Reflective music
Going a bit country today with ‘God of wonders’, by Mac Powell. You can also find this video directly at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOKaL3bee6I
Prayer
Jesus said,
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself’.
Let us pray,
Gracious God, thanks for this day of grace, to celebrate your love and remember the victory won for us through Jesus Christ your Son, our Saviour.
Bless us, we pray, with your presence this day. Feed us with your word and bless us by your Holy Spirit so that your will may be done both here and to the ends of the earth.
Help us to remember the words of Jesus, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Help us also to live by the commandments that he said were the greatest, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Forgive us, we pray, for our rejection of your ways. Free us for joyful obedience, for we know you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (silence for personal confession)
We pray these things through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Matthew 22:15-46 and the words are below. Underneath these words is a dramatic video from Lumo. It includes some additional verses at the beginning.
Matthew 22:34-46
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”
He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”
No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Message
The message is brought to you by Peter Overton from the Saltbush Community. Jesus’ command to love our neighbour is more than law but about embodying the love of God in Christ. Make sure you listen to the end of the video as Peter shares with us a beautiful and moving personal story that illustrates the meaning of love.
A question often asked of this reading is: Who is your neighbour? How can you best show love to your neighbour? In what ways does your community include or exclude the neighbour?
Before a time of prayer you may like to spend some time in silence sitting still. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Simply be still and open to God.
Prayers for others and blessing
You may like to join in praying as you watch this video led by Ros Robinson. There is a closing blessing by Keith Robinson.
Song
‘We are one’, courtesy of Emu Music. It can also be found via a direct link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBKKZtpF9po&t=73s
Resources
The sermon is based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/pentecost-22-loving-neighbour-matthew-2234-46/