Welcome to Trinity Church Aldgate. We are really glad you’re here with us today! Below you’ll find all the information you’ll need for today’s service.
Order of Service
Song – Psalm 150
Song – His Glory
Kids Spot
Birthday Song
Ministry Matters
Confession
Bible Reading – Excerpts from Job 3-14
Sermon – Words that Wound/ Faith that Fights – Chris Jolliffe
Prayers
Song – Be Thou My Vision
Bible passage
Job 3-14 – New International Version
Job 2:11-13
11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
and die as I came from the womb?
12 Why were there knees to receive me
and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For now I would be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep and at rest
25 How painful are honest words!
But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat my desperate words as wind?
27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless
and barter away your friend.
28 “But now be so kind as to look at me.
Would I lie to your face?
29 Relent, do not be unjust;
reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?
Can my mouth not discern malice?
17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
that you give them so much attention,
18 that you examine them every morning
and test them every moment?
19 Will you never look away from me,
or let me alone even for an instant?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?
Have I become a burden to you?
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
and forgive my sins?
For I will soon lie down in the dust;
you will search for me, but I will be no more.”
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 “How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.
3 Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 When your children sinned against him,
he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5 But if you will seek God earnestly
and plead with the Almighty,
6 if you are pure and upright,
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
and restore you to your prosperous state.
therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,
but tell me what charges you have against me.
3 Does it please you to oppress me,
to spurn the work of your hands,
while you smile on the plans of the wicked?
4 Do you have eyes of flesh?
Do you see as a mortal sees?
5 Are your days like those of a mortal
or your years like those of a strong man,
6 that you must search out my faults
and probe after my sin—
7 though you know that I am not guilty
and that no one can rescue me from your hand?
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?
Is this talker to be vindicated?
3 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?
Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless
and I am pure in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
12 Then Job replied:
2 “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
and wisdom will die with you!
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know all these things?
4 “I have become a laughingstock to my friends,
though I called on God and he answered—
a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
13 “My eyes have seen all this,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God.
4 You, however, smear me with lies;
you are worthless physicians, all of you!
5 If only you would be altogether silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
Sermon Outline
Words that Wound … Faith that Fights (Job 3-14)
1. Finding the right words …
2. Words that wound & Faith that Fights
| Eliphaz | Job | Bildad | Job | Zophar | Job | |
| Cycle 1 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9-10 | 11 | 12-14 |
| Cycle 2 | 15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Cycle 3 | 22 | 23-24 | 25 | 26 | – | 27 |
Assumptions of Job’s friends:
1. God is …
2. Therefore God …
3. So …
Verdict: 42:7 – no Satan, no waiting, no cross (innocent suffering)
Job ch3 ‘Darkness & misery’
(so … Ecclesiastes 3:4; Rom 12:15)
Eliphaz ch 4-5 Friendly Philosopher
(yet … 1 Peter 4:12-19)
Job ch 6-7 Pain & Forsakenness
(Isa 53.5; ‘My God, my God, why …?’)
Bildad ch 8 Angry traditionalist
(yet … Job 1-2, 1:5)
Job ch 9-10 Problems & solutions (?!)
(Hebrews 4:15,5:7, 9:14)
Zophar ch 11 Cruel Dogmatist
Job ch 12-14 Resurrection or Despair
3. The Anvil of the Cross
~ Righteous sufferer 1 Peter 2:19-24
~ Christ suffered for us 1 Peter 3:18
~ Sharing in his sufferings 1 Peter 4:12-19
Next Week’s Topic
Job 18-19 – Avoiding Hell – Chris Jolliffe
Communication slip
Whether you’re visiting us for the first time or one of our regulars, we would love to hear from you via the communication form below. Filling out and submitting the form here is really helpful for the staff and leadership to know how best we can help and support you. Feel free to include feedback, points for prayer, things you’d like us to work on and encouragements.