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Tim, Amanda and Eleanor provided music . Tim brought us the Word today and even suggested homework of reading the whole of 1 Samuel chapter 17.

Last time we, were looking at Ruth and before that Gideon. Today we are looking at King Saul and the relationship of Samuel and David. Saul was a test of people demanding a king rather than judges. Saul was the obvious choice, and annointed by God. But as Tim eloquently pointed out, Saul was a complete muppet though.

He lost his crown because he wouldn’t follow God;s wishes. Yet despite their conflict it is very clear that Samuel still grieves for his lost friend. Perhaps he feels some responsibility for the mess Saul created. God tells him to get over it and appoint a new king. How far should Christians collaborate with those who do not share their views, when should we confront others?

Samuel had to choose. His choice wasn’t the obvious choice. Tim shared his own family history on this point. Tim’s grandad was only 4’11’ too small for the army yet he ended up with a vital role in keeping the bombers in the air. This was because he was just the right size to fix the inner wings of bombers. A lot of the best footballers are of average height, singers like Susan Boyle teach us not to judge by appearance.

This story shows that we might fail to see potential in others. This is like a traditional joke, three men walked into a camp… the Lord said do not consider the appearance or the height, the intelligence, the attractiveness and wealth, the athlete , the lord rejects and overturns the cultural norms and picks the youngest the weakest. God chooses him over his seven siblings. Bet that made him popular with his brothers . The Lord does not see as mortals see. Isiaih says of him we held him in low esteem.

The story works two ways . Look beyond the obvious, the gifted and apply the David tests.

God chooses the unexpected. The kingdom of God simply needs those people whose heart is turned to God.

David was first introduced to us at the end of the story of Ruth. He had no idea what would happen when he went to check on his brothers on the battlefield.

The job was risky but the reward was great , the eldest couldn’t hide his jealousy. David is not deterred in any way by his brothers reaction.

None wanted to take on Goliath. David counters Goliath’s taunts by telling him he has killed lions to protect his flock.

David was used to insults . David had a simple secret weapon. He believed Goliath was no match for his, David’s god. We often see this an an underdog story. But it’s Goliath who is the underdog. Goliath fails to realise he is up against God,. David finds his confidence in the living God. We probably like this story because we’ve been the underdog, or we face a Goliath challenge. We learn in our ordinary days to face our problems, and it is this protection in our ordinary days that protects us. No giant is too big. Note that, No giant is too big. We are not insignificant and we need to learn confidence in our shepherding in the day to day routine keeping our sheep safe. Tim finished by praying Help us to see people as you see them and when giants come, help us to place our confidence in you, our trust in you and to rely on your protection.

Tim preached on Ephesians 4 1:16. Each part of the Christian body does its work.

Tim wondered if we’d ever thought about what being grown up looks like, taking the bike stabilisers off, or is the when we leave home, or when you start cooking for yourself.

Paul turns this on its head. He states that God is bringing all things together under Christ his son.

Paul asks us to consider the response we are to make to this. He urges us to live a life worthy of the calling we received.

He points out it comes as God’s gift to us. Paul reminds us it is God who has called us, not as a calling to an occupation but to a life that is possible in God’s grace.

Paul is blown away by us becoming part of God’s plan for the world reconciling all things to himself. The grace of God is in line for all his creation.

It is unsurprising to hear that the worthy life also encompasses the unity of the church. That’s gods plan.

Paul calls us to maintain or guard the unity of the spirit. Tim asked are there times we struggle to maintain that unity, not just in the church but with our other denominations and brothers and sisters in Christ. The unity of the church is all to Paul, as he writes to lots of different churches.

Paul talks about one body, one hope, one lord Jesus ,one faith, one baptism.

Tim highlights the danger for us in falling into the trap that we sometimes think our way is the only way.

Paul says no, all of you, despite your differences, all your differences of understanding, you’re all one all part of the one Church. Never been more important than now to believe in the oneness of the body of Christ.

Paul gets all trinitarian here. We are called to nurture and care for it. Guards outside Buckingham palace are focussed on the job they are given. Even if they don’t appear to be paying much attention they are and they move into action at perceived threats. We need to have the same focus. We need to treat each other with love patience, humility, gentleness.

We are always in a rush, but thankfully God isn’t . He wants that unity and for us to bear with each other. After all it is God that has given us the diversity we have. The new testament is full of Paul writing to lots of different types of churches. There is no one type or model of new testament church. We all need to stop seeing diverse churches as a problem and more as God’s gift.

Those who are different they are a gift, they might teach us something.

What can other churches teach us? Tim shared that he loves going to Catholic Churches , the moments of drama and silence. Tim invited us to imagine going to an African church and they’re dancing and make us look miserable, differences are not a problem they help us to speak truth in love.

Be wary though, this verse has been much misused, beware condescension. God’s calling for the unity of the church and all it’s diversity are all affirmed here.

When we experienced division in the church we probably getting what we deserved, we need to learn to value difference. V13 talks about us still growing in maturity. Thankfully we’re not doing this in our own strength . We need to grow more in Christ as we experience things. It’s God’s gift as we grow together. It’s in all that we do and experience as a church.

Tim closed by quoting Martin Luther “This life, therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way. The process is not yet finished, but it is actively going on. This is not the goal, but it is the right road. At present, everything does not gleam and sparkle, but everything is being cleansed.“

Today’s service was led by the Hyde siblings. We were blessed to have Jonny, Jacob and Eleanor all in one place given all of the calls and commitments on their time. Eleanor brought us one the BMS videos and preached around Galatians 4:19.

Paul talks about labouring for Christ . Eleanor shared that the Action team taught her to be flexible and to labour and persevere for Christ. What surprised her and her friends in the Action teams was the return to  the UK rather than the overseas elements. Travelling around and living with strangers and out of suitcases. She pointed out that in the last year she has now lived in 3 countries. Guinea England and Scotland. She gave as a small example the constant adventure of trying explore new kitchen cupboards in every host home on her travels.

She outlined the 3 constants, their team, their shared mission and God.

Their friend Tom taught them the Better in your courts song that we tried today in church. Jesus is our home is a key message in the song. Paul talks about it being really hard to tell people about Jesus, and his suffering is hard but nothing compares to Jesus .

Eleanor had gained a real insight into how tough and challenging it is for BMS families. She now realised how difficult it is to grow up as missionary kids. The annual pack up and tour around the UK is a real challenge.

One constant is that we go where we are called to go wherever he may send us.

A lot of American charities won’t go to North Korea but BMS have sent even more people to take God’s word there.

Eleanor also shared the BMS video Life’s First Cry showing how workers were helping to meet a fundamentally basic need for babies to born safely.  In Afghan BMS workers have brought hope to fearful women.

We have an amazing privelege to share Jesus with people. We are blessed to have a church full of healthy, lively children who come to our safe place and join in our worship. Any of the Afghan parents, having lost all their children in child birth or infancy,  would rejoice with us in the lives of our own young people.

https://www.bmsworldmission.org/lifesfirstcry/

Tim Eleanor Jonny and Amanda led today. Tim brought us the word. He was continuing with the Old Testament highlights. Ruth Chapter 1 is the best story in the bible and yet Andrew Lloyd Weber hasn’t even made a musical of it yet.

This a story about three men who lived in the time of Judges, a time of turmoil. Bethlehem, despite it’s name meaning the town of bread, has no crops,  there was no bread, famine was in the land. Elimelek swaps the promised land for the land of Moab. It’s a big step here. Don’t forget God placed the family in Bethlehem .

Naomi is caught up in this situation made by men. But then her husband dies, but she still has her sons . (Her sons’ names mean sickness and death!). They find two wives, who become best of friends and a support to Naomi in this strange land. Tragedy strikes, both her sons die and there are no men in her life. In that culture they needed a man to survive. As she grows older each avenue of support is taken away, no children or grandchildren to care for here , a stranger in a foreign land. She finds herself cut off lonely and alone. All these things have their modern equivalent.

God brings in news from Bethlehem that there’s now food. She gets news of this and thinks the only option is to return to her own people. She’d heard the Lord had come to the aid of her people but is still blaming him for what happens.

We need to realise that God sometimes narrows down our options and leads us a new way. Three widows and no children set off. Naomi thinks they’d be better off within their own people. But they insist on coming with her, yet she thinks she’s too old and they’d be too old and foreigners in a strange land. She hits the low point and tells them to go home.

But Ruth has seen a different future. She knows Naomi will not be empty for ever. Hesed is the word to remember here. Doing hesed is modelled by God himself. Extraordinary acts of caring and kindness. The story of Ruth and Naomi is full of this. Naomi prays for hesed for others. Ruth knows …. Ruth pledges this kindness and loyalty to Naomi which leaves her speechless.

When they arrive back Ruth follows quietly but Naomi says don’t call me kindness call me bitter. She blames God yet when she arrives in Bethlehem the new barley harvest is in the widows will be provided for. God has not bought Naomi back empty. Ruth is with her. Sometimes words when things are going wrong are not helpful. When the people of God bring hesed compassion kindness and mercy makes a difference. Ruth does not buy in to Naomi s logic. The loneliness and despair, we’ve been there, but this story teaches us our prayers have been heard, often through people around us without us even realising it. Read it in full. Perhaps there are those here today feeling as empty as a house of bread that has run out of bread. God calls us to act as Ruth does, to bless others with kindness. We have been set free because of what God has done for us. Let us go and deliver hesed to those around us.

 

Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table. If we’re not focussed on God, if we don’t focus on him, we’ll be veiled and obscured. The devil wants to take you away from the food and sustenance that is Jesus. Jesus wants us to invite our enemies to his table. He is the good shepherd we started with Psalm 23. We’d shouldn’t be in want Jesus provides everything we need.

We live in an angry world where much is wrong and we are right. That is the time we really need Jesus , we need to focus on the author and perfector of our faith. Not listen to the prowling roaring lion that is the devil as described in 1 peter 5:8.

God  will destroy the shroud that entangled us,the sheet that covers us,   So that we can see clearly the love that Jesus brings. The enemies do not want us to have the joy that Jesus brings. People don’t know about it. God wants to say here I am feast on me I am the bread of life.

He is a god of mercy and grace but also of justice. We need to focus on him. His Invite, The Invite is to all is to eat at the table.

Yvette shared the thought she had been given that this is the second time recently people have been drawn to preach on this so we’re clearly still not getting the message. She believes it is because some of us come around the table but we’re not eating. He wants you to eat it all not just pick at it in a terribly British way!