Attempting to summarise scripture teaching in brief verse
From right outside this universe,
and this material sphere,
came One, confusion to reverse,
with truth for us to hear,
truth that is true, unchangeable,
from One who knows, reliable.
Life-bringing message to accept
– escape from living death,
his promises he’s always kept
his words are priceless wealth:
for this world isn’t all there is
but Jesus came awhile to this!
to show us what is now amiss,
and how to find the missing bliss.
Psalm 23 – the testimony, and the offer
My Lord is the King of the universe,
a Shepherd who’s caring and true,
Protecting in dangers both subtle and fierce;
and he will be good to you too,
if you ask for his care, and will take him to be
your King and your Shepherd, his goodness you’ll see.
Green pastures around, by his Word well fed,
restoring my soul when I slide,
refreshed by still waters, in righteousness led
to honour my Teacher and Guide.
If you ask for his care, and will take him to be
your King and your Shepherd, his goodness you’ll see.
When death’s shadow is near me, I will not fear
any evil, – I travel with God.
When mortal life fails me, his power avails,
and daily his staff and his rod
rebuke me, and comfort, encourage, mature:
you too could discover this Comforter sure.
My enemies notice my feast prepared.
My joy overflows, and you too
can enjoy every day goodness, mercy, love shared,
with assurance of heaven now in view
if you ask for his care, and will take him to be
your King and your Shepherd, his goodness you’ll see.
Acts 1:1-11
Arising up and out of sight,
a cloud obscured,
angels assured
he will return as he has gone,
so go and tell and make him known,
his lordship many more will own:
for forty days he’d been supplying
abundantly full confirmation
of his astounding resurrection:
they now must wait his new empowering.
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ John 8:12
The light revealing God,
the light that shows the way
which leads from darkness, sin and death
to joy and peace today.
Christ is the one, true light
of power and purity.
The one who made the sun and stars,
can show the truth to me.
He went ahead through death,
so follow in his light;
his Spirit strengthens, and his Word
will counsel, guide aright.
Matthew 9:36-38
Harassed by the daily round,
helpless – no real respite found;
frail and wandering, foolish sheep,
no kind King to care and keep.
Jesus saw their desperate need,
felt compassion, deeply stirred.
Will you pray and intercede,
that they hear salvation’s Word?
Matthew 5:3-12
Who are blessed? Who will enter heaven?
and know God’s mercy, and be called his sons?
Who will have reward in heaven, blessed ones?
Who are really, truly happy, always blest?
Poor in spirit, humbly pray,
– begging mercy every day;
patiently your hardships bear,
and when you can be pleased to share;
count your best deeds only rags,
take Christ’s righteousness to wear,
– so be blest, and enter soon eternal rest.
Godly sorrow for your sin,
– life of faith must thus begin,
and continue in the Light,
repentant, contrite in God’s sight,
boasting only in God’s Son,
– great provision for our plight; –
so you’ll feel and know true joy and comfort real.
Meek and gentle, self-controlled,
– recompensed a hundredfold;
slow to anger, slow to speak;
forgiving, never vengeance seek;
cooling tempers with wise word,
strength is needed to be meek,
you’ll have more than passing wealth, eternal store.
Hunger, thirst for righteousness;
– pray and labour, God will bless.
Merciful and pure in heart,
and undefiled in every part;
cleansed by God through faith in Christ;
when you see a quarrel start,
making peace if possible, all strife to cease.
Persecuted for Christ’s sake,
and accused with charges fake;
so received the prophets true,
and Christ was treated that way too;
if because you own his name,
men insult, it’s nothing new:
Christ has shown how joy and blessing’s really known.
These are blessed, these will enter heaven,
and know God’s mercy, and be called his sons,
these will have reward in heaven, blessed ones,
these are really, truly happy, always blest.
Tune: ‘We’ll understand it better by and by’ Y Praise 103
Revelation chapter 5
Who is worthy to fulfil the Father’s plan?
The Lion, Lamb, Messiah, Son of Man,
who had authority to rule, reveal, redeem,
and love to leave the throne, as Substitute be slain:
he bought us, by his blood, from darkness, death,
to God, from every corner of the earth,
to serve him in his kingdom: so we’ll bring
eternal worship to our Saviour-King.
The Creator has spoken, and truth can be read,
so we should believe all the things he has said:
the promises trust,
of him who is just.
The Creator has come, and the words can be read,
of witnesses telling he rose from the dead:
our faith is in him,
forgiveness of sin.
Just once he showed his awesome majesty,
unveiling of his shining deity;
with Moses talked of what he’d soon fulfil
– the sacrificial Lamb would let them kill
himself: as Rescuer soon he would depart,
and lead to freedom, blessings great impart.
The Father spoke from heaven, awesome sound,
– announcement of the Son’s authority,
acknowledging his full divinity,
– one greater than Elijah here was found,
whom we should listen to attentively
our Maker, Saviour heed delightedly.
Matthew 17:1-13
Tune: 10 10 10 10 10 1 0 eg Finlandia by Sibelius (tune of ‘Be still my soul, the Lord is on Thy side’)
or Yorkshire by John Wainwright (tune of ‘Christians awake, salute the happy morn’)
Simeon
Acknowledged just, and to his God
devoted, – Spirit holy
upon him – in his heart indwelling
(communing, teaching, and compelling);
so for Messiah’s coming waiting:
fulfilling occupation of all his latter days.
Anna
Anna, serving night and day,
gave her final years to pray;
saw and told of Mary’s son:
longed-for Saviour now had come.
You must be logged in to post a comment.