Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am 11 August 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Guest Pianist: Darolyn McCrostie
Vocalist: Fionna McCrostie Elder: Sam Malayang
We gather to worship God
Music prelude
Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.
Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship
Call to Worship
L: When the waves of doubt threaten us
P: God is with us.
Sung: God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. God’s so good to me.
L: When fears seem to swamp our lives
P: God is with us.
Sung: God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. God’s so good to me
L: When life seems wrong, and we need a steady hand
P: God is with us.
Sung: God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. God’s so good to me.
L: Even when we cannot hear or see or feel the one who loves us
P: God is with us.
Sung: God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. God’s so good to me.
Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship
Prayers of approach and confession
Living, giving God, you are the source of all good things.
Your love reaches wider than the expanding universe, and your kindness embraces the tiny sparrow.
In Christ, you offer us the Bread of Life to sustain us day by day.
Through the Holy Spirit, you are present in every situation, our daily tasks and demanding challenges.
And so we gather to offer you our love and loyalty, the very best of ourselves, for surely you deserve all we can offer, heart, body, mind, and soul, our living, giving God.
Living, forgiving God, in Christ, you promise us new life.
Yet we often cling to bitter disappointments; anger can hold us hostage for years.
We say one thing to someone’s face and something else behind their back.
Forgive us.
Free us from old habits and resentments and renew us to live according to your mercy. Amen
Response: I waited, I waited on you, Lord
Assurance of God’s grace
God is tender-hearted and gracious to all, offering forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Trust in God’s grace, and be kind to one another, forgiving others as God has forgiven you.
Reception of new members:
Sabir Aziz, Saima Sadaf, Nebat Marilyn, Corrie Magdalene and Felix Joy
The Presentation
Christian friends, Saima, Sabir, Marilyn, Corrie and Felix, have been baptized and are members of the body of Christ. They have been nurtured within the Christian Community and instructed in the beliefs and practices of the church.
Today, by making a public profession of their faith, they desire to affirm their baptism and to claim the rights and responsibilities associated with membership in the congregation of Dayspring Presbyterian Church, Edmonton Alberta.
Introduction: So now if you would, I’d invite you to just say a few words.
Renunciation and Affirmation
Remember your baptism and give thanks. By the water of baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit God claims us and calls each one by name. God unites us to Christ and his death and resurrection and graphs us into the body of Christ as members of the church God, washes us clean by forgiving our sins, commissions us to be a royal priesthood with Christ, in his ministry to the world, empowers us to live in newness of life as people of the word, and invites us to be renewed at the table of the Lord until we Feast with him and Glory.
It Is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing, but it is a gift of God.
Saima, Sabir, Marilyn, Corrie and Felix, you stand before God in this company of God’s people to affirm the Covenant God made with you and your baptisms, to acknowledge your growth in Grace and to assume responsibility as Disciples of Jesus Christ in this congregation and the world.
Are you ready to affirm your Faith?
Candidates answer: “I am ready”
Trusting in the gracious mercies of God who has been faithful to us in all generations, do you turn away from sin, renounce evil and all powers in the world which rebelled against God, or oppose God’s rules of justice of love?
Candidates answer: “I renounce them.”
Do you renounce the ways of sin which separate you from the love of God?
Candidates answer: “I renounce them.”
Do you turn to Jesus Christ accepting him as Lord and Savior, trusting in his grace and love?
Candidates answer: “I do.”
Do you desire, dependence on the Holy Spirit, to mature as Christians in the church, to seek the guidance of Christ as you listen for his word, to celebrate his death and life at the table he provides, and to engage in his mission to the world?
Candidates answer: “I do.”
The minister asks the congregation to stand and questions them, saying:
“Do you, on behalf of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture Saima, Sabir, Felix, Marilyn, and Corrie by word and deed, with love and in prayer, encouraging them to follow the way of Christ and to be (a) faithful member(s) of his church?
We do.
Then let us proclaim together as one congregation or members and adherents our common faith as found in the words of the Apostles Creed.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s 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.
Thanksgiving and Intercession
Blessed are you, most gracious God. Through water and the spirit, you have claimed us as your own, cleansing us from sin and giving us new life. You called us into your church to be your servants in the world in the Name of Christ your son. You promised to be present among us, to direct and defend your people by the power of your spirit. And now we give you thanks for your faithfulness to us and to these your sons and daughters who come to renew with you the Covenant of baptism.
By the power of your spirit continue in them the good work you have begun, that they may willingly serve you in love and joy, with courage and Truth, in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord, always and forever. Amen.
At this time, I ask the Elders to come forward to extend the right hand of fellowship.
Blessing
Saima, Sabir, Marilyn, Corrie and Felix, may our Holy God bless you, that you might daily increase in the gifts of the Spirit serving Christ our King.
Welcome to Dayspring Presbyterian Church as official members of the congregation.
Right Hand of Fellowship
We listen for the voice of God
Song: How firm a foundation (685: vss 1-3)
Today’s Message
Scripture reading: Matthew 7:24-27 & Acts 27:1 & 28:10
Response: Behold the Lamb of God
Message: When the storm comes
Today, as we continue our Anchor series, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve already covered together. In week 1 we introduced Hebrews 6:19 and the idea of being anchored to hope. Last week we talked about the necessity of having a firm and secure hold on the anchor of our hope. And today we are going to speak about the fact that we live in a world where storms will come, which highlights the necessity of having an anchor.
It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. The storms are coming and there will be adversity, suffering, and pain. When we are faced with any of these we need to be prepared beforehand, ready for whatever may come our way.
I can’t imagine a ship ever leaving port without an anchor on hand… So why are so many of us human beings just floating through life with no real direction, no greater plan for adversity, and no anchor on board? Maybe we don’t see the need for an anchor, maybe we’ve never really had to plan, or maybe we’ve had a relatively easy life, and we don’t think too often about hardship or suffering.
Whatever the case may be, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. When the storms come, what are you going to do?
Thankfully, Jesus had some thoughts on the matter.
Last week we looked at Matthew chapter 6 and how it relates to the hope we have in the kingdom of God. This week, we’re going to take a look at Matthew chapter 7 and how it relates to having hope amid a storm.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
In this section of scripture, Jesus is putting an exclamation point on the previous teaching in Matthew chapters 5-7, which is called the Sermon on the Mount. Many believe that this is, for many reasons, the greatest sermon ever preached. For hundreds of years, it has been commented on, scrutinized, picked apart, and had countless books written about it. And at the conclusion of Jesus’ greatest sermon, he gives us this short section at the end of chapter 7 which compares 2 builders: one of whom builds on solid rock and the other builds on sand.
In both cases, the builders heard the words of Jesus. Unfortunately, only one builder acted upon them and responded to the teaching of Christ. A.T. Robertson said in Word Pictures in the New Testament, “Hearing sermons is a dangerous business if one does not put them into practice…” And I think we would all agree that it’s easy enough to listen to something, harder to dig in and hear, and even harder to put what you’ve heard into practice.
And yet it would seem this is the exact choice Jesus lays out for us at the end of Matthew chapter 7. We’ve got to hear and respond to His teachings.
This reminds me of a story. Two men were talking over coffee one day.
One man said: “I’m concerned about my wife. She talks to herself a lot these days.” The other said: “Mine does too, although she doesn’t know it. She still thinks I’m listening.”
Listening is easy. Hearing isn’t. And even more difficult is putting what you’ve heard into action.
Now here’s the thing, even the closest disciples of Jesus; the friends and students who travelled Jesus and lived with Jesus, took years upon years to put into practice just some of the things they’d learned from truly hearing Jesus.
It’s better to be like the wise builder who built on solid rock than like the foolish builder who built on sand (the one who listens but doesn’t hear, hears but doesn’t do anything).
That way, when the storms do come, which they will, you can make the most of it knowing your hope is firm and secure in Christ; that no matter what God is in control and what does not work out in this life can in the next.
This next story is a longer one, but it highlights the beauty and freedom of living life anchored on Christ. It should come as no surprise that the story comes from the missionary journey of Paul the Apostle, who said in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” For Paul, that contentment included being shipwrecked at sea and stranded for months on a strange island but still rusting. Here’s how the story goes:
Acts 27:1-11
27 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.
In this first part of the story, we learn that Paul is a prisoner and is being transported via ship to Italy. By verse 9, after many exchanges, we learn that the journey has already been a difficult one and that they had lost “much time.” Then in verse 10 Paul says, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” Paul is not saying, if disaster comes, he expects it. He’s saying when disaster comes. But, as you’d imagine, they don’t listen to him and they keep going along their way.
This exchange reminds me of one of the most sobering Proverbs you’ll read which says, “Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” – Proverbs 29:1… Why are we so stubborn to the wisdom of others? Why don’t we just build our proverbial homes on solid rock? Why didn’t the centurion listen to Paul’s warning on the ship?
Acts 27:13-44
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[a] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
The Shipwreck
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[b] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[c] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[d] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or other pieces of the ship. In this way, everyone reached land safely.
In this section we see the storm comes, the ship is wrecked, and all the people involved are terrified except for Paul who has complete faith and assurance that all will end well.
As the story transitions to Acts chapter 28 we learn the island they’ve been stranded on is Malta, “where the islander showed unusual kindness.”
Acts 28:1-6
28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
A venomous snake darts out of the campfire and bites Paul, and still, he seems unbothered by it all, shaking the snake off his hand. The people are suspicious then amazed and finally in awe.
Acts 28:7-10
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
As the story comes to a close, Paul meets the local Roman official and proceeds to start a healing ministry on the island of Malta where their ship has wrecked, and everyone is stranded. After 3 months another ship had been secured and as the crew was ready to leave, the people of Malta “honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.”
Through this story, we see what can happen when you’ve chosen to build your home, your life, on Jesus. We see what can come from a life that is firm and secure, anchored to Jesus.
Here are a few things I saw in the story, and maybe you’d add some others:
- Paul was completely content through the violent storm, the shipwreck, and being stranded. In fact, he seemed to take it all in stride and never once complained that his plans were ruined. He was very open-handed through it all.
- Paul took advantage of the time he had while in Malta. He preached the gospel and healed the sick. He could have pouted and moped for 3 months, but instead, he made the best of the situation and treated it as an opportunity instead of a hindrance.
- God supplied, through the people of Malta, everything the crew needed. They had food, a place to stay, a new ship, and the provision to continue their journey. God worked it all together for good (Romans 8:28).
You can trust that God will be faithful through the storms, shipwrecks, snakebites, and sufferings of life. He will work all things according to His will and purpose.
So, when the storms come, choose Him.
Choose His ways above all others.
Don’t stiffen your neck and reject good wisdom.
And like Paul, who knows where the journey may take you? You just might end up on a remote island somewhere for 3 months, ministering to people and growing in fellowship with others.
As I’ve mentioned many times today, it’s not a matter of if the storms of life come, it’s a matter of when they come. Will you be ready? Will you have a firm and secure anchor for your soul?
I can’t imagine a ship ever leaving port without an anchor on hand… So why are so many of us just floating through life with no real direction, no greater plan for adversity, and no anchor on board?
Maybe that’s you today.
Maybe you don’t see the need for an anchor.
Maybe you’ve never really had to plan ahead, or maybe you’ve had a relatively easy life and you don’t think too often about hardship or suffering.
Whatever the case may be, and wherever you find yourself today, I want to encourage you to choose Jesus. Choose Him over any other thing, even if it sounds good, and sounds like a secure option. I can assure you, that if it’s not Jesus, it’s not going to hold fast through the fiercest storms of life.
When the storm, or suffering, or adversity arrives, make sure you’ve got a firm grip on Christ… the solid rock to build life upon and the anchor that always holds.
Song: We have an anchor
We respond to serve God: Our time of giving
Reflection on giving: Scripture speaks of God’s goodness and generosity over and over again. So we keep offering our gifts to God in gratitude, over and over again. May our gifts help to feed the world with God’s goodness for the sake of Christ, the Bread of Life.
Prayer of gratitude and for our world
Lord Jesus, we bring our gifts to you, knowing that you have given yourself for us. Bless these gifts. Make them a source of your abundant love in the lives we touch through mission and ministry in your name.
God of all generations, when we look back at our lives, we are grateful for your steadfast presence with us through uncertainty and upheaval.
We have witnessed tragedy and courage, generosity and selfishness, resentment and resilience, fear and faithfulness.
Teach us how to share our trust in you with the world around us in the days ahead.
God of each life and all life,
Keep us faithful, whatever happens.
God of nations and neighbours, we look back over the past few months, and we worry for the world.
We have witnessed both conflict and compassion, deep differences and calls for collaboration.
Send your Spirit to guide our leaders in politics, education, health care, in business, labour and community life.
Create understanding across differing perspectives for the well-being of those who struggle with their daily realities.
Sustain truth-telling and mutual respect in our common life.
God of each life and all life,
Keep us faithful, whatever happens.
God of healing and hope, we look around at the world and worry about the unpredictable climate, and its huge costs to communities and individuals.
We look around and see people without doctors, people on long waiting lists for care, people without homes they can afford or food on the table.
Hear us in this holy silence as we name in our hearts those people and situations that concern us deeply.
Keep silent for 20-30 seconds.
God of each life and all life,
Keep us faithful, whatever happens.
God of family and friends, we look around at our lives and give you thanks for all our sustaining relationships, those nearby and those we maintain over distance.
Where people live in loneliness, show us how to reach out.
Where people struggle with differences or discrimination, show us how to offer wisdom and encourage mutual respect.
Inspire us with Jesus’ all-embracing love and make us instruments of his peace and purpose. Amen.
Song: You walk along the shoreline (753)
Sending out with God’s blessing
Go in gratitude, relying on the presence of Christ as bread for your journey.
May the God who made us,
The Christ who mends us,
And the Spirit who gives us life
bless you with peace and purpose each and every day. Amen.
Response: God to enfold you …
Music postlude
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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).
The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2024) on all original material in this service. As far as Brad Childs is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is his own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.