SUNDAY MAY 3
THE ROAD OF TRUE HAPPINESS
WELCOME
Are you missing church?
There is truth in the old saying ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’. Often when something is taken out of our life against our choosing, we can see it in a new light. Often the ‘week in and week out things’ we can fail to appreciate. We can take for granted their real value and worth.
Here are some great verses about church that for reasons out of our choosing we are not able to fully enjoy together (at the moment!)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:15-17)
Singing at home is not quite the same. But for the time being let’s sing this song we love taking in the words and ‘making music in our hearts to the Lord’ with great thankfulness and joy for our all sufficient King and Saviour.
SONG
Again, while it is not quite the same as standing side by side – celebrating some of the great truth we want to build our lives on. Let’s affirm with Christians across the ages what we believe about God and his love for us.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Some prayers for children:
Father God, you are so strong and loving.
Thank you that you care for me and protect me. Amen.
(Psalm 46:1-3)
Our Father, you are always there.
You are always loving.
You are a big strong steady rock that doesn’t budge.
Help me to depend on you. Amen.
(James 1:17)
Dear Father,
You are the loving creator of the world.
Thank you for showing how much you love me
By sending Jesus to die for me. Amen
(1 John 3:1)
BIBLE READING 1
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 That man is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither –
whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
SONG
Here is another Psalm but in song!
BIBLE READING 2
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 ‘Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.’
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 ‘I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron sceptre;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
TALK
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
1. What are some of the ways we typically feel the pressure to conform to the ways of sin?
2. How would you sum up from these 2 Psalms what it means to be truly happy? (ie. blessed)
3. What parts of the Psalms do you feel uncomfortable with? (ie. tempted to skip over, ignore etc…).
SONG
CLOSING PRAYER
Gracious God,
you made an eternal covenant with us
through the blood of your Son
and brought him back from the dead
as the great Shepherd of your sheep.
Equip us with everything good for doing your will.
Work in us what is pleasing to you, through Jesus Christ,
To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen