James Chapter 3: What We Believe and Say

Outline of Service 24^th February 2019

James Chapter 3:  What We Believe and Say – Jas 3:18

Faith at Work in What We Believe and Say

Hymn 128:  Sound His Praise Abroad

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 145:1-13 – A Place of Peace

Bible Readings: -                                             

·     The Heart and the Mouth:  1 Samuel 1:1-18

·     The Tongue Speaks of What is Inside:  James 3:1-18

Hymn 123:  Inspiration from God

·     What we believe will form the foundation of how we perceive the environment around us and the world in which we live

·     From what we say other people will assess what they think we believe and will make assumptions about us

·     If we believe in God and show this through offering praise to Him in what we say and how we say it we will have peace within ourselves and others will see it

·     James warns us to be single-minded (1:8) – we must watch what else we say, “for a fountain cannot bring forth at the same place both sweet water and bitter” (11)

·     Paul said in Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord – what we say will reflect what we believe in our hearts

·     If we think right, say right and look for peace God will show the “fruit of righteousness” in us (18).

Hymn 129:  Thoughts, Words and Works

Doxology

James Chapter 2: What We Do and How We Do It

Outline of Service 10^th February 2019

James Chapter 2:  What We Do and How We Do It – Jas 2:8

Faith at Work in What We Do and How We Do It

Hymn 87:  God Calls His People

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 91:1-7 – A Secret Place

Bible Readings: -                                             

·     Love Your Neighbour:  James 2:1-13

·     Abraham’s Faith Demonstrated:  Genesis 22:1-8, 15-19

·     Works of Faith:  James 2:14-26

Hymn 101:  A Good Relationship with God

·     In chapter 1 James tells us that we should learn to accept all those things that go wrong (trials), as the trying of our Faith works patience 

·     In chapter 2 James looks at situations in which we have to make the choice and decide what we will do

·     Our faith should lead us to condemn favouritism for the wrong reasons, and discrimination - Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

·     We are guilty under the Law unless we have become perfect!

·     Faith leads us to want to follow God, and this is demonstrated in our actions or works that He leads us to do

·     It is our faith that saves us, but it is proved by our works – obedience to God’s Laws and Commands proves our faith.

Hymn 15 (Tune 13):  Faith Made Perfect

Doxology

James Chapter 1 - Faith at Work

Outline of Service 27^th January 2019

James Chapter 1:  Faith at Work – James 1:3

Hymn 104:  God is Our Refuge

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 91:1-7 – A Secret Place

Bible Readings: -                                             

·     God Can Turn Things Around:  2 Kings 6:8-23

·     Trials Make Patience:  James 1:1-12

·     Be Doers and Not Hearers Only:  James 1:19-27

Hymn 100:  Following The Master

·     Things are not always what they might seem at first glance – but God is always in control! 

·     Sometimes when things look bad, they might be good – our journey through life is set for us to learn by

·     Jesus was our example to do good – we show our faith (belief) through what we do and not just what we say

·     Let us thank God for His promises and His guidance, and look to Him to see Him at work in our lives as He prepares us for the coming of the Lord.

Hymn 49:  Persistent Faith Rewarded

Doxology

Lessons from David: Vision for the Future

Outline of Service 13^th January 2019

Lessons from David:  Vision for the Future – Psalm 139:5

Hymn 102 -Tune 100:  Joy in His Presence

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 139:1-12 – An Ever-Knowing God

Bible Readings: -                                             

·     David Trusted in God:  2 Samuel 7:1-11, 22-26

·     Building on the Past:  Revelation 21:1-14

·     The Fulfillment:  Isaiah 66:1-2, 10-14

Hymn 51:  The Day of the Lord

·     David trusted in God both because he knew God would deliver him from immediate situations, and because God had given him a Vision 

·     When David’s personal vision was different to what God wanted, David accepted God’s greater understanding

·     The Temple that David wanted to build was a type of the Temple or City that would descend from Heaven at the Last Days

·     Are you seeking God to direct your life so that you may be a stone in that Building that represents those who have believed throughout the ages

·     Let us thank God for the understanding He has given us in this age as we await the return of Jesus Christ to this Earth. 

Hymn 6:  The Joys Prepared

Doxology

Lessons from David: Preparation

Outline of Service 23^rd December 2018

Lessons from David:  Preparation – 1 Chron 13:3

Hymn 105:  Our Almighty King

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 24:1-10 – The King of Glory

Bible Readings: -                                             

·     The ark of God Returns:  2 Chronicles 13:1-14; 15:1-3

·     Coming Prepared or Not!  Matthew 25:1-13

·     The Promised Messiah:  Luke 1:26-33

Hymn 109:  The King of Truth

·     David often planned and prepared for important events – he was motivated by a feeling in his heart! 

·     When David first wanted to bring the Ark of God “home” he was confronted by God’s Judgment!

·     We need to recognise God’s grace, but also prepare to meet His requirement for righteousness! 

·     The Foolish Virgins had not undertaken adequate preparation for the task they were to carry out

·     As we think of the birth of the Saviour, and see how God had planned the end from the beginning, let us recognise the importance of praising and following God in our lives 

·     If we prepare by offering a sacrifice of righteousness to God, He will give us the gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ.

Hymn 14:  Joyful Tidings

Doxology

Lessons from Dvid: Convinced and Convicted

Outline of Service 9^th December 2018

Lessons from David:  Convinced and Convicted – Psalm 146:5

Hymn 106:  A Place of Peace

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 146:1-10 – An inward commitment

Bible Readings:                                                

·     A Willing Heart:  1 Chronicles 29:1-2, 6-13, 18-20

·     A Changed Heart:  Acts 9:1-18

·     Seeking a Sign:  John 6:25-33

Hymn 23:  Designed for Greatness

·     People can sometimes be convinced that something is right, but not convicted to let that impact on their lives 

·     David was not only convinced about God’s Power and Glory, but was convicted to follow God’s direction in his life

·     The greatness of the World around us can be a sign to convince us that there must be a Great Creator, but does that also convict us to follow the lifestyle He has set out in the Scriptures? 

·     Our inward conviction of His Greatness is itself a sign to each personally that He is Lord of all 

·     Are you setting your mind on things above as you seek to follow Him, and hold the hope to be preserved in spirit and soul and body to be wholly changed when Jesus Christ returns 

Hymn 34:  A Heart to Obey

Doxology

Lessons from David: Leaving a Legacy

Outline of Service 25^th November 2018

Lessons from David:  Leaving a Legacy – Psalm 78:4

Hymn 128:  Own Your Glorious God!

The Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4

Psalm 78:1-7, 10-12, 16-19 - Passing on the Message

Bible Readings:                                                

·     The Covenant with David:  2 Samuel 7:1-16, 22-24

·     Generational Stability:  2 Timothy 1-11

·     Timeless Good Advice:  Matthew 5:1-12

Hymn 102:  From Generation to Generation

·     God made a covenant with David that there would always be one of his descendants sitting on his throne

·     Jesus Christ has fulfilled that promise in that He sits on the Throne of David and rules over all the World

·     We need to trust in God and to pass on this legacy to the next generation

·     There will be one generation alive and obediently waiting at the return of Jesus Christ – they will receive the fulfillment of the promises on behalf of those who have gone before them

·     God’s Plan will work out in His time in His way – we must trust in Him as we pass on the message of the hope of being preserved in spirit and soul and body and changed wholly from mortal to immortal beings at His return.

Hymn 81:  The Message of the Ages

Doxology