Conferences, workshops and courses

Mark and Amanda led worship on 30 June and Yvette brought us the word . Amanda used bindweed to illustrate how we can be snarled up with problems. She showed how we needed to get rid of the things that snare us like bindweed.

Yvette told us we’re on a journey today and asked ” Have you packed everything?” This is the call to discipleship, Jesus is heading for Jerusalem, no wandering the equivalent of the A1 despite knowing that he is heading for the cross. He knows time is short and nothing is going to stop him. He looks on it as the time he will be received in heaven. He set off for Jerusalem for the blessings that he receives. We can share in that, God isn’t going to let us go through it alone. Samaria is a big obstacle on the ways. 3 Kings sets the scene with the Assyrian invasions. Jews thought of these settlers now known as the Samaritans as half breeds and not as good as them.

The good news of Jesus should be our answer. Notice how polite Jesus was, He sent men to try to prepare the way. James and John wanted to return hate for hate, but we all know how well that works. John and James had been told what you should do when faced with rejection ie move on, James and John showed great confidence in the power of Jesus. We need to use the power carefully in the way it should be used . To quote Peter Parker’s uncle Ben “with great power becomes great responsibility “

How many times have we leapt to God’s defence. God is perfectly capable of defending himself. You only have to look at social media to see how is it has got perfectly reasonable Christian people to end up attacking those who are different. James and John gave been told off and Jesus moved them on.

We encountered three blokes the first gets the answer that Jesus has no home. The man thinks he’s getting riches and fame and Jesus shows he doesn’t even have a home! The man did not know what following Jesus would mean and what the cost would be. Jesus goes into rough places today thanks to people who count the cost and go anyway. Let go of the bindweed that ties us up and drags us down. Nothing here on earth is permanent.

Bloke number 2. Asks to bury his dad first. He wanted to do his duty by his father, but it’s an excuse. How many times have we said yes lord but….

Bloke number 3 wants to go back and say farewell to his family but Jesus tells him that he can’t look back if he wants to serve the kingdom of God.

We need to use and trust Jesus to take care of us. Why don’t we want to get close to God? Are we scared? Yvette’s mum asked her once would she go to Australia without Dave and the kids, Yvette really struggled with this and God eventually showed her that he would never ask her to do anything she couldn’t.

What about other people’s opinion? What about struggling to read the Bible. Take it small chunks use the lectionary in the In Touch to help you week by week.

Be obedient trust him to take care, don’t follow the crowd, don’t look back,

Don’t cling to regrets or mistakes.

If we want to follow Jesus we need to count the cost and then follow anyway.

People will try to hold you back. We need to be Jesus to a broken world. Our journey is over for today but remember Jesus is our navigator.

ON May 26 Mark led worship and Yvette brought us the Word.

Jesus is the son incarnate. The early church towards the end of the first century was being split by bickering and difference. This passage is in the midst of a lot going on, Judas’ betrayal , Peter’s denial. This is the final discourse. Judas (the other one) is asking why Jesus is showing this to us, he’s asking why aren’t you doing things our way. Why only the few disciples and not to everyone.

Jesus’s answer seems odd, not really an answer as such. Since Pentecost the gospel has gone out to the whole world. But not all of the world see it this way only those who love him want to spend time with him. The word obey is a strong one. It’s a verse that can make you feel uncomfortable. We’re aware we get it wrong. But Jesus doesn’t give up he gives us a little prod to sort out our messiness. We don’t stop loving our kids if the don’t do what we’re told. Thankfully god is the same. We’re not in a master slave relationship . Jesus only did what his father told him and we should be the same. Remember it’s not about doing, but being.

We know of we’ve grieved the Holy Spirit. Paracletos is about being called. Jesus teaches us about God, he gives us the words when we don’t have any . We trust him because he loves us. We become part of his family. God has chosen to come and make his home in us. Those who don’t love him simply don’t get the peace and the ability that come from him, our guide our counsellor. Shalom or peace is more than just the absence of conflict. It’s about wellness, completeness. We know him on a personal level. We get his peace when we leave our worries with him. God is bigger than even our biggest problem. Jesus knows death can’t hold him Satan can’t beat him, he’s going to leave them. The disciples don’t get this , how can Jesus be leaving? We’ve probably all blamed God when sometimes things don’t go our way when someone dies. But believers like my mum , are with her best friend, Jesus.

Without Jesus leaving the Holy Spirit wouldn’t come and we would not have Jesus as our intercessor.

On Saturday 26 January, Headland and West View Baptist Churches came together in a launch event to mark the start of what we all hope will be a shared journey for both churches. We believe that we are already two active churches in our local communities but together we can build and complement what is going on in each church.

We held a launch event at West View Baptist Church with a worship band drawn from the musicians and worship leaders from each church. We all brought food and shared information about the work that each church has been doing in the community, our house groups and prayer meetings, and some facts and a quiz that aimed to find out more about the people in each church.

We hope that we have made a good start. Our plan is for us to have a joint service on the first Sunday in each month. So on 3 February, there will be no service at West View Baptist Church as we will all be going to the Headland Baptist Church for our first joint service. The following month Headland will come to us and so on.

This is an exciting journey together. West View Baptist Church was established by people from Headland Baptist Church so this is the next leg in a journey that started in 1843, launched West View in 1956 and now heads off in a new direction. 

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.