The Bible: Key Messages - The Missing Piece

Outline of Service 23^rd August 2026

The Bible: Key Messages – The Missing Piece

Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Luke 15:9

 Hymn 104:  A Most Secure Abode

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

1 Chronicles 16:7-14:  A Song of Thanksgiving

Bible Readings:

·       The Source of the Problem: Deuteronomy 5:22-30

·       A Call to Follow God’s Way: Isaiah 58:1-14, 59:1-8

·       The Missing Piece: Luke 15:8-10

·       What Lack I Yet:  Matthew 19:16-21

·       Love – fulfilling of the Law: Romans 13:8-14

·       Something More Promised: John 14:15-27

Summary of Readings

§     God gave Israel the 10 Commandments, but recognised that their hearts were not right with Him to be able to keep them

§     Israel endeavoured to follow God in their way, rather than through obedience to His Way

§     Whilst believers followed God in their minds, they lacked obedience in a spirit of love

§     In the New Testament the opportunity was given for people to be reconciled to God through faith – without obedience

§     Jesus promised another Comforter – the missing piece – to bring Power from God to be able to obey His commandments through Love

§     Jesus promised a special hope through obedience – If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death (John 8:51).

 

Hymn 14:  Seeking The Piece

Message

Hymn 51:  The Spirit of Truth

Doxology 

The New Testament Epistles

 

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Outline of Service 19^th July 2026

Understanding The Bible:  New Testament – The Epistles

… be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace  2 Peter 3:14

 Hymn 106:  A Message for All

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  119:129 -136:  Order my steps in Thy Word

Bible Readings:

·        The Lord Shall Arise: Isaiah 60:1-5, 19-22, 61:1-3, 10-11

·        Job’s Old Testament Advice: Job 31:16-22

·        The New from the Old: 1 John 2:1-11

·        Peter’s Message:  2 Peter 3:1-18

Summary of Readings

§     There are 21 Epistles (Letters) in the New Testament

§     13 or 14 were authored by Paul (depending on who wrote Hebrews), and were mostly addressed to Churches that had been established

§     Other Apostles wrote 7 of the Epistles, not addressed to specific people or Churches, and are known as the General Epistles 

§     Paul gave advice and instructions about setting up churches, and living Christian lives, drawing largely on Old Testament references

§     In Paul’s Epistles we see the establishment of the New (Christian) Church explained, but he still recognised a continuing message for Israel

§     The Gospels explain the Teachings of Jesus, whilst the Epistles provide background to living a Christian life whilst awaiting the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

 

Hymn 123:  Seek God’s Inspiration

Message

Hymn 83:  Truth – A Joy and Surprise

Doxology

Understanding The Bible: Poetic and Wisdom Writings

 

Outline of Service 21^st June 2026

Understanding The Bible:  Poetic and Wisdom Writings

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32

 Hymn 102:  Joy in God’s Presence
The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  30:1 -12:  God’s Wisdom in Our Lives

Bible Readings:

·       God’s Wisdom Available to Us: Psalm 119:97-104

·       Philosophy of Life: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, 12:13-14

·       Advice for a Good Life: Proverbs 15:1-9, 23-33

·       Jesus Expounds the Psalms: Luke 24:44-49

·       God’s Power is Greater than Our Abilities: Luke 12:22-32

Summary of Readings

§     The Poetic and Wisdom Books of the Bible give us an insight into how God wants us to live in this world

§     We are told to love God, and our neighbours as ourselves, and to seek to God for wisdom to help us adjust in this life

§     God’s wisdom is different to the world’s wisdom, and often His ways are not appreciated by the world, but we still need to seek to follow them

§     In the Last Days God will bring together a remnant who will live in accordance with His wisdom and be preserved wholly - in spirit, soul and body, ready to meet Jesus Christ when He returns. (1 Thess 5:23)

 

                            Hymn 23: Types and Figures
Message
Hymn 51:  Seek Wisdom to See God

Doxology

The New Covenant With Israel

 

Outline of Service 31^st May 2026

Renewal:  The New Covenant With Israel

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  Jeremiah 31:31

 

Hymn 117:  Past, Present and Future

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  44:1 -8:  ..In God We Boast

Bible Readings:

·       The Original Covenant with Israel: Exodus 19:1-9

·       The Covenant Not Kept: Psalm 78:53-64

·       A New Covenant Promised: Jeremiah 31:31-37

·       The Source of Renewed Life: John 6:41-51

·       The Promised New Covenant: Hebrews 8:7-13

Summary of Readings

§     God established a Covenant with Israel as He led them out of slavery in Egypt

§     Israel was not faithful to the Covenant they had made with God, and God said that He would need to establish a New Covenant with them

§     In establishing a New Covenant with Israel, through the Sacrifice of Jesus, God also extended salvation to all people

§     In The Latter Days, prior to Jesus Christ’s return, God will renew the Covenant with a remnant of the descendants of Israel -the 144,000

§     God will regather the remnant to live in the “Promised Land” – through being preserved wholly - in spirit and soul and body. (1 Thess 5:23)

 

Hymn 88:  Israel Awake!

Message

Hymn 47:  The Covenant of Life

Doxology

Responding to Renewal: Jonah and Elijah

 

Outline of Service 26^th April 2026

Responding to Renewal

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb  Revelation 15:3

 Hymn 34:  Incline Their Hearts To Obey

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  46:1 -11:  God Is Our Refuge

Reminder – The Process of Change

Bible Readings:

·       Some Refrozen, and Some Not: Jonah 1:1-3, 3:1-5,10, 4:1-11

·       Changed, But Not Refrozen: 1 Kings 18:25-40

·       The Call to Renewal: Romans 7:7-25; 8:14-17

·       The Renewed Condition: Revelation 15:1-4

Summary of Readings

§     Change often looks good, but making it, and keeping it are not easy

§     The “refreezing”, or adjusting to the change, often calls for giving up something that we already have, and maybe like, for something unknown

§     Jonah himself, and Israel after Elijah’s sacrifice, could not continue to implement the changes required

§     When we ask God to “deliver us from evil” do we really want Him to, or do we just want His protection whilst we keep doing what we like to do?

§     God will remove the evil from the 144,00 –give victory over the beast - they will stand with The Lamb, being renewed, and made as He is. (Rom 8:17)

 

Hymn 20:  Respond to the Voice from Heaven

Message

Hymn 100:  Follow The Master

Doxology

Renewal - The Process of Change

 

Outline of Service 22^nd March 2026

Renewal:  Requires a Process of Change

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.    Romans 12:2

 Hymn 102:  The Hope of Joy in Thy Presence

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  51:1-2, 7-12:  Renewed Relationship

Introduction – The Process of change

Bible Readings:

·       In This World Change Is Constant and Cyclical: Eccles 3:1-15

·       Israel in Egypt (Unfreezing): Exodus 1:8-14, 2:23-25

·       Call to Change (Change Process): Ezekiel 33:8-11, 36:23-28

·       Change Needed, offered, but Rejected: Jeremiah 18:1-10

·       New Gives Way to the Old (Refreezing): Ephesians 4:20-25

·       Goal of Renewal: Romans 12:1-5

Summary of Readings

§     In this world there is constant change, which results in a need for constant renewal

§     God led Israel through a “change process”, with the incentive of a renewed life in the Promised Land, and now holds out incentives to us if we follow Him

§     People today, like Israel of old, still baulk at going through the change – they want renewal, but don’t want to give up what they have!

§     The transformation starts with a renewing of our minds, and ends with an incorruptible or immortal life at Jesus Christ’s return. 

 

Hymn 57:  It’s Worth the Change!

Message

Hymn 23:  Renewed in His Likeness

Doxology