Which is on page 1154 and Kirsty is going to come and read. Thank you.
Okay, that's 1 Corinthians chapter 14 and starting in verse 1.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God.
Indeed, no one understands him. He utters mysteries with his spirit.
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy.
He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you,
unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp,
how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
So it is with you.
Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying?
You will just be speaking into the air.
Undoubtedly, there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying,
I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
So it is with you.
Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
For this reason, anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
So what shall I do?
I will pray with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind.
If you are praising God with your spirit, how can anyone who finds himself among those who do not understand say amen to your thanksgiving,
since he does not know what you are saying?
You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than 10,000 words in a tongue.
Brothers, stop thinking like children.
In regard to evil, be infants.
Tongues then are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers.
Prophesy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues,
and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in,
will they not say that you are out of your mind?
But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying,
he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all.
And the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.
So he will fall down and worship God,
exclaiming, God is really among you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Kirsty.
Please keep your Bible open there to 1 Corinthians 14.
Before I pray, just one comment,
and that is it's a large section we've just had read.
There's a lot of questions that may arise out of it,
so please do come back to me, ask me anything afterwards.
And on the table as you came in, there was a little pamphlet,
which is called Building Up the Church, Tongues and Prophecy.
I made them available last week.
There's a couple left,
which goes into detail a little bit more about the chapter.
So if you haven't read that, it might be helpful for you to read it.
And if there's no more copies left,
ask me and I can forward them to you or email you a copy.
Let's pray.
Our Father God, we thank you for your word,
and we thank you for your Holy Spirit.
And so we pray now and ask that you would speak to us
a clear message
that we may understand with our minds
that it might drive deep into our hearts,
that it would change us as a church
more and more into the people you call us to be.
May you build us up in our faith,
and may we be a people
so that when unbelievers come among us,
they will say,
God is among you.
Father, please help us
speak your word into our lives, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, if you could have any spiritual gift you wanted,
what kind of gift would you choose?
These are some of the things we've been looking at over chapters 11 to 14.
Imagine the gift of healing,
being able to pray for someone and seeing their illness removed.
Or imagine the gift of miraculous powers,
the power to change a circumstance supernaturally.
Imagine the gift of faith,
that ability to step out and achieve great things for God.
Or imagine the gift of tongues,
speaking in an unknown language
that only God can understand what you're saying.
What about the gift of encouraging
and comforting?
Coming alongside someone quietly
and speaking words to them
that build them up.
Any takers for the gift of encouraging?
Well, look at verse 18.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
But in the church,
that is, when the church gathers together
just as we are right now,
I would rather speak five intelligible words
to instruct others
than 10,000 words in a tongue.
You see, the church in Corinth
believed that the more spectacular your gift was,
well, the more spiritual you were.
And in particular,
if you could speak in tongues,
well, you were seen to be part of the spiritual elite.
And if you couldn't speak in tongues,
well, you were spiritually inferior.
You were a kind of second-class Christian.
Well, such thinking was destroying
and dividing the church.
As he reminded us back in chapter 12.
Have a look at chapter 12, verse 18.
Whatever gift we might like,
we do not get to choose
what gift we want.
Look at chapter 12, verse 18.
But in fact,
God has arranged the parts in the body,
every one of them,
just as he wanted them to be.
Verse 29.
Are all the prophets?
Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
The answer is obviously no.
God is the one who gives gifts to his church,
just as he determines.
However,
those who are spiritually mature,
verse 31,
but eagerly desire
the greater gifts.
Those who are mature in faith
are to desire
the greater gifts.
Well, what are the greater gifts
that we should desire?
Well, that's what chapter 14
is all about.
Three things we learn here
about the greater gifts
that we should desire.
First,
desire gifts
that build up
the church.
Look at verse 1,
chapter 14.
Follow the way of love
and eagerly desire
spiritual gifts,
especially
the gift of prophecy.
Now, why
is he encouraging us
to desire
the gift of prophecy?
Well, the value of our gift,
whatever gift we might have,
is not measured
by how it benefits me,
but in how it builds up
the church.
So look at verse 4.
The person who speaks
in a tongue,
that is,
in an unknown language,
edifies himself,
but he who prophesies
edifies
or builds up
the church.
You see,
the gift of tongues
or the ability
to speak
in an unknown language
is only of value
to self.
It builds up
just one person.
The gift of prophecy,
however,
is of greater value
and worth
because it can build up
the whole church,
many people.
So he encourages us,
verse 12,
since you are eager
to have spiritual gifts,
try to excel
in gifts
that build up
the church.
That's why Paul
has begun
this whole argument
in chapter 14
with the command
in verse 1.
He starts off
by telling us,
follow the way
of love,
verse 1.
You see,
love is not
self-centred.
Love is
others-centred.
Love is not
self-seeking
or self-promoting.
Love doesn't come
to a gathering
like this
on a Sunday
and wonder,
what is somebody
going to do for me?
Or what can I get
out of this
for me?
Love comes
and reaches out
for the good
of others.
So in love,
we are to eagerly
desire spiritual gifts
that are
others-centred.
Gifts that build
up the church
rather than
building up self.
Now,
one example
of a gift
that builds
up the church
is the gift
of prophecy.
But what is
the gift
of prophecy?
Well,
it's hard
for us
to be
absolutely sure
what prophecy
is,
as Paul doesn't
actually give us
a clear definition.
It's one of those
things that we're
scratching our head,
like,
what does it
actually mean?
Well,
we are given
the goal
or perhaps
the aim
of prophecy
and we're
told what
that is.
So have a look
at what the goal
of prophecy is.
Maybe that helps
us to understand
a little better
what it is.
So look at
verse 2.
In contrast
to tongues,
he says this.
Verse 2,
for anyone
who speaks
in a tongue,
that is an
unknown language
or an unlearned
language,
so it's not
something like
Spanish
or Russian
or Chinese
or anything
else like that.
It's an
unknown,
unlearned
language.
For anyone
who speaks
in a tongue
does not
speak to men
but to God.
So it's like
a private
prayer to God.
Indeed,
no one
understands them.
He utters
mysteries with
his spirit.
But,
everyone
who's
prophesied
speaks to
men and
women
for their
strengthening,
encouragement,
and comfort.
We see
something similar.
Have a look
at verse 31.
For you
can all
prophesy
in turn
so that
everyone
may be
instructed
and
encouraged.
So,
from those
few verses,
we can
see that
the goal
or the
aim of
prophecy,
the outcome
of prophecy
is to
strengthen,
encourage,
comfort,
and instruct.
In fact,
as we'll see
in a minute,
it can actually
lead an
unbeliever
to faith.
Have a look
at the end
of verse 25.
So,
this is in
the context
where somebody
has prophesied
and look
what happens
at the very
end of verse 25.
he will
fall down,
the unbeliever
will fall down
and worship
God,
exclaiming,
God is
really
among you.
Now,
as we think
about that,
if we are
people who
are going
to strengthen,
encourage,
comfort,
instruct,
and lead
an unbeliever
to faith
in Christ,
well,
then the only
way that's
going to
happen
is by
speaking the
truth of
God's word
into people's
lives.
Of course,
prophecy may
be more
than that,
but at
the very
least,
it is
speaking
truth
from God,
applying
the scriptures,
applying what
God has
given to us
into each
other's lives
so that
the church
is built
up.
Have a look
at verse
5 of
chapter 14.
So I
would like
every one
of you
to speak
in tongues,
but I
would rather
have you
prophesy.
Here's the
reason.
He who
prophesies is
greater than
the one who
speaks in
tongues,
unless he
interprets,
so that
the church
may be
edified.
So,
we are
to desire
gifts that
build up
the church,
especially
the gift
of prophecy.
The second
big thing,
as we think
about greater
gifts,
desire gifts
that use
intelligible
words.
Desire gifts
that use
intelligible
words.
Verse 6.
Now,
brothers and
sisters,
if I come
to you,
and speak
in tongues,
what good
will I be
to you?
You're not
going to
understand what
I'm saying.
What good
will I be
to you,
unless I
bring to
you some
revelation,
or knowledge,
or prophecy,
or word of
instruction?
Now,
again,
we can have
lots of
ideas as to
what they
actually all
mean,
the gifts
that we
have there
in verse
6.
We're not
told exactly
what each
one are.
But what
we can
say for
certain is
that revelation,
a word of
knowledge,
or prophecy,
or word of
instruction,
they're all
word gifts
that communicate
a clear,
intelligible
message.
So,
if we're
going to be
people who
build up
the church,
then we
should desire
gifts that
communicate
with
intelligible
words.
There should
be clarity,
not confusion.
Verse 7.
Even in the
case of
lifeless things
that make
sounds,
such as the
flute or
harp,
or as in our
case today,
a guitar and
the beat of
a drum
box,
how will
anyone know
what tune
is being
played unless
there is a
distinction
in the
notes?
How would
we know
what to
sing if
it's just
the same
chord that's
played the
whole way
through?
Just as
music brings
clarity and
produces a
recognisable
tune,
so our
words should
bring clarity
to one
another.
Or verse 8.
Again, if the
trumpet does
not sound a
clear call,
who will get
ready for
battle?
So this is
going back to
ancient times,
times where
the person
would blow
the bugle
and it
would send
a clear
message to
the troops
to get
ready for
battle.
Well, in
the same
way, our
words should
send a
clear message
that is
easily
understood.
Verse 9.
So it is
with you.
Unless you
speak intelligible
words with
your tongue,
how will
anyone know
what you
are saying?
it will be
just as if
you are
speaking into
the air.
Now I am
sure we have
all heard the
expression.
I heard it
just last
week.
Preach the
gospel and
if necessary
use words.
Do you know
what verse
that comes
in?
What part
of the
Bible?
Anybody
know?
It is
often quoted
as if it
comes from
the Bible.
It is not
actually in
the Bible.
And the
biblical
writers,
including
Paul,
would
completely
disagree
with
preach the
gospel and
if necessary
use words.
The point is
we cannot
preach the
gospel and
we cannot
build each
other up
by comforting,
encouraging and
strengthening and
leading someone
to Christ
without using
words.
Our words
communicate a
clear and
intelligible
message that
will strengthen
and encourage
comfort and
instruct.
So,
verse 12,
so it is
with you,
if you are
eager to
have spiritual
gifts,
try to
excel in
gifts that
build up
the church.
Desire word
gifts like
prophecy because
they will cause
the church to
grow and be
strong.
Now that
doesn't mean
that everyone
has to be a
preacher.
Or that you
have to have
the ability
to teach at
Munster Bible
College or to
be able to
lead a Bible
study with a
group of
people.
But it does
mean that we
as individuals
can begin to
speak the word
of God into
each other's
lives.
What would
that look like?
Well, it might
be that you've
been reading your
Bible through the
week and there's
some scriptures
in your mind
and you're
thinking,
that will
really be
helpful for
and I'm
going to
share that
with them.
Or I'm
going to
send a text
message to
them or an
email.
Or it could
be that in
the course of
conversation with
someone, the
Spirit brings to
mind and prompts
you with a
word of
encouragement.
You might not
even be aware
of what's going
on in the
person's life,
but the
Spirit prompts
you and gives
you a word
from God to
encourage them
and comfort
them and
build them
up.
So here we
are encouraged
to speak
intelligible,
clear words
into each
other's lives
so that we
are growing
and become
strong.
So clarity,
not confusion.
But we must
also use our
mind.
Well you say,
well what about
this gift of
tongues?
That's a word
gift, isn't it?
Shouldn't we
encourage people
to use that
gift in the
life of the
church?
Well that was
the problem in
the church at
Corinth.
They thought
that to speak
in tongues
and unintelligible
language was far
superior and Paul
is arguing through
this saying,
no all it does
is bring confusion.
Have a look at
verse 13.
For this reason
anyone who
speaks in a
tongue,
an unlearned
language,
should pray
that he may
interpret what
he says.
So if someone
in the church
such as a
gathering like
this,
if you have
the gift of
tongues
and you've
got a message
of encouragement
or comfort for
someone,
to make it
profitable and
beneficial for
the person or
for the whole
church,
at that moment
they should be
asking God to
enable them to
speak clearly
and intelligibly,
to interpret
so that they are
speaking words that
people will
understand.
That's how Paul
uses his gift of
tongues.
Look at verse
14.
He says,
For if I pray
in a tongue,
my spirit prays,
so the spirit
is at work in
my life,
but my mind
is unfruitful.
I don't know
what I'm saying
and nobody else
will understand
what I'm saying.
Verse 15.
So what shall
I do?
Well, I will
pray with my
spirit,
but I will
also pray
with my mind.
I will sing
with my spirit,
but I will
also sing
with my mind.
In other words,
we don't leave
our minds at
home when we
gather on a
Sunday.
We use our
God-given minds
so that people
will understand
with their minds
what is being
said.
Verse 18.
I thank God
that I speak in
tongues more
than all of you.
So Paul is
not saying the
gift of tongues
is wrong,
because he
clearly uses it,
so it's not a
wrong thing.
But if anybody
does have the
gift of tongues,
it should be
used for
personal and
private use,
not for public
or corporate
use.
That surely is
what he's saying
in verse 19.
But in the
church,
as the church
gathers,
I would rather
speak five
intelligible words
to instruct
others than
ten thousand
words in a
tongue.
God's
word gift.
So let me
encourage us
when it comes
to our tea
and coffee
time.
How many
times have
you heard it
said,
speak to
each other
and encourage
each other?
How many
times have
you heard
that?
Well, in
case you
haven't heard
it, let me
say it again.
When you
have tea and
coffee, it's
a great
opportunity to
put into
practice
our word
gifts.
As the
spirit prompts
you and
equips you
over tea
and coffee,
the spirit
will give you
that courage
to actually
go up to
somebody and
not just
say, oh,
isn't the
weather lovely
or what did
you think of
the match?
I'm sure
that is
helpful.
But does
it encourage
us in the
faith?
Speak
these words
that the
Lord is
giving us.
Maybe
somebody is
down and
they need
comforted.
Maybe
somebody is
struggling and
they need
encouraged.
Maybe
somebody is
walking away
from Christ
and they
need
instructed.
It isn't
just the
preacher up
front who
has to
do that.
So desire
word gifts
like prophecy
so that
together we
can build
up the
church.
So desire
gifts that
build up
the church,
desire
gifts that
use intelligible
words,
and desire
gifts that
communicate the
gospel.
This is where
it's all
heading.
Look at
verse 20.
Brothers
and sisters,
stop thinking
like children.
Would you
grow up?
stop thinking
in this
spiritually
immature way.
Of course,
verse 20,
in regard to
evil, be
infants, so
have an
innocent mind
about things
that are evil
or not of
God, but
in your
thinking,
be adults.
Be
spiritually
mature.
When it
comes to
desiring
gifts,
desire
prophecy
over tongues
because it
will build
up the
church.
In fact,
prophecy
can lead
an unbeliever
to faith
in Christ.
Let's
see how
that's
true.
First,
unintelligible
words lead
to unbelief.
Look at
verse 21.
In the
law,
or in the
scriptures,
that's the
Old Testament,
it is
written,
through men
of strange
tongues and
through the
lips of
foreigners,
I will
speak to
this people,
but even
then they
will not
listen to
me, says
the Lord.
Well, what's
all that
about?
Well, we
need to go
back to
Isaiah chapter
28.
So, keep
your finger
in 1
Corinthians
14.
Go back
to Isaiah
chapter
28,
which is
on page
7-1-1.
because what
we just
read there
is a
quote from
the prophet
Isaiah in
chapter 28.
So, go
with me,
we're going
to follow a
few verses
there.
Isaiah
chapter 28,
page 7-1-1.
So, this
is God
speaking
through
the prophet
Isaiah
with a
clear,
intelligible
message
to the
people of
Israel.
And the
big message
through the
whole book,
like much
of the
prophets,
is calling
the people
to repentance
and to
come back
to God.
Stop
following
your ways
of idols,
turn back
to the
Lord.
That was
the clear,
intelligible
message
to the
people.
But how
do the
people respond?
Well, look
at verse
7 of
chapter 28.
And these
people,
these also
stagger from
wine and
reel from
beer.
Their
priests and
their prophets
stagger from
beer and
are befuddled.
What a
great word.
Befuddled
with wine.
They reel
from beer.
It seems
that they're
far too
busy drinking
beer and
wine and
slurring their
own words
rather than
listening to
God's clear
word.
In fact,
they just
laugh at
Isaiah.
Look at
verse 9.
Who is he
trying to
teach?
To whom
is he
explaining
his message?
To
children
weaned from
their milk?
To those
just taken
from the
breast?
What Isaiah
says, it's
all baby
talk.
Did you
ever hear
him?
Goo,
goo,
goo?
Verse 10.
For it
is do
and do,
do and
do,
rule on
rule,
rule on
rule,
a little
here,
a little
there.
What's
all that
about?
Well,
it's
actually,
if we
know that
our Old
Testament is
written in
Hebrew,
it's trying
to get
across a
translation,
which is
actually better
if we do
read Hebrew
itself.
So at
the bottom
of your
page,
you'll
probably
see a
little
note
at the
very
bottom
in
Hebrew.
Do you
have it
there?
Can you
follow with
me?
Don't
normally do
this.
I'm not
an expert
in Hebrew.
I'm only
reading what's
here.
But you
see,
it gives
the Hebrew
for verse
10.
It says,
sav,
la sav,
sav,
cav,
cav.
So we
can understand
that as
they're
listening to
Isaiah,
they're just
simply mocking
Isaiah the
prophet as
he brings
his clear
message.
Do you ever
hear what he
says?
Sav,
la sav,
sav,
la sav,
blah,
blah.
On and
on he
goes,
cav,
la cav,
cav,
la cav,
yap,
yap.
A silly
message and
they don't
want to
hear.
But what
is God's
response?
Chapter
28,
verse 11.
Very
well then,
with
foreign lips
and strange
tongues,
God will
speak to
this people
to whom
he said,
this is
the resting
place,
let the
weary rest,
in other
words,
come back
to me,
and this
is a
place of
repose.
But they
would not
listen.
Because of
their refusal
to listen
to the
clear message
of God,
God is
now going
to speak
through
foreign
lips,
through a
foreign
language.
That great
nation,
the Assyrians,
a people
who are
going to
speak a
different
language,
and then
that mighty
nation who
comes in,
and we know
for history
they did
invade Israel,
will come
and destroy
you and
defeat you.
So he's
warning them
and saying
to Israel,
when you
hear the
Assyrian
soldiers
walking down
your street,
and you
cannot
understand
what they're
saying,
you will
know that
God's
judgment
has come
upon you.
With
foreign lips
and strange
tongues,
God will
speak to
this people.
Back to
1 Corinthians
chapter 14.
You see,
it's important
that when we
read our
Bibles,
we get the
context of
what's actually
being said.
tongues,
so back
to verse
22.
Tongues,
then,
are a sign
not for
believers,
but for
unbelievers.
It's a sign
for those
who have
no belief,
or those
like Israel
in the past
who ignored
the word
of God
and refused
to believe
what God
had to say.
It was almost
like a
judgment
had come
upon them.
There was
nothing more
that they
could hear
from God.
It was
all gibberish.
Verse 22.
Prophecy,
however,
is for
believers,
those who
will believe,
not for
unbelievers,
or those who
will refuse
to believe
God's
message.
Now,
all of this
is applied
to the local
church,
when we
gather.
And that
is,
intelligible
words leads
to belief.
So look
at verse 23.
If the
whole church
comes together,
just as we
are right now,
and everyone
speaks in
tongues,
and some
who do not
understand,
or somebody
who's not
yet a believer,
or some
unbelievers
come in,
will they
not say
that you
are out
of your
mind?
the only
conclusion
they will
come to
is that
the church
has gone
completely
mad.
Rather than
lead people
to believe,
it will cause
them not
to believe,
just as it
was for
Israel.
It was like
a hardening
of their
heart.
They didn't
know what
was going
on anymore.
They
couldn't
hear God's
clear message.
Verse 24.
But if
an
unbeliever
or someone
who does
not
understand
comes in,
while everybody
is prophesying,
that is,
people are
encouraging,
comforting,
instructing
one another,
they will be
convinced by
all that he
is a sinner
and will be
judged by
all,
and the
secrets of
his heart
will be
laid bare.
The
person,
the
unbeliever,
who is
part of
the gathering
will hear
the clear,
intelligible
message of
God,
they will
begin to
hear through
people's
conversations,
the truth
of who
Jesus is
and what
Jesus has
done.
That God
has forgiven
us of all
of our
sin,
that he's
adopted us
as his
children into
his family,
that he's
guaranteed us
an eternity
in his good
and perfect
kingdom,
that we
can enjoy
God and
know his
love in
our lives.
And as
people talk
and build
each other
up with
God's
words,
so
unbelievers
will hear
the truth
of God
be convicted
of their
sin and
come to
face in
Christ.
Isn't
that
incredible?
That over
a cup of
tea,
that someone
could overhear
your conversation
with someone
else,
or in a
little group
or as you
meet up with
friends during
the week,
as they hear
you talk with
somebody else
about your
faith and how
God has
helped you,
that God
could use
that to
turn someone
to Christ?
They will
fall down and
worship God,
exclaiming God
is really among
you.
So,
as we come
to the end
of this section
in chapter 14,
the encouragement
is to us
all to
desire gifts
that build up
the church.
Yes,
God gives
them,
but we can
ask,
we can pray,
and as we
ask for gifts
that build up
the church,
desire gifts
that use
intelligible
words,
word gifts
like prophecy,
asking,
and desire
gifts that
will communicate
the gospel
clearly to
those who
do not yet
believe,
gifts like
prophecy.
May God
encourage us,
comfort,
strengthen,
and instruct
us through
one another
as we
speak God's
word into
each other's
lives.
Let's pray.
Our Father
God,
we thank you
that you
have spoken
a clear,
intelligible
message to
us through
your Son,
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
and by
your Spirit
you have
opened up
our minds
so that we
can understand
all that you
have given
to us.
And it's
our desire,
Father,
would you
please fill us
afresh with
your Holy
Spirit.
Would you
give to
this church
gifts that
build one
and
build one
another up?
No matter
how timid
we may
feel,
no matter
how self-conscious
we may feel
when we
speak,
Father,
give us
words that
we can
speak into
each other's
lives,
that will
encourage and
build up and
instruct and
comfort those
who are
struggling,
leading people
back to
Christ,
so that we
are built
up together
as your
people.
So,
Father,
do your
work amongst
us.
Pour out
your Spirit,
we pray,
and we
ask this for
your honour
and for your
glory,
that people
will come
to faith
and that we
will go on
to follow
Jesus.
We ask
this in
his name.
Amen.
Well,
we're going
to sing
together,
connected to
what we've
been thinking
of this
morning.
Speak,
O Lord.
It's a
prayer that
God,
as we read
the word,
as we're
listening to
him,
that God
would speak
to us,
so that we
in turn can
speak to
one another.
Let's stand
together as
we sing.
speak, O Lord,
as we come
to you,
to receive
the fruit
of your
holy word.
take your
truth,
plant it
deep in us,
shape and
flesh it
up in
your
likeness.
That the
light of
Christ
might be
seen
today
in our
acts of
love
and our
deeds of
faith.
Speak, O
Lord,
and fulfill
in us
all your
praise.