Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, May 9, 2024)

Welcome to Thursday evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday is Ascension Day, a special day in the liturgical calendar, which commemorates three very important events in the history of salvation. After the risen Jesus gave his final instructions to his disciples and promised to be with them always, he ascended into heaven. The instructions he gave and the promise he made were not just for them alone but for future generations of his disciples until his coming again in glory.

In this evening’s message we will consider the implications of his instructions and his promise for his present-day followers.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.

We have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God.
Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:14,16

Open this link in a new tab to hear Krystin Getty’s “Come, Let Us Sing.”

1 Come, let us sing to the One
To the Father of life,
For His light fills the earth like the sun;
Come, tell of the wonders He's done.
Great is the world He has made,
Are the mysteries untold,
Is His measureless power of old;
Come, come let us sing to our God.

To our God, who is able
To strengthen us in His grace,
Beyond all we imagine,
Be all glory and praise,
Be all praise.

2 Come, let us sing to the One,
To the Saviour of life,
Find the fullness of God in the Son;
Come, tell of the wonders He's done.
Wild is the mercy of Christ,
Is the richness of grace,
Is the unending life we embrace;
Come, come let us sing to our God.

To our God, who is able
To strengthen us in His grace,
Beyond all we imagine,
Be all glory and praise,
Be all praise.

Come, let us sing to the One,
To the Spirit of life,
Leading us in the way of the Son;
Come, tell of the wonders He's done.
Strong is the Spirit within,
Is the boldness to speak,
Is the power to run when we're weak;
Come, come let us sing to our God.

Let us confess our sins to God our Father.

Silence

Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Andy Weeks and Matt Clarks’ “Alpha and Omega.”

Verse 1:
You are the Alpha and the Omega,
beginning and the end;
Lord God Almighty, King of the ages,
worthy of all praise.

Chorus:
Jesus, Faithful and True, you are holy,
there is no-one like you,
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Jesus, worthy of honour and glory,
King of love and mercy,
Lord of heav’n and earth.

Verse 2:
You came from heaven, suffered to save us,
the sinless lamb of God;
now you are risen, you are exalted
and crowned the Lord of lords.

Chorus:
Jesus, Faithful and True, you are holy,
there is no-one like you,
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Jesus, worthy of honour and glory,
King of love and mercy,
Lord of heav’n and earth.

Verse 3:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be to our God forever.
Heaven rejoices and angels bow down:
praise to our God forever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be to our God forever.
Heaven rejoices and angels bow down:
praise to our God forever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be to our God forever.
Heaven rejoices and angels bow down:
praise to our God forever.

Final Chorus:
Jesus, Faithful and True, you are holy,
there is no-one like you,
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Jesus, worthy of honour and glory,
King of love and mercy,
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Jesus, Faithful and True, you are holy,
there is no-one like you,
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Jesus, worthy of honour and glory,
King of love and mercy,
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Lord of heav’n and earth.
Lord of heav’n and earth.

Let us pray.

Silence

Grant, we pray, Almighty God,
that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ
to have ascended into the heavens;
so we in heart and mind may also ascend
and with him continually dwell;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Heavenly Father,
give us faith to receive your word,
understanding to know what it means,
and the will to put it into practice,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A reading from the Old Testament (Daniel 7:9-14).

I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.

I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

Silence

May your word live in us,
and bear much fruit to your glory.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Roger Jones’ arrangement of Timothy’ Dudley Smith’s “Heavenly Hosts in Ceaseless Worship.”

Heavenly hosts in ceaseless worship
`Holy, holy, holy' cry;
`he who is, who was and will be,
God Almighty, Lord most high.'
Praise and honour, power and glory,
be to him who reigns alone!
We, with all his hands have fashioned,
fall before the Father's throne.

All creation, all redemption,
join to sing the Saviour's worth;
Lamb of God, whose blood has bought us,
kings and priests, to reign on earth.
Wealth and wisdom, power and glory,
honour, might, dominion, praise,
now be his from all his creatures
and to everlasting days!

All creation, all redemption,
join to sing the Saviour's worth;
Lamb of God, whose blood has bought us,
kings and priests, to reign on earth.
Wealth and wisdom, power and glory,
honour, might, dominion, praise,
now be his from all his creatures
and to everlasting days!

A reading from the New Testament (Matthew 28:16-20).

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Silence

May your word live in us,
and bear much fruit to your glory.

The Great Commission

What do the instructions which Jesus gave to the disciples and the promise that he made to them in this evening’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew mean for his present-day followers? How can they put the truth of this passage of Scripture to work for the good of others?

When Jesus speaks to his disciples on the mountain, he first explains the reason for the instructions that he is about to give them. “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” He is not speaking to them as their rabbi, or teacher, someone that they according to the custom of the time addressed as “lord,” but as the Lord of all. He was not just their lord but the Lord!

When we address Jesus as “Lord,” we are not following an ancient tradition, the way disciples of a rabbi addressed their teacher in the first century. We are recognizing and affirming who Jesus really is. He is God. He is not a wise sage who achieved enlightenment. He is not messenger or prophet sent by God. He is God. Let that sink in for a moment.

The instructions that Jesus gave to the disciples were not the instructions of a rabbi to his followers, thoughtful advice to his disciples on how they should live. They were commands, directives.

Let’s take a look at his instructions.

“Go…” Leave this mountain. Don’t hang about after I have gone. Go and do what I have told you to do.

“Make disciples of all the nations." By “the nations” Jesus meant everybody. They were to make disciples of all people groups, not just their own.

How Jesus had formed and shaped them as his disciples would have given a good idea of what he meant by “make disciples.” In an article on the Radical website, titled, “How Should We Be Making Disciples?” David Platt draws to our attention what disciple-making involves:

“Disciple-making is not about sharing the gospel with people and then leaving them to figure out the Christian life on their own. Instead, we show them how to follow Christ on a day-by-day basis. This is why we can never limit making disciples to a weekly meeting in a classroom. Making disciples is what happens when we walk through life together, showing one another how to pray, study the Bible, grow in Christ, and lead others to Christ.”

Disciple-making is a lifestyle.

“…baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is a important means of grace. It is also the means by which new disciples are incorporated into the Body of Christ. “…in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” is not a magic formular. It recognizes the triune nature of God—three Persons in One Being with One Substance.

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” This means teaching them everything that Jesus taught. Teaching them not only with words but also by example.

Jesus concluded his instructions with a promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” While he would not be physically present with them, he was not going to abandon them. He was going to send the Holy Spirit to them. The Holy Spirit would not only empower them for the task which he was entrusting to them but would also unite them to him. He would be spiritually present with them.

It is quite obvious that Jesus did not expect them to make disciples of all the peoples of the earth during their lifetimes. The instructions which he gave them and the promise that he made to them were intended for succeeding generations of his disciples, and not just them alone.

It is also quite obvious that Jesus did not expect them to restrict their efforts to family, friends, and people like themselves. He meant that they should tell everybody about him. Extend his call to repentance and his invitation to discipleship to everybody. The good news was not just for a select few, those whom they thought were worthy of hearing it. It was for everybody.

If you read the Acts of the Apostles, you will discover that the disciples did not at first fully understand that the good news was for everybody. God, however, in a number of ways would show them that it indeed was for all the peoples of the earth.

What we now call the Great Commission was given to all Christians. Whether you made your profession of faith and were baptized as an older child or adult or was baptized as an infant and made a profession of faith as an old child or adult and received the laying on of hands and prayer, you made a commitment to do your part in faithfully carrying out Jesus’ instructions. Following Jesus is not just about living the Great Commandment, loving God with all your being, and loving other people as you love yourself, or the Great Compassion, treating the poor and those in need as you would treat Jesus himself. It is about living the Great Commission too.

Silence

Let us affirm with Christians across the ages what we believe about God
and his love for us.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.


Open this link in a new tab to hear Keath and Kristyn Getty Stuart Townend’s “Hear the Call of the Kingdom.”

Verse 1
Hear the call of the kingdom
Lift your eyes to the King
Let His song rise within you
As a fragrant offering
Of how God rich in mercy
Came in Christ to redeem
All who trust in His unfailing grace

Verse 2
Hear the call of the Kingdom
To be children of light
With the mercy of heaven
The humility of Christ
Walking justly before Him
Loving all that is right
That the life of Christ may shine through us

Chorus
King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

Verse 3
Hear the call of the Kingdom
To reach out to the lost
With the Father's compassion
In the wonder of the cross
Bringing peace and forgiveness
And a hope yet to come
Let the nations put their trust in Him

Chorus
King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

[Instrumental interlude]

Final Chorus
O King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

Almighty and everliving God,
hear the prayers which we offer in faith and love:

For peace, and for your salvation to be known throughout the world …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church and for the unity of all Christian people …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For all who serve and lead in your Church, for all ordained elders and deacons and licensed local pastors …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For all your people, growing in the faith of Christ, and passing it on to generations yet to come …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For all who live and work in this community …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For families, and for those who live alone …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For all who are sick in body or in mind, and for those who care for them …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For all in authority, and especially for [Canada Charles our King] [USA our President] …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For all who have been entrusted with the responsibility of government …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

For those who work for peace, justice and righteousness throughout the world …
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of your holy apostles and martyrs, and of all your servants departed this life in your faith and fear, we commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to you, Lord God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord who has taught us to pray

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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE

In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The almighty and merciful God bless us
and keep us now and for ever. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Matt Osgood’s “Send Us Out.” 

Verse 1
Send us out in the power of your Spirit,
to shine your light in the way we live.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit,
as we’ve received, may we freely give.

Chorus
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory

Verse 2
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to show your love everywhere we go.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit,
Lord, fill us up so we overflow.

Chorus
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory

Bridge
We're laying down our lives,
a living sacrifice,
we're living for your glory and your praise.
We’re taking up our cross,
we’ve counted up the cost,
we're living for your glory and your praise.

Final Chorus
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory
send us out for your glory
send us out for your glory

Those present may exchange a sign of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.