蜜芽传媒

Radio 4鈥檚 Sunday Worship听

Palm Sunday Service 鈥� Life Church Bradford听

听

INTRO Jock James鈥�听

Welcome to Life Church! I鈥檓 pastor Jock James and together with my wife Shirley I lead LIFE Church here in Bradford. We are so glad you鈥檙e with us today鈥攚hether you're here in person or listening wherever you are.听

At LIFE Church, we believe in the power of faith and community, and today is a significant day鈥擯alm Sunday. This marks the beginning of Holy Week, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem to shouts of "Hosanna!" as people waved palm branches, welcoming Him as King. But they didn鈥檛 yet understand the incredible sacrifice He was about to make.听

So, as we step into this time of worship and reflection, let鈥檚 open our hearts to what God wants to speak to us today. We鈥檒l start with a prayer and then will join in worship with 鈥楬osanna鈥� a modern worship song led for us by Philippa Hanna鈥μ�

听

PALM SUNDAY PRAYER:听听

Heavenly Father,听

Today, we remember the moment Jesus rode into Jerusalem, welcomed with joy and shouts of "Hosanna!" But we know that His journey was leading to the cross鈥攆or us. As we reflect on the significance of Palm Sunday, we also look forward to reflecting on all you鈥檙e doing in our community, across the City of Bradford and beyond. Help us to welcome you fully into our hearts and lives, not just today but every day. As we step into Holy Week, remind us of Your love, Your grace, and the incredible hope we have in Jesus.听

In Jesus name, Amen.听

听

MUSIC: Hosanna (Hillsong) -鈥� Philippa Hanna鈥�听

听

听LINK: Philippa Hanna鈥�听

听I鈥檓 Philippa Hanna, a singer-songwriter and worship leader, and LIFE Church is my home. One of the things that makes this church so special is the culture of worship that has been woven into our DNA for decades. For over 40 years, a legacy of passionate worship has emerged from this house. And while the sound continues to evolve, the heart remains the same鈥攖o glorify God. What I love most is how our worship reflects the beauty of the UK Church鈥攄ifferent voices, styles, and expressions coming together as one.听

With Bradford set to be the UK City of Culture in 2025, it鈥檚 an exciting time to celebrate the richness of diversity in our city. Just as Bradford鈥檚 culture is shaped by many influences, so is our worship鈥攄rawing from different traditions, sounds, and nations. We see this reflected in our songwriting, in our church family, and in the powerful praise of cultures like Nigerian worship.听

None Like Jehovah is a song that carries this very heart鈥攁 bold, faith-filled declaration that there truly is no one like our God. He is mighty, unshakable, and moving in our lives right now.听

So let鈥檚 stand together, one church, one voice, and lift up the name of Jehovah! Led by Grace Olugunsi.听

听

听MUSIC: None Like Jehovah听

听听

听LINK INTO READING:听 Nadine鈥�鈥�听

Good morning, I鈥檓 Nadine - the Youth and Young adult Pastor at LIFE Church, delivering our reading today. I love moments like this in the Bible鈥攎oments that remind us of who Jesus really is. Today, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we鈥檙e looking at a powerful moment in Scripture鈥攚hen Jesus entered Jerusalem, not on a war horse, not with an army, but on a donkey. It was the fulfillment of prophecy, the sign of a different kind of King. The people waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!", welcoming Him with joy. But in just a few days, those same voices would be crying out for His crucifixion.听

It鈥檚 a passage that makes us stop and think鈥攚ho is Jesus to us? Do we welcome Him fully into our lives, not just in moments of celebration, but in the everyday, in the challenges, in the unknown?听

Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King.听

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, 鈥淕o to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.鈥澨�

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:听

5 鈥淪ay to Daughter Zion,听

鈥�鈥�鈥�鈥�鈥楽ee, your king comes to you,听

gentle and riding on a donkey,听

鈥�鈥�鈥�鈥痑nd on a colt, the foal of a donkey.鈥欌�澨�

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,听

鈥淗osanna[b] to the Son of David!鈥澨�

鈥淏lessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!鈥漑c]听

鈥淗osanna[d] in the highest heaven!鈥澨�

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 鈥淲ho is this?鈥澨�

11 The crowds answered, 鈥淭his is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.鈥澨�

听听MESSAGE:鈥�听 Jock James // 鈥榃ho is this Jesus鈥欌��听

听Such a rich scripture鈥�听

Jesus entry into Jerusalem -鈥� ultimately on His way to the cross听

As He arrived vs 10 people were stirred to ask 鈥榃ho is this Jesus?鈥澨�

听

Such an important question - do we see him as a story - a historical figure or good person but could it be that He was who He said He was - the son of God, the one鈥� that came to bring us back into relationship with our Heavenly father听

听

Imagine the scene - Rumour has been spreading听

Miracles / tax collectors and fisherman / pharisees / Roman Empire (keep the peace)鈥�鈥�听

He rides into the state and religious capital听

There were some who saw Him as the coming king鈥�听

People would lay cloaks and palms on the ground - tradition听

they shouted - Hosanna. - means 鈥楽ave now鈥櫶�

Saw Him as He is the saviour - it was the day 10th day of the month (Nisan) 4 days before鈥� Passover when the lamb to be sacrificed was chosen鈥�听

Here comes Jesus 鈥� the ultimate sacrifice - the one who would deal with sin and everything that separates us from a Holy God听

The one who had been spoken about in prophecy for hundreds of years earlier听

The one who came for ALL, for you and for me听

In his perfection he was to take our punishment so that we could go free听

He was the ultimate sacrifice - one person for all people, one time for all time鈥�听

yet others looked on and did not know or accept Jesus听

who is this Jesus?听

This picture didnt look like they thought it should - they had an idea of how things should be and this did not fit for them鈥�听

They expected a military leader - a mighty warrior yes Jesus came on a donkey - even a colt -鈥�听

a beast of burden鈥� - peace & humility听

鈥痶hat would bear sacrifice听

Jesus came into the city not to sit in a palace or parliament but rather he came in humility, in obedience even to death upon a cross鈥︹��.听

听

Though ultimately he would sit in the place of all power and authority 鈥�.. for HE was to have the ultimate victory because on the third day He would rise again, proving he was indeed who he said he was - he defeated everything even death on a cross and so invites us to love the resurrection life with Him.听

Who is this Jesus听

a prophet or the fulfilment of promise听

So just a carpenter or the true King?听

Who is this Jesus?听

If you were in that crowd watching Him enter would you shout hosanna ? Would you receive Him as king?鈥�鈥�听

Maybe it doesnt look like you thought it would look, maybe it seems too familiar鈥�. Maybe it seems to strange or surprising but the Question 鈥榳ho is this Jesus? - demands and answer.听

As we remember Palm Sunday - as Jesus makes His entrance who do you say He is.听

You can receive Him as king today.鈥�听

Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice and dealt with everything that separates us from our Father in heaven鈥�鈥�听

Not because of who we are or anything we have done鈥︹�� NO,鈥� but because of who He is and what He has done.听

We don鈥檛 need to be a certain type of person, or live a certain type of life or have a certain background - Jesus welcome all by His grace - we simply have to invite Him in , to receive Him as our king and saviour鈥�听

听

The King is here - will you receive Him , will you receive the victory He has won for you - will you receive by grace His love, forgiveness, peace, purpose.听

Millions around the world at Easter will welcome Him in鈥�. You can too.鈥�听

听

鈥榃e鈥檙e next going to hear from our head of Pastoral Care, Chris Sayburn, and first he鈥檒l sing Graham Kendrick鈥檚 song that sums up Jesus鈥� role as the servant King.鈥�听

听

MUSIC : Hymn - The Servant King (Graham Kendrick)// Chris Sayburn听听

LINK: Chris Sayburn听

听
We have heard how The Psalm Sunday Crowd raised their voices and laid down branches - believing Jesus to be their King. They thought He would be the one who would bring them freedom from powers that ruled over them. But Jesus came to bring freedom from the power that rules within them and within us - the power Sin that leads to Separation. But the Good news is that Jesus is the King who serves, and Jesus is the King who saves. He is the King who laid down His life on a cross once and for all so we can take up new life in Him. Christians have remembered and recited this Good news story for centuries through a statement of faith known as the 鈥渢he Nicene Creed鈥� (fun fact鈥�which this year is 1700 years old this year) It includes, 鈥淔or us and for our salvation he came down from heaven鈥�.He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;he suffered and was buried and on The third day he rose again鈥︹�澨�

听
It鈥檚 important we remember, this isn鈥檛 just 鈥淗istory鈥� This is His-Story, It鈥檚 also ours for In Jesus we are united in His love and victory. 听
We鈥檙e gonna sing a LIFE worship song now that really captures this. It鈥檚 called One People鈥�鈥�听

So let鈥檚 stand together, and lift up one voice in worship of the One who gave His all.鈥�听

听

MUSIC:鈥� One people // Philippa Hanna听

LINK:听 Fee Baxter鈥�听

Good morning everyone! I鈥檓 Fee Baxter, Head of Outreach here at LIFE Church. It鈥檚 great to be with you today and to share a little about the impact of our outreach work.听

At LIFE Church, we鈥檙e passionate about making a difference鈥攏ot just inside these walls, but throughout our city. We believe church isn鈥檛 just about Sundays; it鈥檚 about being the hands and feet of Jesus every day, right where people are.听

One way we do this is through LIFE Play, our purpose-built play center where families can connect in a safe environment. It also includes a bespoke sensory room, providing a welcoming space for children with additional sensory or special educational needs.听

But that鈥檚 just one part of a bigger mission. Whether it鈥檚 partnering with local charities鈥攍ike we did at Christmas, delivering thousands of gifts to families in need鈥攐r working on future plans for our community grocery, our heart is to bring hope to every corner of our city.听

As we go into our next song, King of Kings led by Eniola, let鈥檚 pray.听

听

Heavenly Father,听

Thank You for the incredible work You鈥檙e doing through all the outreach here at Life Church. We lift up every family, every child, and every person who walks through our doors鈥攎ay they experience Your love, joy, and peace. Bless the teams who serve so faithfully, giving their time and energy to make a difference in our city. We pray that You would open more doors, bring more opportunities, and continue to use us to be a light in Bradford.鈥�听

Amen.听

听

MUSIC:听 King of Kings (Hillsong)听听

听

PRAYERS:鈥� // Shirley James:鈥�听

Heavenly Father, as we step into Holy Week, we lift up Your Church across the UK. In every city, every town, and every gathering, may Your name be lifted high. We pray for pastors, leaders, and congregations as they share the message of Jesus鈥攎ay hearts be stirred, lives be changed, and people come to know You in a deeper way. Let this be a week where the Church shines brightly, where unity grows, and where hope is declared over our nation.听

And Lord, we pray for the community of Bradford鈥攆or families, for schools, for workplaces, for those in need. We ask for peace where there is struggle, for strength where there is weariness, and for Your love to be seen through the work of Your people. May Life Church, and every church in this city, be a light that points others to You.听

God, as we move towards the cross and the resurrection, remind us again of Your grace, Your sacrifice, and the victory we have in Jesus.听

We thank You, we trust You, and we give You all the glory.听

Amen.听

The Lord鈥檚 Prayer听

Our Father in heaven,听

hallowed be your name,听

your kingdom come,听

your will be done,听

on earth as in heaven.听

Give us today our daily bread.听

Forgive us our sins听

as we forgive those who sin against us.听

Lead us not into temptation听

but deliver us from evil.听

For the kingdom, the power,听

and the glory are yours听

now and for ever.听

Amen.听

听Jock James:听

It鈥檚 been such a great time together this morning. As we step into Holy Week, we remember that Palm Sunday was a moment of celebration鈥攃rowds cheering, hope in the air鈥攂ut it was also the start of something much bigger. The journey ahead for Jesus wasn鈥檛 easy. He faced challenge, suffering, and sacrifice.听

And life can be like that too鈥攎oments of joy followed by challenges we didn鈥檛 see coming. But the story doesn鈥檛 end in struggle. Good Friday reminds us of sacrifice, but Easter reminds us that hope always has the final word.听

So as we go into this week, let鈥檚 reflect, let鈥檚 take time to pause, and let鈥檚 look ahead to the joy of what鈥檚 coming. Pastor Shirley is going to pray a blessing over us as we close.听

(Shirley James prays):听

Father, we thank You for this time together.听
As we go from here, may we carry peace in our hearts, strength for the week ahead, and a fresh sense of hope. In the moments of reflection, remind us of the bigger picture, and as Easter approaches, fill us with joy and gratitude.听

Bless each person, each family, and this city, and may Your love go with us.听

In Jesus鈥� name, Amen.听

We end the service with a song by Bethel Music with the powerful lines -鈥�听

You are lifted high, holy听

Holy forever!听

听

MUSIC to play out:鈥� Holy Forever (Bethel)鈥�听

听