Welcome to Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church HAPPY NEW YEAR God Calls Us to Delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.

Psalm 100(1):1-5 (p. 362) 1All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the LORD with cheerful voice. 2Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, Come ye before him and rejoice.

Psalm 100(1):1-5 (2/4) 3Know that the LORD is God indeed; Without our aid he did us make: We are his flock, he doth us feed, And for his sheep he doth us take.

Psalm 100(1):1-5 (3/4) 4 O enter then his gates with praise, Approach with joy his courts unto: Praise, laud, and bless his name always, For it is seemly so to do.

Psalm 100(1):1-5 (4/4) 5 For why? the LORD our God is good, His mercy is for ever sure; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure.

Prayer & Children’s Talk

Can you name five outdoor sports that use a ROPE?

What would happen if everyone on the rope slipped? A safe ‘anchor’ point on the rope is called ‘protection’

Jesus is our PROTECTION: 1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

Psalm 34:7-11* (p. 40) 7 The angel of the LORD surrounds and guards continually All those who fear and honour him; he sets his people free.

Psalm 34:7-11* (2/4) 8 Come, taste and see— the LORD is good; who trusts in him is blessed. 9 O fear the LORD, you saints; with need you will not be oppressed.

Psalm 34:7-11* (3/4) 10Young lions may grow weak and faint and hunger for their food, But those who wait upon the LORD will not lack any good.

Psalm 34:7-11* (4/4) 11Come here, my children! Gather round and listen to my word; And I will help you understand how you may fear the LORD.

Scripture Reading 1 st Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 (p. 1187)

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 Paul's Longing to See the Thessalonians 17 But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you— certainly I, Paul, did, again and again— but Satan stopped us.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 3 1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow-worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no-one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. Timothy's Encouraging Report 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. ________________

Prayer for the Nakahashis in Japan and the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

The Lord’s Prayer Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation.

The Lord’s Prayer But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 34:12-22* (p. 40) 12Does anyone delight in life and long to see good days? 13Then keep your tongue from evil speech, your lips from lying ways.

Psalm 34:12-22* (2/6) 14Depart and turn from evil paths and practise what is right. Desire to know the way of peace; pursue it with your might.

Psalm 34:12-22* (3/6) 15The LORD’s eyes are upon the just; he listens to their plea. 16The wicked he rejects, and blots from earth their memory.

Psalm 34:12-22* (4/6) 17The righteous cry; the LORD responds and frees them when distressed. 18The LORD draws near the broken heart and rescues the depressed.

Psalm 34:12-22* (5/6) 19From all the troubles of the just the LORD will set him free. 20The LORD protects his every bone; and broken none will be.

Psalm 34:12-22* (6/6) 21The wicked are condemned to death, all those who hate the just. 22God saves his own; they’re not condemned, for in the LORD they trust.

SERMON: STANDING FIRM IN Thessalonians 3:8 (p. 1187) For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

1 - PRESSURE IS INEVITABLE God’s people are under pressure everywhere. Timothy’s news was so welcome to Paul: they were standing despite Satan’s worst attacks. Pressure is a sign you are on the Lord’s side!

2 – FRIENDSHIP IS VITAL 3:2 – ‘To strengthen and encourage you’ (a building-trade metaphor). Our job is to be ‘roped together’, and especially as leaders, to support those in the church feeling under pressure. We are always ‘roped’ to Jesus Christ. Where is Barnabas in our church?

3 – PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL Look up 2:9; 3:10. What did Paul do ‘night and day?’ Draw the lesson: your brothers and your sisters NEED your prayers. An example from Paul: 3:11-14 A prayer filled, not with what we will do, but what we ask God to do!

4 – GOD’S LOVE IN YOU WILL OVERCOME ALL THINGS Thomas Chalmer’s sermon on 1 John 2:15 – the Expulsive Power of a new Affection. “The heart must have something to cling to…” God’s love is unstoppable: We ‘disrelish’ Christianity until God’s grace expels our love for this world with his overflowing and Holy love. We are ‘urged’ to love in 4:10, but in 3:12 we find the true secret of loving...

Psalm 90:1-2,13-17* (p. 120) 1 Lord, you have ever been our dwelling place. 2 Before you made the world of time and space, Before you made the mountains and the earth, You are eternal God; you gave them birth. ….to verse 13

Psalm 90:1-2,13-17* (2/4) 13 Return, O LORD! How long will you delay? Have mercy on your servants, LORD, we pray. 14 O satisfy us with your love always, That we may sing, rejoicing all our days.

Psalm 90:1-2,13-17* (3/4) 15 In place of our affliction, make us glad; Give joy for all the years you made us sad. 16 To all your servants may your deeds be shown, And to their children make your glory known.

Psalm 90:1-2,13-17* (4/4) 17 Now may the favour of Almighty God Abide on us—rich blessings of our Lord. Establish every work our hands have done; Yes, Lord, for us establish them each one.

Please join us in the entrance hall for for tea and coffee God Calls Us to delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.