West View Baptist Church, Hartlepool

A family friendly church in the town of Hartlepool

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Old and New Testament: It’s all linked up. God’s coming

Amanda Jonny and ian led today and Tim brought the word.

We’re in advent and the readings often bounce between the old and new testament

Tim brought us the word from Zephaniah 4 14:20 and Like 3 7:end

Zephaniah and John the Baptist have slightly different messages. Tim told us that the 3rd Sunday in advent is joy or happy Sunday. He made us smile remembering remember Tola who used to greet all with that lovely expression “Happy Sunday”.

The passage in chapter 3 of Luke is uncomfortable. John didn’t go to preaching class, for effect Tim shouted you broad of vipers and suggested he might change his style int the new year. This doesn’t feel very Christmassy, remember when you were at school and the teacher left the room, chaos ensued! Always one by the door to warn teacher is returning.

John is doing the same here! Gods coming and he’s urging is to change our behaviours.

Love god and love your neighbour. Mica6 has the same message.

John the Baptist message is tough and people realise and coming to be baptised. But God demands a change of heart rather than just a ritual

What shall we do? Run for cover god’s coming. Repentance means a change of heart, a concern for others around them. If you see someone in need meet that need! In a world where the minority have the world’s majority of resources in our hand we need to act justly, in our workplaces and in our lives. We should make a difference wherever we are in the world.

God does not want us to be religious he wants us to reflects our beliefs in our whole lives. It’s difficult as we live bound by sin! The prophets had so many restarts so many fails.

God is coming what shall we do. John points to the one who is coming will give you the means to do it. He hurls up the beaten grain to drive away the light chaff and have the wheat remain.

It’s s purification process. We are refined and purged through the Holy Spirit. But what will the fire burn up? If only it were all so simple, insidious deeds, line cuts right to the heart.

Who can claim to be all wheat and no chaff?

The Holy Spirit cleans us from inside

Santa is supposed to knows whose been naughty according to the song but what an awful song. Christmas is about Jesus coming as him and dwelling amongst us to carry out one immense act to save us.

Rejoice says Zephaniah God has come.

Each of us needs a personal relationship with god, a change of heart, we carry the scars of failure we struggle to get it right. You can draw on the presence of the Holy Spirit. We need to let god in, to help our shivering hungry neighbour.

Advent takes back to the prophets of the old testament who tell the coming of Christ. Let us rejoice and be the people he wants us to be.

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John the Baptist, the watchmen and women and crazy and weird.

9 December Yvette brought us the word.

If someone asked you to name an important world event, would you have chosen the work of John the Baptist?

Luke thought this was so important he dated this and provided lots of evidence. It covered the period 28 to 29 AD.

The rulers mentioned here did not do a great job. They managed to antagonise the Jewish people. These rulers were supposed to keep the place stable. The Romans needed this place kept stable. John was a wild man separated for god. They have given themselves to god.

Like most of the important people in the bible  John the Baptist spent time in the wilderness. We may spend time in the Wilderness itself but it never lasts. John asked people to repent and be baptised. Luke makes sure people know that this for all not just a select group. But us important that we turn to God. We can’t earn our way into heaven . Just attending church does not get you in.

Keep trusting and obeying. Be the person God wants you to be. John was in the wilderness when he received Gods call. In chapter 30 Luke reinforces the importance of what John was doing. The Pharisees rejected gods plan by refusing to be baptised by them.

We have the same power and authority to speak whether we’re speaking to one or 10’000. Some of the people in this church have been called to be watchmen and women. We need to be obedient, don’t right off what might seem a bit crazy or weird. The bible is filled with the most unlikely people . There is a new horizon for god’s people. Being obedient and in the place god wants us to be is important. Whatever god has planned for the coming year may be not what we expect but let’s make sure we don’t miss it.

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Buy land when the invaders are coming

Jeremiah 33 14:16

Luke 21 25:36

Amanda and Tim led worship on 2 December.

Draw what you see not what you know is common advice from art teachers.

What do we see and then how does our faith equip us to deal with the world around us.

These apopolypitic texts were used to inspire the down trodden minorities.

Yet these are quoted by the majority, the placard wavers in cities. Somehow they want us to retreat into a cosy Christian retreat. Martin Luthor King a much better preacher according to Tim, gives a much closer view to Jeremiah . Jeremiah is improsoned yet those things he was imprisoned for are coming true. Jeremiah bought a piece of land, a crazy act when you’re about to be invaded. But the prophet knows things will be restored, the line of kings will be restored, an image of joy and hope.

Jeremiah puts out a message of hope. The davidic line was not restored as kings but this came to show the coming of the Lord. The message in Luke resembles Mark 13. In Luke we see things that were written decades after Mark. The times change in the Roman Empire. Tim reflected on our brother Peter’s funeral on Thursday. Peter wanted to be taken up in the clouds rather than the normal way of passing. The longing in the early Christians is for Jesus return. Luke used the image of the fig tree to reflect the growing discipleship. We’re advent people not Christmas people, called to speak hope, to be a prophetic community, to live counter culturally to those around us, there are dark silhouettes of bare trees yet you can see on the trees the next buds are there waiting to spring to life, decay leading to new life.

Where do we see that decay in life around us. Do we see the signs? Our instinct tells us to run for cover year Jesus tells us to stand up and be beacons of hope. Respond to what we see in faith and hope. Nelson Mandela, Malala.. there were targets yet became beacons of hope across all nations.
How might we be beacons of hope? How might we react to what we see and become something new.

Neither prophet or gospel writer wants us watching the clock. The new eta will happen in gods time.

What do you see happening in our works. Luke mentions redemption only once. It’s active hope , we know where this going, this is a call to discipleship. This year more than any other we need to say what needs to said and act. Christmas will come and go but we are advent people. The branch has sprouted. Tim closed with a poem from Denise Lebitov

It’s when we face for a moment
the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know
the taint in our own selves, that awe
cracks the mind’s shell and enters the heart:
not to a flower, not to a dolphin,
to no innocent form
but to this creature vainly sure
it and no other is god-like, God
(out of compassion for our ugly
failure to evolve) entrusts,
as guest, as brother,
the Word.

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25 November Christ The King Sunday

Today is the last day of the Christian year. This is Christ the king Sunday. The last day where we proclaim Christ is king, god reigns. It’s a message that is fitting in this week where people lives have altered. Tim read from Rev1 4:8 and John 18:33 40.

It’s nearly advent, and were being bombarded by adverts. Tim recalled an old advertising slogan “Whatever your world pc world.” It claims to obtain all the worlds knowledge and goods and being connected to everyone everywhere. You can have what you want. We allegedly have a world of unlimited resources.

It’s not the first time in history though, in about AD90 when John was imprisoned in Patmos the Romans were trying to claim imperium eternum rule for ever.

Imagine the room with a Roman , Pontius Pilate gazing at this man in front of him, Joshua Jesus accused of mortally offending the Jewish faith. Who cares , the governor thinks, we know how to deal with rabble rousers . He’s merely deluded he’s nothing compared to the Roman Empire. Pilate finds out for himself that Jesus answers a question with a question. Jesus incriminates himself with the statement  my kingdom. Jesus says something revolutionary here. His kingdom is of a different nature altogether. After the execution, when the governor had forgotten , his followers start calling him Lord. Most of the apostolic language is encouragement to stand firm against the power of the empire and proclaim Christ as the eternal king. The titles given by John to Jesus is who he is for us. Whatever your world Jesus is there. He is the faithful witness stood in front of Pilate. Martus is Greek for witness.

There is future beyond death, Christ’s kingdom is an eternal kingdom. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Jesus’ power is from God. Jesus kingdom is a kingdom of people like you and me a kingdom of weakness. Jesus the king still stands before the rulers and the powerful . He holds in his hands the poor the weak, the suffering. We are called to be agents of Jesus. Tim shared the testimony of a pastor from the 1980s lazlo Tokes, minister of Romanian church. His predecessor supported the communist , Tokes did not and his church grew to 5000. The bishop tried to have him evicted but people supported him and surrounded his house. 1000 people killed, but local pastor said “Let us pray” the people fellbto their knees and prayed the Lord’s Prayer. Days later the government fell.

Jesus said my kingdom is not of this world. No one will be mistaken when he comes again. John includes all the people . It isn’t clear whether the tears are of repentance or of sorrow at the coming judgement. Chapter 22 shows love conquers all that day with that sacrifice. The rule of the one who was and is and is to come. Talking to evangelists who referred to an eternity without Christ. Tim thinks there is no such thing as eternity without Christ. Whatever your world Jesus will be what he will be. The act of prayers invites is to change the world. This isn’t all there is folks. You and me can bring into this world a glimpse of gods world. The Lord’s Prayer May just be the most subversive acts, against Romans or others who believe they are in authority. Thank you we can proclaim you as king today. Help us fulfill your calling to be kingdom priests. Remind us of who you are.

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Don’t we love the buildings we gather in?

Esther brought us the word on 18 November. She observed that Don’t we just love our buildings,and asked what possessed the disciples?

24 hours before … Jesus is leaving the temple for the last time. Esther thinks Jesus was weeping inside. The building would be nothing in future. Jesus takes them to the Mount of Olives a fruitful place known for its abundance. Jesus knows this is the last opportunity for Him to share wirh his friends what will happen. The temple was a place for the poor , it was not a place for robbers and people to take advantage and Jesus had already thrown out those who sought to take advantage.

Esther came across a fantastic welcome statement St Paul’s church in Covent gardens. This is sometimes known as the Actors Church. They use the same welcome notice as Coventry Cathedral and we’ve decided to also display it as well in our entrance hallway.

Esther also thought she should extend a special welcome to those in need of prayer right now.

The Gentiles were not welcome,  the temple at that time was an exclusive god full of people who were not full of the heart of god. They were missing the point of the temple as a house of prayer to welcome everyone. God’s temple had become man’s institution. We find Jesus sitting on the Mount of Olives. He’s looking down on the temple. The disciples realised that they got it wrong in a big way. Herod remodelled it how he wanted it yet within 7 years of him finishing it was destroyed.

David them read Jesus last message to the disciples. Esther asked us to close our eyes and imagine ourselves on the Mount of Olives
Mark 13:3-8 NIV
[3] As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, [4] “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” [5] Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. [6] Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. [7] When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. [8] Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom….

Be prepared is what Jesus says. We need to live as if we are in the last days, share the love of Jesus as we go through life as Christians as friends families and colleagues. He died for each one of use whether we know it or not. Jesus became the temple and gave us access to God. Describes the pain of child birth that all who are mothers can recognise. Yet the reward of the birth of new life means everything. When we see the changes in society, persecution and war we need to bring Jesus to others. We need to be careful that we don’t take salvation for granted. Today is the day for prayer for the persecuted churches. We don’t know that personally but we’ll show a video that sheds more light on that . We remember the case of Asia Bibbi tried to get water from a well she asked the question to try to share her faith and to understand the point of view of other people. Despite a judge deciding she should be free she’s still not free as too many people want to kill her. When we know Jesus has rescued us this should help us to stand firm. The passage says whenever you are arrested and brought to trial the Holy Spirit will be with you.

So glad that when things come against we don’t need to worry.

Think about the wider world. Think about Terry H’s map showing how WVBC sits in the centre of a cross of the community. Think also about Terry W reflecting on the  people who made the difference to him. We need everyone on board to help people pray for those teaching out. Be encouraged, stand firm with our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Esther shared the situation her brother Malcolm is dealing with. He’s assisting in a court case in London to help an Iranian man prove he is a Christian! Imagine if we all had to do this.