The World's Religion - Sermon - Originally Preached 12th January 2020 at Downham Market Methodist Church

Originally Preached at Downham Market Methodist Church 12th January 2020

1st Sunday after Epiphany

The Illustration Used for the Sermon may be viewed here

All Hymns in Singing The Faith, all tunes on spotify, see links for words to two hymns

Prayers used (amended) and introduction to theme below the Order of Service

Order of Service

Call to worship: Psalm 29:1-2 & 11

Hymn O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

Prayers

Lord’s Prayer

Introduction to theme

Hymn Jesus is Lord

1st Reading: Acts 10:-24-43

Offering

2nd Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

Hymn All hail the power of Jesu’s name

Sermon

Hymn When Jesus came to Jordan

Prayers of Intercession

Hymn Behold the servant of the Lord

The Grace

Prayer of Adoration

God of all lands, we bring before You our worship this day, in the season of Epiphany when the wider world first glimpsed the wonders of the God of Abraham. We praise You As the God who made all creation, from the shoots of spring that appear from the ground, to the stars in the Sky. We praise You as the Christ, who was beheld in the world by men, knowing that here was more than a man. We praise You as the Holy Spirit, alive in us to burn at our hearts. This day We declare that You are our God, beloved in all ages, and after time itself. Amen

Prayer of Confession

Forgiving Lord, we bring before You the burden of our sins. We know that even with all the chances we have had to do what is good and right, we have instead done what is bad and wrong. We call into mind our sins, knowing that some we did and felt the wrongfulness of at once, and others we at first called right. We say, Lord God, we are sorry for the things we have done wrong. We come before You and ask Your Forgiveness for all we have done wrong with the things You made for us. You look upon us and say “Your Sins, are forgiven.” Not because we are worthy of such, but because Your Love is sufficient to forgive us all our sins. We are thus cleansed of all the dirt and degradation of sin, and we go forth, bright and clean, because of all You have done for us. Thanks be unto You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God our Father, we thank You for all the gifts You have given us. As we enjoy this time of Epiphany, we live with the joys of the year to come, its seasons, festivals, news and happinesses. We behold the many comforts and wonders of our age, where we are freed from so many of the worries of our forebears. We praise You as the one who does so much for us in our ordinary lives, strengthening us in our everyday duties and cares, and aiding us at the greatest times of trial in our lives. We thank You that we may learn of You anew each day, and shall yet behold You, enthroned in Splendour in the heavenly Kingdom. Thank You God. Amen

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in Heaven

Hallowed be Thy Name

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day, our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom,

The Power and the Glory

Forever and ever, Amen

Prayers of Intercession

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

World

Lord God we pray for the world around us. We pray especially this week for those who are living amidst the horrors of mankind’s evils, Lord draw them away from yet more violence cruelty and falsehood, and help us all bring them unto The Truth and Peace. We pray for Hong Kong, Lord, keep them safe from the wickednesses Beijing tries to visit upon them. We pray for all those who live in fear of their governments, soldiers and police. We pray for those in lands recovering from war, may they rebuild and see a peace that lasts. We ask that all those in want of the basic necessities may have their needs met, whatever they may be of, that worries of survival might end, that people might be free to make more than just existence of their lives. We pray thus for both abundance, and that things may get through to those who need them. We pray for the end of this pandemic, Lord, bless the work of the Vaccinators.

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

Church Abroad

Holy Lord, we pray for the Church in lands abroad. We pray for those whose only possession is the gospel, and work to share it with all they meet. We pray for all those who are bringing the word to new ears in lands abroad, especially those in countries where to evangelise for life is illegal, Lord, may every heart they come to be opened by them, that their neighbours will turn away from the cruelty this world encourages. We pray for all those who will spend this day worrying for their friends and neighbours, may they be able to help them. We pray for all those congregations called Methodists, in lands across the world, Lord we know that at present there is talk of a split, may Your Will Be Done, so that we may be able to worry less about things of this world, and instead dedicate ourselves to the work of the Gospel and evangelism to all that was given to us.

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

Home

Father God we pray for our own land. We know that You see all that happens, and We ask that You may move the hearts and minds of those in government, to be Your obedient servants. We ask That they be guided to do good and find the ways to do it. We ask that all those tasked with turning the laws into actions be guided by Righteousness and not by things of this world. We pray too that the nation may bring itself to be more Christian to one another, disagreeing with respect and understanding, not bile, hatred and self-righteousness. We ask your Help and Guidance upon Her Majesty the Queen and all the Royal Family, May they know You as we do.

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

Church At Home

We pray Lord for the Church at Home. We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in the circuit, and in other Christian Churches hereabouts, may we pull together for The Lord. We pray for those Churches worrying for the future, may they be filled with the Holy Spirit to go forth and tell, and find willing ears to listen. We pray too for those worrying over worldly things, Lord, keep their worries from distracting them from the wonders of You.

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

The sick

Father God we pray for those who are Ill. We pray for those who are faced with hospital stays and operations, may they come through safely. We pray for all those whose ailments need doctor’s appointments and pills, may they be helped by their medicines. We pray for those at home, recovering, may they be able to know progress and ask Your aid to cheer them. We pray too for all those doctors, nurses, chemists, porters and so forth who work for the aid of the sick. May they be see much success in their work and avoid error and exhaustion. We pray for those known to us as unwell, (especially…)

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

Locally

We pray for this community around us, for all those who are kin and neighbours. We pray for both those we know and care for, and those who are yet only faces to us, yet are Your beloved Children too. We pray for them in their needs and wants. We ask that we may be a light to them so that they may come to know You. We pray that we may be seen to be worthy servants of Christ, and in our lives may we burn so brightly with the Holy Spirit as to be a light to the Gospel for our neighbours.

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

Ourselves

We pray Lord God for ourselves. You know us utterly, from the innermost thoughts of our hearts to our most public deeds. We ask that You strengthen us to do what we ought, whether we want to or not. We ask that our dearest desires may be worthy of fulfilment and that we shall see those things come to pass, and know it as Your Work.

Lord Hear Us

Lord, Graciously Hear Us

Assurance of prayers being answered

We Pray O God, knowing that when we pray, You hear our prayers, and You will always give them answer. We ask that we may know such answers as proof of You, and the truth of Your Promises. Amen.