Hymn 51 – Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,
You are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,
glorious in holiness, full of love and compassion,
abundant in grace and truth:
all your works praise you in all places of your rule.
You have revealed your glory in Jesus Christ your Son,
and so we praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, blessed forever.

Lord God, have mercy on us,
blot out our transgressions
according to your loving kindness,
and the multitude of your tender mercies.
Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities,
and cleanse us from our sins.
Create in us a clean heart,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Guide us with your presence,
and help us with your Holy Spirit.

O God our redeemer,
you heard the cry of your people,
and sent your servant Moses
to lead them out of slavery.
Free us from the tyranny of sin and death,
and by the leading of your Spirit
bring us to our promised land;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

Reading – Philippians 3:1-11 (NIV)

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. ² Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. ³ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

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 – ‘Knowing the value of knowing Christ’ (Philippians 3:7-11)

Hymn 485 – All I once held dear (Knowing you, Jesus)

Final Prayer

May the grace if the Lord Jesus Christ
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore.

Amen

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Downloads & Links

• Joseph Reading Plan
• ‘Knowing the value of knowing Christ’ Sermon MP3