Sunday 13th August 2023
Prepared by Rev Saul Tadzaushe
Why Doubting Now?

Call to worship : PSALM 105:1-4
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Hymn – STF21 – Born in song
Watch on YouTube

Born in song!
God’s people have always been singing.
Born in song!
Hearts and voices raised.
So today we worship together;
God alone is worthy to be praised.

Praise to God!
For he is the one who has made us.
Praise to God!
We his image bear.
Heaven and earth are full of his glory;
let creation praise him everywhere.

Christ is King!
He left all the glory of heaven.
Christ is King!
Born to share in our pain;
crucified, for sinners atoning,
risen, exalted, soon to come again.

Sing the song!
God’s Spirit is poured out among us.
Sing the song!
He has made us anew.
Every member part of the Body;
given his power, his will to seek and do.

Tell the world!
All power to Jesus is given.
Tell the world!
He is with us always.
Spread the word, that all may receive him;
every tongue confess and sing his praise.

Then the end!
Christ Jesus shall reign in his glory.
Then the end
of all earthly days.
Yet above the song will continue;
all his people still shall sing his praise.

Brian Hoare (born 1935) © Brian Hoare/Jubilate Hymns Ltd

A prayer of adoration and confession:

God of the universe, Lord of eternity, you speak in signs and  ,whispers in the silence, the promptings of conscience, the joy of the heart: WE PRAISE YOU.

God of all people, Lord of all humanity, you approach us in the dramas of history, the detail of our everyday hopes for our families and friends, the peace of communion. WE PRAISE YOU.

God of all ages, Lord of the church, You renew us through the resurrection of Jesus, the spirit’s life outpoured, dreams of justice and freedom, and the power of prayer: WE PRAISE YOU

Lord, forgive our selfish ways and help us to love. Amen.

Hymn – STF114  Oh the life of the world is joy
Accompaniment on YouTube

Oh the life of the world is a joy and a treasure,
unfolding in beauty the green-growing tree,
the changing of seasons in mountain and valley
the stars and the bright restless sea.

Oh the life of the world is a fountain of goodness
overflowing in labour and passion and pain,
in the sound of the city and the silence of wisdom,
in the birth of a child once again.

Oh the life of the world is the source of our healing.
It rises in laughter and wells up in song;
it springs from the care of the poor and the broken
and refreshes where justice is strong.

So give thanks for the life and give love to the Maker
and rejoice in the gift of the bright risen Son.
And walk in the peace and power of the Spirit
till the days of our living are done.

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22 – 33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Sermon

We all doubt when we lack knowledge and Theme: Why Doubting now?

understanding on how things work. As believers or Christians, we doubt when we lack faith in Jesus Christ.

We all have testimonies when we doubted something because of fear, lack of knowledge and understanding.

My testimony: On my first two weeks in UK in Woodbridge, I was afraid to go anywhere alone. I doubted very much whether I was able to come back home safely. I was afraid to get lost, I was afraid of making mistakes especially with driving. I really thank Stephen and some of you who helped me to be settled. I can now drive freely without fear, doubt or anxiety. We all need knowledge, understanding and wisdom to be able to deal with situations in life. As believers we need faith to be able to overcome fear and doubt.

Peter had the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He lacked the understanding of Christ divinity. Hence, he had little faith at times.

Peter saw Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus’s teachings about the kingdom of God, the miracles of Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:4———–

Peter knew very well the assignment they were given by Jesus Christ as the disciples Matthew 10:5 ———–

Just like you and I, Peter doubted Jesus Christ when he was in crisis.

Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focussed on the high waves around him. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without looking to Jesus for help, we too may despair and sink. Whatever the situation may be keep your eyes on Jesus’s power rather than on your inadequacies and limitations.

Survival skills are good, but we should always remember that they have their limitations.

Science is very important but can also have its limitations.

Matthew 14: 27 -30

Why Peter sinking when he started well? The problem was not the storm. The problem was in Peter forgetting what the Lord had done before.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.He does not change. With God all things are possible. Our God can deal

with any situation. Let us put our faith in Him. Amen.

Hymn – STF148 Come, let us with our Lord arise
Watch on YouTube

COME, let us with our Lord arise,
Our Lord, who made both earth and skies;
Who died to save the world he made,
And rose triumphant from the dead;
He rose, the Prince of life and peace,
And stamped the day for ever his.

This is the day the Lord hath made,
That all may see his love displayed,
May feel his resurrection’s power,
And rise again to fall no more,
In perfect righteousness renewed,
And filled with all the life of God.

Then let us render him his own,
With solemn prayer approach the throne,
With meekness hear the gospel-word,
With thanks his dying love record;
Our joyful hearts and voices raise,
And fill his courts with songs of praise.

Honour and praise to Jesus pay
Throughout his consecrated day;
Be all in Jesu’s praise employed,
Nor leave a single moment void;
With utmost care the time improve,
And only breathe his praise and love.

Dismissal: Oh God who calls us to follow in the way of Jesus: Let us go out with joy into the world. Let us share your love with those we meet, let us serve the peoples with humility, let us live with your blessing. Amen.