14th January 2024
Prepared by Rev. Saul Tadzaushe
Called To Be The Salt and the light of the world.
Call to worship : Isaiah 69:1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul
Hymn STF170 – Darkness like a shroud
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Darkness Like A Shroud Covers The Earth;
Evil Like A Cloud Covers The People.
But The Lord Will Rise Upon You,
And His Glory Will Appear On You-
Nations Will Come To Your Light.
Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come,
The Glory Of The Lord Has Risen On You!
Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come,
Jesus The Light Of The World Has Come.
Children Of The Light, Be Clean And Pure.
Rise, You Sleepers, Christ Will Shine On You.
Take The Spirit’s Flashing Two-Edged Sword
And With Faith Declare God’s Mighty Word;
Stand Up And In His Strength Be Strong.
Arise, Shine ….
Here Among Us Now, Christ The Light
Kindles Brighter Flames In Our Trembling Hearts.
Living Word, Our Lamb, Come Guide Our Feet
As We Walk As One In Light And Peace,
Till Justice And Truth Shine Like The Sun.
Arise, Shine ….
Like A City Bright So Let Us Blaze;
Lights In Every Street Turning Night To Day.
And The Darkness Shall Not Overcome
Till The Fulness Of Christ’s Kingdom Comes,
Dawning To God’s Eternal Day.
Arise, Shine ….
1985 Thankyou Music – Graham Kendrick
Prayer
Light of the World, you shine light into our dark and sinful world. I ask you to continue to be a guiding light for me and others. I also pray that you overflow joy in us your people in such away that we a light to others. Guide us your church and equip us to influence or impact the World for your glory and your kingdom. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer : Our Father who art in Heaven ….
Hymn STF59 – Shine Jesus Shine
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Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence
From the shadows into Your radiance
By the blood, I may enter Your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine, …
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness
Ever-changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine, …
Graham A. Kendrick Shine Jesus Shine lyrics © Make Way Music
Bible Reading Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Sermon :
Theme: Called To Be The Salt and the light of the world.
The condition of the world.
1 Corruption 2 Wars 3 Poverty and suffering 4 selfishness 5 social injustice
The church is called up to influence or impact the world. Global influence or impact as the salt and the light from God to the world. Jesus says l am the light. And gave the church the mandate to be salt and light in the world.
The mandate of the Christians is to transform the world through their changed or transformed lives.
It is only a changed person who can change his or her surrounding.
Both the salt and the light are needed to sustain life.
We need salt in our bodies, We need light in our bodies, We need salt and light for our spiritual life
Both salt and light are needed to purify and heal the world.
We need to be purified of our sins, We need to be healed of broken relationships.
Both the salt and the light are needed penetrate and preserve our cultures and systems.
We are not called to be passive and silent when things are going wrong.
If the house is dark at night. The question is where is the light?
If the meat is getting bad . The question is where is the salt?
NB If the world is losing flavour ,peace ,joy hope ,love and social justice. The question is where is the church? Where are the Christians?
May the grace of God equip us to be relevant to the world for Global influence or impact. To be the salt and the light of the world. Amen
Hymn STF106 – God whose almighty word
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God, whose almighty word,
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight:
hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the gospel-day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light.
Christ, who once came to bring
on your redeeming wing
healing and sight,
health to the sick in mind,
sight with illlusions blind:
now to all humankind
let there be light.
Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving, holy dove,
speed forth your flight;
move o’er the water’s face,
bearing the lamp of grace
and in earth’s darkest place
let there be light.
Holy and blessed Three,
glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might,
boundless as ocean’s tide
rolling in fullest pride
through the earth, far and wide,
let there be light
Prayer: Reading of Hymn STF707 as our prayer .
Make me a channel of your peace, Where there is hatred let me bring your love, Where there is injury, your pardon Lord, And where there is doubt true faith in You.
Make me a channel of your peace, Where there is despair in life let me bring hope, Where there is darkness only light, And where there’s sadness ever joy.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek, So much to be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, It is in giving to all men that we receive, And in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen
Dismissal.