Today's Service: 28 February
Leader: Derek Jackson
This is best viewed in Landscape orientation
You will appreciate the sound better if you use earphones or an external loudspeaker, whatever type of device you view on.
Invocation -
Psalm 46: 1 - 11:
46 God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; 3 even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence. 4 There is a river that brings joy to the city of God, to the sacred house of the Most High. 5 God is in that city, and it will never be destroyed; at early dawn he will come to its aid. 6 Nations are terrified, kingdoms are shaken; God thunders, and the earth dissolves. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8 Come and see what the LORD has done. See what amazing things he has done on earth. 9 He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire. 10 “Stop fighting,” he says, “and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world.” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Hymn 289: To God be the glory
tune of the same name, with Intro.
1. To God be the glory, great things he has done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
Who yielded his life in atonement for sin,
Who opened the life-gate that all may go in:
Chorus:
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son;
And give him the glory-great things he has done!
2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God!
And every offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives:
Chorus
3. Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
The wonder, the beauty, when Jesus we see:
Chorus
Frances Jane van Alstyne (Fanny Crosby) (1820-1915)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, the Psalmist encourages us to be still and know that you are God. For a few quiet moments in this early part of our service we would simply be lost in wonder, love and praise. You are almighty, all knowing, all seeing, all powerful and known to us as our ever present friend. It is with hearts filled with love and gratitude that we bow in spirit to once again offer our worship, praise and adoration as we acknowledge your presence with us. It never ceases to amaze us, that unworthy as we think ourselves to be, your love continues to embrace us, find us acceptable and welcome to come before you.
Your words are inspirational, your ways perfect and we are encouraged to know that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You have not lost your ability to do amazing things and we gain confidence from the assurance we find in your faithfulness to the promises that you make.
Forgive us that our words are not always as your words and our ways often not the ways that you would have us choose. There is no hiding our sin from you and we ask for your mercy in your dealings with us. Convict us of those things for which we need to repent and lead us to that place of forgiveness and reconciliation. May we be all that you want us to be and assured that our sins have indeed been forgiven. We offer our prayer in and through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.
Hymn (Hymns & Psalms 223): I will sing the wondrous story
tune: Hyfrydol, with Intro.
1. I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me;
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
Chorus:
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
2. I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Raised me up and gently led me,
Back into the narrow way.
Chorus
3. Faint was I, and fears possessed me,
Bruised was I from many a fall;
Hop was gone, and shame distressed me,
But His love has pardoned all.
Chorus
4. Days of darkness still come o’er me,
Sorrow’s paths I often tread,
But the Saviour still is with me;
By His hand I’m safely led.
Chorus
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Chorus
Francis H. Rowley, 1886 (1854-1952)
alt. By Ira D. Sankey 1887
Romans 10: 1 - 10
10 My friends, how I wish with all my heart that my own people might be saved! How I pray to God for them! 2 I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge. 3 They have not known the way in which God puts people right with himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God's way of putting people right. 4 For Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who believes is put right with God.
Salvation Is for All
5 Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the Law: “Whoever obeys the commands of the Law will live.” 6 But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this: “You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down). 7 “Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below?” (that is, to bring Christ up from death). 8 What it says is this: “God's message is near you, on your lips and in your heart”—that is, the message of faith that we preach. 9 If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 10 For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.
John 3: 1 - 16
Jesus and Nicodemus 3 There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. 2 One night he went to Jesus and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him.”
3 Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.”
4 “How can a grown man be born again?” Nicodemus asked. “He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!”
5 “I am telling you the truth,” replied Jesus, “that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 A person is born physically of human parents, but is born spiritually of the Spirit.
7 Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again. 8 The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” asked Nicodemus.
10 Jesus answered, “You are a great teacher in Israel, and you don't know this? 11 I am telling you the truth: we speak of what we know and report what we have seen, yet none of you is willing to accept our message. 12 You do not believe me when I tell you about the things of this world; how will you ever believe me, then, when I tell you about the things of heaven? 13 And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven.”[c]
14 As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
Hymn MP 181: God forgave my sin
tune: Freely freely, with Intro.
1. God forgave my sin in Jesus' name;
I've been born again in Jesus' name,
and in Jesis name I come to you
to share His love as He told me to.
Chorus:
He said:
'Freely, freely you have received,
freely, freely give;
go in My name
and because you believe,
others will know that I live'
2. All power is given in Jesus' name
in earth and heaven in Jesus' name;
and in Jesus' name I come to you
to share his power as he told me to.
Chorus
Carol Owens (1931 - )
Sermon
Our journey through Lent is the consequence of the unwillingness of Adam and Eve to listen and positively respond to the word of God and the will of God as he spoke to them in the Garden of Eden. An unintended separation occurred and blood sacrifices as recorded in The Old Testament were a symbolic way of providing access into the presence of God. Symbolic is what they were but in no way could they restore the broken relationship that had taken place.
Moving on hundreds if not thousands of years we see something of the ingenuity of God who in the fullness of time sent forth His son which is the cornerstone of our Christmas celebrations. It reminds us that the timing of God is perfect. He knows what to do and when to do it which is an encouragement for us in the face of life's demands and difficulties. There are circumstances when we all need to know and be reminded that God is still in control, which is reassuring, especially in times such as these when the pandemic has impacted upon the lives of people the world over.
Christmas is the prelude to the events that would follow and leads us to the most distressing and challenging of the Christian festivals before taking us to the greatest and most wonderful celebration of the resurrection of the crucified Christ. What an incredible story Christians have to tell.
But who or what is a Christian? How can they be defined? Some would say that they are people who go to church (normally) , read their Bibles and say their prayers. They are kind and generous not given to swearing or taking the Lord's name in vain. A Christian would be expected to be slow to anger, patient with lots of grace and humility all of which are realistic expectations of what Christianity is all about. The truth is that you can be doing all of the things, that are so described, without actually being a Christian. John Wesley in one of his sermons referred to it as being "Almost a Christian" not quite there so to speak. They may well be the expected evidence of a Christian life but are not what makes a person a Christian.
The concept of what a Christian really is can be found in our Bibles. John chapter three verse sixteen is often called the gospel in a nutshell. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". Believing in Jesus is fundamental to becoming and being a Christian. Belief in the reality of Jesus should not be difficult for anyone because there is more than sufficient historical evidence to substantiate his existence and amazing acts. Faith only becomes necessary when there is a lack of proof..
Now I must confess that I am not comfortable with the expression "Born Again Christian." To many it conjures up a picture of over exuberance and may not be particularly helpful. Our reading of the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus suggests that there is no way that a person can become a Christian except by being born again. "Unless a person is born again they cannot see the kingdom of God. Most assuredly unless one is born of the water and the Spirit they cannot enter The Kingdom of God". In other words you are either a Christian or not a Christian and in order to be one you have to be born again. It follows that being a born again believer becomes superfluous to the definition because there is no other kind of Christian. The manner in which a person comes to faith varies tremendously but if scripture is to be believed it is a necessity to be born again.
For the non believer the next question is how do you go about it? Rev. David Watson an Anglican vicar took over responsibility for St. Michael le Belfry church in York at a time when the church was almost defunct but it was revitalised by his ministry. At a conference I attended some years ago he gave a compelling description of how to become a Christian based on the ABCD of the alphabet.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO ADMIT (A)
The fact of sin. Romans 3 vs. 23 "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
It is a text supported by Romans 5vs. 19, 6 vs.23 and Isaiah 59 vs.2. There is no escaping the honesty needed to admit our imperfections and the need to seek to improve. God knows us warts and all which means we have indeed to be honest with Him.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BELIEVE (B)
Christ died for you. Isaiah 53 vs.5-6. "All we have gone astray, we have turned, every one to their
Own way and The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" confirmed in The New Testament at 1 Peter 3 vs. 18. So often we hear the phrase that Jesus died for us but his death was more than that. When He cried out from the cross "My God My God why have you forsaken me" it was the only moment in His life when he was separated from His father and in that moment he took upon himself the sins of humankind including yours and mine. What a Saviour!
THERE IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER (C)
Christ must come first in our lives. Mark 8 vs. 34-38. "Whoever desires to come after me let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me". CT Studd a famous cricketer turned missionary, of many years ago, when responding to the call of God said " If Jesus Christ be God and died for me no sacrifice is too great for me to make for him." Christianity is not always an easy journey and whilst in one sense it costs nothing to become a Christian in another it costs everything and we do well to reflect on the price to be paid before embarking on this journey.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO DO (D)
Ask Christ into your life. Revelation 3 vs. 20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and dine with them and them with me." complemented by John 1 vs.12. God does not impose himself upon anyone but will always respond to an invitation to share our lives with Him. He comes by invitation not compulsion and the choice is ours.
Christians are expected to be able to give an account of the faith that they hold and, as and when the opportunity presents itself, to be able to help others to come into an experience of Christ as their own personal Saviour and Lord. The Christian belief is in a resurrected Saviour and Lord with whom we share the whole of our lives and the coming Easter celebrations will remind us of this and encourage us once again to be confident in the fact that we serve a risen Saviour. In order to be Christians we have to be born again and may Christ our Lord help us to live this new life well for Him and His glory. Amen
Prayer
Loving Lord as we see the new life of crocuses and snowdrops springing from the ground we rejoice in the signs of Spring and give thanks that once again your faithfulness is in evidence.
Thank you for the wonder of creation in its rich variety and the amazing Universe that stretches our imagination, especially when we read of the Mars probe Perseverance landing on that planet and sending such clear pictures back to earth. We are witnesses to remarkable events and we appreciate how privileged we are. Thank you Lord.
Your gifts to us are countless and we value our homes and families, particularly our church family, in this time of Lockdown. The success of the vaccination programme is encouraging and we are grateful that you have heard and answered the prayers of your people in responding to the challenges that have been faced during this pandemic. May governments work together to address the international problems that have arisen as a result of this virus and we ask that the poorer nations will receive the support that is needed in these difficult days.
Please bless all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones and may they find the comfort of your love and the compassion and prayers of those around them. We pray too for all whose lives have been adversely affected by the financial implications of this situation, for those whose businesses are in jeopardy and those whose employment is no longer secure. May ways be found to overcome these challenges and Your wisdom brought to bear, in such a way, that a better and more caring world will be a consequence of these events.
Father we pray for ourselves and our families. Please keep us safe, prayerful and compassionate that, as we are able, we will truly represent Your church and Your Kingdom well in this needy world. Our prayers we offer in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Hymn 367: I want to walk with Jesus Christ
tune: Helvetia, NO Intro.
1. I want to walk with Jesus Christ
all the days I live of this life on earth
to give to him complete control
of body, mind and soul
Chorus:
Follow Him, follow Him, yield your life to Him
he has conquered death, He is King of kings.
Accept the joy which He gives to those
who yield their lives to Him.
2. I want to learn to speak to Him,
to pray to Him, confess my sin,
to open my life and let Him in.
for joy will then be mine:
Chorus
3. I want to learn to read His word,
for this is how I know the way,
to live my life as pleases Him.
in holiness and joy:
Chorus
4. I want to learn to speak of Him;
my life must show that he lives in me,
my deeds, my thoughts, my words must speak
of all His love for me.
Chorus
5. O Holy Spirit of the Lord,
enter now into this heart of mine,
take full control of my selfish will
and make me wholly thine:
Chorus
Clive Simmonds (b. 1942)
Benediction
May the love of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be with us those we love and those we ought to love now and forever. Amen
Next week, the service will be led by Dorothy Thomson
Don't forget the live streamed hymns on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. from Zöe (via Facebook)
These are available to view later as well. (via YouTube, for those without Facebook, and also Facebook)
The streamings are a great success - well done, Zöe!
The recorded streamings are now, thanks to Harry Marshall, available to all on YouTube - search for 'Northgate URC Darlington'.
Ask Harry to invite you to the Northgate Facebook Group 
and you will get a notification of the live stream.
- Or you can just search for 'Northgate URC Darlington' in Facebook.
The URC denominational church audio Services (podcasts) at https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ are excellent, with well-delivered prayers and readings using a selection of voices and well-presented hymns.
Do give these a try - they are excellent.
(Just start the sound playing and scroll down to the written words)
Why not put the time aside for Zoe at 10:45, our preacher's service after that and follow up with the podcast - you will feel as if you had been IN church, as well as WITH church.