Welcome to Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church Sunday January 25 th 2009 God Calls Us to Delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.

Psalm 46:1-7* (p. 271) 1 God is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid; 2 Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid:

Psalm 46:1-7* (2/6) Though hills amidst the seas be cast; 3Though waters roaring make, And troubled be; yea, though the hills by swelling seas do shake.

Psalm 46:1-7* (3/6) 4 A river is, whose streams do glad the city of our God; The holy place, wherein the Lord most high hath his abode.

Psalm 46:1-7* (4/6) 5 God in the midst of her doth dwell; nothing shall her remove: The Lord to her an helper will, and that right early, prove.

Psalm 46:1-7* (5/6) 6 The heathen raged tumultuously, the kingdoms movèd were: The Lord God utterèd his voice, the earth did melt for fear.

Psalm 46:1-7* (6/6) 7 The LORD of hosts upon our side doth constantly remain: The God of Jacob’s our refuge, us safely to maintain.

Prayer & Children’s Talk

The ‘First Family’

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle, and the First daughters Malia (aged 10) and Sasha (aged 7)!

The First Family 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being" ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit... The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.

Prayer Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you that by trusting in Jesus we can come into God’s family. Help us to put you first in our own heart and in each family. Help all of us to love you as our Father, and to become more like Jesus. Amen.

PSALM 9a:7-11* (p. 9) 7The LORD for ever reigns on high; his throne for judgment stands. 8 He’ll judge the world in righteousness, with justice rule the lands.

PSALM 9a:7-11* (2/4) 9 The LORD will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed, And he will be a strong defence for those who are distressed.

PSALM 9a:7-11* (3/4) 10All those who know your name, O LORD, in you their trust will place, For you do not abandon those who seek your gracious face.

PSALM 9a:7-11* (4/4) 11 Sing praises to the LORD who sits in Zion on his throne; Among the nations of the world proclaim what he has done.

Scripture Reading Luke 9:46-61 (p. 1040)

Luke 9: An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest."

Luke 9: "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." 50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you." 51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Luke 9: And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"

Luke 9: But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 59 He said to another man, "Follow me."

Luke 9:46-62 But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Psalm 72:1-7* (p. 92) 1 Endow the king with justice, LORD, The royal son with righteousness. 2 Your people, your afflicted ones, He’ll judge with truth and uprightness.

Psalm 72:1-7* (2/4) 3 The mountains will bring peace to them, The hills the fruit of righteousness. 4 He will defend and save the poor, And crush all those who them oppress.

Psalm 72:1-7* (3/4) 5 As long as sun and moon endure, So will he live time without end. 6He’ll be like showers on the earth, Like rains that on mown fields descend.

Psalm 72:1-7* (4/4) 7 The righteous then will blossom forth Throughout his everlasting reign; Until the moon no longer shines, Peace in abundance will remain.

SERMON: Studies in Luke LUKE 9:46-62 (p. 1040) The King and His Kingdom

1 – WHAT DOES KINGDOM- GREATNESS LOOK LIKE? Luke 9:46-48 – “I am the greatest.” Kingdom-greatness is Like Receiving a Child (47-48). Kingdom-greatness is Valuing The Least (48). Kingdom-greatness is Valuing Other Ministries (49-50).

2 – WHERE WOULD JESUS’ KINGDOM-GREATNESS LEAD HIM? 9:51 – From Galilee, to JERUSALEM, in order to die. WHY set His face to Jerusalem? So that God may lift up His face upon you.

3 – WHERE WILL JESUS’ KINGDOM- GREATNESS LEAD YOU? (51-56) The unpopular path through Samaria? How shall we respond to unpopularity, rejection or persecution? What level of commitment will we give to following Jesus? (57-62)

Psalm 99a:1-5* (p. 130) 1 The LORD reigns from his throne on high, let all the nations quake; He sits between the cherubim, so let the whole earth shake.

Psalm 99a:1-5* (2/4) 2Great is the LORD on Zion hill, exalted over all. 3Upon his great and holy name let all the nations call.

Psalm 99a:1-5* (3/4) 4The King loves truth and equity, established by his might; In Jacob you have done for us all that is just and right.

Psalm 99a:1-5* (4/4) 5Exalt the LORD our God with us; let all the world abroad Before his footstool worship him, for holy is the Lord.

Please join us in the entrance hall for for tea and coffee God Calls Us to delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.