What draws you to the message of Jesus? - Nooma

Cafe Church 4pm Gainsborough

Welcome and Notices

Magnify 6 As we come to your throne (You are worthy)
Magnify is a Salvationist collection of 75 songs of worship.

Magnify 7 Be still, for the presence of the Lord

Prayer

To get us thinking:
How do you feel about people who stop you in the street and want you to listen to them?
What actually draws you to the message of Jesus? At the beginning were you loved or scared into the Kingdom?
Why do you think that generally followers of Jesus make a distinction between their love for God and their love for others

Short DVD - Introducing Bullhorn 009 Rob Bell
Time to reflect and discuss our reactions to the DVD

Bible Readings Matthew 22:36-40 and John 13:35

Today's challenge - If we are not shouting the message out loudly and scaringly, then how are we sharing it? Are we loving God and others with the same passion? If not, why not? How and who can help us sort this out?

Magnify 2 All Heaven Declares

Song 48 (SASB 150/God's love is wonderful)
God's love to me is wonderful
The Salvation Army Songbook

Prayer

Rob Bell ends DVD saying.."So may you see that how you love others is how you love God.
That' it
That's the way of love
That's the way of Jesus"

Easter is over - so what now? - Bible Message

Easter Sunday - Morning Worship at Gainsborough Corps


Introduction:
There are times when we do not feel 'at home'. On visiting a refugee camp, for example, an aid worker will find people suffering and in their eyes will likely see pain, humiliation, disappointment, anger. No matter how caring the aid worker is, can a refugee ever feel 'at home' in such an environment? Probably not! Throughout the world authorities find that when people don't feel at 'home', when people don't feel welcomed or safe, they will generally try to move to a different place hoping for a better life. This, unfortunately, often means more of the same again!

Jesus was homeless
Not long after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph felt very vulnerable and, guided by an angel, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt until the danger from Herod was over. At his birth, Jesus experienced the power of sin and its consequences to interfere and ruin people's lives. As a young child he would have picked up his parents' stress and unsettledness. As a grown up Jesus also experienced some of these feelings, for example, he was not welcome in Nazareth where he had been brought up and, He would sometimes talk about birds and foxes having nests and holes to call home and yet Jesus himself had no place to lay his head that he could call home.

Jesus was not welcomed
John's Gospel (Chapter 6:66) tells us that many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him because they found his teaching too hard to take! Through the days before his crucifixion Jesus definitely experienced being unwelcome, lonely and threatened, except this time there was not going to be an escape route to Egypt! In Judas' suicide we see powerfully the consequences of the power and darkness of sin to interfere and ruin peoples lives. If Jesus found it so hard to feel 'welcome and wanted' during his life then we might as well ask what hope do we have of doing any better?

Dead-end or life-line
You might also be wondering why am I being a prophet of doom on Easter Sunday when it is meant to be a very happy hour not a depressing one! The point is that, soon enough, Easter and the celebrations will be over and then what? Well, there's a quote which says Rather than death being a dead-end to life, Christ reverses that for his people into a life-line. Isn't that wonderful news? To the lonely, disappointed, abused or persecuted? When Mary and Joseph heard that they must escape into Egypt they may have wondered what kind of help that was, to move yet again, into the unknown? But had they ignored God's voice they might have experienced a dead-end but obeying God's Spirit, however strange the request was, meant that they received a life-line. We can take courage that however vulnerable, lonely or unwelcome we feel in this world - specially because we follow him - we are comforted by the fact that Jesus is now preparing a place we will be able to call home for the rest of eternity. There's more to life than a dead-end! There's a life-line found in Jesus! How do we know? because Jesus came back for us! He didn't leave us as sheep without a shepherd!

Mary's life-line
Mary of Magdala was one of the women who found out that Jesus was alive. When she realized death had not held Jesus she began to understand all that Jesus had ever said and that it had all turned out to be true! Things like... whoever hears my words and believes has eternal life and has crossed over from death to life. In today's Bible Reading in John 20 the voice of the risen Jesus brings comfort to Mary, amazing comfort because she now knows for certain that her faith has been based in a powerful, real and living God! Powerful because her sin put his body to death but God's Spirit made him alive again! Mary had not only seen the Lord but she had also experienced something profound.

Romans 10:9 says that... if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead ..then you will be saved! This woman Mary, who had experienced so much sin in her life, who was suffering the consequences of that darkness still threatening to ruin her life for ever, had now found salvation! She does not say much in this reading but I am interested in what she does not say. If, when it came to it, Mary was not going to accept that it was Jesus risen from dead who stood in front of her, she would not have called him Jesus but she recognized him. She gave him his respectful place. Rabboni. Yes, she had not only seen him but she had now accepted him.

Your Life-line
You know what's exciting about all this? that anyone who receives Christ into their lives will receive power to become what God has in mind for them! That's mind - blowing. Are you currently finding out what God has in mind for you because whatever it is, it will be mind-blowing! From my own experience of God and from the witness of so many other followers of Jesus it will be better than anything you might be sorting out or planning for yourself. God helps you follow him and will help you obey some of the seemingly crazy things he might ask you to do.

Who will otherwise turn your fear into courage? Your despair into hope? Your weakness into triumph? Can you find these things elsewhere?

Let's look at Mary of Magdala's experience of the risen Lord. She now had to go and tell everyone that she had seen the Lord. Surely that was a crazy command from Jesus! Indeed when she did tell the other disciples, they had the cheek to ask her if she had been drowning her sorrows and gotten drunk! In fact, her testimony , became extremely effective because she had met the now risen Jesus. Her once weak testimony now became a persuasive one and a tremendous change could be seen in her. A woman who for years had not felt 'at home' in her own town, amongst men, uncomfortable in the presence of the church authorities, now feels very much at 'at home' and instead of standing at a dead-end she stands ready to give her life to her Saviour in devotion, commitment and service. It seems that we can live on earth and feel 'at home' after all. It is good with God's Spirit at our side, following the example of Jesus and faithfully showing the effects of the risen Lord in our lives. Amazing stuff!

Conclusion:
As we go out from this hall let us go determined to show that effect in our lives-having met the risen Lord today why not share our profound experience of him with those around us who do not feel 'at home' anywhere. For a variety of reasons they don't fit in at school, at work, socially inept. Families, children, youths, individuals who show in their eyes sadness, humiliation, terror in some cases. We are in a privileged position of bringing to them our witness just as Mary did after meeting her Saviour. Will you? Will you be the hands, the lips, the feet of Jesus and like him and Mary and countless followers ever since be there for the unwanted? Not easy is it? we find it easier to judge their behaviour, we easily loose patience with them or give up on them as the losers of life. What did Jesus do for them? He came back.

Let's sing about showing by works of power - through God's Spirit - that Jesus is Lord!

Easter is over...so what now? - Worship Programme

Easter Sunday Service

Pre-meeting: Band

Introduction:
Verse by Annie Johnson Flint
If the Christ who died had stopped at the cross,
His work had been incomplete.
If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb,
He had only known defeat,
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross and the way of the tomb leads on
To victorious grace in the heavenly place
where the risen Lord has gone.

Welcome and Announcements - Junior Soldiers Award Presentation

Background:
Easter Sunday is the most important Sunday of the Christian year; the day when we celebrate one of the central truths of our faith - that Jesus Christ is alive! As the apostle Paul said, '...if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile' (1 Corinthians 15:17). This, then, is a day for faith and celebration, joy and declaration. Three words will come up throughout the morning and they are: 'Alive', 'Risen', and 'Today' These are words which declare the central message of Easter, the reason for our worshipping God today - the fact that Christ is alive, that he is risen and that this truth is for today, not just a Bible story about something that happened in the past.

Lets declare our joy through singing, and celebrate!
Song 143 (TB 281/Easter Hymn)
Christ the Lord is risen today

Time of Prayer:
1- Easter Thanksgiving - show PowerPoint images associated with Easter (spring flowers, Easter eggs for the children, a lamb, a cross, a Bible, the sun)
Spend time giving thanks to God for some of the things we are grateful for today.

Song 148 (TB 839/Up from the grave he arose)
Low in the grave he lay

2- Easter Confession - Lets declare our faith and commitment to being forgiven and in turn forgiving by praying and confessing to God
Easter Sunday is a perfect day to start afresh with God, it is a good day to start over again,for bringing an area of your life to God where you feel there is a need for new life, a time to look at relationships, a time for new insights, for stepping out in faith, a good time to commit to social justice...Some people like to think of Easter and the heavy stone 'rolled away' as a reminder that through his death and resurrection, Jesus has crushed the power of sin and can forgive. As we pray please respond with the words Risen Lord Jesus, forgive us:

For the times we forget that you are alive,
Risen Lord Jesus, forgive us.
For the times we forget to celebrate your love,
Risen Lord Jesus, forgive us.
For the times we forget to tell our neighbour,
Risen Lord Jesus, forgive us.
For the times we forget to live as you call us to live,
Risen Lord Jesus, forgive us.
For the times we forgot to open our lives to you,
Risen Lord Jesus, forgive us.

Band

3- Easter Intersession - Women say Alive, Men say Risen and Children/Youth and YP workers and helpers say Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, you died for the world, but you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, people sometimes forget you, but you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, we pray for people caught up in any kind of conflict- may they know that you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, we pray for countries and communities at war- may both aggressors and victims know that you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, we pray for those who are sick or lonely who are known to us- may we find ways of celebrating with them that you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus we pray for the church in this area and for our mission to share the good news of your resurrection with others- may we walk alongside others to demonstrate that you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, for those who have lived in the faith of Christ and who have gone before us- may we one day join with them around your throne to proclaim that you are...Alive...Risen...Today.
Risen Lord Jesus, we offer you our prayers, trusting in the power of your resurrection, and in our faith in you saying that you are...Alive...Risen...Today.

Bible Reading - John 20:1-9

Easter Praise
Song 144 (TB 5/And above the rest)
I know that my redeemer lives
Testimonies: What is in your heart today? Easter is a journey for all of us. People like Mary Magdalene and Thomas went very much through an emotional journey as they realized that Jesus had been raised from the dead. A journey which turned their lives upside down, having suffered grief at their loss of the one who had changed their lives, and then suddenly experiencing extreme joy and renewed faith, they went from darkness to light, from death to life, from the old to new, from doubt to certainty...Do any of these words describing possible emotions in your present journey sound familiar to you? Words on PowerPoint are Sadness, Desperation, Disbelief, Confusion, Doubt, Astonishment, Wonder, Faith, Joy, Certainty, and Eagerness.

Instrumental Solo: Andrew Blyth

Bible Reading - John 20:10-20

Offering

Songsters

Easter Message 2008: Easter is over...so what now? Marta

Prayer

Songs of Fellowship 290
Jesus is Lord! Creation's voice proclaims it

Benediction
Go in the power of the risen Lord
Live, work and witness to celebrate his love
Share his joy, his life, his power,
In the name of Christ, the Risen One
Amen

MyTips on Worship Preparation - Easter Sunday

Here I am preaching at the Salvation Army in Gainsborough. I am publishing the service plan and sermon in the next few days. My daughter, home on holiday from Leicester University, took this and other photographs. This year we draped a white cloth on the cross symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus. By the foot of the cross people placed lots of yellow daffodils to contrast with the subdued atmosphere of Holy Week.

We woke up to lots of snow, but still many people were able to arrive for an 8.30 am breakfast. The children played in the snow before and after the service which began at 10 am. People were able to take daffodils away afterwards to those who couldn't come or to encourage someone.

During the testimony time a lady made us laugh a lot because she talked about this Christmas time instead of Eastertime!!! Honestly, a few flakes and the English cannot think straight! Everything comes to a halt!

Testimony time in a Salvation Army service (or meeting as we called them) is an opportunity given for anyone to, among other things, express their feelings about the ups and downs of their spiritual journey - hopefully to encourage those listening.

Palm Sunday- Worship programme

Morning Worship Meeting at Gainsborough

Pre-Meeting Music: Band

Welcome and Announcements

King from Portrait of Christ 53 by Henry Gariepy
Zechariah 9:9 This prophecy is inseparably linked with the Triumphal Entry. Hundreds of years before this event had been prophesied and the gospel writer confirms this in Matthew 21:4-5 when he says that it was a direct fulfillment of it. This short verse tells us a lot of things. Rejoice greatly... Jesus would usher in a kingdom of joy. Didn't Jesus say in John 10:10 I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The verse continues to talk about the justice, deliverance and peace he would bring. In this our first song we shall sing praises to the King of Kings.

Song 160 (TB 42/Rimington)
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Palm Sunday Prayer-Prayer Collection page 330
Reading: They Missed Him! from A Bucket of Surprises page 93

Songs of Fellowship 357
Lord Jesus Christ

Theme: Palm Sunday 2008
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday in Lent and the beginning of Holy Week! The last days of Jesus' life which we remember during Holy Week, and which end with the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, are events that begin with the arrival of Jesus at Jerusalem. Although, with hindsight, the day is tinged with sadness because Jesus died on a cross less than a week after he had entered Jerusalem. Today we nevertheless celebrate his triumphal entry into the town as he came to celebrate with everyone else the Jewish feast of Passover. The Bible describes the excitement on that particular day as great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome him hence the name Palm Sunday. It tells us that people not only spread branches on the road but even their clothing as they shouted Hosanna which means Save us now.

Band

Songs of Fellowship 728
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Testimonies: Who is this King of Kings, anyway?

Offering to be taken after this song

Bible Reading: John 12:12-19 NIV

Songs of Fellowship 400
My song is love unknown

Songsters

Bible Message: Jesus Riding into Jerusalem (John)

Prayer

Songs of Fellowship 478
Reign in me, sovereign Lord

Song 81 (TB 92/Hallelujah to the Lamb)
Hark the glad sound (with chorus of Song 57)

Benediction: Songsters

From Tragedy to Triumph! - Lent - Lucado

Here is a Lent time of worship, study and discussion and reflection...all in the space of an hour! We are currently following the course He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado, and this week we are exploring whether God can turn our tragedy into triumph, looking in particular at Jesus' burial clothing for any clues. Here follows how I led the group.

I Can Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph
God's Promise in the Burial Clothing

Welcome, Notices and Offering

The death of Christ has been called the greatest act of love ever. Why do you think that is?
Bible verse-Romans 5:8 (Discuss this verse with others in your group and think of an example where people are expected to be good before they are rewarded)

Prayers-Listen to In the stillness by The King's Singers: The Quiet Heart, Choral Essays Vol.1

Video or Transcript for week 11 where Max talks about some of the tragedies that we suffer and how they 'Clutter up our hearts with memories of bad times'. He explores Romans 8:28 (at times a controversial verse) and describes how one of the disciples of Jesus (John) hangs around faithfully during the tragic death of Jesus not realizing how much his own life would be changed as a result! (Page 231)

Quote from The Root of the Righteous by A.M.Tozer. This paragraph talks about the variety of feelings people had at the time about the crucifixion of Jesus and how they differed from Jesus' own feelings

Song 126 (TB 649/From that sacred hill)
On Calvary's tree the King of Glory languished

Bible Reading John 19:38-20:10
Factoids about the cloth. Discuss altogether what they did to the body of Jesus before burial, and what they consequently found at the empty tomb...if anything!

To reflect on your own...
Where does your focus need to be in uncertain or scary times?

• How quick are you to become despairing when all seems lost?
• What 'storm' in your life needs the touch of Jesus today?
• Who in your immediate circle of family and friends is at this very moment in the middle of a dark time? What can you do or say to help and encourage them?

Song 438 (TB 430/Blaernwern)
Love divine, all loves excelling

Final Prayer-Volunteers to read a verse each from Song 647
When shall I come unto the healing waters

Self-Denial Missionary Appeal 2008

This was the scene at the front of our hall on Sunday after everyone had brought their gift offering. It was our turn to bring a flower arrangement.

Experiencing Temptation/Resisiting Temptation - Worship Progamme

Morning Worship Meeting at Gainsborough Corps

Pre-Meeting Music: Band

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction and Theme
(Today we are having the altar service for the 2008 Missionary Appeal and the worship is based on experiencing and resisting temptation)

Experiencing Temptation

Song 17 (New arrangement) 'Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven'

(notice second line of verse 3 'well our feeble frame he knows')

Prayer

Song 101(TB 112/Margaret)
'Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown'

Offering

First Bible Reading-Mark 1:9-13

Band

Missionary Appeal 2008-Altar Service: PowerPoint presentation, Prayer and Altar Service
Country featured: Zambia

Resisting Temptation

Second Bible Reading-Matthew 4:1-11

Songsters

Message-Temptation-John

Prayer and chorus 107
To be like Jesus

Magnify 13
Great is he who's the King of kings
Said Benediction from Women's World Day Of Prayer 2008 booklet page 17

Sung Benediction: Songsters

Experiencing Temptation/Resisting Temptation - Lent

In the Christian calendar we particularly think of temptation during Lent. The dictionary says that temptation is 'an attempt to persuade or entice to do something, specially morally wrong or unwise'. If I offered you this mouldy pasta and salad I can guarantee you would not be tempted to eat it!

Experiencing Temptation
The problem with temptation as I see it is that it is subtle and usually seems harmless.It is always good to remember that temptation in itself is not a sin. It is, however, part of a crafty plan to attempt to separate us from God, inviting us to rebel and it feeds off our tendency to be self-sufficient.

Resisting Temptation
If I knew when I was going to be tempted, where, when and on what... I wonder what my daily life would be like? Would I be better prepared? I don't know, but I would probably be a nervous wreck! Knowing that Temptation can strike anywhere, anytime, specially when we are vulnerable or too sure of ourselves helps to resist. I have learned that temptation needs to be resisted immediately-when you engage with it you often give in and usually go down a harmful road. What about having a plan of your own ready to resist when temptation comes-after all you already have a sneaky feeling about what some of them are! and when they might come!

Why is the Cross such a big deal for Christians? - Lent - Lucado

On Sunday afternoons during Lent we have been looking at what happened when Jesus was crucified and why it needed to happen. To help us with this we have been using a study by Max Lucado He Chose the Nails where Max investigates what God did to win our hearts. There's so much material in each chapter that we have had to be selective in our use of material, but it is enjoyable to lead people in a relaxed and interactive style.

Last Sunday people were particularly talkative so I had to leave some things out, but we still managed a well-rounded afternoon. Here is the full programme I had planned.

I Will Love You Forever
God's Promise in the Cross

Welcome, Notices and Weekly Offering

Introducing theme:
DVD clip from The West Wing (very end of Episode 14 Season 1 where President confesses)

Song 134 (TB 14/Calvary)
Was it for me, the nails, the spear...?

Prayer

Ice breaker: Brainstorm (write on a board) these Questions..
Any unusual surnames? Do you like your own name? Have you ever had a nickname?

Video or transcript for week 10 where Max talks about whether he should correct people when they mispronounce his surname, leading gradually into God's treatment of us.

Bible Verse - 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV and The Message.

Discuss in small groups:
Symbols of other faiths seem more upbeat, like the crescent moon of Islam or the lotus blossom of Buddhism, so why does Christianity use the cross - normally a symbol of torture - to embody a movement of hope? I don't suppose you would wear an electric chair on your necklace? How do you feel about the cross as a symbol?

Discuss all together:
What did the cross mean to the disciples of Jesus?
What does the cross of Jesus mean to us today?

Quote from Max Lucado:
The cross is the intersection.The cross is where God forgave his children without lowering his standard. God put our sin on his Son and punished it there.

Bible Verse - John 3:16

Songs of Fellowship 865
Jesus Christ, I think about Your sacrifice

Theological insights into:
Death on a Cross, The Shape of the Cross and the Significance of the Cross.

CD - He Chose the Nails: The Lamb That Was Slain - Max Lucado

Bible Reading - John 19:16-19 and 25-31

Listen to or read the words of Feel the nails by Ray Boltz and Steve Millikan

Quotation by Billy Graham from Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional:
The author of Hebrews writes, Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV). Yes, consider Him. In our suffering and tribulations Jesus Himself must be our chief consideration. We must fix our eyes upon Him. He who suffered for us shows us how we are to bear our sufferings. Is this encouraging to you?

Song 115 (TB 272/Near the cross)
Jesus, keep me near the cross

Prayer

You ask...Why? Worship Programme

Morning Worship Meeting at Gainsborough Corps

Pre-meeting Music: Band

Welcome and Announcements

Song 404 (TB 404/This is why)
Would you know why I love Jesus

Prayer

Self-Denial Missionary Appeal: Pakistan
A child will pray

Happiness and Harmony 14
Yes the Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need

Bible Readings: Psalm 23 & Ruth 1: 1-7

Band

Offering

Songs of Fellowship 1105
We want to see Jesus lifted high

Testimonies:
Why do you want to see Jesus lifted high?
Why do you love him?

Songsters

Bible Message: You ask...Why?

Song 215(TB 669/His loving touch)
I've felt a new and loving touch

Benediction: Songsters

MyTips on Worship Preparation

I do this regularly in my work as a Salvation Army officer.

A joke first:
Tommy Cooper arrived at a hotel and, after the porter had carried his luggage, asked him if he wanted a tip. "Yes", said the porter, so Tommy promptly said, "Don't get married!"

I am going to do something brave here, so please be gentle with me! I am going to give you my tips on worship preparation. If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, then this will be an eye opener! I want to share with you how I come to the end result. With the publication of my sermons, I hope to publish the corresponding worship plan to help show you how important it is to me to present the whole service as a complete package. Once I know what I am going to say in the sermon then everything needs to fit in and gradually build up to a climax.


I have been doing this for a long time, but I am still learning and needing to adapt in a changing world! If you follow the blog closely you will be able to see how I do it. Please remember that each congregation is unique in likes and dislikes, age groups, and culture. For example, the first part of our morning service in Gainsborough, is accompanied by our band, and dictates to some extent the sort of hymns I have.

I have met people in my lifetime who have felt that putting a meeting together is easy, and it has shown in their boring, fragmented effort! You might put your favourite hymns in, but if they have nothing to do with what you are saying, it is not going to help people focus on what you are communicating.

Enough for now, I will give you a tip with every meeting plan I publish. If it helps you, let me know, and please share your tips, frustrations, and funny stories of which we have so many in the Salvation Army. I used to get so excited in one particular appointment when people came to the front, only to realise that they were on their way to the loo and not to the mercy seat!

You ask: Why? - Bible Message

Sunday Worship Meeting at Gainsborough Corps
Sunday 24 February 2008

Bible Readings: Psalm 23 and Ruth1:1-7

Introduction
My husband, John, has been working on our family tree. It is fascinating stuff but had I known who some of my ancestors were I might not have shown so much interest in the first place! He found madmen, murderers like John Wilkes Booth who assassinated Abraham Lincoln (sorry folks!), opera singers, composers, actors and some others whom I'd rather not mention!

Whilst on the internet I once came across another me - a Marta Ager in Sweden who is a Rotarian and a champion golfer, but of the two I suspect I am the poorer! Why?

Let me tell you about Ruth. Her story is found in the Bible – in Ruth 1.
Interestingly, her name was to find a unique place in the family tree of Jesus...
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David
(see the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1)

To put you in the picture, there was a famine during a dark time in the history of Israel so Elimelech took his wife Naomi and two sons to Moab hoping for a better future. Whilst there, Elimelech and the two sons die leaving three widows behind.

Famine over, Naomi and one of her daughters-in-law Ruth go back to Bethlehem. Their arrival causes quite a stir because Ruth, a Moabite, is beautiful but what had happened to Naomi, the beautiful and charming woman who had left ten years earlier? Although Moab was only about 30 miles away the family might as well moved a thousand because they had gone into a troubled, unfriendly land.

Naomi
Naomi had been very homesick in a place where others did not share her faith. Hardship must have shown in her face...
Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Almighty has brought misfortune upon me (Ruth 1:20-21)

Once praising, now blaming God. Once rich in spirit, now poor. Once full, now empty. Once sweet, now bitter. Naomi had lost the sparkle but she is about to re-ignited and its about to happen from an unexpected source.

Looking at this story from a different angle, I wonder how life might have turned out for the whole family had they remained in Bethlehem and seen the famine through like other families had done? But then Naomi would not had met Ruth!

Now home at last, Naomi wants to get on with a life that still includes God. In spite of her questioning, she admits God has been with her.
The Lord has not stopped showing his kindness (Ruth 2:20)

Slowly we see her good old self return and she throws herself into fully matchmaking for Ruth! In turn Ruth would be taken from the obscurity of her past into a bright fulfilled future. Then in rags, now in riches. Then in poverty, now in plenty.

Ruth
But before Ruth finds a husband, she finds God! You might not realize that before returning, Naomi discourages her daughters-in-law from coming with her but Ruth makes up her mind to set off with Naomi saying...
Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16)

Wow! What a statement. Surely you would not say this sort of thing in a hurry. Why would you leave the security of your own family, friends, culture for a strange land and a strange faith? And go with your mother-in-law? What is the attraction? Or maybe I should ask who is the attraction and why?

It seems that Naomi's life has influenced Ruth. In the middle of tragedy, frustration, hopelessness and grief Ruth has been watching her mother-in-law and seen in her something very special. Maybe Ruth could not explain it but it was there.

Ruth's great-grandson, King David wrote about his own experiences of God in Psalm 23...
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me. (verse 4)

A salvationist, Commissioner Keith Banks paraphrases these words in a song 'Contentment'...
When the way becomes darker, I will not be afraid,
For my Lord, the Good Shepherd, will be there with his aid,
He will stay close beside me every step of the way,
He will guard me and guide me to the end of the day. (verse 2)

Us
We ask Why? We all do. We ask Why often. Why famine, why disaster, suffering, sickness, etc. etc. William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, asked many questions when his own wife was dying.

In his article Difficulties he writes...
Why does God thus seem to stand off from us in those hours when we need Him most? OH, WHY! WHY! WHY!

To those of us who do not have a faith, or are just trying to make sense of it all, we might wonder why others choose to exercise a faith when it is either all made up, or at the centre is a God who is not quite as good as He should be at looking after us.

William Booth, goes on to list and explain ways in which he feels God looks after us, though we cannot see it. He says:
'Difficulties develop and strengthen and perfect that nobility of character God desires His people to possess...

Difficulties are valuable because they constitute an unfailing test of character... (God, others and ourselves find what we are made of!)

Difficulties drive men to God. Since September 11th, across the world, at a time of great trial and tribulation, the sale of Bibles, crosses and church attendances have gone up, more people are crying out to God and finding him. It seems that difficulties are still driving men and women to God.

Concluding thoughts
So, am I rich or am I poor? Financially I am not rich but spiritually I consider myself rich because I believe the rest of Psalm 23, paraphrased in the song it says...

He surrounds me with goodness, many blessings are mine,
I am rich in the knowledge of this shepherd divine,
All his unfailing kindness in my life I have known,
And I'll live with him always in his beautiful home. (verse 3)

What about you? Are you going through a situation that is making you question God? Why? Are you feeling like Naomi desperate and disappointed? I suggest you renew your relationship with God like Naomi did, and if you look around you maybe you'll find encouragement in the witness you have been to others through the years. That's how Ruth came to faith through the example of a Naomi who was going through a difficult time in her life but held on and followed closely as not to loose sight of God.

Maybe you are more like Ruth, and having watched others exercise their faith , you now need to be making the decision for yourself to accept their God as your God. Will you say...
Yes the Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need,
I rely on his kindness, I allow him to lead,
He gives rest, He gives quietness, He restores me within,
And He strengthens me daily if my life honours him. (verse 1)

Jesus asks: do you love me? - Bible Message

Sunday Worship Meeting at Gainsborough Corps
Sunday 17 February 2008

Introduction:
Next Saturday morning during the coffee morning we will be able to enjoy an all day breakfast here at the hall. Many, many years ago Jesus cooked fish and served breakfast to the disciples on the waters' edge. The Lord Jesus who had been crucified, buried and now is resurrected, appears to his disciples who were fishing.

Jesus asks Peter ...do you love me? What a question to ask Peter by a campfire when It was probably during the last three campfires that Peter had denied ever knowing Jesus. (John 18:17) Do you love me?

Last Thursday it happened to be Valentines Day, when traditionally people have tried to find out if the other person loves them, or if there might be a chance of love? Cards might have asked 'Will you be my Valentine? in other words- will you go out with me, will you spend lots of time with me, will you share my dreams...etc..etc... Do you love me?

Anecdote: Listen to this love letter:
Dearest Jimmy,
No words could ever express the great unhappiness I've felt since breaking our engagement . Please say you'll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you!
Yours forever,
Marie
P.S. And congratulations on winning the lottery.

So how do I know if I love someone? I have now been married nearly 28 years and I still couldn't tell you exactly why I love my husband. All I know is that I love him very, very much. If I said I loved him for his looks then would that be true lasting love? If I said I loved him for his money then would that see me through my entire marriage? There has to be' that something very special' which I may not be able to explain, but I most certainly know it is there!

Watch a video clip from Sense and Sensibility where they discuss true love.

Does Peter Love Jesus?
How can Jesus know if Peter really loves him? We have a situation here, there's history between Peter and Jesus. We read all about it in our Bible readings earlier on. First in John 13 from verse 34 Jesus predicts that Peter is going to deny ever knowing Jesus. Jesus knew Peter in all his weakness. He knew his impulsiveness, he knew his habit of speaking before thinking. . Jesus knew that Peter would find it very difficult to follow Jesus just now but Jesus also knew what Peter could become. Jesus knew that whatever happened Peter loved him.

What makes Jesus great, special, is that he sees the hero in the coward. Jesus can see what Peter can be and has the power to help him attain it. Verse 36: Peter asked Jesus..Lord, where are you going? (in other words what’s all this about because I want to stick with you) verse 37: Why can’t I follow you now? ..I would die for you! (in other words try me!) Jesus then predicts Peter’s denial which must have hurt Peter and embarrassed him in front of the others. How awful to be told that there's no chance of dying for Jesus is he won't be able to cope with standing up for Jesus in the first place! But that embarrassment was nothing when compared with the actual time when Peter denied ever knowing Jesus. This denial did not happened once or twice but three times!

What’s going on with Peter who reckons loves Jesus so much? There’s a couple of things we need to know here about Peter. Just after Jesus’ death the rest of the disciples have gone into hiding of some sort or another. It is Peter who in the middle of his denying knowing Jesus, is also defending him. Peter did not go into hiding. Peter did the opposite and came out of hiding and said here I am Lord.

He failed the accountability test if you like at a time when no one else was prepared to take it. And how Peter must have suffered the mocking of passers by, imitating the crow of the cock and laughing at him. Peter had to confront the reality of where he was on his journey of faith whilst Jesus was alive, and now so soon after, he has to face the reality of where he is again in regards to his faith and discipleship. Possibly for the first time in his life Peter is needing to sort out what it is going to mean to follow Jesus.

Now let us go to the breakfast- by the lake and see Jesus and Peter begin the process of re-building their relationship again. There's no doubt that Peter's denial of ever knowing Jesus will have formed a barrier, a mask between Peter and his Lord. First of all, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times. Peter gets a chance to sort out those three ghosts. Three times Peter can affirm his love for Jesus and hopefully move on. So what does 'do you love me' mean now? Do you love Jesus? like Peter did? enough to move on with him?

So how are they going to move on? Peter is trusted with a most important task! Feed my sheep! again Jesus commands Peter to do this three times: verse 15 feed my lambs..verse 16 take care of my sheep..verse 17 feed my sheep.. It seems that with his great love for Jesus came great responsibility...to love and care ..to continue the ministry of Jesus ..to help others from going into hiding, from going astray, encouraging them to follow too.

Do you love Jesus?
When Jesus asks you- do you love me? What do you answer? How do you know if you love him? I am sure there are plenty nice things you can say about Jesus which would explain why you like to be with him...but why do you love him? If you cannot say exactly why then don't worry because what really matters is that you know you have something very special and even if you cannot explain it you know its there. Do you love him? Do you have that something special about the Lord which you cannot explain but you know its there?

Following our thoughts from last Sunday morning we need to remember the importance of following Jesus because in order to follow Jesus you are going to have to remain close to him...following from a distance does not work, from a distance you loose sight. Distance and discipleship don’t go together. We cannot love and remain distant. We cannot develop intimacy from a distance. There needs to be two to tango.

Peter and Jesus move on in their relationship by putting very important things in place. If Peter had been here today I think he would have sang this very song...It is the cry of my heart to follow you..to be close to you ..all of the days of my life (Songs of Fellowship 832)..and he did it! Peter, from that very day began to follow and to follow closely..and he never regretted it. How do I know?.. because you only have to read what Peter wrote in the N.T. 1 Peter has only 5 chapters and 2 Peter has only 3 chapters.

These two books were written by a mature disciple who has come a long way, who has learnt a lot about his walk with the Lord. Knowing what we know of him makes for extremely interesting reading. What a changed man. There, you will read things that you had heard of but didn't realize Peter had said them like..'Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.'..1 Peter 5:7

Concluding thoughts...
Jesus asks you this morning ...Do you love me? What is your answer? What practical things will you and the Lord put in place to help you deepen your love for each other and enrich your relationship, your discipleship? Lets sing a song that talks very well about following closely and see how it helps you just now and in these days...Song 740..Like to a lamb who from the fold has strayed...