Sunday Worship
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Trinity Sunday. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus’ Great Commission
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Reflection
Today is Trinity Sunday, and in the Gospel passage from Matthew we read about Jesus addressing his disciples in Galilee before he leaves them. It comes at the very end of Matthew’s gospel, as from Matthew’s perspective it is the conclusion of Jesus’ time on earth in human form.
The disciples have gathered on a mountain in Galilee. This is not insignificant, because in Matthew’s narrative, the end of Jesus’ ministry finishes at the same place where it started, when Jesus called his first disciples – the place where fishermen left everything they had to follow him. And now he’s brought them back.
Jesus is about to empower his followers to pick up the baton and radically make new disciples by baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity. The mission that began quietly is now expanding outward. What started in obscurity will now reach the nations.
This passage in the bible is often referred to as The Great Commission! The risen Christ sharing his vision with his followers before ascending into heaven.
Jesus is calling on his disciples to go and make more disciples across all nations. And as we heard last week at Pentecost - he will send the Holy Spirit to help with this.
But for a moment let’s ask the question, what does it mean to be a disciple, or moreover what did it mean to be a disciple of a Rabbi in the first century?
You may know that a Rabbi was a learned teacher and to be a disciple might to some extent be compared to being an apprentice.
People became a disciple of a rabbi to learn what he knew and to do what he did. Just like you might in today’s world become an apprentice car mechanic – watching and gradually upskilling until you were able to do the work without supervision. And eventually you would be able to cope on your own and become competent.
But the essential thing to note in this is that you don’t just watch and learn, you have to do the doing. To practice what you preach for want of a better phrase.
When we look at the lives of the disciples who walked alongside Jesus in his ministry – they had listened to his teaching and learned from him and they also did the things he did. Remember in Matthew 10, where Jesus sends out the twelve to cast out demons and heal disease and sickness?
Similarly, when Jesus commissions his disciples to go out and make new disciples across all nations, he also gives them the guidance they need to do to the job.
He tells them to baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – and to teach people to obey everything that Jesus has commanded them to do.
In other words, don’t just tell people about the Good News of the risen Lord who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit – Jesus is commanding them to teach new disciples that they must also obey Jesus’ commandments and do as Jesus did. To live their lives in the same way according to God’s will.
To 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and to 'Love your neighbour as yourself as he loves us.
Jesus doesn’t just want people to know about the Kingdom of God, he wants them to inhabit the Kingdom - To do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven - and to lead by example and live according to his commandments.
It is not enough to know how Jesus wants disciples to live their lives, they have to get on and do it.
And as disciples, followers and Christians, we share that same commission that Jesus gave his disciples in Galilee over 2000 years ago.
We too are called to live as disciples and also make disciples of others.
We are called to bring people to faith. People of all kinds, irrespective of ethnicity, race, gender or any other type of diversity. Even maybe people we may not particularly like.
We are called to invite people to become Christians through baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We are called to invite people into a loving relationship with God and be part of God’s family.
And as disciples we are also called to live as Jesus showed us and commanded us.
And that can sometimes be hard - because none of us are perfect, and we all fall short in God’s eyes from time to time. We all sin and get things wrong.
But here’s the good news ..… at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus promised us that He will be with us always until the end of the age. Jesus who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. And when we invite the Holy Spirit to live within us, we can be reconciled with the God that loves each and every one of us. Our relationship with God – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit can be restored.
Paul
Our Prayers
Lord, we commit ourselves to Your Great Commission.
Guide our words, actions, and hearts as we make disciples, baptise, and teach.
Remind us daily that we are never alone, for You are with us always.
May our lives glorify You and draw others into Your kingdom, now and forever.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "I, The Lord of Sea and Sky"
Notices
We had a fantastic day last Sunday as we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost with a joint Eucharist at St John's, a Procession of Witness around the village (stopping to sing along the way), and then a Churches Together in Lees and District joint service at St Thomas', followed by a special cake to celebrate the birthday of the Church. You can see some photos below, but there are many more on the Facebook pages -
