SESSION 5
FOREVER OUR FATHER

Discuss what struck you in what Kate said, then watch the following clip with Reverend Dr Joel Edwards CBE. It is a great privilege that Joel recorded this shortly before he went to glory - there are few people better qualified to speak on the unity that comes from knowing God as our Father than Joel who was an international speaker, writer and broadcaster who challenged injustice and led people to Christ. His final letter thanked people for their prayers and said, “Words cannot express the depth, breadth and height of my gratitude, but I have gone home.”

Group Questions

Psalm 133:1-3 tells us that the blessing of God descends when his people live together in unity - 

It is like precious oil poured on the head …

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows his blessing,

    even life forevermore.  Psalm 133:1-3

Why does God value unity so highly? Psalm 133:1-3

Paul calls us to “make every effort for unity”?  (Ephesians 4:3) Is there one thing you could do to make an effort for unity?

What are the benefits of church unity? Have you experienced it?

Have you ever spent time listening to someone who has suffered injustice because of their skin colour or their background?

In “The Promise of Blessing”, Kate describes forgiveness as a choice. How important is that choice for us?

Praise Point. What is your praise point from this session?

Action Point. What will you take away from today?

Prayer Point. Pray the peace prayer together.

The Peace Prayer 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

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