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Family Service - Children of the Kingdom · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, let me welcome you all to our service this morning. This is a family service. It's
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a follow-on from the Holiday Club, which was held during the last week. Isn't it fantastic
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to see so many here today, so many children especially? I know you all enjoyed the Holiday
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Club, and I'm going to ask you one thing, and that's, can you please make me one of
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these T-shirts? And if you make me one of these T-shirts, I'll promise to wait it. Maybe
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not necessarily in the post, but I'll wait it. It's great to have you all. It's wonderful
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to have you. If you're here as a visitor, we're very pleased to have you with us as well.
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Or if you're here as parents of the children for the club, we're delighted to have you with
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us as well, and we trust that God will bless us in our time of worship here today. The
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bulletin sheet's available for anyone to take a copy. Please just take a copy with you. I'll
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just read one or two things from the bulletin sheet today that I want to highlight. Everyone's
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welcome in the MA Hall after the service today to meet there for a cup of coffee, for juice,
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whatever. Please do come. You can meet others in the hall there for a time. You'll be very
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welcome to meet the children there as well. Tomorrow night, the session, the Kirk session,
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the elders meet at seven o'clock. That'll be here at the Kenneth Street session room,
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and there is important business for the session. Please do ensure an attendance on the part of the
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elders especially. There will be no monthly prayer meeting tomorrow because of the Kirk session.
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On Friday, Fridays at the Free, the next session of the Fridays at the Free, that'll be from 12 noon to
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3 p.m. when the hall will be open for soups and teas and coffees and to give opportunity to people to
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meet with friends and to read, to play board games, whatever, just to have a time together.
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And there'll be a children's play area as well, as well as items from Dove's Corner Baby Bank.
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These are actually free of charge, and you'll see the number there for Callum Murdoe if you want to get
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in touch with him. And the services next Lord's Day are at the usual times. Now, as I said, the holiday
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club was held through the week. There shall notice here on the holiday club, about the holiday club,
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the Epic Explorers Holiday Club, which I know was very successful and was wonderful to have all the
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children that attended the holiday club and all the supporters as well. And I want to take this
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opportunity, first of all, to thank the children and to thank the parents who actually brought children
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or grandparents, whoever they were. It's a wonderful privilege for us to have so many people coming
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to the holiday club and indeed to the church as well, like today. So I want to thank the parents
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and relatives for that, and the children themselves especially. I want to thank you for coming to the
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club and making it such an enjoyable experience. But I want to thank also those who helped to lead
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the club, Fiona and Scott, their leadership particularly, but there are others here today
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as well who were integral to the success of the club. It's wonderful to have had your commitment
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and your application. A lot of work went into the running of the club. Every successful club
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has a lot of background work beforehand, and I know this is no exception. So thank you
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sincerely for that. Well, we're going to begin our worship today, and we're going to begin
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singing in Psalm 34, Psalm number 34. For those who are visitors, the blue Psalm books, if you have
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a copy there, there are two sections to it. The first section is called Sing Psalms. The other section
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is called the Scottish Psalter. So I'll give out the page numbers. You can find the Psalms from that.
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Page 40 for Psalm 34. The tune is Jackson. We're singing verses 1 to 9. The practice is that we
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stand for singings and remain seated for prayer. If you're able to stand, if not, don't worry about
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it. But if you're able to stand, we'll stand for the singings. So Psalm 34, at all times I will bless
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the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice. Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice. And so
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on, verses 1 to 9 on page 40. Let's stand.
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at all times I will bless the Lord. At all times I will bless the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice. Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice.
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together let us praise the Lord. Exalt his name with me. I sought the Lord. His answer came from fear.
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set me free. They look to him and shine with joy. They are not put to shame. The suffering man cried to the Lord. From him
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deliverance came. The angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord. Surrows and guards continually. All those who fear and honour him.
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He sets his people free. Come to stand. The Lord is good. Who trusts in him is blessed.
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O fear the Lord, you saints with need. You will not be open.
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O bear the Lord.
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You will not be oppressed.
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O bear the Lord, you saints with need. You will not be oppressed.
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The Lord, you saints with need, you will not be oppressed.
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Now we're going to join together in prayer briefly.
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Prayer mostly for the children, for the Sunday school, and following on from the club as well.
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Let's call upon the Lord in prayer.
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Our gracious and almighty God, as we come to gather here in this place of worship, we look to you for your blessing.
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And we thank you for the privilege of being here, that we are here around your word, that we are here to hear the teaching of your word,
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that we are here to receive your blessing as you are pleased, O Lord, in grace to bless us.
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We pray your blessing today for the children.
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As we come, Lord, we ask that your blessing will enhance their young lives,
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and that you will bless them even from this tender early age,
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so that they will grow up as your children, as your people in the world.
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We ask your blessing to follow all that happened in the holiday club.
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And we thank you, Lord, for all who attended.
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We thank you for all who helped in different ways.
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And we thank you for the way that not only was the teaching of your word and about yourself brought out,
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we give thanks that they were able to do so in an enjoyable environment.
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And we ask today that your blessing will follow the work of the club.
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We pray, Lord, for every family, for every home represented here today.
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We pray for us as children and as parents and grandparents and relatives,
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Lord, that our prayer will always be that your blessing will follow us,
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that you will keep us in the ways in which we seek to live for you in this world,
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and that you will grant us, Lord, your blessing from day to day.
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Hear us now, we pray, and pardon our sin for Jesus' sake.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, I read somewhere one time, I think it was actually on a car bumper sticker,
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one of those stickers you get sometimes you see on cars,
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and the sticker said,
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Grandchildren are great.
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I should have had them first.
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And there's many a person here today will agree with that sentiment.
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And grandchildren are great.
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We've had grandchildren with us,
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family in the family in the manse over the last month or so.
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The last of them are now away, and we always miss them when they go.
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But grandchildren are great.
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All children are great and should give us enjoyment in helping them in life.
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But I also read something this morning which said that God has no grandchildren.
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God has no grandchildren.
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Now, why was that said?
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Why do you think that was said?
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Well, because God has children, spiritual children, not just young people like yourselves.
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All the old folks here today who trust in the Lord, who have come to accept Jesus,
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they are God's children, God's family.
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And God has no grandchildren, but He has children, many, many children.
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And we become children of God by coming to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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by coming to accept Him, to receive Him,
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to live in the way that God Himself sets out for us in the Bible, in His truth.
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And as we do that, we are children of God in the world in which we live.
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Spiritually, God receives us, makes us His children.
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In other words, the Bible has a word for that.
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We use it in other senses as well.
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It's the word adoption.
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God takes us and makes us His children when we come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ
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and receive in Him and believe in Him and follow Him.
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And we are always welcomed by God when we come to receive Jesus.
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We're going to be saying the Lord's Prayer in a few moments.
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And as you know, the Lord's Prayer begins with the words,
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Our Father.
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So we come to know God as our Father when we come to Him through Jesus
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and when we come by accepting what Jesus has done on the cross
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and accepting Him as our Savior in this world.
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That's when we come to know God as our Savior.
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We're not saved because our mums or dads or grandparents might be saved and might be Christians.
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We don't become Christians.
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We don't become followers of Jesus just because maybe our parents are doing that.
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Sometimes you find that that's always the case with royal children.
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You know that when children are born into the royal family,
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they become royal children because their parents are royal.
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Princes or even the king.
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But it's not like that with Christians.
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We need to become children of God for ourselves.
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It doesn't actually happen to us just because our fathers, mothers, grandparents are actually children of God.
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And when we become children of God, we show that we are children of God.
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How do you think we show that we are children of God?
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Well, we show we are children of God by living the kind of life that Jesus expects of us,
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that God tells us about in the Bible.
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The kind of life that honors Him, that trusts in Him, that follows Him,
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that wants to tell other people about Him.
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That's what children of God do.
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And you've been learning in the Holiday Club over this past week about Jesus Himself in the Gospel of Mark,
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that He's the Son of God, that He came into the world to die,
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and He died the death of the cross, and then He rose again from the dead.
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And these are the things that we want to make known to the world around us as we live as children of God.
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So our lives should be different to others who don't want to know about Jesus,
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and we have to lovingly and patiently tell them about Jesus and why He is important to us.
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So children of God, and from a youngest age, as we'll see in the sermon today,
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which is about the children of the kingdom,
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we actually want to become children of God from our very earliest days.
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We don't want to leave it until we're older.
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God receives children, young children like yourselves.
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So now we're going to say the Lord's Prayer together.
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Let's just say the Lord's Prayer.
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Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread,
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and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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I'm going to sing again, and it's wonderful to hear all these children's voices singing today.
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I know you learned some songs during the holiday club,
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and we'll hear some of these in the hall afterwards.
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You'll be singing some of them there, I think.
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So we're singing Psalm 25, the first version.
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That's on page 231.
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The tune is Golden Hill.
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We're singing these verses 4 to 9.
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Show me Thy ways, O Lord.
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Thy paths, O teach Thou me.
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And do Thou lead me in Thy truth.
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Therein my teacher be.
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So that's Psalm 25, the first version.
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And it's on page 231.
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And from verse 4, down as far as verse 9.
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Let's stand again to sing.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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God, Lord.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Let it my teacher be.
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For thou art God that dost to me salvation send.
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And I upon thee all the day expecting to attend.
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Light and the mercies, Lord.
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I pray thee to remember.
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And lovingkindnesses for thee have been novel forever.
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My sins and faults of you.
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To thou, O Lord, forget.
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After thy mercy, think on me.
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And for thy goodness great.
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God good and uprightness.
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A whale sinner's show.
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A meek in judgment he will guide.
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And make his path to know.
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Now we're going to read from the Bible, from the Word of God.
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Our reading is in the Gospel of Mark.
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I know you were going through the Gospel of Mark at the Holiday Club,
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so we're following on with our reading from the Gospel of Mark today.
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That's chapter 10, beginning at verse 13.
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And if you're using church Bibles, it should be around page 1020.
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Around 1020 or so in your Bible.
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So the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, from verse 13.
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We'll read down as far as verse 31.
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And they were bringing children to him, that's to Jesus,
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that he might touch them.
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And his disciples rebuked them.
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But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant,
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and said to them,
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Let the children come to me.
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Do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
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Truly I say to you,
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Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child
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shall not enter it.
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And he took them up in his arms and blessed them,
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laying his hands on them.
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And as he was setting out on his journey,
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a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him,
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Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
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And Jesus said to him,
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Why do you call me good?
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No one is good except God alone.
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You know the commandments.
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Do not murder.
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Do not commit adultery.
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Do not steal.
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Do not bear false witness.
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Do not defraud.
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Honor your father and mother.
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And he said to him,
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Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.
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And Jesus, looking at him, loved him,
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and said to him,
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You lack one thing.
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Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor,
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and you will have treasure in heaven.
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And come, follow me.
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Disheartened by the saying,
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he went away sorrowful,
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for he had great possessions.
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And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
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How difficult it is,
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it will be for those who have wealth,
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to enter the kingdom of God.
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And the disciples were amazed at his words.
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But Jesus said to them again,
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Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God.
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It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
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than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
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And they were exceedingly astonished,
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and said to him,
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Who then can be saved?
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Jesus looked at them and said,
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With man it is impossible, but not with God.
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For all things are possible with God.
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Peter began to say to him,
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See, we have left everything and followed you.
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Jesus said,
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Truly I say to you,
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there is no one who has left house or brothers or sister
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or mother or father or children or lands
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for my sake and for the gospel
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who will not receive a hundredfold.
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Now in this time,
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houses and brothers and sisters and mothers
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and children and land
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with persecutions
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and in the age to come,
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eternal life.
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Many who are first will be last
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and the last first.
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And we pray that God will follow with this blessing
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that reading of his own word.
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Before we look back at this passage,
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let's again call upon the Lord in prayer.
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Let's pray.
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O Lord, our God,
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we thank you once again for your word.
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You have sent your word to us
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so that we might know you,
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so that we might live by faith in you,
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so that we might follow you
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and be in our lives pleasing to you in all things.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that while we are so imperfect
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and so sinful,
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and as we confess our sins to you again today,
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we give thanks for the perfection
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that belongs to you as our God.
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And we give thanks for the perfection of Jesus,
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for the way that he came into this world
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and took to himself our human nature
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and lived a perfect human life.
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We thank you for the perfection
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of the work that he did,
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the perfection of his life
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as it goes on in heaven
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and as he remembers us, O Lord.
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So we give thanks for all the blessings
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that we receive
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by virtue of his death and resurrection.
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Bless us here, Lord, today as a congregation.
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We thank you for all the privileges that are ours.
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We thank you, Lord,
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as we reflect upon our lives,
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that you have not marked up our iniquity against us,
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that you have not dealt with us as we deserve,
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that you have chosen, Lord,
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to be gracious and merciful
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and loving toward us.
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And, Lord, we pray today
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that in response to that grace
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and to that patience
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and loving kindness of God,
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that we ourselves might come
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in receiving the benefits of your kingdom,
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that we might come to give our lives to you
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and live lives that will be pleasing to you.
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Remember us, Lord,
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in all our circumstances in life.
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We pray that you'd bless us
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when we are not together here,
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that you'd bless us in our homes,
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in our family life,
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that you'd bless us in our community,
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and grant your blessing to us
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in all that we do from day to day.
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Whatever age, Lord, we are at today,
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we pray that we may know
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the benefit of trusting in you,
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that we may know you as our God
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and as our Savior,
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that we may be glad
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to tell of the wonderful works
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of the Lord to others around us.
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We pray, O Lord,
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that your blessing today
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will be with those who,
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and in particular,
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needs that we know of
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in the congregation
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and in the community we belong to.
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Remember those especially
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who have illness,
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especially serious illness,
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we pray for them.
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We pray that your good hand
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will be upon them
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for their healing,
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and, O Lord,
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if it be that they will not be healed,
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if it is your will
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that it will be otherwise.
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Give them your peace.
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Give them in their hearts
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to know the comfort
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of believing and trusting in you.
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And we ask, O Lord, too,
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that you'd bless
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all those today
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who miss the passing,
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miss loved ones
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who have passed away.
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We pray that your blessing
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will be with all the families
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who are mourning today
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and who come, Lord,
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to reflect upon
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so much in life
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that is now gone.
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We pray that you bless them.
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Your promise is
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that those who mourn
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will be comforted.
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We know that this is also true
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for us literally,
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and we pray
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that all mourning hearts today
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will know your comfort
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and will know the blessing
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of your Holy Spirit,
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even blessing such times
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of trouble to us.
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Grant us, Lord,
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we pray that in our community
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we will see
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a further influence
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of the gospel.
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We thank you for
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the gospel that we have today.
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We pray that it may reach forth
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into all our communities.
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We pray that we may
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know your blessing
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from on high.
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We pray that you would
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turn us back
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as a people
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to yourself
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and to your ways
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to honor you,
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to respect your ways,
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to value your laws
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and your gospel
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and your promises.
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We pray for all
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who are in authority, Lord,
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locally as well as nationally,
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and we commend them
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to you today.
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You require of us
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in your word
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to pray for those
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who are in authority,
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for those who are in government,
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locally and nationally.
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We pray for such, Lord,
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throughout the world
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that as we have been
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praying together
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in the Lord's Prayer
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that your kingdom come,
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that your will be done
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on earth as it is in heaven.
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So we pray, Lord,
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today that this will
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increasingly be the case,
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that many will be turned
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from spiritual
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and moral darkness
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into the light
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of your kingdom,
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into the blessings
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and the joy
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and the peace
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that comes from knowing you
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and being your children
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in this world.
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Lord,
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bless us then now,
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we pray,
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and continue to look after us
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and to watch over us
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and to keep us safe
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in this life.
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We pray this
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with the pardon
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of our sin
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and our cleansing.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Well, we can turn back again
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briefly to Mark chapter 10.
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Mark chapter 10,
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and we're looking at
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verses 13 to 16 especially.
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I'm going to divide
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the sermon into two
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just to make it
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a bit easier, I think,
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for the little ones
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who are present with us.
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So in the middle
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of the sermon,
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we'll have another singing
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and come to the second part
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of the sermon then.
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Incidentally,
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anyone who does need
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to go out
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and take the children out,
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please feel free
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to do that at any time.
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It's not a problem.
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We're glad to have
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the children with us.
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So if we read again
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from Mark chapter 10
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at verse 13,
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they were bringing
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children to him
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that he might touch them,
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and the disciples
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rebuked them.
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But when Jesus saw it,
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he was indignant,
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that means he was very angry,
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and said to them,
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let the children
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come to me.
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Do not hinder them,
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for to such belongs
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the children,
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the kingdom of God.
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Now, you know
27:48
that something serious
27:49
is taking place.
27:51
I mean,
27:51
everything in the Bible
27:52
in a sense is serious,
27:53
but you know that something
27:54
is really serious
27:55
when you read about Jesus
27:56
and his ministry in the world,
28:00
the time that he was
28:00
in the world like this.
28:01
When you read
28:02
that he was indignant,
28:03
that he was very angry,
28:05
something obviously,
28:07
seriously,
28:08
is wrong.
28:10
What is it that made
28:11
Jesus so angry?
28:13
What made it,
28:14
made him so indignant?
28:16
It's a very strong word
28:18
that Mark uses here
28:19
in this word indignant.
28:21
It means he was indeed
28:22
very, very angry.
28:24
What was it that made him
28:25
so angry?
28:26
You might expect
28:27
Jesus never to have been angry,
28:30
but here he is.
28:31
He was angry on this occasion,
28:33
the other occasions as well.
28:34
And of course,
28:35
unlike us,
28:36
when Jesus is angry,
28:37
it doesn't mean
28:37
he was sinfully angry,
28:40
but it does mean
28:41
he was indignant
28:41
and very annoyed.
28:42
Well, what was it
28:43
that made him annoyed?
28:45
Well, we're told
28:45
what it was,
28:47
that people were bringing
28:48
children to him,
28:49
parents probably mostly,
28:51
bringing children to him
28:52
that he might touch them,
28:53
and that was to bless them,
28:55
touch them,
28:56
that he would convey
28:57
his blessing to them.
28:59
And his disciples
29:01
rebuked him.
29:03
That's why Jesus was angry.
29:05
His disciples didn't like this.
29:07
His disciples thought
29:08
this was wrong.
29:10
His disciples thought,
29:11
no, children shouldn't
29:12
be brought to Jesus.
29:13
It's just troubling him.
29:14
It's not something
29:15
that's appropriate
29:16
at this moment.
29:16
That's what they thought,
29:18
and that's why Jesus
29:19
was indignant
29:21
with his own disciples.
29:22
You might expect
29:23
that his own disciples
29:24
would have reacted
29:25
differently to children
29:27
being brought to Jesus
29:28
for his blessing
29:29
to be conveyed to them,
29:30
but obviously,
29:31
they didn't understand
29:32
things as they should,
29:33
and they were wrong
29:34
about this.
29:35
And Jesus,
29:36
in his indignity,
29:38
indignance,
29:39
indignant spirit,
29:41
said,
29:41
let the children
29:42
come to me
29:43
and don't hinder them.
29:45
Don't keep them back.
29:46
Don't put anything
29:47
in their way
29:48
to prevent them coming.
29:49
For to such belongs
29:51
the kingdom of God.
29:54
These children
29:55
were infants.
29:57
They were children
29:58
of an age
29:58
that you could pick up
29:59
and hold in your arms,
30:00
and so they were
30:02
very young children,
30:04
and this is why
30:05
Jesus was indignant,
30:07
because the disciples
30:08
thought this is not
30:09
appropriate for children
30:10
this age to come
30:11
to be brought to Jesus.
30:14
And you can see
30:16
from that
30:16
how important
30:18
children are
30:20
to the Lord.
30:22
How important
30:23
it is for Jesus
30:24
that children belong
30:26
to his kingdom
30:26
as well as adults.
30:29
That Jesus
30:30
is willing
30:31
to welcome children
30:32
as they are brought
30:33
to him.
30:35
And that's something
30:36
that we'll see
30:37
in a moment
30:37
as important
30:38
to ourselves
30:38
as adults,
30:39
that not only
30:41
do we bring children
30:42
to the Lord
30:42
and tell them
30:43
about the Lord,
30:44
but we try
30:45
and make sure
30:45
that there's nothing
30:46
in our lives
30:48
or anywhere else
30:49
that stops them
30:50
from coming to him.
30:52
So first of all,
30:53
let's look at
30:53
Christ's command.
30:55
Let the children
30:56
come to me.
30:57
It's a command
30:58
that he says
30:59
to the disciples.
31:00
And do not hinder them,
31:02
for to such belongs
31:03
the kingdom of God.
31:05
So here's his command.
31:06
Let the children
31:06
come and do not
31:08
hinder them.
31:09
And we'll look at that first
31:10
before we move on
31:11
to the rest of the passage.
31:14
Let them come to me.
31:15
And of course,
31:16
that's, as we said,
31:17
addressed to verse 13,
31:19
the disciples rebuking them.
31:20
This is how Jesus reacted.
31:22
This is how Jesus spoke
31:23
to the disciples.
31:25
Let them come to me.
31:27
It means
31:27
a positive action
31:29
on our part
31:31
to bring children
31:33
to the Lord,
31:33
to bring young people
31:35
to him.
31:36
It's more than just
31:37
hoping that they'll
31:39
make their own way
31:40
to the Lord,
31:40
that they'll one day
31:42
find out for themselves
31:43
how important Jesus is.
31:45
This is a positive command
31:47
to these disciples.
31:49
Let the children
31:50
come to me.
31:51
In other words,
31:52
encourage them
31:52
to come to me.
31:54
Make every effort
31:55
to make sure
31:56
that they come to me.
31:58
Not let them
31:59
find their own way.
32:00
Some people have that view,
32:02
don't they,
32:02
that children really,
32:04
even if they're brought
32:06
to church,
32:06
that's a good thing.
32:07
But let them grow up,
32:08
first of all.
32:09
Let them make up
32:09
their own minds
32:10
as to how important
32:11
Jesus is to them
32:13
or otherwise.
32:14
Well, that's not
32:14
what Jesus is saying.
32:16
Jesus is saying,
32:17
from the youngest days,
32:19
we teach them
32:19
about the Lord.
32:21
Parents are encouraged
32:22
to teach their children,
32:24
to direct their children
32:25
to come to the Lord.
32:28
That's what the holiday club
32:29
was about, after all.
32:30
The holiday club
32:31
was about Jesus,
32:33
about Jesus
32:33
in the Gospel of Mark,
32:35
this Gospel we're looking
32:36
at this passage from.
32:38
The holiday club
32:39
was about that,
32:40
about Jesus
32:42
and the importance
32:43
of Jesus,
32:44
Jesus as our Savior,
32:46
Jesus as the Son of God,
32:48
Jesus the perfect man,
32:50
the perfect Son of God
32:51
as well.
32:52
Everything to do
32:53
with Jesus
32:53
in the Gospel of Mark
32:54
is to do with
32:55
getting to know Him.
32:57
Who is He?
32:58
Why is He important?
33:00
Who is He important to?
33:01
He's important for all of us.
33:02
But here,
33:03
the disciples
33:04
are rebuked.
33:07
They're told off
33:08
by Jesus
33:08
and Jesus gives
33:10
this command,
33:11
let the children
33:12
come to Me.
33:14
That's what the holiday club
33:15
was about.
33:17
But,
33:18
it was about that
33:19
in an enjoyable environment.
33:21
I'm not saying,
33:22
and I'm not,
33:23
I'm hoping
33:23
that coming to church
33:25
is enjoyable as well
33:26
in the best sense
33:27
of the word.
33:28
because learning
33:29
about Jesus
33:30
should be enjoyable.
33:33
Why shouldn't it be
33:34
enjoyable
33:34
to learn about Jesus?
33:37
Maybe we think,
33:39
well,
33:39
some people do think
33:40
that religion
33:40
or things to do
33:42
with the Gospel,
33:43
with the Bible,
33:44
is pretty boring stuff.
33:45
It's not enjoyable.
33:47
You don't really want
33:47
to get into it too much.
33:49
You just keep
33:50
a kind of passing interest
33:51
in it.
33:52
But here is a passage
33:53
that tells us,
33:54
as many other passages
33:55
in the Bible tell us,
33:56
learning about Jesus
33:58
should be enjoyable.
34:00
It should be something
34:01
that we actually enjoy doing.
34:03
It should be a pleasure to us.
34:05
And I hope all the children,
34:06
I know they did,
34:08
they enjoyed the holiday club.
34:10
And it's important,
34:11
along with the teaching of Jesus,
34:13
to have enjoyable activities.
34:15
That's what childhood is for.
34:18
We live in a world
34:19
when sadly,
34:21
a lot of children
34:22
are not allowed
34:23
to be children.
34:24
Their childhood
34:25
is taken from them
34:26
because they're given teaching
34:28
that really belongs
34:29
to adulthood.
34:31
Teaching about relationships,
34:33
teaching about this,
34:34
that, and the other,
34:35
that really are not
34:36
suitable
34:39
for the age
34:41
at which they are
34:42
as children.
34:45
Children must learn
34:47
in an enjoyable environment.
34:49
not have anything
34:49
pressed upon them
34:51
that's not appropriate
34:52
to their own age.
34:53
That's what the gospel
34:54
is doing.
34:55
That's what we're seeking
34:56
to do with the holiday club
34:57
and even with church as well.
34:59
Because here is Jesus saying,
35:02
let the children
35:02
come to me,
35:04
but let them enjoy
35:06
finding out about me.
35:08
And I want to encourage you
35:09
as well.
35:10
Maybe you're here today
35:11
and perhaps you don't
35:12
usually go to church.
35:13
You're, as I said already,
35:15
most welcome to be here today
35:17
and any other time.
35:19
And I hope if it's
35:20
just coming today
35:21
because your children
35:22
were at the holiday club,
35:24
and especially if you don't
35:24
belong to any other church,
35:26
please think about
35:28
coming regularly
35:28
because it's so important
35:30
for our children
35:31
to be learning about Jesus
35:33
in an enjoyable way
35:35
and to have their lives
35:37
built around that great truth
35:40
of who Jesus is.
35:41
So please,
35:43
if you are in that category today,
35:45
please come back.
35:45
Please bring the children
35:47
to the Sunday school,
35:48
which I know is also enjoyable
35:50
for all those who come.
35:52
And many of the leaders here
35:54
at your holiday club
35:56
are also teachers
35:58
in the Sunday school.
35:59
So let them come to me.
36:00
And he says,
36:01
do not hinder them.
36:03
See, he added that as well.
36:04
He didn't just say,
36:05
let the children come to me.
36:07
He said,
36:07
do not hinder them.
36:09
What he meant by that was,
36:11
don't put anything in their way
36:14
that would be a block
36:16
or a barrier
36:16
or prevent them coming to me.
36:19
Now that's a big challenge for me,
36:21
and it's a big challenge
36:22
for you as adults as well,
36:24
whether we're parents
36:25
or grandparents or relatives
36:26
or even just people
36:28
in the congregation
36:29
who know these children,
36:31
know who they are,
36:32
and even if we don't,
36:34
what he's saying is,
36:35
don't put anything in their way.
36:37
Don't do anything
36:39
that will put them off
36:40
finding out about Jesus,
36:42
coming to trust in Jesus,
36:44
coming to know the Lord
36:45
for themselves.
36:47
And I have to apply that
36:49
to my own way of life.
36:51
You have to apply that
36:52
as an adult today
36:53
to your way of life.
36:54
It's a great challenge,
36:56
and it's a great privilege
36:57
to be able to bring
36:59
the teaching of the Bible
37:00
to our children
37:01
in our homes,
37:02
in our Sunday school,
37:03
in the holiday club,
37:04
wherever.
37:05
But I have to look
37:06
to my own life
37:07
and ask,
37:08
is there something
37:08
in my life today
37:10
that children will see,
37:11
and children I know
37:12
will see things
37:13
that perhaps we don't see
37:14
as adults very readily.
37:16
Is there something
37:17
in my life
37:18
that proves to be
37:19
a barrier to children
37:21
coming to know the Lord?
37:22
Is there something
37:23
that puts them off?
37:24
Is there something
37:25
about my way of life
37:27
that suggests
37:27
I'm not really serious
37:29
about trusting in Jesus?
37:32
Well, you and I
37:33
have got to look to that.
37:35
Is our life
37:35
a positive encouragement,
37:37
in other words,
37:39
for our children
37:40
to come to know the Lord?
37:41
Or in our conversation,
37:43
is the way we speak,
37:46
is that conducive
37:47
to encouraging our children
37:48
to come to know the Lord
37:50
and to trust in Him?
37:52
In our conversation,
37:53
in our language,
37:55
is there something there
37:56
that doesn't actually fit
37:58
with being Christians,
38:00
with being people
38:01
who are children of the Lord?
38:02
Is there something
38:03
that our children might see
38:05
in which they might say,
38:07
well, you know,
38:07
I don't think I want
38:08
to trust in the Bible
38:12
if that's really the way
38:14
it doesn't really affect people
38:16
very positively?
38:17
Let's look at our conversation,
38:18
our way of speaking.
38:19
Let's look at our way of life.
38:24
Let's look at our priorities.
38:26
Is my priority,
38:28
as I show that to my children
38:30
or grandchildren as they are now,
38:33
is that,
38:34
is what I,
38:35
what I,
38:35
what they see in my life,
38:36
is the priority given to God?
38:40
Am I as a grandparent
38:42
or as a parent yourselves,
38:45
are you,
38:46
am I,
38:47
showing our children
38:48
that God comes first?
38:51
That we put God,
38:52
that we put Jesus
38:53
top of the list
38:54
of what's important to us?
38:57
Because if we do that,
38:59
then our children
38:59
are going to see
39:00
that we're serious
39:01
about our faith,
39:03
that we're serious
39:04
about teaching them
39:05
the things of the Bible,
39:07
that we're serious
39:08
about teaching them
39:09
about God
39:11
and who He is
39:12
and why He's important.
39:14
So that's why He's saying,
39:16
not just let them come to me,
39:19
but do not hinder to them.
39:22
Do not hinder them.
39:23
Don't put anything
39:24
in their way.
39:26
In other words,
39:26
things like,
39:28
oh, children are too young
39:29
to come to know Jesus.
39:31
Just leave it until
39:32
they've grown up,
39:32
until they're able
39:33
to make up their own minds.
39:35
Well, you can,
39:36
you must never say
39:37
to your children
39:38
or to your,
39:39
to your grandchildren,
39:41
you're too young
39:42
to be a Christian.
39:43
You're too young
39:44
to come to Jesus.
39:46
You're too young
39:47
to come to know
39:48
what it is
39:48
to live a Christian life
39:50
that's pleasing to God.
39:53
Never say to them,
39:54
just wait until you have
39:56
your career fixed up
39:57
first of all.
39:58
Whether it's,
39:59
when you come to teenage years,
40:01
maybe that's something
40:02
that's in our mind.
40:02
What sort of career
40:03
are our children,
40:04
our young people
40:05
going to have,
40:06
going to develop?
40:07
And some people might think,
40:09
well, is it not better
40:10
just to let them
40:10
concentrate on that?
40:12
And then maybe think about
40:14
being somewhat serious
40:15
about their faith,
40:17
about God,
40:18
about Jesus afterwards.
40:19
Well, no.
40:20
No, because that's not
40:22
what God is giving
40:23
as a priority.
40:25
Because if God
40:26
is in the right place
40:27
in our thoughts,
40:28
in our hearts,
40:30
in our way of life,
40:31
that's the basis,
40:32
that's the foundation
40:33
on which we then
40:35
move on to everything else.
40:37
Whether it's our parenthood,
40:39
our life in the family,
40:40
our life in the world,
40:41
our career,
40:42
our choice of career,
40:43
whatever it is,
40:44
it has to be
40:45
firmly based,
40:47
stable foundation
40:49
that Jesus himself is.
40:53
There's the first thing then,
40:55
Christ's command,
40:56
let the children
40:57
come to me
40:58
and do not
41:00
hinder them.
41:02
So let's just sing
41:03
while we take a wee break
41:05
and move on to
41:05
the next part of it
41:07
after we've sung
41:09
some verses.
41:10
And again,
41:11
we're singing
41:11
from Psalm 34,
41:13
the same as we did before,
41:14
this time verses 10 to 14.
41:16
And the tune is
41:19
St. Stephen.
41:20
This is on page 40 again.
41:24
At verse 10,
41:25
Young lions may grow
41:26
weak and faint
41:27
and hunger for their food,
41:29
but those who wait
41:30
upon the Lord
41:31
will not lack any good.
41:33
Come here,
41:34
my children,
41:35
gather round
41:35
and listen to my word,
41:37
and I will help you
41:38
understand
41:39
how you may fear
41:41
the Lord.
41:42
And how wonderfully
41:43
the psalmist puts it there
41:44
very much in line
41:45
with what Jesus said
41:46
to the disciples.
41:47
He's not just encouraging
41:48
the children to come.
41:50
And here, of course,
41:51
he means
41:51
not just young children,
41:53
but others as well
41:54
who are children of God.
41:55
But I will help you
41:57
understand
41:58
how you may fear
41:59
the Lord,
41:59
how you may respect
42:00
the Lord.
42:01
That's a privilege
42:02
in life
42:03
to teach
42:04
younger children
42:05
how to fear the Lord.
42:07
So we'll sing
42:08
verses 10 to 14
42:10
to his praise.
42:11
We'll stand again
42:12
to sing.
42:12
Amen.
42:15
Young lions
42:20
may grow weak
42:23
and faint
42:25
and anger
42:28
for their food,
42:32
but those who wait
42:37
upon the Lord
42:41
will not look
42:43
like any good.
42:47
Come here,
42:51
my children,
42:54
gather round
42:58
and listen
43:00
to my word
43:05
and I will help you
43:11
understand
43:13
how you may fear
43:18
the Lord.
43:22
Does anyone
43:25
delight
43:28
and long
43:33
to see
43:34
good days
43:38
then keep
43:40
your tongue
43:43
from evil
43:46
see
43:47
your lips
43:50
from lying
43:53
ways
43:53
depart
43:57
and turn
43:59
and turn
44:00
from evil
44:02
paths
44:05
and practice
44:07
what is right
44:10
and practice
44:11
what is right
44:12
desire
44:14
to know
44:16
the way
44:18
of peace
44:21
pursue
44:22
and
44:24
with
44:25
your might
44:28
well let's turn back
44:31
for a short time again
44:33
to Mark chapter 14
44:36
let the children
44:40
come to me
44:40
do not hinder them
44:41
for to such
44:43
belongs
44:43
the kingdom of God
44:45
truly I say to you
44:47
whoever does not
44:47
receive the kingdom
44:48
of God
44:49
like a child
44:50
shall not
44:52
enter it
44:52
and he took
44:53
them in his arms
44:54
and blessed
44:56
them
44:56
laying his hands
44:58
on them
44:58
why does Jesus
45:00
say here
45:01
as he continues
45:02
here he just
45:03
doesn't give a command
45:04
very often
45:04
you find the
45:05
commands of God
45:07
are accompanied
45:08
with an explanation
45:09
or some further
45:10
teaching along
45:11
with the commands
45:12
of God
45:13
and that's what
45:13
you find here
45:14
he said let them
45:15
come to me
45:16
do not hinder
45:17
them
45:17
but then he added
45:18
for to such
45:19
belongs
45:20
the kingdom
45:21
of God
45:23
whoever does not
45:24
receive the kingdom
45:25
like a child
45:27
shall not enter it
45:28
what did he mean
45:29
by that
45:30
what is it that
45:31
characterizes
45:32
children
45:32
especially those
45:34
young infants
45:35
that he took up
45:36
in his arms
45:37
to bless
45:37
why is he saying
45:38
whoever doesn't
45:40
receive the kingdom
45:43
like a child
45:44
shall not enter
45:45
what is it about
45:46
such children
45:48
of that age
45:49
that makes them
45:50
an image
45:52
if you like
45:52
of what it is
45:53
to enter
45:54
the kingdom
45:55
of God
45:55
well first of all
45:57
there's the element
45:58
of trust
45:59
good parenting
46:02
is the kind
46:05
of parenting
46:06
that conveys
46:07
to our children
46:08
that we are
46:09
worthy of
46:09
their trust
46:10
that they can
46:11
safely trust us
46:13
to show by our
46:15
consistency of life
46:16
that we are
46:18
actually genuine
46:19
in seeking the best
46:20
for them
46:21
even if sometimes
46:22
it means
46:22
that there's a rebuke
46:24
here and there
46:25
but trust
46:27
making
46:27
making it clear
46:29
to our children
46:29
that we are
46:30
trustworthy
46:30
that we can trust
46:32
that they can trust
46:33
in us
46:33
is so important
46:34
that of course
46:35
was especially
46:35
true of Jesus
46:37
he is the ultimate
46:38
in being trustworthy
46:39
everything about him
46:41
makes him worthy
46:42
of our trust
46:43
because there are
46:45
no lies
46:46
there's nothing
46:47
there that would
46:48
really raise
46:49
suspicion about him
46:51
that's how it is
46:52
with ourselves
46:53
and our children
46:54
as well
46:54
our grandchildren
46:55
we are to
46:56
live in such a way
46:58
that removes
46:59
every suspicion
47:00
so that the child
47:02
will come to
47:02
trust in us
47:03
and trust in our word
47:04
and trust us
47:05
they see us
47:06
living that kind
47:07
of life
47:07
now God is
47:08
the ultimate
47:09
parent
47:09
we read earlier
47:11
and prayed together
47:12
the Lord's Prayer
47:13
our Father
47:15
who is in heaven
47:17
and he is the ultimate
47:19
parent
47:19
because as you
47:21
scan the Bible
47:22
from beginning
47:23
to end
47:23
as God's word
47:24
where God is telling
47:26
us about himself
47:27
and about ourselves
47:28
you'll find
47:30
nothing there
47:30
to raise
47:31
suspicions
47:32
about God
47:33
everything there
47:35
shows that God
47:36
is worthy
47:36
of our trust
47:38
God is always
47:39
true to his word
47:40
God never says
47:42
something he doesn't
47:43
mean
47:43
God never takes
47:45
back what he says
47:46
of anything of his
47:47
promises
47:47
or anything at all
47:49
that he says to us
47:50
in his word
47:51
and you can see
47:52
from everything
47:53
there that
47:54
you have
47:55
no reason
47:56
to suspect
47:57
God
47:57
to suspect
47:59
God's goodness
47:59
or God's wisdom
48:00
or God's motives
48:02
you know
48:02
you'll often find
48:03
people saying
48:04
when something bad
48:05
happens in the world
48:06
in people's lives
48:08
where is God
48:09
how could God
48:11
have allowed
48:11
such a thing
48:12
to happen
48:12
and these questions
48:14
are not easy
48:14
to answer
48:15
and those of us
48:16
who preach the gospel
48:17
should not pretend
48:19
that they are easy
48:20
to answer
48:20
they're difficult
48:21
questions
48:22
they're things
48:23
that really
48:23
bring us
48:24
sometimes
48:25
a very acute
48:28
searching of mind
48:29
before we can try
48:30
and answer
48:31
such questions
48:31
but a lot of people
48:33
will say that
48:33
because they want
48:34
to dismiss God
48:35
out of their lives
48:37
altogether
48:37
they don't think
48:38
God is important
48:40
enough to really
48:40
put in any
48:41
important place
48:42
in their lives
48:43
but Jesus
48:45
who is the
48:46
revealer of God
48:47
the Son of God
48:48
everything you see
48:50
about Jesus
48:51
is revealing God
48:52
to us
48:53
what God is like
48:54
and so Jesus
48:55
when he's saying here
48:56
about trusting
48:59
in God
49:00
or entering
49:01
the kingdom
49:02
as a little child
49:03
is really like
49:04
trusting in the Lord
49:06
trusting his word
49:08
trusting that what he says
49:10
is true
49:11
but it also means
49:13
acceptance
49:14
because a child
49:15
accepts the word
49:17
of a trustworthy parent
49:18
sadly we live
49:20
in a world
49:21
when children
49:23
sometimes
49:24
are not
49:25
brought up
49:26
in the way
49:26
that we would like
49:27
sometimes children
49:29
are abused
49:30
children are
49:31
not treated properly
49:32
that's the kind
49:33
of world
49:34
we live in
49:34
but when you have
49:35
a loving parent
49:37
a parent who really
49:38
wants the best
49:39
for their children
49:40
well a child
49:41
comes to learn
49:42
acceptance
49:43
of that person's word
49:45
or acceptance
49:46
of things
49:47
from that parent
49:48
that the parent
49:49
offers to them
49:50
and is happy
49:51
to give them
49:52
as gifts
49:52
or whatever
49:53
in other words
49:54
when you give
49:55
a child
49:56
a gift
49:56
certainly children
49:58
of that young age
49:59
there's no
49:59
no haggling
50:00
no argument
50:02
no saying
50:02
I don't like that
50:04
it's
50:04
I'd rather something
50:05
better
50:06
you might find that
50:08
as they grow up
50:08
certainly
50:09
it's not always
50:11
like that is it
50:12
sometimes
50:12
when we do grow up
50:13
we think
50:14
well that's not
50:15
really what I'd like
50:15
I'd prefer something else
50:16
but what this is saying
50:18
to us is that
50:18
children
50:19
these infants
50:20
in arms
50:20
that Jesus took up
50:21
they don't actually
50:23
argue about
50:24
what their parents
50:25
are keen to give them
50:26
they don't argue
50:27
about the care
50:28
that parents
50:29
take of them
50:29
the gifts
50:30
that parents
50:31
are able to give them
50:32
they don't haggle
50:33
about that
50:33
they don't dispute that
50:35
they actually
50:36
receive
50:37
these gladly
50:38
and that's why
50:40
it says here
50:41
whoever does not
50:42
receive the kingdom
50:44
like a child
50:45
shall not enter it
50:46
see God
50:47
is not in the business
50:48
of selling
50:49
eternal life
50:51
he's not saying
50:52
this is yours
50:54
if you can actually
50:55
match up
50:56
your life
50:56
to it
50:57
he's not saying
50:58
this is yours
50:59
if you can do
51:00
something that makes
51:00
you worthy of it
51:02
in my sight
51:03
he says
51:03
this is yours
51:04
if you trust
51:05
my word
51:06
if you receive it
51:08
as I'm offering it
51:09
to you
51:10
God is saying
51:10
if you receive it
51:12
on my terms
51:13
and you don't
51:14
haggle over it
51:15
and you don't think
51:15
you could have done
51:16
better yourself
51:17
this is for you
51:18
this eternal life
51:19
this salvation
51:20
this is my gift
51:22
to you
51:22
that's why I sent
51:24
my son
51:24
into the world
51:25
to die the death
51:26
he died on the cross
51:27
God is genuine
51:29
and sincere
51:30
and wholehearted
51:32
in saying
51:32
here is my kingdom
51:34
here is
51:35
where I rule
51:36
here is where my throne
51:37
is situated
51:38
here is
51:39
all the benefits
51:41
of my kingdom
51:42
of my salvation
51:43
that I give
51:43
to those who trust
51:45
in me
51:45
trust in me
51:46
receive it
51:47
take me at my word
51:48
and so you accept
51:51
all that God
51:53
is offering us
51:54
today in the gospel
51:55
if you come to him
51:56
trusting his word
51:58
knowing that he's
51:59
genuine
51:59
because that's
52:01
the ultimate parent
52:02
isn't it
52:02
God
52:02
our father
52:04
so today
52:06
we accept
52:08
his pardon
52:09
don't we
52:10
come to express
52:11
our sin to him
52:12
we repent of our sin
52:14
we say
52:14
Lord
52:15
I know I've done wrong
52:17
I know my life
52:18
is not what it should be
52:19
please accept me
52:21
please receive me
52:22
and that's really
52:24
receiving the kingdom
52:25
receiving
52:25
the word of God
52:27
receiving the salvation
52:28
you receive
52:29
his righteousness
52:30
and his peace
52:32
and his joy
52:33
these are things
52:34
to be received
52:35
God is
52:36
serious
52:36
and honest
52:37
about
52:37
reaching out to us
52:40
in the gospel
52:40
with these
52:41
and of course
52:44
that challenges
52:45
our own sense
52:47
of worth
52:48
or pride
52:48
because it's
52:50
very difficult
52:51
for us
52:51
isn't it
52:51
to get into
52:52
our minds
52:53
that we don't
52:54
have to pay
52:54
anything
52:55
that we don't
52:56
have to contribute
52:57
anything
52:57
to our salvation
52:59
it hits your
53:00
sense of pride
53:01
that all of that
53:02
is taken away
53:03
that God
53:04
has done everything
53:04
in Christ already
53:05
that all we need
53:06
to do
53:07
and are required
53:07
to do
53:08
is receive
53:08
the salvation
53:09
for which
53:10
Jesus died
53:11
but our
53:13
natural minds
53:13
don't like that
53:14
because it
53:15
hits our pride
53:16
that we don't
53:17
contribute something
53:18
towards our salvation
53:20
that we don't
53:21
actually have to
53:22
give God
53:23
something
53:23
in order for him
53:25
then to receive us
53:26
in response
53:27
look at verse 17
53:31
as he was setting
53:34
out on his journey
53:35
a man ran up
53:36
and knelt before him
53:38
and asked him
53:38
good teacher
53:39
what must
53:41
I do
53:42
to inherit
53:42
eternal life
53:44
and here's a man
53:45
you see
53:45
he's walking up
53:46
towards the entrance
53:47
the door to salvation
53:49
in Jesus Christ
53:50
and here he is
53:52
he's walked right
53:53
past the door
53:54
to eternal life
53:55
because he's come
53:56
with these words
53:57
Lord
53:57
what must
53:58
I do
53:59
he's thinking of
54:00
his own contribution
54:02
something that's
54:03
required of him
54:04
to do
54:04
before God
54:05
will receive him
54:06
before he can enter
54:07
into eternal life
54:08
what must I do
54:10
to inherit eternal life
54:11
and God is really
54:13
saying to us today
54:13
it's not about
54:14
what you are able
54:15
to do
54:16
or not able to do
54:17
it's about what
54:18
Jesus has done
54:19
that's
54:21
really the entrance
54:23
to eternal life
54:24
and as you receive
54:26
that Jesus
54:27
and give over
54:29
your life to him
54:30
and trust in him
54:31
so you come
54:32
to enter the kingdom
54:33
like a little child
54:35
you receive it
54:37
because God is honest
54:38
because God is serious
54:40
because you are needy
54:41
of that salvation
54:43
that God himself
54:45
is actually extending
54:47
to you in the gospel
54:48
and if you're here today
54:50
and you're not yet a Christian
54:53
you're not yet saved
54:54
you've not yet come
54:56
to follow Jesus
54:57
seriously
54:59
wholeheartedly
55:00
and then Jesus
55:02
is saying to you
55:03
well here's your opportunity
55:04
today
55:05
Jesus is saying to you
55:07
here is my kingdom
55:08
here are all the riches
55:10
of my kingdom
55:11
here are all the riches
55:13
I died
55:15
to actually provide
55:17
for you
55:17
here are all the riches
55:20
I suffered
55:21
in order to bring
55:23
them to you
55:24
all you need to do
55:25
is receive them
55:27
make them yours
55:29
say yes Lord
55:31
this is what I need
55:34
thank you
55:36
help me to live
55:38
a life
55:40
of thankfulness
55:41
in the Psalms
55:43
we find
55:44
Psalm 116
55:45
the Psalmist saying
55:47
in regard to
55:49
the Lord's own
55:50
benefits to him
55:51
we quite often
55:54
sing these verses
55:55
and
55:56
the Psalmist
55:58
is really addressing
55:59
God in them
55:59
where he said to God
56:00
what shall I render
56:02
to the Lord
56:03
for all
56:04
this benefits
56:05
to me
56:05
what shall I render
56:07
to the Lord
56:08
what will I give
56:08
the Lord
56:09
in return
56:10
for all
56:11
his benefits
56:11
to me
56:12
how can I pay
56:13
him back
56:14
what he says
56:15
is
56:15
I will take
56:17
the cup
56:17
of salvation
56:18
and call upon
56:20
the name of the Lord
56:21
in other words
56:21
he's not saying
56:22
I will give
56:24
anything
56:24
he's saying
56:25
I will receive
56:26
I will take
56:28
the salvation
56:29
that God
56:30
is offering
56:31
to me
56:31
and so it is
56:34
for us today
56:35
as well
56:35
we come as
56:37
children
56:37
to trust
56:39
in Jesus
56:40
we come to
56:41
accept what
56:42
Jesus is offering
56:43
and he's offering
56:43
himself
56:44
as a saviour
56:45
to us today
56:46
and as we do
56:48
so
56:49
there's one
56:50
other element
56:51
I can mention
56:51
just briefly
56:52
in closing
56:53
and that's
56:54
the element
56:55
of joy
56:56
we don't
56:59
become
56:59
Christians
57:00
just
57:00
to enjoy
57:01
the experience
57:02
there's more
57:04
to it
57:04
than that
57:04
but joy
57:06
is very
57:07
firmly
57:07
a part
57:08
of the
57:08
Christian
57:08
life
57:09
you children
57:10
know what
57:11
it's like
57:11
to receive
57:12
a gift
57:13
and especially
57:14
if it's a gift
57:15
that you've
57:15
mentioned
57:16
you would like
57:17
to get
57:17
at Christmas
57:18
perhaps
57:18
your parents
57:19
might ask you
57:20
what would you
57:20
like as a
57:21
Christmas gift
57:22
not that
57:25
they'll necessarily
57:26
promise
57:26
yes you'll
57:27
get that
57:27
but
57:28
very often
57:30
that's what
57:30
they'll try
57:30
and get you
57:31
and if it's
57:32
something you've
57:32
asked for
57:33
at Christmas
57:33
time
57:34
and you open
57:35
your partial
57:36
you take the
57:37
wrapping off
57:37
on Christmas
57:38
morning
57:38
and you see
57:39
that's exactly
57:40
what you asked
57:41
for
57:41
and actually
57:42
it looks
57:43
far better
57:43
than it did
57:44
in the catalogue
57:45
or wherever
57:45
you saw a picture
57:46
of it
57:46
so you go
57:46
wow
57:47
that's awesome
57:48
or whatever
57:49
the current word
57:50
is today
57:50
wow
57:52
that's awesome
57:53
that's how it
57:56
should be
57:57
with Jesus
57:58
as well
57:59
for us
57:59
when we
58:01
receive the
58:02
gift that
58:02
God gives
58:03
us
58:03
his offering
58:05
to us
58:05
Jesus himself
58:07
the gift
58:07
and salvation
58:08
that comes
58:09
in him
58:09
today this
58:11
should be
58:11
and every day
58:12
this should be
58:13
our reaction
58:14
because this
58:15
is God's
58:15
grace
58:16
God's
58:16
forgiveness
58:17
God's
58:17
adoption
58:18
this is
58:19
really
58:19
heaven
58:20
in preparation
58:21
if you like
58:21
and we
58:22
should be
58:22
saying
58:23
wow
58:24
what
58:25
an amazing
58:27
gift
58:27
God has
58:30
given to me
58:30
in giving me
58:32
a saviour
58:33
in giving me
58:34
salvation
58:35
in giving me
58:37
to belong
58:38
to
58:38
the kingdom
58:39
of God
58:41
well may God
58:43
bless these words
58:44
to us today
58:45
we're going to
58:45
conclude our service
58:46
now singing
58:47
in Psalm 89
58:48
Psalm 89
58:51
and verses
58:52
15 to 18
58:53
that's page
58:54
345
58:56
Psalm 89
59:05
verses 15
59:06
to 18
59:07
345
59:09
over to
59:10
346
59:11
and the tune
59:11
this time
59:12
is Sheffield
59:13
O greatly
59:15
blessed
59:15
the people
59:16
are
59:16
the joyful
59:18
sound
59:18
that know
59:19
in brightness
59:20
of thy face
59:21
O Lord
59:21
they ever
59:22
on
59:23
shall go
59:24
verses
59:24
15 to
59:26
18
59:27
of Psalm
59:28
89
59:28
O greatly
59:29
blessed
59:29
the people
59:30
are
59:30
O
59:33
O
59:37
greatly
59:38
blessed
59:39
the people
59:41
are
59:43
the joyful
59:45
sound
59:46
that know
59:49
in brightness
59:51
of thy
59:54
face
59:55
O Lord
59:56
thee
59:58
ever
59:58
on
1:00:00
shall
1:00:01
go
1:00:03
thee
1:00:04
in thy
1:00:06
name
1:00:07
shall
1:00:08
all
1:00:09
the day
1:00:10
rejoice
1:00:12
exceedingly
1:00:15
and
1:00:18
in thy
1:00:20
righteousness
1:00:22
shall
1:00:24
thee
1:00:24
exalted
1:00:27
be
1:00:28
on
1:00:29
high
1:00:31
because
1:00:33
the
1:00:35
glory
1:00:36
of
1:00:38
their
1:00:38
spread
1:00:39
doth
1:00:41
only
1:00:42
stand
1:00:43
in
1:00:44
thee
1:00:46
and
1:00:47
in
1:00:48
thy
1:00:49
favour
1:00:50
shall
1:00:51
our
1:00:53
horn
1:00:54
and
1:00:55
power
1:00:56
exalted
1:00:58
be
1:00:59
for
1:01:02
God
1:01:03
is
1:01:04
our
1:01:05
defence
1:01:07
and
1:01:08
he
1:01:09
to
1:01:10
us
1:01:11
doth
1:01:12
safety
1:01:13
bring
1:01:15
the
1:01:16
Holy
1:01:17
One
1:01:19
Lord
1:01:20
Israel
1:01:22
is
1:01:24
our
1:01:25
almighty
1:01:27
king
1:01:28
I want
1:01:31
to say
1:01:32
to the
1:01:32
children
1:01:32
before we
1:01:33
close
1:01:33
with
1:01:33
the
1:01:33
benediction
1:01:34
not only
1:01:35
has it
1:01:35
been
1:01:35
really
1:01:36
great
1:01:36
having
1:01:36
you
1:01:36
but
1:01:37
thank
1:01:38
you
1:01:38
too
1:01:38
for
1:01:39
the
1:01:39
way
1:01:39
that
1:01:39
you've
1:01:39
sat
1:01:40
through
1:01:40
the
1:01:40
service
1:01:41
and
1:01:42
for
1:01:42
the
1:01:42
way
1:01:42
you
1:01:42
listened
1:01:43
to
1:01:43
what's
1:01:44
being
1:01:44
said
1:01:44
as
1:01:44
well
1:01:45
and
1:01:46
that
1:01:46
gives
1:01:46
us
1:01:46
great
1:01:47
joy
1:01:47
to
1:01:48
see
1:01:48
that
1:01:48
you're
1:01:49
so
1:01:50
good
1:01:50
at
1:01:50
listening
1:01:50
to
1:01:51
the
1:01:51
gospel
1:01:52
so
1:01:52
thank
1:01:52
you
1:01:52
again
1:01:53
for
1:01:53
that
1:01:54
now
1:01:54
I'll
1:01:54
go to
1:01:54
the
1:01:55
side
1:01:55
door
1:01:55
here
1:01:55
to
1:01:56
my
1:01:56
left
1:01:56
after
1:01:57
the
1:01:57
benediction
1:01:58
I'd like
1:01:58
the
1:01:58
children
1:01:58
if they
1:01:59
can
1:01:59
come
1:01:59
out
1:01:59
that
1:01:59
door
1:01:59
and
1:02:00
I'll
1:02:00
give
1:02:00
you
1:02:00
a
1:02:00
high
1:02:01
five
1:02:01
on
1:02:01
the
1:02:01
way
1:02:01
out
1:02:02
okay
1:02:02
now
1:02:04
may
1:02:05
the
1:02:05
grace
1:02:05
of
1:02:05
the
1:02:05
Lord
1:02:05
Jesus
1:02:06
Christ
1:02:06
the
1:02:07
love
1:02:07
of
1:02:07
God
1:02:07
the
1:02:07
Father
1:02:08
and
1:02:08
the
1:02:08
communion
1:02:09
of
1:02:09
the
1:02:09
Holy
1:02:09
Spirit
1:02:10
be
1:02:10
with
1:02:10
you
1:02:10
now
1:02:11
and
1:02:11
ever
1:02:11
more
1:02:11
Amen
1:02:25
God