Today’s service came to you courtesy of Pam, Viv and Tel!
We joined the Baptist Assembly in a prayer across the country at 11:05.
Viv Neville brought us the message from John 14: 1 to 14
The disciples are anxious, confused and afraid. They’ve been with him for three years but they still need reassurance. Jesus tells them here to not be overcome with fear and to trust in Him. He gives them troubling news but is comforting them.
Viv shares that we’ve all been scared at times. The Lord is telling us to take one day at a time. We don’t really know what is coming, so just get through today.
We only have this moment in time.
Jesus is reassuring the disciples and us there is eternal life for us and that a place has prepared a place and an eternal future for us.
Faith in God does not remove trouble.
Jesus goes on to say his is the way the truth and the light. Thomas asks and is told. Jesus is the way to god and salvation.
Jesus is the truth and don’t we need this at the moment.
People are searching for truth but a lot are looking in the wrong places.
Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus asked “Don’t You know Me?” They had been with him for a long time.
Viv asked for three volunteers, She offered them the names, Ice water and stream. Three different forms of the same thing. The trinity is the same.
To know what God is like, we simply need to look at Jesus.
Compassion, holiness, mercy, justice and love. Jesus was missioning us to take the Gospel to our corner of the world.
The disciples and all who came to believe. They took the message to the wider world.
I can only imagine as a song went world while with 5 million downloads. Yet its author wrote it in 10 minutes.
Viv shared the work she has done with the Orb. Setting up a Facebook page results in thousands of views.
2.6 billion or 31.7% of the world identify as Christians worldwide. Don’t hide your light, keep an ear in heaven and the other on earth.
Trust in God in uncertainty. We are called to continue the mission wherever we are.
Conferences, workshops and courses
Matty’s message: Be a new creation
Matty reflected on the progress of the Alpha course.
Faith comes from hearing, you may doubt your own ability but don’t ever doubt what god can do.
Those who trust in themselves are fools. it is better to trust in the Lord than put trust in man. Centre your confidence in God and not in yourself.
He reflected on the actions of Thomas, a man who walked alongside Jesus for three years and heard all his teachings but still was full of doubt.
Did Jesus condemn him for this?
No, he welcomes those with sincere doubts and questions. And Alpha is a great example of this.
There are people in the congregation thinking of baptism, and isn’t that a marvellous thought. It is best summed up in 2 Corinthians 5:17 He is a new creation, the old is gone!
I’m back…. Your heart is not an AirBnB
Ephesians 3 14-21
The letter is written to encourage them. A number of early manuscripts didn’t have verse one so there is a theory that this letter went to more than 1 church. Paul prays with total confidence and faith in his father. Paul kneeling here is showing humility. Like Paul we know our mistakes and the people we’ve hurt. Yet God still loves us.
Solomon David Ezra Daniel Peter and even Jesus prayed on their knees. The posture of our bodies matters less than the posture of our hearts. After all, some of us if we get down on our knees, we’re not getting back up without help. Paul’s shows us what humility means.
Pauls prayer should be our prayer as well. Praying for strength as we cannot do life without the power and strength that the Holy Spirit gives us.
Paul uses the word dwell deliberately. God should not be a short term visitor to our life and hearts.
No room in our heart is off limits. We need to surrender our entire inner being to him.
Why would Jesus want to love us? Why would he want to live in us? He created us we are not a mistake.
A rooted and established plant will grow. So will we, rooted in God’s love part of His family.
Whilst we still sinners God died for us. God wants us to know how much he loves us. His love covers our live and into eternity. It encompasses everything.
His love is deep enough to forgive us, to support us in our darkest moments.
Yvette shared her anger about when her mum died. She needed her yet God took her. Amanda Judith and Yvette had to immerse in prayer.
Jesus death on the cross was not a plan B. It was the sacrifice that was needed.
Jesus went to the cross knowing a lot of people would not believe. Yet he took on our sins, became human and died in pain for us. Why? To heal the separation between us and God.
We should be able to say to others I know that God loves me. We need to be able to share this with others. People need to experience it for themselves. V19 talks about full measures. No short measures from Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Amazing things happen if we experience the fullness of God, if we invite him in, if we put him first.
We need to be the people he moulded us into. God wants everyone to be saved, not separated for eternity.
It’s life changing and infectious. We want to share with others.
You are worth dying for, you are special, you are loved.
The lectionary today 1 Peter 2 2-10 tells us to crave pure spiritual milk. Being with God, like a baby, helps us to grow and mature in faith.
Peter the Rock is using stones for a different illustration here. We no longer need a mediator to talk to God. We learn how much we are loved, and we need to share this.
Jesus wants to live in us.
Yvette closed by using the words of Ephesians 3: 14-21 as a prayer for us all.
The letter is written to encourage them. A number of early manuscripts didn’t have verse one so there is a theory that this letter went to more than 1 church. Paul prays with total confidence and faith in his father. Paul kneeling here is showing humility. Like Paul we know our mistakes and the people we’ve hurt. Yet God still loves us.
Solomon David Ezra Daniel Peter and even Jesus prayed on their knees. The posture of our bodies matters less than the posture of our hearts. After all, some of us if we get down on our knees, we’re not getting back up without help. Paul’s shows us what humility means.
Pauls prayer should be our prayer as well. Praying for strength as we cannot do life without the power and strength that the Holy Spirit gives us.
Paul uses the word dwell deliberately. God should not be a short term visitor to our life and hearts.
No room in our heart is off limits. We need to surrender our entire inner being to him.
Why would Jesus want to love us? Why would he want to live in us? He created us we are not a mistake.
A rooted and established plant will grow. So will we, rooted in God’s love part of His family.
Whilst we still sinners God died for us. God wants us to know how much he loves us. His love covers our live and into eternity. It encompasses everything.
His love is deep enough to forgive us, to support us in our darkest moments.
Yvette shared her anger about when her mum died. She needed her yet God took her. Amanda Judith and Yvette had to immerse in prayer.
Jesus death on the cross was not a plan B. It was the sacrifice that was needed.
Jesus went to the cross knowing a lot of people would not believe. Yet he took on our sins, became human and died in pain for us. Why? To heal the separation between us and God.
We should be able to say to others I know that God loves me. We need to be able to share this with others. People need to experience it for themselves. V19 talks about full measures. No short measures from Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Amazing things happen if we experience the fullness of God, if we invite him in, if we put him first.
We need to be the people he moulded us into. God wants everyone to be saved, not separated for eternity.
It’s life changing and infectious. We want to share with others.
You are worth dying for, you are special, you are loved.
The lectionary today 1 Peter 2 2-10 tells us to crave pure spiritual milk. Being with God, like a baby, helps us to grow and mature in faith.
Peter the Rock is using stones for a different illustration here. We no longer need a mediator to talk to God. We learn how much we are loved, and we need to share this.
Jesus wants to live in us.
Yvette closed by using the words of Ephesians 3: 14-21 as a prayer for us all.
Prayer as a new thing
Matty brought us the message that prayer was the topic discussed two weeks ago. He said that for some on the alpha course this might the first time they encounter the idea of prayer. He referred us to James 4:2. when we do n0ot pray we limit what God may do in our lives.
Matty also drew our attention to 1 Thessalonians’ 1:2.
Prayer is important, but the good news is there is no queuing system when praying to our Lord.
Matty also drew our attention to 1 Thessalonians’ 1:2.
Prayer is important, but the good news is there is no queuing system when praying to our Lord.
The Word of the Lord stands forever
1 Peter 1: 13 to 25
This is the Peter who got things wrong, who struck of the soldiers ear, who denied Jesus and fled. Yet hear he is speakiing with boldness and confidence. Why, because he had seen his Lord and Saviour rise from the dead. He’s standing here telling the Jewish people the enormity of what they have done. They begged him to tell them what they could do. Repent and be baptised was his answer.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Amanda used a jug of water and juice as symbol of what this looks like, when the Holy Spirit comes to fill our life, to infuse our whole being.
Luke wrote Acts to show that God is doing something new in the world through Jesus Christ and no human barrier would stop this happening.
With many words he warned them and pleaded with them. 3,000 were saved that day.
We have to be ambassadors for Christ. Peter penned his letter to the world, to all people.
Jesus is here for everyone. Jesus came for all, every human being. Amanda mentioned a Muslim student Nabeel Quereshi “Seeking Allah, finding Jesus”. His roommate was a Christian who showed love and gentleness, did not push a message but simply lived as a Christian should.
1 Peter 13 tells us that we will get to see the full power and person of the Son of God.
Some of our friends from Alpha are finding a difference in their lives as they come to know Jesus.
One of the congregation had also shared that she had put herself between two people as a peacemaker, speaking gently, calming the situation. The Holy Spirit works through us. Don’t be fooled though. At an early point in her life she had been trained to resolve things in a much more physical way.
Remember that God sometimes gives us life experience to understand people and offer empathy but the results are all His.
How do we do what he calls us to do. Well be holy , like Peter shared. Not with money, but through the precious blood of Christ. ….Your faith and hope are in God.
We are to live out our times as foreigners in reverent fear. Put a fleece out for the Lord, asking for clarity, but know that you will have to walk in faith, renew your spirits as set out in Ephesians.
Amanda used a bottle of J2O to demonstrate using the settled sediment to show that we need to shake up our life and renew and use our faith daily.
Romans 12 1-2 is clear about this need for renewal.
Amanda also shared an event from her training. An example had been offered about a group of people who went on a religious retreat. Their lives changed so much they worried about returning to the real world of jobs or family.
The word s displayed on our walls in church were put away because someone thought they were just a word for the 1980’s. They’re back on the wall because God’s words given to us do not have a sell by date. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us very clearly of this.
Are we ready to give our answer?
We closed with a prayer of thanks that starts “Good Morning God” and asks for discernment and a heart of obedience.
This is the Peter who got things wrong, who struck of the soldiers ear, who denied Jesus and fled. Yet hear he is speakiing with boldness and confidence. Why, because he had seen his Lord and Saviour rise from the dead. He’s standing here telling the Jewish people the enormity of what they have done. They begged him to tell them what they could do. Repent and be baptised was his answer.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Amanda used a jug of water and juice as symbol of what this looks like, when the Holy Spirit comes to fill our life, to infuse our whole being.
Luke wrote Acts to show that God is doing something new in the world through Jesus Christ and no human barrier would stop this happening.
With many words he warned them and pleaded with them. 3,000 were saved that day.
We have to be ambassadors for Christ. Peter penned his letter to the world, to all people.
Jesus is here for everyone. Jesus came for all, every human being. Amanda mentioned a Muslim student Nabeel Quereshi “Seeking Allah, finding Jesus”. His roommate was a Christian who showed love and gentleness, did not push a message but simply lived as a Christian should.
1 Peter 13 tells us that we will get to see the full power and person of the Son of God.
Some of our friends from Alpha are finding a difference in their lives as they come to know Jesus.
One of the congregation had also shared that she had put herself between two people as a peacemaker, speaking gently, calming the situation. The Holy Spirit works through us. Don’t be fooled though. At an early point in her life she had been trained to resolve things in a much more physical way.
Remember that God sometimes gives us life experience to understand people and offer empathy but the results are all His.
How do we do what he calls us to do. Well be holy , like Peter shared. Not with money, but through the precious blood of Christ. ….Your faith and hope are in God.
We are to live out our times as foreigners in reverent fear. Put a fleece out for the Lord, asking for clarity, but know that you will have to walk in faith, renew your spirits as set out in Ephesians.
Amanda used a bottle of J2O to demonstrate using the settled sediment to show that we need to shake up our life and renew and use our faith daily.
Romans 12 1-2 is clear about this need for renewal.
Amanda also shared an event from her training. An example had been offered about a group of people who went on a religious retreat. Their lives changed so much they worried about returning to the real world of jobs or family.
The word s displayed on our walls in church were put away because someone thought they were just a word for the 1980’s. They’re back on the wall because God’s words given to us do not have a sell by date. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us very clearly of this.
Are we ready to give our answer?
We closed with a prayer of thanks that starts “Good Morning God” and asks for discernment and a heart of obedience.