Prepared by Pastor Dave Chuck
SUNDAY SERVICE – 27th September 2026
Introit - Psalm 25:4-7 - New International Version – UK - Of David -- 4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.
We will sing together Verse 1 only - Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (StF 465).
Introduction - welcome the congregation – We welcome all present and think of those unable to join us today. May this service bless and encourage you.
Together we will sing our first Hymn - Rock of Ages, cleft for me (StF 434)
OT - New International Version – UK - Water from the rock -17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, travelling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses replied, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?’ 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?’ 4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’5 The Lord answered Moses, ‘Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested the Lord saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ Talk 1 - "Voltaire quipped that we ought to judge a person by his questions rather than his answers." Pastor W. E. Sangster once shared a story from his youth - he went on vacation with a group of friends and quickly spent all of the pocket money his parents had given him. Desperate for more, he wrote home and asked his father to send funds. His father did not reply. Days passed with no letter and no money. His companions grew anxious for him. They gathered around and guessed at the reasons for the silence. "Maybe your father is angry and cutting you off." - "Perhaps the letter got lost in the mail." - "Maybe he doesn't care." - Young William listened to all their anxious theories. Finally, he shook his head and said, "I’ll wait till I get home, and he’ll tell me himself." He knew his father’s character well enough to trust him, even when the silence was deafening.
Together we will sing our next Hymn (2) - And can it be that I should gain (StF 345)
Prayers of Intercessions - We marvel at you our Creator, not only as the one who made heaven and earth, sun and ocean, and all the great and small creatures of this your world, We marvel at creativity in its many forms -we give you thanks, For the skills and gifts you give -for all who take that which you have given and make with it something of beauty and awe. And as in all creation we revere your skill, so the one whose mind is given to Christ is earnest in all things, knowing that we must give an account for all, even for an idle word." We thank you for your unlimited forgiveness, For your Son given for us even before the alpha and omega of your time.We thank you for fruitfulness in its many forms -we give you thanks for your selfless love
grace, wisdom, knowledge and sacrifice - and all that take that which you have given. Creator God, forgive us for our moments of ingratitude, the spiritual blindness that prevents us from appreciating the wonder of your world, When we see the sun rise over the horizon, it is a sign of hope. When we see the rain bow it is a sign of your covenant -When we see your cross we know that you have died so that we can be your heirs. Whatever the darkness of the previous day has been, today we have a new beginning. God wants us to learn from the past, to find healing, and to then to bless us. Gracious God, thank You for the way that You provide for your people, in such perfect forms, and for the ways that your holy spirit is at work. We also thank you for your mercies, which are new every morning, for your holy spirit who breathes new life into us though prayer, reflection and the beauty of your creation. Thank you for places of pilgrimage, where we can retreat, and find shelter, rest and restoration. Bring refreshment to all who are weary, and may your beautiful light bring inspiration and blessing, hope and courage for each new day, Bring healing to all who are suffering, to all who are infirm to all who need you this day and always. For those with us today and those who can’t be with us. Help us to remember that when we leave this earth, we can take nothing that we have received…but only what you have given and follow you into your eternal kingdom – may it be as you have promised. Lord help us to bless you and all that we meet - And may we bless each other - That the beauty of this world and the love that created it Might be expressed though our lives And be a blessing to others always Be with those who lead our community, our country and our world. Guide their thoughts and decisions in your wisdom. May they bless all around them - Father send your Holy Spirit to us, and to them, to lead our lives in your will. Show us your purpose for us, as individuals and as your church, And help us all to walk in your Way Into your Kingdom of Everlasting Love. God of our past, our present and our future, we pray for our lives, where nothing stays the same: Happiness comes and goes; we experience and learn and grow Unexpected events alter everything; we suffer illness and loss. We pray for our lives that are always changing, asking that in the midst of change We might find you, the unchanging God, at work, And find reasons for hope and joy. In the name of Jesus, who came to change the world. Father we ask this in your Holy name. Amen
Lords Prayer - Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that 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.
Prayer for Offering - Loving God, this is what we offer you today, Our money, our obedience and our lives, In thankfulness for all that you have done and continue to do for us. Take them all and use them, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Together we will sing our next Hymn (3) – From heaven you came, helpless babe (StF 272)
NT - Matthew 21: 23-32 - The authority of Jesus questioned -23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’ -24 Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?’ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” 26 But if we say, “Of human origin”– we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ 27 So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. The parable of the two sons 28 ‘What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” 29 ‘“I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 ‘Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go. 31 ‘Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘The first,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Talk 2 - A while back I heard an old witticism in which someone asks the elder, “Why do elders always answer a question with another question?” to which the elder replied, “Why shouldn’t an elder answer a question with another question?” So also in Matthew 21: Jesus side-steps the question of the Pharisees as to the source of his authority by asking them a related question about John the Baptist. Jesus and John were not only cousins but they were also similar in that each had appeared from out of nowhere and performed a ministry that meant a great deal to a lot of people. So Jesus says, “Let’s back up one step to my predecessor John: if you can tell me where his authority came from, then I’ll tell you where mine comes from.” Jesus asks this knowing full well that the answer to both questions was the same. Neither John nor Jesus had any human authority. Neither had gone to a bible college, neither had been licensed or ordained. If either John or Jesus had any true authority to claim, it had to be from God directly. But that’s just where Jesus had them: it was a well-known fact that the chief priests had despised John the Baptist. John had, after all, called them names, placed them on a par with everyone else who came out into the desert to see him. Credentials, advanced theological degrees, and their Sanhedrin “Members Only” gold card cut no ice with John nor, John said, did it matter to God. If even the Pharisees wanted to be saved, they had to submit to John’s baptism of repentance the same as everyone else. They didn’t of course, but a lot of other people did because they believed John really was a God-sent prophet. So the chief priests were quite neatly stuck. If they said that God himself had authorized John, they would be revealed as opposing God in that they opposed John. Then again, if they said that John had no real authority from anyone, John’s admirers would get mad. Being cowards at heart, they didn’t want to have anyone upset with them and so they said to Jesus, “We don’t know.” Since they didn’t live up to their end of this verbal bargain, Jesus then says, “Well, then I’m not going to tell you about my authority, either.” On one level, it appears that Jesus is merely joking with them. On a deeper level, though, Jesus is simply recognizing that there is very little sense in talking to people who are so closed-minded. We used to work with a Church called Deeper setup by the area arch deacon, as part of our service we worked in the street Friday nights 10-1am providing tea/coffee and place to chill out, a place where they could receive love and prayers. We originally worked until later in the morning but decided that those who were so drunk coming out of the clubs would not even understand our faith sharing - let alone listen so we finished before this at 1am. The rabbi’s too were not really seeking information from Jesus. Their minds were made up about Jesus long before they asked their sly question. Even at that, however, Jesus doesn’t stop…. He goes on with a little parable. We have one father and two sons. When the father orders the one son to go to work, he replies, “Forget it, dad ! I’ve got plans, things to do, people to see. Pick your own grapes!” But then, sometime after his father walks away looking rather wounded, the young man’s conscience gets the better of him. So he changes out of his fancy clothes, throws on his overalls, and heads out to the vineyard. Meanwhile the father has approached his other son and made the same request. “You got it, Dad! I’m on my way!” The father walks away from this exchange feeling good that at least one of his boys knows how to treat his old man with respect. But then, unbeknownst to the father, this boy high-tails it over to the mall to spend some time with his friends and so never does go into the vineyard. “Which son would you rather have?” Jesus asks. “Who really did what his father wanted?” The answer is obvious, so the chief priests give it, but the meaning of it all was a little less clear, so Jesus spells it out for them. John the Baptist really had come from God and, as such, he really did tell people what God wanted them to do. The people who looked like losers - people who had, by all outward appearances, said “No” to God–they ended up coming around to God’s message after all. They admitted their sins, let John baptize them, and so did what God wanted in the end. But there were others in Israel who had for so long been saying “Yes” to God outwardly yet ultimately didn’t follow through. They looked like fine and upstanding sons of God. They dressed right. Said all the right things. Made all the right promises.But when push came to shove these same people turned away from God. Not all parables are allegories, of course, at least not in the sense that you can (or even should) try to line up each character with a real-life person. But in this case perhaps there is a deeper meaning beyond just identifying who is who. After all, when precisely was it that the tax collectors and prostitutes and others said “No” to God? Wasn’t it more the case that they had never had a chance to answer God one way or the other precisely because the religious authorities never even shared with them? Because furthermore, although we can quite well understand that the Pharisees had said “Yes” to God, what exactly was it that they had agreed to do but then didn’t end up doing? After all, from the outside looking in, it surely looked like the chief priests were following through on their “Yes” to God. Who followed the law better than they did? Who did more acts of piety and more stringently avoided sin than the Pharisees? How could Jesus compare them to the son who said “Yes” but then didn’t follow through? The entire existence of these folks looked like one huge effort at following through. Yet Jesus seems to indicate that when it came right down to it, they were missing something fundamental. Because, we might say they missed God: grace. All throughout the Bible, including the New Testament, Israel is often compared to a vineyard. So in this parable, when we hear the father asking his sons to work in the vineyard, it is the equivalent of asking people to do good work among the people of Israel, whoever they were. That’s where the chief priests failed. So why did it take an outsider like John the Baptist to issue a kingdom invitation to marginalized people? John did it first, but then Jesus himself continued giving this invitation in his own ministry. We read in "Promising an Open Future," by David Lose, Dear Partner in Preaching, 2014. ---"I don't think the focus of this scene and parable is on us nearly as much as it is on God. God the author of all life who regularly decides to invite a new relationship with us. God who will not count our past deeds, mistakes, griefs, or hurts against us. God who refuses to define us by what we do (or what has been done to us), but instead regards us always and only as God's beloved children." Jesus was always hanging out with what the chief priests considered “the wrong crowd.” Indeed, the very fact that Jesus associated with “sinners” counted against Jesus’ being on God’s side. But first John and then Jesus reached out to these lost, wayward, sorry souls and they did so because until then, no one else had reached out to them. The reason John and Jesus found so many people who were hungry for the message of salvation by grace is because no one else had been proclaiming that message. The Pharisees actually avoided these people. But John declared that God wanted exactly those fringe people. We all get into the kingdom the same way: by His grace. From Wesley's Notes we read….. " The most notorious sinners were reformed, though at first they said, I will not. And ye seeing the amazing change which was wrought in them, though at first ye said, I go, sir, repented not afterward - Were no more convinced than before. O how is this scripture fulfilled at this day!" What’s more, if we really understand that our own salvation depends on that gift of grace, we are only very happy to share this good news with anyone who will listen. We won’t wait for other people to clean up their acts and become more ‘faithful’ before we share the good news. We won’t wait for anything before getting out into that harvest of needy people so as to care and share to them however we are able. When we say “Yes” to God the Father, Jesus claims, we are simultaneously saying “Yes” to the least, last, lost, and lonely people God holds dear. So in summary, the verb in Matthew 21:31 does mean “to go before,” but for those who do not repent, accept Jesus’ ministry, and produce fruit, it becomes “go instead.” From the Geneva Bible Notes we read. ---- "They hurry to the kingdom of God and you go slowly, so that you should at least have followed their example. Mark then that this word, "go into", is improperly taken in this place because none of them followed Christ." Still the invitation to be gathered like a hen gathers her chicks - remains as well. God has not rejected his true people and we need to join in the harvest of His people. Today is the harvest time, will you be a harvester?
Together we will sing our next Hymn (4) - Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity (StF 362)
Benediction - Through all the changing scenes of life, May the blessing of the God of love encircle each one of us Now and evermore. Amen.