Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (June 11, 2026)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday is the feast day of Saint Barnabas the Apostle. He is one of the New Testament saints for which The Book of Common Prayer has provided propers, prayers, Scripture readings, and other liturgical texts, since the first Edwardian Prayer Book of 1549. Saint Barnabas is also called the encourager. You learn more about him from the Wikipedia article, “Barnabas.” In his devotion to the Great Commission and his willingness to give someone a second chance after they have made a mistake, Barnabas is a model for modern-day Christians.

This Thursday evening’s message offers a set of practical guidelines for evaluating and selecting books, videos, and other teaching material for use in equipping individuals and groups for the life and ministry of a disciple of Jesus.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Henry Purcell’s Prelude in D Minor for Solo Recorder.

Silence

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Barnabas, who was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. see Acts 11.24

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and
just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9

Let us now confess our sins to almighty God.

Silence

Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much
the devices and the desires of our own hearts.
we have offended against your holy laws,
we have left undone what we ought to have done,
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
Yet, good Lord, have mercy on us;
restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober lives,
to the glory of your holy 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 our lips, O Lord;
And we shall declare your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

Open this link in a new tab to hear “O Gladsome Light, O Grace of God the Father's Face,” Robert Bridges’ translation of the 3rd century anonymous Greek hymn Phos hilaron.

1 O gladsome light, O grace
of God the Father's face,
the eternal splendour wearing;
celestial, holy, blest,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
joyful in thine appearing.

2 Now, ere day fadeth quite,
we see the evening light,
our wonted hymn outpouring;
Father of might unknown,
thee, his incarnate Son,
and Holy Spirit adoring.

3 To thee of right belongs
all praise of holy songs,
O Son of God, lifegiver;
thee therefore, O most high,
the world doth glorify
and shall exalt for ever.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Fill Your Hearts with Joy and Gladness” (Psalm 147).

1 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine!

2 Praise the Lord, his people, praise him!
Wounded souls his comfort know;
those who fear him find his mercies,
peace for pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.

3 Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.

4 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgments,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children:
praise the Lord, all people, praise!

Silence

King of the Universe,
whose wisdom gives order and fruitfulness to the earth:
help us to respond trustfully to your call,
that being drawn into the unity of your kingdom
we may continually praise you
for your providential care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14

Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd.Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

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

Silence

Opens this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Tell Out My Soul” (Magnificat).

1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name, the Lord, the mighty One.

3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 9:26-31

When he had come to Jerusalem, he [Saul] attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

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

Silence

Opens this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Faithful Vigil Ended” (Nunc dimittis).

1 Faithful vigil ended,
watching, waiting cease;
Master, grant your servant
his discharge in peace.

2 All the Spirit promised,
all the Father willed,
now these eyes behold it
perfectly fulfilled.

3 This your great deliverance
sets your people free;
Christ their light uplifted
all the nations see.

4 Christ, your people's glory!
watching, doubting cease:
grant to us your servants
our discharge in peace.

What Is Taught in Sunday School Matters

Among the major challenges that face the contemporary church in North America is declining attendance and church closures even in denominations whose growth at one time set them apart from other denominations. The COVID-19 epidemic has accelerated these developments. While some churches have rebounded from the sudden drop in attendance, others have never recovered and have continued their downward spiral. They are faced with the prospect of closure in the not too distant future.

While it is tempting to blame shifts in demographics and a spate of church schisms for these developments, research findings have highlighted the neglect of discipleship and evangelism in most churches as the primary contributing factor. Few churches are producing disciples who are biblically orthodox and theologically sound in what they believe, who recognize that making disciples of all people groups is the mission for which Jesus created the church, who are equipped to carry out that mission, who actively engage in reaching and evangelizing people groups in their communities and beyond, and who are not just capable of replicating more fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ like themselves but are actually doing it!

The decline and disappearance of churches in North America should deeply concern Christians. Christians who are faithful to their Lord’s teaching and who are carrying out the mission that he has entrusted to them can be a tremendous force for good in the world. God spreads his kingdom, his righteous reign in people’s hearts and minds, working in and through them.

How? By the making of disciples who in turn make more disciples, disciples who have a positive influence upon the people around them, in their communities, and in the larger world.

The spiritual formation of Christians, their equipping for the life and ministry of a disciple, may occur in a number of different ways—through individual mentoring, through guided independent study, through lectures and sermons, through hands-on demonstrations, through webinars and online classes, in Sunday school classes, in various small groups such discovery Bible study groups, covenant discipleship groups, discipleship bands, cell groups, and the like, and even through radio broadcasts and written correspondence. Jesus himself used a variety of methods in instructing his disciples.

Whatever the format the content of what is taught is critical. In evaluating the content of the material that will be used, these questions have proven their usefulness.

Does the material come from a source that is known for its reliability? (Because the denomination recommends the material or advertises it on a denominational website, does not necessarily mean that it meets this criterion. Nor does the enthusiastic recommendation of another Sunday school class or small group participant.)

Is its content accurate?

Is the content truthful and consequently trustworthy?

Is the content biblically orthodox? This requires that whoever is evaluating the material should be familiar with what is regarded as biblically orthodox in their particular denominational tradition and in the larger Protestant Christian tradition.

Is the content theologically sound? This requires that whoever is evaluating the material should also be familiar with what is regarded as theologically sound in their particular denominational tradition and in the larger Protestant Christian tradition.

Is the content transformative? Will it equip the individual Christian and the Sunday school class or small group for the life and ministry of a disciple? Will it enable them to become effective in that role? Will it meet a particular need of the individual Christian and the Sunday school class or small group, for example, show them how to better share their faith with others, to avoid common mistakes, and to disciple new believers. Or how to interpret Scripture, using sound principles of Bible interpretation and to avoid common pitfalls like allegorizing a text. Or how to recognize teaching that is heretical or heterodox and the ways that their adherents may twist Scripture to give such teachings the appearance of being scriptural.

Whoever is evaluating the content of the material under consideration for use will need to weed out material that does not meet these criteria. They will also need to give thought to their motives for the choices that they are making. Are they selecting a particular book or video because its content will help them, their mentee, or their Sunday school class or small group grow as a disciple? Or are they choosing it because it reflects one of their own beliefs and they desire to reinforce that belief in themselves and to persuade others to adopt the belief or be influenced by it?

What prompted me to explore the subject of the content of the material used in the spiritual formation of Christians was a visit to a Sunday school class at the church that I attend. On that particular Sunday the class watched the first video in a teaching series about Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ Galilean disciples, an apostle with whose story and letters I am well-acquainted. The presenter was a middle aged woman who had put together the teaching series.

During the video I noticed three red flags, or warning signs, that led me believe that the teaching series was not a good choice for the class.

The most obvious red flag was nine inaccurate statements that the presenter made in her initial presentation, inaccuracies which someone who was not familiar with the Gospel narrative might not have recognized and which they might have accepted as an accurate description of events or of the character of Simon Peter. They were easily identifiable inaccuracies which anyone who practiced the spiritual discipline that John Wesley called “searching the Scriptures,” reading, studying, and meditating on the Scriptures, however, would have recognized. What the presenter did was to blur details together, omit them, or twist them to support the portrait of Simon-Peter that she wanted those listening to her presentation to accept as an accurate one, a portrait that would reinforce the unbiblical view of sin that she was promoting in her video series. This was the impression that she gave me.

A second red flag was the energy and enthusiasm with which she made the presentation. These two qualities in a presenter can mislead those listening to the presentation into believing what the presenter is saying is accurate. On a number of occasions both live and on video recordings I have heard charismatic speakers whose charisma was clearly influencing those listening to them, but whose message was clearly not what the text on which they were expounding meant, not even by any stretch of imagination. Rather they were using the text as a springboard or launch platform for their own ideas.

The third red flag was that the presenter did not blink. Or blinked at a very low rate. This can be a signal that the presenter was “carefully controlling their body language to hide their true emotions, a key aspect of deception and lying.”

Her presentation was a reminder of a major problem that faces Christians in the twenty-first century, particularly those who have access to the internet. There is a vast army of digital influencers and other content creators producing podcasts, videos, blogs, and other online media with the intention of building a following on the internet. Their motives vary. So do their productions. Some like my own blog are largely informational and also may be designed to connect people with resources that may help them. They may draw attention to the various problems facing humanity, the factors contributing to these problems, and the effects that are having and will have upon the global and the local Christian communities. Others may be devoted to promoting a particular set of ideas and values. Or a particular lifestyle. Or some other particular interest of the content creator.

Past generations might have picked up a book or pamphlet or gone to a lecture or rally with a friend and heard a speaker and what they read or heard may have influenced them and whetted their appetite to read or hear more. This may have led them on a path that brought them closer to God and into the light. Or it may have led them on a path that took them away from God and into the darkness.

Today a multitude of voices clamor for our attention. Deciding to which voices we should give heed requires discernment. In selecting a teaching series to use in a Sunday school classroom, more than a passing acquaintance with the Bible and the principles of sound Bible interpretation is required. So is a substantial knowledge of what a particular church tradition has historically considered to be doctrine that is genuinely found in Scripture or can be genuinely proven from Scripture.

What is taught in the Sunday school classroom should not be an idiosyncratic interpretation of Scripture, an interpretation which is strange or unusual, and which may be based upon one or more obscure texts. What is taught should not read into the text what cannot be read out of it. Nor should it expound one passage of Scripture in such a way that it disagrees with another.

As the German Protestant Reformer Martin Luther pointed out, the Scriptures are not a nose of wax which we can twist or shape to mean whatever we want it to mean. It is not playdough or plasticene that we can mold into any shape that we like.

We may hear the postmodern argument that everything is relative: All opinions are equally true and untrue, equally valid and invalid, By its own logic what it asserts is both untrue and invalid.

We may also hear the argument that I have my opinion, and you have yours. This argument makes personal opinion the final authority in matters of faith and practices and is contradictory to what Protestant Christians have regarded as the final authority in such matters—Holy Scripture.

These arguments are often used to justify the negation of what Scripture clearly teaches and to cause these teachings to have no effect.

No pastor wants to preach biblical truths and principles from the pulpit, only to have contradictory ideas and values taught in the Sunday school class or small group, ideas and values that undo what the pastor is preaching.

Jesus himself, Paul, John, and the other New Testament writers warn us against false teachers and false teaching. Both caused a lot of trouble for the early Church in New Testament times and later.

Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 4:3 that the time will come when people will not listen to sound teaching but will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they want to hear may make us uncomfortable. It may hit us too close to home. However, Paul has a point. We prefer to hear things that make us feel good, things that tell us that human beings are not quite as bad as previous generations believed. We like to hear that we are not “totally depraved” as John Wesley taught. We love teaching series that play up our good qualities and downplay our sinfulness. But if we are honest with ourselves our relationship with God is impaired, not due to our imperfections, our flaws, imagined or real, but due to our natural inclination to rebel against God and go our own way. We have no power of our own to do anything that is pleasing and acceptable to God, “unless the grace of God is first given to us through Christ, so that we may have a goodwill, and the same grace continues at work within us to maintain that good will.” This is what the English Reformers understood the Holy Scriptures to teach. This is what John Wesley understood the Bible to teach.

Christians who misrepresent what Scripture says, who bend the narrative for their own purposes, are not helping their fellow Christians to grow as disciples. They are not building up the faith of their fellow Christians, not making it stronger. Rather they are making use of Scripture to serve their own personal agenda. As we are increasingly seeing in North America, this is having a deleterious effect on the local church.

Despite the often heard criticism of their departure from longstanding positions of Protestant Christianity on a number of key issues, this development is not confined to progressive mainline churches. It also affects conservative evangelical ones. More and more these churches, while identifying as “Christian,” show little affinity for Jesus’ message and teaching. What they believe and practice has negligible connection to what our Lord taught and exemplified

If we are going to be true disciples of Jesus, we need to be faithful to the message and teaching of Jesus and not substitute for them a message and teaching of our own. Only then will his Church flourish once more in the land and its people will be transformed.

Silence

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into 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.
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.


THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

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.

Lord, show us your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness,
and make your chosen people joyful.
Lord, save your people,
and bless your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
for you are our help and strength.
Create in us dean hearts, O God,
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.

Lord God Almighty, who endowed your apostle Barnabas with
faith and the Holy Spirit for the work to which he was called: do
not leave us destitute of your abundant gifts, or of grace to use
them always for your honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Eternal God, from whom all holy desires, all good purposes,
and all just works proceed: give to your servants that peace
which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to
obey your commandments, and that free from the fear of our
enemies we may pass our time in trust and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great
mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear "Eternal Gifts," John W. Becker’s arrangement of St. Ambrose of Milan’s “The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King” for SAB Chorus and Keyboard.

1 Th'eternal gifts of Christ the King,
th'apostles' glorious deeds we sing;
and all, with hearts of gladness, raise
due hymns of thankful love and praise.

2 Their faith in Christ the Lord prevailed;
their hope a light that never failed;
their love ablaze o’er pathways trod
to lead them to the eternal God..

3 In them the Father's glory shone,
in them the will of God the Son,
in them exults the Holy Ghost,
through them rejoice
through them rejoice the heav'nly host.

Silence is kept.

Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.

Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.

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.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Catherine Winkworth’s “Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word.”

1 Spread O spread, thou mighty word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe'er his breath has given
Life to beings meant for heaven.

2 Tell them how the Father's will
Made the world, and makes it still,
How he sent his Son to save,
How Christ conquered o'er the grave.

3 Tell of our Redeemer's love,
Who for ever doth remove
By his holy sacrifice
All the guilt that on us lies.

4 Tell them of the Spirit given
Now to guide us on to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.

5 Word of life, most pure and strong,
Lo, for thee the nations long;
Spread, till from its dreary night
All the world awakes to light!

THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE

The Lord be with you.
And also with you
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Open this link in a new tab to hear John A. Behnke’s “Benediction.”

The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
Amen. Amen. 

Amen. Amen. 

Amen. Amen.