Worship at Home for the Week Beginning 26th July 2026
Love

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Revd Ian Forsyth has prepared this week's message.

This short act of worship is for use from home. Please use this service whenever you like during the week.

Pause to settle yourself in God’s presence, knowing that other people are sharing in worship with you.

Love, Love, Love

Call to worship:

We thank you for the place called Church which we have enjoyed gathering in, for other places that have been significant to us in our lives.  In our new places of worship may we find You afresh at our dining tables and in our homes.”

Amen.

How deep the Father’s love by Stuart Townend

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

StF 272 From Heaven you came

From Heaven, you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear

His heart with sorrow was torn
“Yet not My will but Yours”, He said

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other’s needs to prefer
For it is Christ we’re serving

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

Bible Readings

Reflection:

Love, Love, Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 is a well-known passage in the Bible defining love as the most important Christian virtue, greater spiritual gifts such as prophecy or tongues. It states that without love, actions are meaningless. This passage about love offers direction, devotion and destiny.


The excellent way gives the Christian direction v 1-3.
It highlights that spiritual gifts, great faith, extreme sacrifices, and expression are meaningless without love. Paul states that without love, we are just a noisy gong, that is nothing, and gains nothing. Love is illustrated as the essential, foundational element that makes actions matter and spiritually valuable.
The word charity means love in action. We are very used to hearing the word charity, giving to others but in this context, Paul is talking about the word Agape, which means sacrificing ourselves for others. Warren Weirsbe has said ‘knowledge puffs people up, but love builds up’. We are all called to be an encourager. 1 Thessalonians Ch 5 v 11 says, ‘Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing’.

The Nature of Love v 4-7.

Love is defined by what it does and what it does not do, it is not envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, or easily angered but it is patient, kind and speaks truth quietly. Matthew Henry comments on these verses and says ‘A clear and deep head is of no signification, without a benevolent and charitable heart. It is not great knowledge that God sets value upon, but true and hearty devotion and love’.

The Permanence of Love v. 8-13

While spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy are temporary, love is eternal. Paul compares spiritual maturity to moving from childhood to adulthood. This is why Paul refers to mirrors as Corinth were famous for their mirrors. There is always time for growth in the Church and whilst we grow, we will see imperfectly.

Current knowledge of God is indirect and dim, but in eternity, believers will know God fully, just as they are fully known.

Conclusion

Faith, hope, and love are the abiding, crucial virtues, but love is deemed the greatest because it is the essence of God’s nature and will continue even when faith becomes sight.

Prayer: A prayer that we might reflect God’s love.

All loving and all-embracing God, our hearts overflow with gratitude when we think and feel your love, manifested in Jesus Christ and poured into our hearts by your Holy Spirit. Let our response be spontaneous praise, praying fervently, reading your words passionately and welcoming the strangers genuinely.
Give us charismatic smiles, courteous words and sacrificial hearts when we approach others with your love. Help us to overcome the temptation of being engaged in pious acts to win your favour and instead teach us to live in solidarity with you and with the needy and suffering. Let us and our churches reflect your love in a love-hungry world, now and always.

Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Please use the version that you prefer

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.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.

Amen.

StF 361 Man of sorrows! What a name

Man of sorrows!  What a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
spotless Lamb of God was he:
full atonement, can it be?:
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

He was lifted up to die;
“It is finished” was his cry;
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

When he comes, our glorious King,
all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

A prayer of blessing:

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.

May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.

May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Service prepared by Revd Ian Forsyth

Webpage: Paul Deakin