Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Midweek Meeting Notes 1/7/20 Philippians 3vv1-11

In our midweek meeting on Wednesday 1st July, we're planning to look at Philippians 3vv1-11. There's no expectation that people prepare, but if you wanted to look at the passage in advance, you might find these study questions helpful.

(These notes may evolve and I might add to them after the meeting)

STUDY QUESTIONS


Do you think Christians should have self-confidence? Why / why not?

Before studying the passage, think about things that someone might “rejoice in” / “glory in” or “put confidence in”?
Why might they do that?

V1: Where in the letter has Paul already referred to rejoicing? Do you think that sheds any light on this passage?

What do you think it means / looks like to “rejoice in the Lord”?
(How is it different from just “rejoice!” or seeking to be happy?)
Do you find it striking that we are commanded to rejoice?
What reasons do we have for rejoicing? (Can you think of any from Philippians or from this passage?)
How could we deliberately and consciously rejoice in the Lord more fully / often?

Could you relate the rest of the section to Paul’s command to rejoice at all? How does this command fit with the rest of the chapter? Why does Paul go on to say this other stuff?

Who do you think Paul is talking about in v2?
What do you think their views / approach might have been?
Why does Paul warn so strongly against this stuff? Doesn’t it seem a bit harsh and over the top? Why do you think Paul would say this matters so much?

What was the significance of circumcision in Old Testament times? (v3, v5)
What does the phrase “we … are the circumcision” mean? (v3)

What are the characteristics of Christians according to v3?
What do you think these things mean? How would you put these things into your own word?
How can we do these things more?

What do you think it means to “put confidence in the flesh”? (v3, v4)

What reasons does Paul say he might have for confidence in the flesh? (vv4-6)
What do each of these things mean?
What’s the significance of the details?
Why mention the 8th day? (v5)
What’s special about the tribe of Benjamin? (v5)
What’s relevant about the Pharisees? (v5)
Why might someone put his or her confidence in those things? In what ways do they seem good qualifications?

What things might we be tempted to put our confidence in and why?
What might someone think of as their Christian credentials?
(How might someone imagine the ideal superbly qualified Christian?)

How does Paul evaluate those things now? Vv7-8.
Why?
(Why do you think its wrong to put confidence in the flesh?)
What are his priorities? Vv7-10
What is he contrasting with what and why?
Do you think these things are really mutually exclusive like this? Why?

Where’s Paul’s new confidence now? (v3, vv7-11)

In what sense has Paul “lost all things”? (v8)

Do you really think we have to consider all these things “dung” / rubbish? (v8)
What does this mean / look like in practice?

According to Paul how can and how can’t a person be “righteous”? V9
(What does righteousness mean here?)
What would be the problem with “a righteousness of my own which comes from the law”? (v9)
(What law is Paul thinking of here?)

In what sense does Paul welcome suffering (v10)? And why?
How would these verses encourage us if we suffer for Christ’s sake?

What do you think has caused Paul’s radical re-evaluation and why?

Do you agree with Paul about what really matters?
How would our thinking and lives be different if we took these things to heart?

How would you sum up this passage?
Is there a big idea? Can you suggest theme and aim sentences for the preacher? (What is the main message and how should we respond to it?)
What changes does this passage call for in our thinking or living?
Are there any practical steps we might consider in the light of this passage?

How would this passage inform our praises and prayers?
(What have we seen that we could rejoice in and give thanks for?)

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Service Notes for 28/6/20



SERVICE NOTES

God-willing our church services will be live on Facebook on a Sunday at 9:30am at: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

After that you can catch up there or on the churches Facebook pages or Warbleton Church You Tube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

 Our weekly notice sheet is available here: https://www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/

ORDER OF SERVICE

Before the service we’ll play the music to the hymn O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing


Welcome, notices and introduction

Grace, mercy and peace
 from God our Father
 and the Lord Jesus Christ
 be with you
(and also with you.)
                         
 This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
                         
 Jesus says, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'
 So let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ,
 confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
                         
Lord God,
 we have sinned against you;
 we have done evil in your sight.
 We are sorry and repent.
 Have mercy on us according to your love.
 Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
 Renew a right spirit within us
 and restore us to the joy of your salvation;
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
                         
 May the Father of all mercies
 cleanse you from your sins,
 and restore you in his image
 to the praise and glory of his name,
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
                         
Blessed is the Lord,
for he has heard the voice of our prayer;
                         
therefore shall our hearts dance for joy
and in our song will we praise our God.

Hymn: Salvation Belongs To Our God
             
 Bible reading

(We use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 in church. You can find the latest version of the NIV here: https://www.biblegateway.com/)

Acts Chapter 12 (read by Gail and Tony)

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
           
Sermon
                                     
 The Apostles’ Creed 
                                                 
 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 again;
 he ascended into heaven,
 he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
 and 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.
                                     
 Prayers          
                         
Intercessions (led by Meryl)

Using the response:

Lord, hear us!
Lord, graciously hear us!

Concluding:

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
                         
 The Collect

Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
                         
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
 for ever and ever.
 Amen.
                                     
The Blessing   

After the service we will play We Have A Gospel To Proclaim

Please feel free to like, comment, share etc.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Midweek meeting notes for 24/6/20 Philippians 2v12-end


These notes may well evolve, and there's no need to do any preparation, but just in case these notes are helpful to you if you'd like to look at the passage we're thinking about in our midweek meeting this week on Wednesday 24th June at 7:30pm via Zoom. 



Look at v12. What’s the therefore there for?
How do these verses connect to what’s gone before?

(What were verses 1-12 all about? How did we sum up that section in one word? V3)

Look at vv12-13. Who is at work for the Philippians’ salvation in these two verses?
What’s the logical connection between those two workings?
(How is the Philippians’ working connected to God’s working?)
(Why is the Philippians’ working worthwhile?)

Look back to 1v6. Who’s work is salvation according to this verse?
What confidence does that give us?

What do you think it means to “work out” their salvation (v12)?
What doesn’t it mean?
(Would it be the same as saying “work at / work for your salvation”?)
How can we “continue to work out” our salvation? What would this involve doing?

What would you say to someone who said: “Salvation is all God’s work. We just have to receive it as a gift. We don’t have to do anything.”?

What do you think Paul means by “with fear and trembling?” (v12)
Can you say what an appropriate “fear and trembling” and an inappropriate “fear and trembling” would be for the Christian?
Why should / shouldn’t we “fear and tremble”?
(What shouldn’t the Christian fear?)

As well as fear and trembling, what other attitudes are the Philippians to be characterised by according to v18?

Why do you think Paul particularly concentrates on avoiding complaining and arguing in v14?
(Have we already seen similar themes in Philippians?) 1v15; 1v27; 2vv1-4; 4v2
(How does the need to avoid complaining and arguing fit the context / the big ideas of 2vv3-4?)

What’s Paul’s focus in vv14-16?
(1v10 cf. vv15-16 – pure and blameless, day of Christ)
How would such a focus help us to avoid complaining and arguing and live out the implications of the gospel Paul is discussing here?

What does Paul say about Christian distinctiveness in vv15 and 16?
How does he describe the believers, the world they live in and what they’re to do in it?

What example of selfless humble service of others have we already seen in this chapter?
What other examples do we see in this passage?

In what ways are Timothy and Epaphroditus exemplary?
Cf. v4 and vv20-21

How does Paul show selflessness in this section? (vv16-18, v25-end)

Friday, June 19, 2020

Service Notes for 21/6/20


SERVICE NOTES

God-willing our church services will be live on Facebook on a Sunday at 9:30am at: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

After that you can catch up there or on the churches Facebook pages or Warbleton Church You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

 Our weekly notice sheet is available here: https://www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/

ORDER OF SERVICE

Before the service we’ll play the music to the hymn The God of Abraham Praise


Welcome, notices and introduction

Grace, mercy and peace
 from God our Father
 and the Lord Jesus Christ
 be with you
(and also with you.)
                         
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3v1)

Opening Prayer

Let us return to the Lord our God and say to him:

Father,
We have sinned against heaven and against you.
We are not worthy to be called your children.
We turn to you again.
Have mercy on us,
Bring us back to yourself
As those who once were dead
But now have life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

May the God of love bring you back to himself, forgive you your sins, and assure you of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Hymn: My hope is built on nothing less
             
 Bible readings

(We use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 in church. You can find the latest version of the NIV here: https://www.biblegateway.com/)

You might particularly like to have this passage open before you, perhaps keep a bookmark in it for the sermon:

Genesis 21vv1-21 (read by Peter)

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Galatians 4vv21-31 (read by Annabel)

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

 Sermon (preached by Jeremy)
                                     
 Affirmation of Faith

Let us declare our faith in God.

We believe in God the Father,
From whom every family
In heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son,
Who lives in our hearts through faith,
And fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
Who strengthens us
With power from on high.

We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
                                     
 Prayers          
                         
 Intercessions
                         
 The Collect for the Second Sunday after Trinity

Lord, you have taught us
that all our doings without love are nothing worth:
send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.
Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 The Lord's Prayer

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
                         
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
 for ever and ever.
 Amen.
                                     
The Blessing   

After the service we will play the hymns: By faith we see the hand of God

Please feel free to like, comment, share etc.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Service Notes for 14/6/20




God-willing our church services will be live on Facebook on a Sunday at 9:30am at: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

After that you can catch up there or on the churches Facebook pages or Warbleton Church You Tube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

 Our weekly notice sheet is available here: https://www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/

ORDER OF SERVICE

Before the service we’ll play the music to the hymn O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing


Welcome, notices and introduction

Grace, mercy and peace
 from God our Father
 and the Lord Jesus Christ
 be with you
(and also with you.)
                         
 This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
                         
 Jesus says, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'
 So let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ,
 confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
                         
Lord God,
 we have sinned against you;
 we have done evil in your sight.
 We are sorry and repent.
 Have mercy on us according to your love.
 Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
 Renew a right spirit within us
 and restore us to the joy of your salvation;
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
                         
 May the Father of all mercies
 cleanse you from your sins,
 and restore you in his image
 to the praise and glory of his name,
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
                         
Blessed is the Lord,
for he has heard the voice of our prayer;
                         
therefore shall our hearts dance for joy
and in our song will we praise our God.

Hymn: By Faith We See The Hand of God
             
 Bible readings

(We use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 in church. You can find the latest version of the NIV here: https://www.biblegateway.com/)

Acts 11:19-end

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
                       
John 10:11-18

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
           
Sermon
                                     
 The Apostles’ Creed 
                                                 
 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 again;
 he ascended into heaven,
 he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
 and 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.
                                     
 Prayers          
                         
 Intercessions
                         
 The Collect

O God,
the strength of all those who put their trust in you,
mercifully accept our prayers
and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature
we can do no good thing without you,
grant us the help of your grace,
that in the keeping of your commandments
we may please you both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
             
 The Lord's Prayer

  Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
 let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
                         
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
 for ever and ever.
 Amen.
                                     
The Blessing   

After the service we will play Now Thank We All Our God

Please feel free to like, comment, share etc.

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

Notes for our Midweek Meeting on Wed 10th June on Philippians 1vv12-end

There's no need to prepare, but if you wanted to look at the passage ahead of our meeting on Wednesday evening, you might find these questions helpful.

(I might update these notes and add something after the meeting too)


Midweek Meeting Wednesday 10th June 2020
Philippians session 2: Philippians 1vv12-end

STUDY QUESTIONS

Look at v12. What has happened to Paul? What events do you think he is referring to?

How has it “served to advance the gospel?” (v12)
How / why do you think Paul’s chains might have encouraged most of the brothers to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly?

What can we learn about Paul’s priorities from this whole section? (e.g. v12, v14, v18, v22, v25f)
What might we be concerned about if we were in prison and what is he concerned about?

How would we feel if the church down the road was unfairly critical of us and grew twice as fast as our church?
How do you think Paul would feel? (vv15-18)

What reasons does Paul give for rejoicing (vv18-19)?

What is Paul confident about? (vv19-20)

Looking at vv19-20, what two ways does Paul think he might be delivered / saved from his imprisonment?

In what way does Paul claim to be in a win-win situation in vv21-24?

Why would Paul like to die and why would be like to live? (vv21-26)

What does Paul think about dying and why? (vv20-21)
What is it that Paul particularly looks forward to about the after-life in v23?

If Paul lives, what will his aims in life be? (vv20-26)

Looking at vv27-30, are there any similarities between Paul’s situation and the situation of the Philippians? E.g. cf. vv15-17 and v28; vv29-30.

How does Paul want the Philippians to live? (vv27-28)
How would you put these things into your own words?
What would they look like in practice?

What can we learn about Christian suffering from this passage? From v12? vv29 and 30?

Can you sum up anything we might learn from this passage?

How might we turn this passage into praise or prayer?