Hymn 98 – The King of Love my Shepherd is

Opening Prayer

Worthy are you, O God,
to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength,
and honour, and glory, and blessing!
Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.
We bless you, O Lord our God,
that nothing can ever separate us
from your love in Christ Jesus;
that in tribulation and distress and in all that may afflict us
we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Praise and glory to be given to you by all your creatures.

God of grace,
you have searched us and known us,
and are acquainted with all our ways;
you know our foolishness,
and our sins are not hidden from you.
If you, O Lord, should count our iniquities,
who would be able to stand?
But you are gracious, patient,
and overflowing in mercy,
forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.

Merciful Father,
you have said,
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you’
and you have given your Son
to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world;
let your pardoning mercy free us from our guilt.
Cleanse us from secret faults;
keep back your servants from presumptuous sins;
restore to us the joy of your salvation,
and lift us in your love.

Almighty God,
in your grace
you adopted us for your own.
Stir your Spirit within us,
that we, being renewed both in body and mind,
may worship you in sincerity and truth
and serve you with thankfulness of heart;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Reading – Philippians 2:14-30 (NIV)

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Sermon – How to Shine (Philippians 2:14-16)

Hymn 621 – Lord the Light of you Love (Shine, Jesus Shine)

Final Prayer

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
the love of God
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all, evermore,

Amen

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Downloads & Links

• Colossians Reading Plan
• ‘How to Shine’ Sermon MP3