Slices
Prepare
Singing together plays an important part in Christian worship, more so than in any other religion. We sing to glorify God and the very act of singing is proven to be good for us, so today sing joyfully!
Bible passage
A psalm.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn –
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Explore
Far from interrupting our Easter readings, Psalm 98 blends in well and reminds us that we should enthusiastically praise God for the salvation he has provided for us.
We are to sing a new song (vs 1–3), one that rises from our hearts and expresses the joy we have as we experience God’s love and faithfulness. This is no stale song, reflecting a bygone experience, but a song pulsating with the joy of present encounter. How fresh is your worship?
We are to sing jubilantly (vs 4–6), reflecting the victory of God and accompanied by different instruments that help us to celebrate the rule of God, our King. How joyful is your worship?
We are to sing in harmony with all creation (vs 7–9), as we anticipate the return of Jesus and the coming of the justice of God, the liberation of the created order and the revelation of the glory of God (Romans 8:18–25). How expectant is your worship? Let’s worship God today with gladness!
Respond
Whether you attend church in person or watch online, let your worship of God be heartfelt. Rise above your feelings or your circumstances, reminding yourself why God is worthy of your praise. You will be blessed as a result.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 29,30; Psalm 36
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the ongoing construction of the Sports Complex being built by SU Madagascar and for the provision of all the funding. Pray that it will become a centre for evangelism, education and sustainable ministry.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
