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Praising God
Psalm 147:1 says
Praise the Lord! How good is it to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Our musicians will lead us in our first song of praise
Bible Reading
As we turn to this weeks Bible reading, letâs pray together:
Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Bible reading this week is Mark 6:45-56
Jesus Walks on the Water
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, âTake courage! It is I. Donât be afraid.â 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he wentâinto villages, towns or countrysideâthey placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Sermon
Peter Ong will now preach the sermon titled Jesus Meets the Fearful.
Confession of Sin
In telling the story of the Lost Son, Jesus describes how the son âcame to his senses, saying âI will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.â So he got up and went to his fatherâ (Luke 15:17-20).
We are called to be like this lost Son, returning to God our Father with repentance and faith. Let us confess our sins, praying together
Heavenly Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love, But we have often gone our own way, and rejected your will for our lives. We are sorry for our sins and turn away from them. For the sake of your son who died for us, forgive us, cleanse us, and change us. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to live for you, and to please you in every way, for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Jesus tells us of the Fatherâs response, explaining that âwhile the son was still a far way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed himâ (Luke 15:20). This is how our Heavenly Father will respond to each of us as we return to him in the same way.
Allow David Cameron to lead you in prayer…
Letâs finish our time of prayer with the Lordâs Prayer together:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power and glory are yours, now and forever,
Amen
Final Song
Our musicians will lead us again as we close our time together.
Benediction
Hear these words from Numbers 6:24-26.
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ, Amen!
Thanks for joining us! See you next week!
