Audlem Baptist Church Online Service for the 25^th May 2025 Flawed Follower This is the fifth service in this series.
Week Five: When the Pressure Hits
	Welcome and Introduction We are continuing our new series based around the life of the apostle Peter. It follows on wonderfully well from our Easter Sunday message and, for those of us who have watched the Film Nights of The Chosen or for those of you who are catching up with Series One, it provides additional insight into the lives of the apostles as they ‘followed’ Jesus. Were they chosen because they were the best applicants that applied to follow this itinerant rabbi? No, they were all flawed, and perhaps none more so than Peter. Nevertheless, Jesus chose him.
	Optional PDF Message Notes This is completely optional. Click here to open the message notes in a new tab. Select that tab to either view or print the notes on your home printer. If you choose to print the notes, you will gradually build up a complete set that will remind you of the things you have learnt during the series. If you want to do this, print the notes now, before we start.
	Song: Beneath the Cross of Jesus This week we approach the last days of Jesus life in the story of Peter, the flawed follower. Beautifully sung by Kristyn Getty, this song reminds us of just some of the things that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Click here to watch the video.
	The Message: When The Pressure Hits If you have a Bible to hand and want to follow the message, open it at Matthew chapter 26. Click here to watch the video. You can alter the Vimeo settings using the controls at the bottom right of the screen. The gear wheel on the left adjusts the quality (480 may be enough) and the four arrows on the right shows the video full screen. Vimeo will display Subtitles by toggling the control indicated by the CC box and choosing ‘English’ as the language.
	Song: The Denial Not a typical song, this time, but the song about Peter’s denial from Jesus Christ Superstar. The last line is: “I wonder how he knew”. It is only short, so you might like to listen to it twice. Did you go to see the musical at a theatre in the seventies? Click here to watch the video.
	Our Own Prayers As you watched the message today was there a moment when you sensed the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you? Then tell Jesus about it. Or maybe you simply had a ‘lightbulb’ moment which you would like to thank God for. Spend a few moments to thank God for all his goodness to you in the last week. Spend a few minutes in confession. Take a few minutes to pray for others who you feel burdened for. If you have received the Church Email, it will give you some suggestions. Now spend a few moments praying for the fellowship of the church to which we belong and its witness to friends, family, neighbours, the young and the old, and to the wider world.
	Optional Additional Video Filmed in the Holy Land Rene and the team travelled to Galilee to make a series of films – one for each week of the series. Each one gives more background to the story of the flawed follower and the other disciples and, for those of us who have watched The Chosen, adds more background to the gospel account. The film lasts about 12 minutes. You can either watch it now if you have time, or come back to it later by clicking the link on the ‘Services’ page on the website. Click here to watch the video now.
	A Closing Prayer Lord Jesus, In that courtyard your compassionate eyes held the weight of Peter's denial, a moment of fear and weakness. We confess our own struggles with fear, our moments of wavering, and our need for your grace. Like Peter, we fall short, but unlike Peter, we know how that story ended and we have the gift of your forgiveness. Forgive us our failings, and renew our hearts with your love. Knowing that You pray for us, may we, with Peter, rise from our fallen state and be strengthened in our faith, not in our own strength, but in yours, Amen.