Lives to Learn From pt 1: Jesus

Lives to Learn from Pt 1: Jesus
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Over the next few months we are going to be looking at some of the people who feature in the story of the early church as recorded in the book of Acts.  There are so many great lessons to learn from what God did in and through many of these people and many parallels with our own lives as we look at how different people responded to God.
The book of Acts begins by talking about Jesus, so it's natural to start our journey with Him.  In this message we look at the way Acts 1 describes Jesus as the One who sends His followers into the world to be His witnesses.  We do not go alone, however.  He gives us power through His Spirit within; and we know that God is always at work around us.  Where is God at work around you and how is His Spirit preparing and calling you to be involved in that work of bringing people to fullness of life in Jesus?

Finding God's Will

Finding God's Will
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As we move through the journey of life there are moments when followers of Jesus face key decisions. At these times we want to do what God wants for us, but what is that? In this message we explore the basic biblical framework for knowing and doing the will of God. We discover that very often it's the everyday decisions that make the biggest impact on how our lives turn out and the impact we will have on others for eternity. We look at the ways that God has chosen to reveal His will to us for big decisions and small ones; and we are reassured that while we are rightly concerned with our obedience to His will, we can also rely on His sovereignty to achieve His good purposes despite our failures.

How to Have a Contagious Faith

 
How to Have a Contagious Faith

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There are plenty of things churches could do to help people come to know Jesus and grow in Him. There are some things we must do. In 2 Timothy 2 we read a basic formula for how to have a contagious faith. It's simple: be strong in the grace that is in Jesus, and then look for people to sow that grace into so they can pass it on to others who will pass it on to others... However making a significant investment to build into someone else's life with the truth of God's Word means that we will have to be prepared to say 'no' to other things which consume our attention and resources. What will you invest yourself into - developing a contagious faith that impacts many lives, or chasing after things that perish?

Starting Well on the Path to Leadership

Starting Well on the Path to Leadership

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Having addressed the Elders who lead congregations, Peter turns to young men, urging them to submit to the kind of Christlike leadership that he has just been describing. Why does the topic of submission keep coming up when the New Testament speaks to relationships within church, community and family? We discover the importance of submission in character development and preparation for leadership. There is a better way than leaders "lording it over" those they lead and others struggling for control - to get their voice heard and their preferences satisfied. That way is godly leadership and godly submission - both demonstrated perfectly in Jesus Christ. One key to appointing & developing godly leaders is to look out for those who have already developed humility and a willingness to submit to others according to God's will.

Shepherds of God's Flock

Shepherds of God's Flock
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As Peter writes to believers to encourage them to stand firm in their faith despite persecution, he turns to give specific attention to the Elders of these congregations. He knows that people need shepherds, especially when they are suffering. This message examines the concise but powerful guidance Peter gives to Elders, advice which is helpful to anyone in spiritual leadership.

The Tackle

 
The Tackle

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1 Peter 4:12-19

The closer someone follows Jesus, the more at odds they are with the values of the rest of the world. Because the world is corrupted & imperfect, because most people follow their own desires, the clash of values between the world & the disciple can cause pain & suffering. It’s true that sometimes God allows pain for our own correction, but often a disciple will be attacked for living righteously. This proves that you’re doing the right thing, and that you’re being noticed for it.

In sport, they only tackle the guy with the ball.

Taking Hold of God's Best for Your Life
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We follow up from last week's message which showed us that instead of pursuing elusive personal goals that revolve around the stuff of this life, real contentment and real life is found in Jesus and pursuing closeness with Him. Godliness with contentment is great gain. This week we reaffirm that truth and talk about the role of the Church in helping people move toward godliness. We also discuss the secret to godliness, which is not to try become more like God in our own strength (an impossible task) but to draw close to the One who is able to transform us as we offer our lives to Him.