English Service

Prayer for the Blessing of God

27 November 2022 Sunday Morning Service

Bible
Genesis 20:1-18

Genesis
20:1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,
20:2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”
20:4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
20:5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
20:6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
20:7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die.”
20:8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.
20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
20:10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”
20:11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
20:12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
20:13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”‘”
20:14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
20:15 And Abimelech said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”
20:16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”
20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,
20:18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

Showing Our Image By the Use of Our Tongue

20 November 2022 Sunday Morning Service

Bible
Psalms 51:10–17
James 3:1-12

Psalms
51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
51:14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
51:16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

James
3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
3:4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
3:5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
3:7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
3:8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
3:12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

True Faith will be Accompanied by Action

13 November 2022 Sunday Morning Service

Bible
Genesis 22:1-12
James 2:14-26

Genesis
22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
22:2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
22:4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
22:5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
22:7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
22:8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
22:9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
22:10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
22:11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
22:12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

James
2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
2:16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.
2:20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
2:21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
2:22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Resist Favouritism and Discrimination

6 November 2022 Sunday Morning Service

Bible
Leviticus 19:1,11–18
James 2:1-13

Leviticus
19:1 The LORD said to Moses,
19:11 “‘Do not steal. “‘Do not lie. “‘Do not deceive one another.
19:12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
19:13 “‘Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. “‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
19:14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
19:15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
19:16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
19:17 “‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

James
2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
2:2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
2:3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
2:4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
2:6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
2:7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
2:9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
2:13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

We Have Peace with God

30 October 2022 Sunday Morning Service

Bible
Romans 5:1-2

Romans
5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Proving Our Image Through Listening and Doing

23 October 2022 Sunday Morning Service

Bible
Psalms 119:1-16
James 1:19-27

Psalms
119:1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
119:2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
119:3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
119:4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
119:5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
119:6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
119:7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
119:8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
119:10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
119:12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
119:13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
119:14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
119:15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
119:16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

James
1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
1:20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
1:23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
1:24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.
1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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