Sharing Sunday services

[FerminRomeroDeTorres]

Thought I’d start a new thread where we can share what we’ve been impacted by in our Sunday services each week. Whether it’s something from the preach, a particular song sung, a word from God or a kind word from a fellow Jesus follower.

I know that for some getting out on a Sunday morning is tricky, for all sorts of reasons, and for others Sundays are anything but a day of rest, either because they are serving in the church, or because they are constantly wrangling little ones and struggle to engage, so thought this might be a nice place to share encouragement with one another, and might be a particular help to those for whom Sunday mornings aren’t always a blessing - a way to share the faith of others as it were, when our own is struggling.

I’ll be leaving shortly to get down to church - I’m preaching this morning on the beauty of God.

Hi everyone today was (Hebrews 11 29-40 Hebrews 12 1-2), Psalm 80, Luke 12, 49-56.

Hi all,

Happy Sunday!

We read from Psalms today and learned that worship and glorification of God should be joyful!

Have a beautiful day!

We learned about the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, that we should approach prayer with a spirit of humility and thankfulness rather than smug piety. Also that God knows our heart and sees when actions are not backed by intention.

Does anyone have any places to go where someone might want deeper learning than what is typically given during the Sunday sermon? There are real life things I would like to see addressed by elders but these subjects aren't being touched on and they weigh on me.

@FluffyWabbit my church runs a lot of courses on various aspects of faith, and most church members are part of Bible study groups where we have a chance to look more deeply at Bible studies.
I have built a resource library at my church of over a thousand Christian books, bibles of various translations, Bible study resources and prayer resources. I don’t know if many churches have that but it’s easy to run once set up.

There is good teaching on YouTube, both recent and historic. I’m currently listening to the audiobook “The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee.

I also listen to / read Joel Richardson (joelstrumpet.com) on eschatology, which I find essential as there’s so much dodgy teaching out there these days (2 Timothy 4:3).

Of course we need to be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and not just swallow anyone’s teaching without checking it first.

What particular interests do you have?

I am currently reading the Bible, daily as much as possible, to some people who have questions which I really don't know how to answer. Most of these questions are arising from Genesis but there are other questions regarding the Trinity, who 'the Destroyer' is in the New Testament etc

Additionally, how are churches approaching the issue of transhumanism? The rise of AI? What about the second coming? Who is teaching there is a rapture? Where did this come from and is it biblical?

I like the day to day reminders about how we should be thankful for Jesus, walk in His steps, remember and prioritise him in all things but there are also tools we need for modern life which I feel the churches are not addressing.

At least, I don't feel like mine is addressing it and I'm left feeling like I have nowhere to go with questions. I want to feel good about being a Christian but I also want to feel equipped.

Thank you so much!

Another online teacher I find helpful is Mike Winger. He’s got a huge back catalogue of in depth teachings on various subjects.

For me, to seek answers to your questions on eschatology, I would definitely point you to Joel Richardson.

Both Mike and Joel are highly respected among their peers and both are fearlessly outspoken against clergy abuse, which has been coming more and more into the light in recent years.

hope these suggestions are helpful. 🙏🏻

Thank you!!

The Bible Project is good for getting the historical and etymological background to particular books or chapters of the Bible, but the narrator’s American accent is a bit annoying.
https://youtube.com/@bibleproject?si=FIVqZBbKuaCvnRVH

Hi everyone, today was Acts 5 12-16, Psalm 145-1-7, Luke 22 24-30. It was lovely for me to attend today.

Hi everyone, today was Hebrews 13, 1-8, 15,16, Psalm 81, 1, 10-16, Luke 14, 1, 714

Today the reading was from Jeremiah 18: 1-11. Psalm 139 1-5, 12-18, Luke 14, 25-33. I love Psalm 139 and read it during disability pride month as I have autism and it was a glorious day. Jeremiah gave me encouragement and Luke I had to decipher it. It doesn't literally mean we should hate others, but sin. The second greatest commandment is to respect our neighbours. It is simply asking us to put Jesus' mission first.

In Luke 14:26, Jesus uses the word "hate" to describe the necessary priority of devotion to Him above all else, including family and one's own life. This usage is understood as hyperbole, or exaggerated language, and the Greek word for "hate" (miseō) means to "love less" or "love less by comparison". The passage emphasizes that a disciple must be willing to sacrifice or renounce anything that stands in the way of their commitment to Jesus, making their love for Him paramount

Today we made play- doh models of things we are grateful for. New experience for me!

And then we had the wedding at Cana.

@FuzzyPuffling but did you have “water”?

No, it wasn't a communion service, but there was coffee and chocolate cake!

Hi everyone. I posted Sunday sermon, and what came out of that was a little discussion about Elsa and Frozen and it was really lovely. My rector ended up sending me their notes which I will paste for some of it. I found it uplifting with the Disney.

I cannot retell it better than them, so will use their words. One of the sermons today was about Luke 14, the central message that we needed to put the Lord’s ministry first and still treat our neighbours with respect. The message I got from her pure words was-what is that you need to do to let go off in your life that will allow you to take up your cross and follow the Lord.

My church leaders words on Frozen/Jesus

I wonder if you’ve watched the children’s Disney film, Frozen? During my training to be a priest, all of the younger children in the theological college community kept singing the song ‘Let it go, let it go, let it go’ from the film, Frozen. In some senses those words “Let it go” tell you all you need to know – let go of the things we hold tight but which stop us from loving God and neighbour or get in the way of us deepening in love. I knew that it was Elsa, the main character in Frozen who sings this song, but I didn’t know any more. So one day when we didn’t have too many essays to write, a few of us decided to sit down and watch Frozen, which is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Snow Queen”.

Elsa has powers over ice and snow but she doesn’t have proper control over them so they get her in trouble when she uses them in anger and fear and she flees – living a simple life alone much more happily – except she has left many people living in permanent winter and she doesn’t realise it. When Elsa is told that she has killed her sister by freezing her heart something reaches Elsa’s heart and she hugs her frozen sister who slowly thaws and survives. Elsa realises that love is the key to controlling her powers and she ends the winter and there is reconciliation between Elsa and her sister and between Elsa and the people. God isn’t mentioned directly but Hans Christian Andersen was a Christian and the theme of love’s strength and of sacrifice, of giving up that which we identify with really closely, or being ready to let go of it is crucial
A short Frozen clip is below

https://youtube.com/shorts/k7ZPTkSUNw0?feature=shared

Hi everyone today the reading was Psalm 22, Philippians 2. 5-11, John 3 13-17

We had a sermon on being created in God’s image and what that means for Christians.
When all the children and youth came into church at the end, one of the Youthworkers gave a lovely speech about how knowing your identity is in Christ gives you confidence to stand strong through tough times (when you know who you are in Christ, you realise that losing a sports match doesn’t matter, being cool doesn’t matter, getting a bad grade doesn’t matter, you are fully loved and accepted for yourself).

Hi everyone, today the Psalm 119, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Matthew 9: 9-13

We had the start of Ecclesiastes (the Turn Turn Turn bit!)
The sermon was about how God transforms us in His image for His purposes, makes us beautiful in our time and places eternity in our hearts.

Hi everyone, today was Timothy 1 6-19, Psalm 126, Matthew 6 :25-33

Today we had Romans 3, we have all sinned and fallen short etc.
Back to basics apologetics because we have an Alpha course just starting.

Hi everyone, today was Timothy 2 1.1-14, Psalm 137 and Luke 17. 5-10

Hi everyone, today was Jeremiah 29. 1-47, and The Psalm was 111 and the Gospel was Luke 17. 11-19
I liked that in the Psalm that they said about Gods Commandments being eternal. Some places online think they ceased with Jesus Christ and that we are not asked to honour the Sabbath anymore.

The follow statement from Got Questions is an example of this-

4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. (There are many references to the Sabbath day in the New Testament, including the assumption that Jews under the law in the time of Christ would be observing the Sabbath. But there is no direct or indirect command for believers in the church age to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest or of worship. In fact, Colossians 2:16 releases the believer from the Sabbath rule. Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, has become for us our Sabbath rest, according to Hebrews 4:1–11.) https://www.gotquestions.org/Ten-Commandments-New-Testament.html I was taken back to find that.

Me......
But look here- (Hebrews 10:25). "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Jesus would attend the synagogue on the Sabbath to worship his Father as was custom (Luke 4:16-21). The perfect example.
“All his commandments. They stand for ever and ever; they are done in true and equity, they are done in truth and equity”. (Psalm 111)