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Click on the song image to start.
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Prayer: Prem, Beena and Family
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Click on the image to start our prayer time together.
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Bible Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 - The Message
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Click on the Bible image to hear Charles bring the Scripture reading to us.
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1- Resting: Matthew 11: 28-30
In these stressful times, when for so many people life has become an uphill struggle, how important is it for us to take time for rest and relaxation. Sometimes we are so busy doing that we leave no time to spend with the Master. We recall the story in Luke 10 vs. 38-42 when Jesus visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary. Martha was the sister who was always busy doing things making sure everything was organised for the Master’s visit, while on the other hand her sister Mary loved to spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus listening and absorbing everything that He was sharing with her. Naturally this annoyed Martha, because she needed help so she shared her concerns with Jesus. Jesus very kindly remonstrated with Martha and told her she was fussing too much and getting herself worked up over nothing, and said that Mary had made the right choice, she had her priorities right. In our busyness how much time do we give to non-essential things and forget to concentrate on spending time in the Presence of Jesus.
In Matthew Jesus talks about taking a real rest from the hustle and bustle of life.
When we talk about taking a rest, what do we mean?
- Relaxing with a good book
- Having a nap in the afternoon.
- Sharing coffee with a friend.
- Walking in the countryside with a friend or alone.
So how did Jesus explain the correct way to take a real rest? Here we have it in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said....
‘Are you tired, Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me; Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’ (Matthew 11: 28-30)
Throughout Scripture we find verses that encourage us to find moments to relax.
Psalm 23 – ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He refreshes my soul...’
Psalm 27: ‘I’m asking God for one thing, one thing only, to live with Him in His house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate His beauty, I’ll study at His feet. That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway far from the buzz of noisy traffic.’ (The Message)
Resting is so necessary for our own well-being, Scientists, Health Workers and Doctors are telling us all the time that to combat stress, we need to take time out, to relax, exercise, release the tension, we need to eat well, sleep well; this is not only good for our physical and mental well-being but also for our spiritual well-being.
Jesus was saying over 2000 years ago, what we are continually hearing today. Learn to live right and we will learn to live freely. Learned the unforced rhythms of grace; Prayer was as natural to Jesus as breathing, He was in constant contact with His Father. No wonder the disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray, they noticed the difference it made to His life. Maybe that’s an example for us all to follow......
Let us now listen as the Songsters sing ‘In This quiet Moment’ after which we will listen to a scripture reading from Isabel
In Matthew Jesus talks about taking a real rest from the hustle and bustle of life.
When we talk about taking a rest, what do we mean?
- Relaxing with a good book
- Having a nap in the afternoon.
- Sharing coffee with a friend.
- Walking in the countryside with a friend or alone.
So how did Jesus explain the correct way to take a real rest? Here we have it in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said....
‘Are you tired, Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me; Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’ (Matthew 11: 28-30)
Throughout Scripture we find verses that encourage us to find moments to relax.
Psalm 23 – ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He refreshes my soul...’
Psalm 27: ‘I’m asking God for one thing, one thing only, to live with Him in His house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate His beauty, I’ll study at His feet. That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway far from the buzz of noisy traffic.’ (The Message)
Resting is so necessary for our own well-being, Scientists, Health Workers and Doctors are telling us all the time that to combat stress, we need to take time out, to relax, exercise, release the tension, we need to eat well, sleep well; this is not only good for our physical and mental well-being but also for our spiritual well-being.
Jesus was saying over 2000 years ago, what we are continually hearing today. Learn to live right and we will learn to live freely. Learned the unforced rhythms of grace; Prayer was as natural to Jesus as breathing, He was in constant contact with His Father. No wonder the disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray, they noticed the difference it made to His life. Maybe that’s an example for us all to follow......
Let us now listen as the Songsters sing ‘In This quiet Moment’ after which we will listen to a scripture reading from Isabel
Songsters: In This Quiet Moment
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Click on the image to hear the International Staff Songsters bring this song to us.
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Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1:12-19 - JB Phillips Translation
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Click on the image to hear Isabel read the Scripture for us.
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2 - Reflecting - 2 Peter 1: 12-15
Before Jesus went back to His Father, He left behind a legacy for His chosen disciples to follow. He said ‘Remember and reflect on what I have told you when I was with you and remind others....’
In the Apostle Peter’s 2nd Letter Peter is doing exactly what Jesus asked, he was reminding others of what the Master said.
Here is the Master’s legacy that Peter wanted his disciples to follow. Jesus said ‘You must remind them to show love for one another as I loved you, and always whatever you do, do it in my name’ Most importantly, Jesus said, teach them that I am always with you, I will never leave you, and what I have done you must also do.’
‘Peter said, ‘So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth...I think it is now right to refresh your memory as long as I live, this is the post to which I’ve been assigned by our Master, keeping you alert with frequent reminders, and I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.’
For you and me Jesus’ present day followers, this message of reflecting on what Jesus did and taught is so vital for us. It is so easy for us to get caught up in the things of the world that the message that Jesus wants us to share somehow gets lost in all the trappings and wrappings of the present day. Especially at this difficult time when our places of worship are closed down because of this deadly virus, even more than ever we must take time to continually remember the legacies that Jesus left for us, these truths are not dependent on worshipping in buildings, always remember that when a door closes, the Lord will present us with a new challenge of presenting Him and His word to the world, and we have to take up this challenge when it is given to us.
Remember God is True and faithful for every generation. We are now in the season of Harvest and this is a timely reminder that God will always make provision for us His children, yes even in the middle of a deadly Virus. Over these past months you and I have discovered that we are constantly surrounded by reminders of a Gracious, Compassionate God.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 111.
‘God has caused His wonders to be remembered, The Lord is gracious and compassionate, He provides food for those who fear Him, He remembers His covenant for ever’
This is a reminder that God never forgets any promise that He has made on behalf of us His children.
During these past months when this deadly Covid 19 has wreaked havoc in our world, many evidences of God’s provision were being felt and evidenced in the world, we have witnessed the kindness and generosity of thousands of people, we have seen the Graciousness of God working through the ministry of countless volunteers, both professional and non-professional.
God has been working out His promises through ordinary human beings, proving again He has not forgotten His Covenant with His People.
Whenever you see a Rainbow (still evidenced in many windows) remember God is love, the rainbow was first of all a reminder of God’s Covenant with Noah and now for you and me in these troubled times of 2020.
Remember this promise from Isaiah 49.
‘For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow. Can a mother forget her little child and not have love for her own son. Yet even if that should be I will never forget you, See I have tattooed your name on the palm of my hand and ever before me is a picture of you’
We must never ever forget that when everything seems to be against us, God is always for us. Beautifully reflected in the life of Jesus and subsequently in those who are called to follow Him. That’s you and me.
We will now listen to the band, followed by a personal testimony from Marion.
In the Apostle Peter’s 2nd Letter Peter is doing exactly what Jesus asked, he was reminding others of what the Master said.
Here is the Master’s legacy that Peter wanted his disciples to follow. Jesus said ‘You must remind them to show love for one another as I loved you, and always whatever you do, do it in my name’ Most importantly, Jesus said, teach them that I am always with you, I will never leave you, and what I have done you must also do.’
‘Peter said, ‘So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth...I think it is now right to refresh your memory as long as I live, this is the post to which I’ve been assigned by our Master, keeping you alert with frequent reminders, and I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.’
For you and me Jesus’ present day followers, this message of reflecting on what Jesus did and taught is so vital for us. It is so easy for us to get caught up in the things of the world that the message that Jesus wants us to share somehow gets lost in all the trappings and wrappings of the present day. Especially at this difficult time when our places of worship are closed down because of this deadly virus, even more than ever we must take time to continually remember the legacies that Jesus left for us, these truths are not dependent on worshipping in buildings, always remember that when a door closes, the Lord will present us with a new challenge of presenting Him and His word to the world, and we have to take up this challenge when it is given to us.
Remember God is True and faithful for every generation. We are now in the season of Harvest and this is a timely reminder that God will always make provision for us His children, yes even in the middle of a deadly Virus. Over these past months you and I have discovered that we are constantly surrounded by reminders of a Gracious, Compassionate God.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 111.
‘God has caused His wonders to be remembered, The Lord is gracious and compassionate, He provides food for those who fear Him, He remembers His covenant for ever’
This is a reminder that God never forgets any promise that He has made on behalf of us His children.
During these past months when this deadly Covid 19 has wreaked havoc in our world, many evidences of God’s provision were being felt and evidenced in the world, we have witnessed the kindness and generosity of thousands of people, we have seen the Graciousness of God working through the ministry of countless volunteers, both professional and non-professional.
God has been working out His promises through ordinary human beings, proving again He has not forgotten His Covenant with His People.
Whenever you see a Rainbow (still evidenced in many windows) remember God is love, the rainbow was first of all a reminder of God’s Covenant with Noah and now for you and me in these troubled times of 2020.
Remember this promise from Isaiah 49.
‘For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow. Can a mother forget her little child and not have love for her own son. Yet even if that should be I will never forget you, See I have tattooed your name on the palm of my hand and ever before me is a picture of you’
We must never ever forget that when everything seems to be against us, God is always for us. Beautifully reflected in the life of Jesus and subsequently in those who are called to follow Him. That’s you and me.
We will now listen to the band, followed by a personal testimony from Marion.
Band: Reflections on Nature
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Click on the image to hear the band piece.
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Testimony - Marion
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Click on the image to hear Marion speak to us.
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Thought: Recognising - John 14: 1-14
Sometimes you can recognise a child from knowing their parents. Their looks, their actions and their speech.
If we want to know what God is like, then look at Jesus, He is the perfect reflection of His Father. He said Himself. I and my Father are one. Jesus looked like His Father, he behaved like His Father, He spoke like His Father, He shared His Father’s thoughts.
Jesus said to His closest disciples ...‘All things my Father has made known to me I have shared with you’, What a privilege for those chosen disciples to have such a close and personal relationship with Jesus.
When Jesus in those intimate moments was sharing with his special friends, we find in John 14 Jesus making some very startling revelations about the new Kingdom and how to get there. Some of the disciples were still not ready for this and found it difficult to understand.
Thomas questioned Jesus about how they could get there because they had no idea of the way, to which Jesus replied ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, No-one can get to the Father except through me – If you had known me, then you would have known who my Father is.’
Then Philip makes an even more startling statement. ‘Lord show us the Father and we will be satisfied’ Jesus response was even more startling. ‘You have been with me all this time Philip and you still do not recognise who I am, those who have seen me have seen the Father.. from now on you will recognise who the Father is because of me.
Jesus is the perfect reflection of His Father, Like Father...Like Son.
How are we as present day followers of Jesus recognised, do people see Jesus in us, in our words, our actions, our thoughts, I am sure there are times when we are imperfect reflections of the One we claim to represent, this is when we have to depend more and more on the one who called us to follow Him.
Jesus said ‘By their fruits you will know them’, by their kindness, their willingness to show love, to show forgiveness, you will recognise them as my disciples.
How are you and I recognised, what do others see when they meet us?
Do our friends, our family, our neighbours see Jesus reflected in our lives, in our willingness to help, in our conversation with others, in our attitudes towards people who are different and difficult to get alongside. What kind of person are we when the masks are removed?
Now we will listen to the chorus ‘To Be Like Jesus’ brought to us by The Royal Oak Corps, USA.
If we want to know what God is like, then look at Jesus, He is the perfect reflection of His Father. He said Himself. I and my Father are one. Jesus looked like His Father, he behaved like His Father, He spoke like His Father, He shared His Father’s thoughts.
Jesus said to His closest disciples ...‘All things my Father has made known to me I have shared with you’, What a privilege for those chosen disciples to have such a close and personal relationship with Jesus.
When Jesus in those intimate moments was sharing with his special friends, we find in John 14 Jesus making some very startling revelations about the new Kingdom and how to get there. Some of the disciples were still not ready for this and found it difficult to understand.
Thomas questioned Jesus about how they could get there because they had no idea of the way, to which Jesus replied ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, No-one can get to the Father except through me – If you had known me, then you would have known who my Father is.’
Then Philip makes an even more startling statement. ‘Lord show us the Father and we will be satisfied’ Jesus response was even more startling. ‘You have been with me all this time Philip and you still do not recognise who I am, those who have seen me have seen the Father.. from now on you will recognise who the Father is because of me.
Jesus is the perfect reflection of His Father, Like Father...Like Son.
How are we as present day followers of Jesus recognised, do people see Jesus in us, in our words, our actions, our thoughts, I am sure there are times when we are imperfect reflections of the One we claim to represent, this is when we have to depend more and more on the one who called us to follow Him.
Jesus said ‘By their fruits you will know them’, by their kindness, their willingness to show love, to show forgiveness, you will recognise them as my disciples.
How are you and I recognised, what do others see when they meet us?
Do our friends, our family, our neighbours see Jesus reflected in our lives, in our willingness to help, in our conversation with others, in our attitudes towards people who are different and difficult to get alongside. What kind of person are we when the masks are removed?
Now we will listen to the chorus ‘To Be Like Jesus’ brought to us by The Royal Oak Corps, USA.
Song: To Be Like Jesus
Salvation Army Songbook # 328
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Click on the image to start the song. This recording is from Royal Oak Salvation Army in the USA.
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Concluding Thought:
Video
As we have taken time out this morning to listen and learn from Jesus our Master, We have been taught how to Rest in His Presence; the Importance of Remembering and Reflecting on His Promises and to Recognise that we are known by how we represent Him to those we meet every day. I say again LISTEN AND LEARN.
Before our final song I would like to express my thanks to all those who have contributed to our worship this morning.
Our final song is no 937 ‘We are Witnesses for Jesus chosen and introduced by Mary.
The benediction from song 1031 verse 2 will conclude our time together.
Followed by Song 903 We are Marching in the Light of God from Zambia Congress 2018 with The Melbourne Staff Band.
Before our final song I would like to express my thanks to all those who have contributed to our worship this morning.
Our final song is no 937 ‘We are Witnesses for Jesus chosen and introduced by Mary.
The benediction from song 1031 verse 2 will conclude our time together.
Followed by Song 903 We are Marching in the Light of God from Zambia Congress 2018 with The Melbourne Staff Band.
Song: We are Witnesses for Jesus
The Salvation Army Songbook # 937
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Click on the image to start the song, this recording is the congregation at Edinburgh, Gorgie Corps of The Salvation Army and was made during their centenary celebrations in 1991.
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Benediction: Lord If Your Presence Does Not Go With Us
Salvation Army Songbook #1031
Pay particular attention to verse 2
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Click on the song title page to hear the song.
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Closing Song: We are Marching in the Light of God
Salvation Army Songbook #903
Recorded at the Zambia Salvation Army Congress in 2018 with The Melbourne Staff Band
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Click on the image of the band to start the song
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Note: Our 'take-away' Sunday worship started on the 22nd March. To find the previous week's services go to the Archive section of the website listed under the 'more.....' tab at the top of the page. On the 'C-19 Worship' section of the website we will only keep the current and previous month on this section of the website before moving them into the Archive.
Can you help?
In this current situation when our church doors are closed to our normal activities but our work to support those in need continues our normal source of funds (Sunday Tithes and Offerings) have reduced dramatically. We need your help, so that we continue to be ready to meet the ongoing needs of our community that will undoubtedly impact beyond this lock down period. If you are willing to help please visit our Just Giving Page to make a donation to this work. https://www.justgiving.com/