Loved church this morning! Jeannie Benger shared a great message about the fact that we are ‘new creations’ and that we should live a life transformed.
As we grow older we can find ourselves taking on our parents traits…physical, mannerisms, speech etc.
We can also unknowingly take on their attitudes, some can be good but some can be bad. These can hold us back from having that abundant life God has for us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
1) Be confident in who you are!
Judges 6:12 – "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
You can be the person that also brings strength and encouragement to others. We have been put on this earth to make a massive difference.
Live with confidence. Don’t compare yourselves to others. I.e. don’t try to keep up with the Jones’. Don’t let your STUFF define who you are.
The opinion of ONE matters…not the opinions of others! You are sons and daughters of the Living God. He’s cheering you on! Have confidence in this fact…change the way we think.
2) Renew your thinking
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will
The way we think about ourselves effects our living. We can lack confidence.
Philippians 4:18 – I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God
Meditate and live out God’s word. Live a life that smells good to those around you!
Psalms 1:2-3 – But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers
3) Spend time with the new you
Proverbs 13:20 – He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm
We all need heroes. Build the right kind of relationships in your life. Don’t let the wrong kind of people in your life keep you from going somewhere in God.
Be with people who will do you good…take you to the next level. Have great friendships and don’t disconnect yourselves when the going gets tough.
The spirit of those around you will rub off on you. Iron sharpens iron.
Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven
Don’t let anyone put your light out!
4) Act like the new you
James 1:23-25 – Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does
Wear God well. Show Christ in you to those around you. The choices we make will show how well we wear God.
Live differently to those around you. Choose what you show in your life…let God clothe you!
Act on the word of God…His truth, not the principles of this world.
Keep the right attitude about yourself as well as others.
5) Talk about the new you
Proverbs 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Let your confession be one of good.
Proverbs 10:21 – The lips of the righteous nourish many
The way we speak changes the atmosphere. Be who he has called you to be. Do what he has called you to do.
Don’t let your confession be a confession of lack…negativity. Talk the promises of God.
6) See the new you
Look at the mirror of God’s word. Whatever you can see…you can be!
Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
He has great plans for your life!
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
Rise up and take every opportunity. Don’t shrink back...seize this great abundant life that he has for us.
He looked down through time and said he wanted you! He chose you! You’re special and loved.
Psalm 8:5 – You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Missions Sunday
Great time in church today. It was our Missions Sunday with visitors from City Hearts Sheffield. Paul Benger shared a life-changing message about ‘turning money the right way around’.
1 Chronicles 29:10-14 - "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
Money is so important to us and to our world…this is probably why it spoken about and taught about so much in the Bible. Jesus touched on the subject of money many times.
Finance could be one of those areas that holds us back as a church in moving forward with the vision that we believe God has given us. Money can free us or it can bind us. If we can do all that we can do…God will do all that he can do.
Our wish list when it comes to finances…
1) That we would have ‘financial margin’, so that when God moves us to give then we can respond. Maybe we need to use better what we have already to create financial margin.
2) Don’t be prisoners to our ‘stuff’. The richest person is often the most miserable…clinging on to their ‘stuff’. Stuff does not bring us happiness. The culture of our world causes us to serve our stuff.
3) Our attachment to money doesn’t hold us back.
4) That we become good stewards, that we manage our finances well.
Luke 16:13 - You cannot serve both God and Money
What is our Stewardship like?
“911” Giving - 9 parts for living, 1 part for saving, and then whatever is left over (if anything!) we give
“118” Giving – Give, Save, Live!
1 Chronicles 29:14 - But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
A good steward knows that what they have belongs to God anyway. The growing disciple knows that all he has belongs to God. That what we have been given we need to look after well.
It is important that we regularly and consistently give back to God. The church is good soil.
Proverbs 3:9 - Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. (The Message - Honour God with everything you own; give him the first and the best)
Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it
That your house might be full! Let nothing hold us back…not hindered or hampered in anyway. So that we can respond when we need to.
Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Our heart should always follow money.
The greatest challenges that face in the future will be met in force by a company of 118 people…the church!
1 Chronicles 29:10-14 - "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
Money is so important to us and to our world…this is probably why it spoken about and taught about so much in the Bible. Jesus touched on the subject of money many times.
Finance could be one of those areas that holds us back as a church in moving forward with the vision that we believe God has given us. Money can free us or it can bind us. If we can do all that we can do…God will do all that he can do.
Our wish list when it comes to finances…
1) That we would have ‘financial margin’, so that when God moves us to give then we can respond. Maybe we need to use better what we have already to create financial margin.
2) Don’t be prisoners to our ‘stuff’. The richest person is often the most miserable…clinging on to their ‘stuff’. Stuff does not bring us happiness. The culture of our world causes us to serve our stuff.
3) Our attachment to money doesn’t hold us back.
4) That we become good stewards, that we manage our finances well.
Luke 16:13 - You cannot serve both God and Money
What is our Stewardship like?
“911” Giving - 9 parts for living, 1 part for saving, and then whatever is left over (if anything!) we give
“118” Giving – Give, Save, Live!
1 Chronicles 29:14 - But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
A good steward knows that what they have belongs to God anyway. The growing disciple knows that all he has belongs to God. That what we have been given we need to look after well.
It is important that we regularly and consistently give back to God. The church is good soil.
Proverbs 3:9 - Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. (The Message - Honour God with everything you own; give him the first and the best)
Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it
That your house might be full! Let nothing hold us back…not hindered or hampered in anyway. So that we can respond when we need to.
Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Our heart should always follow money.
The greatest challenges that face in the future will be met in force by a company of 118 people…the church!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Heroes
We had a fantastic time in church this morning; it was Mother’s Day at CLC! Paul Benger shared a great message about Heroes.
Exodus 2:1-10
Mums are heroes! The Bible is full of characters that encourage us to live a heroic life. Jesus is our greatest example.
We are called to live a heroic life! We often think we are ‘ordinary’ and yet we can live extraordinary lives.
Acts 7:20 – At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house
Moses was no ordinary child. There are no ordinary children.
Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations
You were a dream in God’s mind before you even took your first breath. An idea, a vision…before you were ever born!
5 year olds – 95% have the potential of becoming innovators; 30 year olds – just 2% - What happens in the in-between years?
There is more in you than you can ever imagine! You have the capacity for an extraordinary life.
Look at Moses’ mum this morning. She was hero! Looking at her life and the life of heroes what can we learn today?
Heroes Jump
Heroes often take a leap. Every hero jumps! All of us in our heroic lives have moments of courage. We jump beyond those moments of despair and discouragement.
Moses’ mum – her leap was letting her son go into the basket. Her jump, she had to let him go to save his life. She didn’t have it all worked out but she had courage.
There are moments when we need to jump. When we need courage – steps that we need to take that might not feel comfortable at the time.
Heroes have a Great Perspective
Moses’ mum – her perspective, ‘you’re not going to get my boy!’ Never mess with a mother when it is to do with her son!
Keep your perspective right. We’re not ordinary. Keep believing, have the right perspective that says ‘my life matters’.
Heroes connect to a Heritage
Moses’ mum had a Godly heritage. A Levite, she believed her son was no ordinary child…this is what my son is going to do – to serve God.
This is our heritage also to stay connected to that calling of serving God in all that we do. Let’s keep our families connected to that heritage also.
‘Train a child in the way he/she should go’. Be a good example to our children, encourage them, teach them.
Exodus 2:1-10
Mums are heroes! The Bible is full of characters that encourage us to live a heroic life. Jesus is our greatest example.
We are called to live a heroic life! We often think we are ‘ordinary’ and yet we can live extraordinary lives.
Acts 7:20 – At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house
Moses was no ordinary child. There are no ordinary children.
Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations
You were a dream in God’s mind before you even took your first breath. An idea, a vision…before you were ever born!
5 year olds – 95% have the potential of becoming innovators; 30 year olds – just 2% - What happens in the in-between years?
There is more in you than you can ever imagine! You have the capacity for an extraordinary life.
Look at Moses’ mum this morning. She was hero! Looking at her life and the life of heroes what can we learn today?
Heroes Jump
Heroes often take a leap. Every hero jumps! All of us in our heroic lives have moments of courage. We jump beyond those moments of despair and discouragement.
Moses’ mum – her leap was letting her son go into the basket. Her jump, she had to let him go to save his life. She didn’t have it all worked out but she had courage.
There are moments when we need to jump. When we need courage – steps that we need to take that might not feel comfortable at the time.
Heroes have a Great Perspective
Moses’ mum – her perspective, ‘you’re not going to get my boy!’ Never mess with a mother when it is to do with her son!
Keep your perspective right. We’re not ordinary. Keep believing, have the right perspective that says ‘my life matters’.
Heroes connect to a Heritage
Moses’ mum had a Godly heritage. A Levite, she believed her son was no ordinary child…this is what my son is going to do – to serve God.
This is our heritage also to stay connected to that calling of serving God in all that we do. Let’s keep our families connected to that heritage also.
‘Train a child in the way he/she should go’. Be a good example to our children, encourage them, teach them.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Ephesians 3
Another incredible morning at CLC today, Paul Benger shared a great message from Ephesians 3 – ‘God Reveals’.
Ephesians 3:1-21
The theme of Ephesians is ‘God’s ultimate purpose’ and he has revealed this through the church. Great plan of God for the world…he loves the world so much!
Paul starts this chapter intending on revealing another of his prayers for the Ephesian Church but he gets caught up in his story. Jesus told the Story that the Kingdom of God is like a pearl that a merchant when he had found it sold all that he had to buy it. Paul's attitude to what God has done for him is the same. "When I think of all this" he says vs1.
Jesus said the Kingdom was worth selling everything for. He placed a great value on the Kingdom therefore. Do we feel the same?
Paul’s excitement and passion for what God has done in his life is so evident in this chapter. That God though his power at work in us can accomplish more than we could ask or think!
We often need to just spend time and think about what God has done for us. Pause, stop and think about all of this. ‘Divert daily, withdraw weekly, abandon annually’ (Rick Warren)
Paul gets caught up in the verses 2-13 – that God has called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is telling us, ‘if God can do it for me he can do it for you!’ He is calling us to be full on for God.
We here to pray and see your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God’s purpose is to bless the world through the church. Jesus came to change the world and to see the church change the world through Christ.
Ephesians 3:6-7 – And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
Paul’s revelation, that this was what he was going to give his life for! A revelation of God’s grace and God’s power (he couldn’t do it in his own strength)
God transforms our lives through revelation. For Paul his revelation was dramatic ands life-changing. It was the revelation that Jesus is King!
Paul calls himself "the least of all saints". I think he really believes it because of his intent to kill Christians (Acts 9). If God can change me by revealing his power to me my prayer is he will reveal himself to you. This is Paul's approach.
Paul's past didn't stop him. He understood the love of God which he emphasises in this chapter, that he had set him free from his past so that he could pursue his destiny.
Paul was transformed because he met Christ; he focused on what God had done; he relied on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 3:10-11 – God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The revelation of God’s purpose, to bless the world through the church. Paul’s revelation and ours today - that God is doing far more than we think he is doing!
Let us splash God colours wherever we go!
Ephesians 3:17-18 – Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
God loves us NOW. He loves the WORLD…we need to let world know how much he loves them!
Ephesians 3:16, 20-21 – I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit…Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
God – unlimited, infinitely more!
Ephesians 3:1-21
The theme of Ephesians is ‘God’s ultimate purpose’ and he has revealed this through the church. Great plan of God for the world…he loves the world so much!
Paul starts this chapter intending on revealing another of his prayers for the Ephesian Church but he gets caught up in his story. Jesus told the Story that the Kingdom of God is like a pearl that a merchant when he had found it sold all that he had to buy it. Paul's attitude to what God has done for him is the same. "When I think of all this" he says vs1.
Jesus said the Kingdom was worth selling everything for. He placed a great value on the Kingdom therefore. Do we feel the same?
Paul’s excitement and passion for what God has done in his life is so evident in this chapter. That God though his power at work in us can accomplish more than we could ask or think!
We often need to just spend time and think about what God has done for us. Pause, stop and think about all of this. ‘Divert daily, withdraw weekly, abandon annually’ (Rick Warren)
Paul gets caught up in the verses 2-13 – that God has called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is telling us, ‘if God can do it for me he can do it for you!’ He is calling us to be full on for God.
We here to pray and see your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God’s purpose is to bless the world through the church. Jesus came to change the world and to see the church change the world through Christ.
Ephesians 3:6-7 – And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
Paul’s revelation, that this was what he was going to give his life for! A revelation of God’s grace and God’s power (he couldn’t do it in his own strength)
God transforms our lives through revelation. For Paul his revelation was dramatic ands life-changing. It was the revelation that Jesus is King!
Paul calls himself "the least of all saints". I think he really believes it because of his intent to kill Christians (Acts 9). If God can change me by revealing his power to me my prayer is he will reveal himself to you. This is Paul's approach.
Paul's past didn't stop him. He understood the love of God which he emphasises in this chapter, that he had set him free from his past so that he could pursue his destiny.
Paul was transformed because he met Christ; he focused on what God had done; he relied on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 3:10-11 – God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The revelation of God’s purpose, to bless the world through the church. Paul’s revelation and ours today - that God is doing far more than we think he is doing!
Let us splash God colours wherever we go!
Ephesians 3:17-18 – Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
God loves us NOW. He loves the WORLD…we need to let world know how much he loves them!
Ephesians 3:16, 20-21 – I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit…Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
God – unlimited, infinitely more!
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