D3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net



Poole Bay Methodist Circuit worship

Sunday 25th October 2020

The Joy of God’s Word - Prepared by Julian Tawn

This service can be viewed on YouTube using this link:

Hello, welcome to this week’s audio or video service, on this late October Sunday, which is Bible Sunday. It is an opportunity for us to give thanks to God for the precious gift of Scripture; God’s revealed word to humankind. I am using some material produced by the Bible Society, for which I am very thankful.

Call to worship

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)

So let us join together in praise and thanksgiving to God, Who has revealed Himself to us in the written word of the Bible, and in the Word made flesh, His Son and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

Let us pray:

Lord, gather us in Your great compassion, bringing us together in spirit under the banner of Your love. Teach us Your ways, as we reflect on Your word today. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Let us now read, sing or listen to our first hymn, Come, divine Interpreter, which is number 154 in Singing the Faith:

1. Come, divine Interpreter, 2. All who read or hear, are blessed ears the mystic words to hear, of your kingdom here possessed words which did from you proceed, you we shall in glory view – words that endless bliss impart, when you come on earth to abide, kept in an obedient heart. reign triumphant at your side.

Prayers of Confession and Praise

Loving God, we come to You with our fragile lives, knowing our weaknesses, and aware of our tendency to sin. We know that there are times when we have not noticed what it is You have been showing us, because we are too distracted by other things, things that are not worthy of our attention. Cleanse us and forgive us, Lord of mercy, that we might have a fresh start with You today. Wipe the dust from our eyes, and blow the fog from our minds. Where our selfishness and distractedness have taken root, may Your Spirit bring release, digging out that which hinders, and bringing us back into Your beautiful light. Help us to perceive Your presence with us today.

In Jesus’ Name we ask, Amen.

We unite with the whole world in praising You, creator God. We come before You with joy and thanksgiving. We praise You for Your goodness. We praise You for Your faithfulness. We praise You for Your tenderness. We praise You for the precious gift of Your Holy Word to us.

We are Yours, and we worship You. We bless Your name forever. Amen.

Let us now share together in the prayer that our Lord taught His disciples:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

I’m now going to tell you a story based on the Scripture reading for today, which is from the book of Nehemiah 8:1-10, as seen through the eyes of a young boy.

A JOYFUL DAY

Hi, my name is Simeon. I am 10 years old and my family has just moved to a very old city called Jerusalem. It is the home town of my granddad, Ezra. But Gramps hasn’t lived in Jerusalem in over 50 years and I’ve never lived here. Before we moved back, Gramps used to tell me about this beautiful place in the city called the Temple. The Temple had all of the writings of God to his people. Gramps used to go to this Temple place to meet friends and family and learn about God. But the longer Gramps was away from Jerusalem, the older he got – and he began to forget. His beard grew very long. His hair became very white. And his back became a little stooped. When I asked him questions about God, sometimes he had the answers. But, other times, he was tired and weak and sad, and he would say, ‘I’m sorry, Simeon. I just don’t remember.’

But now our whole family and many other families have moved back to Jerusalem and today is going to be brill. We are excited to be all gathering outside the Temple together; everyone, even the children! We left our house so early this morning it was still nearly dark, and we walked down the stone road toward the centre of the city. Mum was carrying a brightly coloured rug and Dad carried a basket full of yummy food for our lunch. Soon, we arrived at the large wooden gates of the new walls around the city that Gramp’s friend, Nehemiah, had built. Mum and Dad each took one of my hands and gave a little squeeze of excitement and then we walked through the giant gates and made our way into the crowd. There were so many people, we could barely move! All of Gramp’s friends were there, with their children, grandchildren, and even some great grandchildren! There was waving. There was hugging. And the noise! It was so loud with chatter and laughter and waving and hugging, I could barely hear Dad calling me over to where people were spreading their rugs to sit down. I squeezed past the crowd around me and sat down next to Mum. Dad pointed to a tall wooden platform that had been built high above where we were sitting so that everyone could see. I noticed there was a man climbing the stairs to get up onto the platform. He looked familiar. He had a very long beard. He had very white hair. And his back was a little stooped. It was my Granddad Ezra climbing up onto the platform! As Gramps picked up one of the scrolls, all the chatter, all the laughter, all the waving, and all the hugging stopped. Quite suddenly, every person stood up and turned toward the high wooden platform and we held our breath together, waiting for something to happen. Gramps opened the scroll and began to read God’s word in a clear, strong voice. He read, and he read, and he went on reading! In fact, he read all the way until the sun was high in the sky and it was time for lunch. But we didn’t eat lunch because we were already full – full of thanks. We had heard God’s words and we knew how he wanted us to live our lives! ‘Praise the Lord, the great God,’ shouted Gramps in a loud voice. ‘Amen! Amen!’ all of the people called out together. And then, young and old, we all bowed down onto the ground and worshipped God.

Then we began to talk about the things we had heard, and some of the people began to feel sad because they realised they hadn’t been living the way God wanted them to. But Gramp’s friend Nehemiah (you know, the one who built the new wall around the city) stepped up beside him and began to speak. ‘Don’t be sad. This is a day to celebrate for now we understand the words. Enjoy your picnics and share the food and drink with one other. This is a very special day. Don’t be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’ And then Gramps went to the steps at the edge of the high platform. He still had a long beard. He still had white hair. But his back was straight and strong and he went down the stairs with a bit if a hop, a skip and a jump for joy.

In this story, we hear how joyful the people of Israel were to hear God’s word again. We are privileged to have the Bible always with us, in as many languages as we want. So let us always be thankful and joyful when we hear God’s Word, because there are still people all over the world who do not have access to even one Bible.

We are now going to read, sing or listen to a children’s song, God’s word is the Bible:

God’s word is the Bible, the Bible is God’s word. It’s living and active in us today, sharper than a two-edged sword. So we’re gonna get it open, we’re gonna see what it says: We’re gonna let God speak into our lives. Will we do it? The answer’s “Yes!”

Reflection

We are living in very difficult and challenging times. Our world has, and is, facing extraordinary levels of disruption. At times, it has been like living on the set of a disaster movie, like Outbreak or Contagion, except that this is real life, and people are really dying. The corona-virus has demonstrated our fragility, and we are not in control of our world as much as we thought. We realise just how much we need each other. Now, as we try to rebuild following a period of major disruption, and with many uncertainties still ahead, how can we, as the body of Christ on earth, experience spiritual renewal together, and so influence the future of our planet. Where can we find the resources we need to face a brave new world with courage?

This Bible Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on these questions by gathering around God’s Word, the Bible. We are going to focus on a particular story found in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. At the heart of this story is Israel, recovering from a time of major disruption and experiencing renewal through God’s Word.

So what is the back story of the book of Nehemiah? It is the fifth century BC and the Israelites have recently been through the traumatic experience of exile. A century or so before, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and forced the majority of the inhabitants out of their homeland. By the rivers of Babylon they sat down and wept in a foreign land – does anyone remember the Boney M song? Exile in Babylon proved to be a very tough experience. However, fast forward 70 years and the Persians took over from the Babylonians and allowed the exiles to return home. So, in several waves, the Israelites returned to Jerusalem and began to rebuild their old lives. If exile was tough, trying to get back to a new normal amid so much uncertainty was even harder. Sound familiar? Lockdown has been hard, but rebuilding on the other side may be even more challenging. However, when the great leader Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he managed to galvanise the inhabitants into action. The walls of the city were rebuilt and the people began to feel secure again. So we can take heart. With God on our side, the rubble can be raw material and the ruin can once again feel like home, albeit irrevocably changed.

With the physical fabric rebuilt, this is where the key character of our passage fits in. Ezra also returned to Jerusalem and worked with Nehemiah, but he had a different skill set. Nehemiah was a visionary leader. Ezra was a Bible teacher. In Nehemiah 8, it is Ezra who takes the lead as God’s people re-gather around God’s Word.

Reading Nehemiah 8:1-10 (NIVUK)

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. 5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 The Levites instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Thank you, Jeanne.

This passage shows three ways in which the Bible enables spiritual renewal:

1. THE BIBLE IS A DIVINE WATERING HOLE

I enjoy documentaries on wildlife from around the world. The BBC has been running repeats of David Attenborough’s Planet Earth II. In areas where water is scarce, video is often shot near a river or a watering hole, because they provide this life giving liquid to a wide variety of animals. Predators and prey necessarily gather around water, sometimes together – thirst can be a compelling reason to take risks.

The Bible is for all God’s people

After the trauma of exile and the exhaustion of rebuilding Jerusalem, the people of Israel were thirsty. They needed to drink again from the truth of God’s Word. So they asked Ezra to bring out the ‘Book of Moses’ and read it to them. We don’t know which sections of the Torah Ezra read, but as he read from Israel’s sacred Scriptures, the people lapped it up. Did you notice who attended this public reading of Scripture and where they gathered? Instead of meeting in the rebuilt Temple where only the Jewish men could enter, they assembled in a public square, so that everyone could come and listen – men and women, young and old, literate and illiterate. Rarely in the Bible is there a display of such diversity and it is the Bible that provided the gathering point.

The Bible is for all humanity

Too often we place unnecessary restrictions around the Bible. We position it as a technical book for priests and presbyters, or a scholarly book for academics. However, the Bible is a divine watering hole that gives meaning, strength and hope to thirsty souls. As families, we can gather round the Bible – it’s for adults and children. As churches we can gather round the Bible – it speaks the truth, whether on Zoom or in the room together. It is a source of wisdom, comfort and hope for all humanity. So as we, the church, emerge from the restrictions of lockdown, we must find ways to centre ourselves on the Bible, which is God’s Word to us all, and invite others to this life giving watering hole.

2. THE BIBLE IS A LARGER STORY THAT GIVES HOPE

The Bible helps make sense of us

As the Israelites listened to Ezra reading the Torah, it was clearly a powerful experience. Imagine the scene. Nehemiah 8 records it in a cinematic way. Ezra stood on a large platform built especially for the occasion. Thousands gathered round and as he read from the ‘Book of Moses’. You could have heard a pin drop as young and old listened attentively to the Scriptures. What was it that was so captivating? After all, for us there is always more to watch on TV or Netflix. Why bother with the Bible? Perhaps the key for Israel and for us is that the Bible helps us feel part of a larger story that makes sense of our experiences. As Ezra read Israel’s history, including God rescuing Israel from slavery in Egypt, making a covenant with them on Mount Sinai and declaring them his ‘special treasure’ (Exodus 19), taking care of them in the wilderness when they were vulnerable, this wasn’t just dusty old history. It was their story. As Ezra read extracts of the Bible, the Israelites felt part of something solid and certain. It gave them confidence to face their challenges knowing that God would be faithful through it all. This is why we need the Bible. As the corona-virus exposes our fragilities, the Bible reminds us that we are part of a larger story, stretching back to creation and forward to a new creation. We may experience some chaos in the middle but the great author has an overarching plan that will not fail and promises to take care of his people. You won’t get that from Netflix. It’s why we need the Scriptures.

We need help to make sense of the Bible

Having said that, you may have noticed that sometimes the Bible doesn’t easily make sense? It can be pretty complex and knotty, even disturbing. If you’ve experienced that, you’re in good company. As the crowds listened attentively to Ezra reading the Scriptures, there were clearly moments when they found it confusing. So as well as reading the text, the Levites and others trained in the Torah went out among the crowd ‘making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read’ (verse 8). Imagine that – Bible teachers moving from group to group, family to family and asking, ‘How are you finding it? Do you need any assistance?’ It reminds us that it’s OK to struggle with the Bible and to ask for some help.

Today, there are great resources that make the Bible more accessible. The Bible Project in America has provided really helpful videos. Closer to home, the Bible Society’s online shop has books and resources that can really help. There are so many online Christian resources now, and we are fortunate to have access to a great Christian bookshop locally in Keith Jones. As we go forward as a church and Circuit, we need to start or continue small groups that can meet to study God’s Word.

3. THE BIBLE HELPS US CULTIVATE TRUE COMMUNITY

The Bible can help us process our emotions

After Ezra had finished reading, he suddenly realised that the people had started crying. They got so emotional that Nehemiah stepped in to try and coax them out of it: ‘Do not mourn or weep’ … Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet wine.’ That’s an unusual request for a leader to make! Where did all their emotion come from? Remember, the Israelites faced major loss, disruption and uncertainty but had to keep going through it all. As the Bible was read it was like the lid was lifted. They encountered words of comfort and hope. They may also have felt a sense of conviction and remorse. Either way, Scripture created a safe space that allowed emotions to surface and deeper things to be discussed. As a society we’ve been through a lot recently. We’ve experienced loss and high levels uncertainty. We probably don’t even realise how much we’ve been holding in and the toll it’s taken. In the context of community, the Bible can help us express our emotions as part of a process of healing and renewal.

The Bible can help us become more generous

Nehemiah 8 finishes with a scene of celebration, as tears of sorrow transition to feasting and rejoicing. As Nehemiah famously put it, ‘The joy of the LORD is your strength.’ The Israelites responded by putting the Scriptures into practice and shared what they had with the poor and those in need (8.10). One thing the pandemic has taught us is to be aware of our neighbours’ pain and to show kindness, support and concern for each other. After a period of disruption, God’s people experienced a new depth of community as they gathered around God’s word. Over the next few months, no doubt we will have reason to cry together and celebrate together, lament and laugh. As we do so, we will discover that vulnerability and generosity are the keys to authentic community, whether in the room or on Zoom. Healing and renewal come when we gather around God’s word together.

RESPONSE

In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a poignant conversation takes place. Frodo says, ‘I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.’ Gandalf replies, ‘So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.’ We may not choose these times, but we can make the most of them by gathering around God’s word and experiencing spiritual renewal. This will refresh and enable us to move forward in the post Covid world, which will come, spreading the word of God’s kingdom to all those people in desperate need of His love and forgiveness.

Prayers of Intercession

Loving Lord, you call and equip us to serve you. Watch over those who risk their own safety by caring for oppressed believers. Strengthen and protect all those who are persecuted for sharing the truth of your Word in places where living out their Christian faith in peace is not allowed.

Lord, hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Loving Lord, you empower us to live out our discipleship. You encourage us through your written word in Scripture. Give wisdom, imagination and the strength to persevere to those who face apathy as they seek to live out their discipleship.

Lord, hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Loving Lord, you understand what it means to suffer for what is right. Give comfort and courage to those unjustly imprisoned, intimidated and tortured because they seek to follow the truth of your Word in their daily lives.

Lord, hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Loving Lord, you taught us to pray for those who abuse and hurt us. We pray for people who persecute anyone who hold different beliefs from their own; may they be touched by faith and their hearts be opened to love, that the world may be united in your love.

Lord, hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Loving Lord, we thank you for always hearing our prayers. We trust that you love us and are working all things together for good for those of us who love you. Guide each one of us in our prayers Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. Help us to pray often so that we may make a lasting difference in other people’s lives through our intercession for them. Amen

We are now going to read or sing along to the hymn Your words to me are life and health, which is number 164 in Singing the Faith.

1. Your words to me are life and health; they fortify my soul, enable, guide and teach my heart, to reach its perfect goal.

2. Your words to me are light and truth; from day to day they show their wisdom, passing human lore, as in their truth I grow.

3. Your words to me are full of joy, of beauty, peace and grace; from them I learn your blessed will, through them I see your face.

4. Your words are perfected in One, yourself, the living Word; within my heart your image print In clearest lines, O Lord.

Final Prayer

May the blessing of the Father be with us; may the love of the Son enfold us; and may the grace of the Holy Spirit comfort us, today and always. Amen

Julian Tawn

October 2020

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download