Daily Worship

The Family of Faith

October 11, 2014 0 0

Acts 16:25-34

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped; so he pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he led them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved---you and your family." Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in the house. At that very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; and he and all his family were baptised at once. Then he took Paul and Silas up into his house and gave them some food to eat. He and his family were filled with joy, because they now believed in God. 

‘He and his family were filled with joy, because they now believed in God’. 

Loving God, it is through your Son Jesus that we come into your presence today.  We do not come by right or merit but only through faith in him.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  When we 
follow his way, 
believe in his truth
accept his life 
we become part of a new family, the family of faith, the body of Christ.  We belong together with those of every age, nationality, background and colour who call Jesus, Lord.  So in this moment now we give thanks for
Jesus who unites us
your Spirit who fills us
the bond of love that ties us
the family and fellowship of your Church which stretches all over the world and of which we are part.

We pray for the family of the Church in those places where
your people are persecuted and their lives destroyed
freedom is denied
apathy and self-indulgence reign.

Loving God, we hold before you the family of faith, the body of Christ, the Church to which we belong, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN