West View Baptist Church, Hartlepool

A family friendly church in the town of Hartlepool

Sermons

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“What I would like to share with you this morning….”Matty’s Message for 2 July

God’s going to use you, even when you don’t want Him to.

God will use each and every one of us, even when we do not always what he asks us to. Peter failed Him several times and Saul/Paul persecuted His followers and held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. But look how God used them.

In Proverbs 3:6 we see the Lord’s promise that if we remember the Lord in everything we do, he will show us the right way. It won’t always be an immediate action though. David was forced to live as a fugitive for many years. Then temptation was put in his way, as seen in 1 Samuel 26:8. He had the chance to deal with the Old Testament Saul.

Saul was delivered up to David and he could have killed Saul whilst he was sleeping. But David knew that he could not do that. God had told him not to do that.

David was obedient, even when his friends were encouraging him to kill Saul. We need to be very careful that we are not lead down the wrong path by our friends and advisers. We need to follow God’s will. The end does not justify the means. Proverbs 3:5-6 say we also need to trust in the Lord with all our heart and never simply rely on what we know.

Saul took 3000 men to where David was. David could have killed him in the cave. Instead David cut the bottom of Saul’s robe. David and Saul end up reconciled. The reconcile again when they meet Abigail and Able.

The implication of David’s action might pass us by here. The hem of a garment can signify authority in Judaic society. The meaning here is that Saul cannot accept his authority being taken away.

Matty offered a scenario where a person in a church as part of an eldership group kept being the sole voice of dissent who never accepted God’s will in situations. Saul was like this, always trying to get his own way.

We need to be able to show humility and accept God’s will at times. It is difficult but we all need to do it.

Saul’s way was not the Lord’s way. Is our way the Lord’s way?

David definitely did not live in a right way but he was chosen by God. David repented but the Lord still had David spend 15 years as a fugitive. This was the time that the Lord spent preparing David to be a King. I bet David often did not see it that way. When we think God hasn’t heard our prayers, sometimes it is simply that He is preparing us for His plans. God will place you where he wants you to be.

Thank you for your time.

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“What I would like to share with you this morning….”Matty’s Message for 6 August

Evangelise or Fossilise

It’s a simple straightforward message. The Bible makes it very clear that the Lord added to the church on a daily basis.

Matty offered the question to the church, “If our church closed its doors tomorrow, would anyone other than the congregation notice?”

Think about the geophysical location of the disciples, their access to any form of technology or information sharing network. The mission they were given should have been utterly hopeless. Yet they did everything through the power of the Holy Spirit. The word martyr come from the original Greek legal term for witness, martus.

Think about the difference between those early disciples. They witnessed and testified to so much despite having access to so little in the way of money or other resources. Yet we have so much in the way of money and resource comparatively yet we do so little. Research suggests that if 10% of our congregation were to actively evangelise our congregation would double.

Speaking in tongues today is viewed vey differently to the time of the disciples, but it was a very different experience. Tongues today is viewed as a heavenly language and if it happens in a church setting during worship it is believed to require an independent witness to translate. Contrast that with the gift of tongues at Pentecost and no translation was needed. Each person heard the message direct in the language that they could understand, with no misunderstanding or doubt about what they were hearing.

Each and every one of has the capability to evangelise to every corner of our lives. Even if we do not have the confidence to have conversations about our faith and belief with people, we can evangelise in the way in which we conduct our lives, through our words and our actions.

Thank you for your time.

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Strength Will Rise (again and again)

Mark brought us the word today (after choosing everlasting god as our song twice) 
Mark brought has the word from Acts when it came to ascension and what to talk about today, it’s about following god, We’re on the same road. Seeking to reveal how we all ascend to he kingdom.

Mark prayed about this, bringing things before the throne of god. Mark’s biggest anxiety is standing at the front yet he’s up there.


Mark entered a cheffing competition and prayed about what he should prepare. He covered this in prayer and was rewarded by getting through to the regional final. But he was also praying about how to manage his anxiety .


Prayer is talking to God, giving thanks for answered prayer as he follows God. Do we remember to thank God for his support? Do we share our fears and anxieties? Mark finds that difficult but his wife will confirm he does share more. We need to turn to our brothers and sisters and share that we are struggling. In our walk we will be asked to do things that are out of our comfort zone. 
Saying no to things can draw you away from God.

Even if God asks you to do something talk to God, pray about it. Speak to your brothers and sisters in faith.
God has a sense of humour as can be evidenced by song choices today, we may not be the only one being prompted, the only one travelling that slight uphill path. 
When conversations about faith occur at work, share what you believe. Pray no matter what through good and bad times and remember to thank God. 
It’s not a take relationship, and should not be only about my woes my woes. 
We will be asked to do things, so say yes, step out of your comfort zone. Don’t step back. If you do need to step back talk to friends, ask for help in your journey of ascension to God’s kingdom. 

Songs today were: 
Be exalted

Did you feel the mountains tremble Everlasting God

Do Not Fear
Strength will Rise (which Is Everlasting God again!!)

I walk by faith

My lighthouse

The Lords Prayer

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“What I would like to share with you this morning….”Matty’s Message for May

Matty spoke on the uniqueness of the church here at West View.. To change your thinking change your life. Romans 12 2
Visitors to the church might be considering their first steps in a Christian journey. Our congregation changes from week to week. When you think creatively you think like Your Creator. this won’t please everyone. 
Jesus was not crucified because he worked miracles. he was crucified for having ideas. If you have ideas don’t let anyone dissuade you. 

We’ve all heard the negative messages that seek to dissuade, I am not the right person, don’t be different, think of your image, it did not work for them, it will be too hard, and so on

Paul writes let God transform you into a new person. Change your thinking and change your life. 
We have people who drift away because of all the rules. here we encourage people to ask questions.


Romans 11 Love your life in the power of the spirit. ..Be transformed into new people. …trust god and he will get justice for you. 
When Paul refers to Jews and gentiles he is thinking of large groups. 
But faith is for individuals…saving the world for Jesus, 

Become one people, the Jewish faith followed rules and regulations , Jesus did away with these and replaced it with love one another, love your neighbour.

Small churches are powerful.. 
Many churches try to vary the order of their service. One pastor who moved when the offering was taken caused consternation and was told you either ask too early or look like you’ve forgotten. People don’t do change well.  
Paul acts 13 love your neighbour and satisfy all god’s requirements. Matty shared the story of the man who rang the garage. Tried to explain to the receptionist who he was .Her reply was “I know who you are you’re the one who pays on time”.
Your actions tel people about Jesus so be careful. 

Praise this little church for these qualities, ask questions they will always be welcome. 

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Walking in faith….Run Mark Run.

Mark led our service on 23 April. He brought us the Word from Luke 24 13:35.

Mark shared what had happened to him on his walk to faith and after he was baptised. Prior to coming to church he realised that he wasn’t living in the way that he should and he was not giving any thanks for the life he had.

It was through coming to faith that Mark received the love and family he was looking for. Afterr going through the waters of baptism Mark started his day in a very different way. He asked which way to walk and which way to be led. He admitted though that he didn’t always follow where he was led.

But when Leo was ill as a baby, it was their faith as a family that got them through some very dark times. In the worst of times it feels that you stop walking and start to sprint. But through out that dark journey they were all covered in prayer.

Mark starts his day in prayer now, He knows his walks changes from day to day. Often many people are on the same walk the same difficult journeys but we don’t know it. We often focus on what we need, We pray for the family, for our own problems. But we need to pray for others on the journey. Like many of us Mark doesn’t have the type of memory that allows him to remember Bible quotes and references at the drop of a hat, He’d like to improve that though,

Mark has a very different job now, moving around from care home to care home, filling in where he is needed. One of his colleagues shared that they couldn’t do that, as they are not very good at meeting new people.

Mark realised that one of the things he could do whilst travelling around was to ask people “How are You?” but then repeat the question again. Often a single word answer then turns into a more honest and open conversation.

Mark shared himself that currently his work situation is very difficult. The company he works for is in some difficulties and is likely to be broken up and reorganised.

But he knows God has a sdense of humour though. Mark was prompted to ask for help and his wife gave him the image that in her life journey, faith has always been the foundation . People praying for the family in dark times proved this. Mark was told Imagine Forrest Gump in the scenes where he is running.. All those people running, willing him on, willing him to succeed. You get the idea.

So how do we keep going forward? Ask for help. Identify the things holding us back. Realise that sometimes that can be our own selfishness. Ask Jesus, ask our brothers and sisters in faith. As Matty said, ask for the Holy Spirit to help and lead us.