Sunday Focus
11th Jan 2026
Welcome to this weeks Sunday Focus, we pray you will be blessed.
Today the lectionary gives us readings on John The Baptist. In church we will have looked at the passage in John 1, which comes after Jesus has been baptised and tempted in the desert. Matthew 3 tells us of Jesus's baptism.
Hymn - Immortal Invisible
Song - Darkness Like A shroud
God of universal light, we worship You as our creator,
one whose unseen light blesses believer and unbeliever alike.
Today we bless You for our Saviour Jesus,
who was seen and heard and handled by human hands,
whose witness is so clear in our Bibles,
and whose Spirit joins with our spirits as we call You Father,
the Father of Jesus and our Father.
Today we shall remember how Jesus joined us in His baptism, as faithful servant, fully Your Son in His identification with our fallen human race.
And today we give thanks that our sins have been dealt with,
as we offer ourselves afresh to you in worship,
conscious of our sin and weakness,
but embracing afresh the love and forgiveness which light up our lives,
through this same Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Reading: Matthew 3:13-17
The baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’
15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’
Song - Light of The World
John 1:29-42
John testifies about Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.’
32 Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’[f]
John’s disciples follow Jesus
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning round, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’
They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’
39 ‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter.
Christus Victor (Amen))
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Hymn - To God be The Glory
May your light shine before others this week,
that they see the good things you do
and give honour to your Father in heaven.
May the Blessing of God go with you,
and those you love,
Amen.