Printed Service – Sunday 1st February 2026
Prepared by Rev Saul Tadzaushe
“The Church We Want”
Call to worship Psalm 14:1-9 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Hymn STF228 Hail to the Lord’s anointed
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Hail to the Lord’s Anointed,
Great David’s greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.
He shall come down like showers
Upon the fruitful earth;
And love, joy, hope, like flowers,
Spring in His path to birth:
Before Him on the mountains
Shall peace, the herald, go;
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.
Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing;
For He shall have dominion
O’er river, sea, and shore,
Far as the eagle’s pinion,
Or dove’s light wing can soar.
To Him shall prayer unceasing
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end.
The mountain dews shall nourish
A seed in weakness sown,
Whose fruit shall spread and flourish,
And shake like Lebanon.
O’er every foe victorious
He on His throne shall rest,
From age to age more glorious,
All-blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand forever,
His changeless Name of Love.
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.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 : For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
“The Church We Want.”
As human beings, endowed by God with free will, we find ourselves making choices daily, some simple, some significant. Yet, amidst it all, we are reminded of the divine calling bestowed upon each one of us to build a church not shaped by personal desires but by God’s purpose.
Let me take this opportunity to invite you to write something you think should be part of the church we want. The picture is of Paul writing, responding to the division of the church in Corinth.
The Apostle Paul addressed a similar challenge with the church in Corinth—a city vibrant and diverse, much like our own communities today. Division had crept into their midst, grounded in opinions about who among them was better or more favoured. Paul, in his wisdom, encourages the Corinthians to rise above these divisions.
1. The Calling of Individuals and the Church : Paul opens his letter with a powerful reminder that our calling is not one of division but of unity in Christ. As members of one body, we are called to reflect God’s grace to the world. We are all under one Lord Jesus Christ, one hope, one baptism and one kingdom of God.
2. Leadership and Unity in Christ : Paul writes about himself, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ, not to elevate any one person’s ministry above another but to centre our focus on Christ alone. Unity does not mean uniformity; it means celebrating diversity and justice while being united in our purpose—serving Christ.
3. The Power of the Cross – Picture Jesus Christ on the cross : In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul speaks of the cross: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” In the world’s eyes, the cross might seem weak, but in God’s wisdom, it is mighty and transformative.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” It is through Christ—His life, death, and resurrection—that we gain our wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
Boasting Only in the Lord : As it is written, “Let those who boast, boast in the Lord.” Our identity, worth, and unity are found in Him alone, not in human achievements .The church is only the church when it services the communities.
Building the Church God Wants : It is crucial that we seek to build the church according to God’s will, guided by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit, alongside the Father and Jesus, reveals all things and equips us for this purpose.
In the words of John Wesley, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can.” This speaks to our calling to serve one another and embrace the community we form together in Christ’s love. A divided church is a broken church.
Let us pray for the wisdom and courage to be the Church that God desires. May we find unity in our diversity and strength in our shared faith journey. Help us in building the families you want, the churches you want, the country you want and world you want today .In Jesus Christ Our Lord we pray. Amen.
Hymn STF548 Blessed Assurance
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Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love. [Refrain]
Blessings. With best wishes and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rev Saul Tadzaushe.