Call to Worship
"Do not be afraid; The Lord your God is strong with His mighty arm, When you call on His name." He will come and save.
Song: Praise to the Lord the almighty the King of creation
Prayers
Lord Jesus Christ, you show us the way - the risky way which you took.
The way which challenges all that is evil and destructive. We confess that too often we choose the easy and non-threatening way which allows evil to
triumph and denies people the opportunity to live an abundant life.
Forgive us, Lord, when we lose direction and so fail to follow your way.
Silent reflection
Lord Jesus Christ, you speak the word of truth which brings good news to the poor, freedom to those who are oppressed and enslaved, and healing to those whose lives lack wholeness. We confess that too often our minds are swayed by the media's 'truth' which can be so contrary to the gospel.
Forgive us, Lord, when our lives deny the truth of your words and your deeds.
Silent reflection
Lord Jesus Christ, you give us the gift of life - emptying yourself of all
self-serving power in order to empower others with your beautiful life and
selfless love. We confess that we like to use power to further our own
purposes, even if it contributes to the powerlessness of others.
Forgive us, Lord, when our desire for power and status is stronger than our desire to make your life visible through us.
Silent reflection
Lord Jesus Christ, remind us that...
the landscape of God's grace becomes clearer when we follow your way.
the sound of God's voice is easier to hear when our lives speak your truth
the heartbeat of God's love throbs within us when our lives bear witness
to your life. Amen
Song Jesus - be the Centre (On flute)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you might proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2: 9,10.
Notices and Offering
Setting the Scene:
Our God is a great big God. (Tape)
Setting the scene: Higher than a sky scraper!
Song: In Christ alone
(Children leave)
Bible Readings:
John 14: 1-14; Yvonne P
Acts 7: 55-60 Robert Mackay
Hymn: O God our help in ages past
Talk:
Rembrandt - Stephen
Stephen stands and looks into heaven - at the point of near death - as his persecutors take up their stones to bring about his demise, Stephen sees the glory of heaven with almighty God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
At a moment of desperate faith - Stephen turns his eyes heavenward and sees God.
Wow! Here is a near death experience that is shared with us, no mystery here - Stephen speaks out and in these moments before Stephen dies he has the courage and heart to share with us his real experiences.
Here we see exercised faith in a desperate place - when there was no where else to turn, no one else at hand, Stephen turns to God, and God assures him of his rich presence and peace. Please note; Stephen is not rescued from this situation - No chariot of fire for him, no angels accompanying him as he ascends from their sight, but before he is stoned to death (Gruesome!) - the God who he turns to is right there for him.
Helpless
Think for a moment of times of real desperation on your life? What are those times? Have you had those times when you have felt so desperate that you have felt real helplessness?
(Talk in twos and threes together) If you have not known these times personally, talk about those stories where someone has known desperation, and where they have turned.
There are issues here about faith in desperate places. Stephen paints us a picture of turning to God when there was no where else to turn, of a person of faith who had a living relationship with God, who knew the certainly of the words of Jesus about the many mansions in his fathers house - he was confident, he was sure.
Taking God to work
Stephen had faith in his working life - as he works as a waiter for the Lord's people - he had this faith. Who would have thought that being a waiter could be so dangerous? One might expect impatient customers, lousy tips and long hours, these things come with the territory. But death by stoning - such dire consequences? Surely not.?
It has been said that in recent years there has been an increase in church attendance and in gun purchases -- an odd juxtaposition of behaviours. We seem to believe in a God who will preserve our future beyond the grave, but we worry that God may not be all we need. We find it hard to affirm with the psalmist, "My times are in your hand," when the times are so dark and frightening. And so we feel tempted, compelled, to take matters into our own hands.
Who touched me
Yet we believe in a God who is in those desperate places, a God who meets us at our points of need. Think for a moment about the life of Christ - he met people at there point of need - at the place of helplessness and despair - Christ comes.
To the lonely Lazarus up the tree
To the woman bleeding for years and years
To the Blind man who can't get into the pool
To the grieving family taking their son out to be buried
To the man unable to enter the pool at Bethseda
To the fellow crucified men on the cross
Jesus comes at those times of desperation and reaches out with his love, compassion and grace.
So - we need to know for ourselves that when we are in those times of desperation - our faith is what we have. And it is faith that maybe will not rescue us from all evil, but it is faith that will keep us sure and true. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil" (No rescue, but presence)
Dejected
Let us reflect for a moment - at times of lostness and loneliness, times of defeat and dejection - God is with us, our faith is real then. (Last week, last year - things you are fearing)
Ok - so we are the people of God, where then do we - does the church, bring faith to life where people live in desperation and fear? How do we engage our faith to a city where there is so much homelessness, racism, drug addicts, domestic violence, debt, asylum issues? How does our faith bring hope where people are in places of real despair?
Homeless couple
Today is our last evening to host the Night Shelter, before they move into their permanent residence. This has been an area where faith has indeed engaged with desperation, where the ministry of grace has been exercised by faith. We thank God for this work, and the chance to engage faith and culture in this way. We continue our support for night shelter as we serve them in their new place, yet I challenge myself and each of us to find new ways to bring this hope and faith to those in despair.
Peace and Calm
As Stephen looks up to Heaven - he received such peace and calm - as he stood before his persecutors, Luke tells us he had the face of an angel (Acts 6:15) this is the difference faith made to Stephen - peace , calm, confidence, clarify.
There are people this morning not a thousand miles from this building, who know desperate times, and have no faith. There are people who we know who when the going gets tough do not know where to turn. There are people who we will meet tomorrow who feel the church has nothing to offer to them whatsoever.
The challenge is ours - we have a faith that the scripture tells us can transform the desperate place into a place of hope and blessings. Where are those places? How can we work together to see the transformation?
Ratzinger2
On the eve of the crowing of the new Pope, the world is left in a dilemma of faith and practice. With the Aids pandemic wiping out huge number of people in Africa and the developing world, it could be argued that issues of faith are not bringing hope and blessings, but adding to the grief and suffering, as many turn their back on common sense to support a faith that does not always engage with the real issue. Cardinal Ratzinger as he becomes Pope Benedict the 16th faces this dilemma. Practical workings of faith can make a difference in this situation, the radical cry goes out that he will be brave enough to change their views on contraception in the light of HIV Aids, but the feeling is that is not going to happen.
Our presentation of faith should never lead us to deny transformation and hope. Faith should always speak of new life and blessing.
Hope
Stephen's faith brought him hope - I believe faith should always bring you hope in desperate times. Does your faith bring you hope?
Stephen's faith brought him strength - I believe faith should build us up when we are at our weakest point. Does your faith give your strength?
Stephen's faith brought him courage. I believe faith should give us courage to carry on even when the journey is a lonely one. Does your faith give you courage?
Jesus says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
In John 14 we have a reading often used at funerals - a reading of faith, hope, strength and promise.
It is the very heart of the Christian gospel - the mansion, the rooms, made ready, and in the middle of it all is Jesus himself - showing us the way, telling us the truth, revealing to us the light. The way when we are lost and confused, the truth when we are surrounded by lies and falsehood, the light when the desperate places appear so dark and depressing.
Stephen knew this - do we know this for ourselves? Do we know this to share with others? Do we live by this faith and attempt to put it into practice day by day?
Ask me about God
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labours increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
Intersesions
Hymn: Stand up stand up for Jesus
Benediction:
Know the blessing of God's strength within you,
the life of Jesus Christ directing you
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit empowering you.