Mark's Gospel 4

Great day in church yesterday. Paul Benger spoke another excellent message from our current series on Mark’s Gospel.

Mark 3:1-21

Looking at the Pharisees, the crowds, the disciples.
Jesus is still in Capernaum ministering to people right where they are. God is with us in the good times and the bad! Healing was considered work by the Pharisees. Religion always looks for accusation, what is wrong.
Relationship with Christ is looking to lift people, where grace abounds!
Jesus infuriates the Pharisees. God loves people. And that's the message of this story He wants to restore us, redeem us and save us.

Jesus and the crowd
When he leaves, there is a separation from the temple and the teachers of the law....and he goes with the crowd, they're done with the dead religion...they're not going to change their hearts. Hardened hearts. Keep your heart soft towards God and his purposes.

Crowds want Jesus...because they know he's got something they want, they need. Hungry people are present...they're there, no matter what!
The hungry and the thirsty shall be filled.
Hungry people are expectant, that Jesus might touch them. Let us be expectant, as individuals and as a church Not obsessed but expectant.
Hungry people are persistent.

Love the crowd, love people....Jesus found a way to reach them. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. He gave to the crowd then he gives to the crowd today.

Jesus calls the apostles
He needs people to reach people, you and I…Leaders to lead, healers to heal, preachers to preach. We're going nowhere if only one person is a leader.

Mark's Gospel 3

Another brilliant message from Mark's Gospel yesterday in church. Paul Benger picked up on the relationship that Jesus had with the Pharisees...and the fact the 'religion kills'.

Mark 2:13-28
Jesus would often come into conflict with religious people
3 stories at the end of chapter 2 in Mark...tackling the religious attitudes of the day
What kind of community do we want to be?

Matthew...

Never underestimate the power of God to change someone’s life.
People in your world....don't give up on them. Who is there in my world who I need to pray for?
Jesus loved even the tax collectors!
Jesus wanted to invade the underworld
Even today Jesus wants to invade the underworld. To see lives changed and people following him.
Matthew 11:19
A friend of sinners....that's what the Pharisees thought of him But Jesus came to seek and save the lost. A friend to every person. To transform their lives.

Fasting...

The disciples of John are fasting the disciples of Jesus is feasting In the kingdom of God feasting is as important as fasting Church should be a celebration Even in a world of chaos...there is praise and celebration! Party time!
Know how to fast but also how to feast. To know how to feed on his grace...on the good news of his Gospel.
Need to have a new wineskin to be able to drink in this celebration new wine!
To contain it!
Does my wineskin contain this festival new wine?

Sabbath controversy...

Big issue for the Pharisees. They didn't think Jesus was a proper Rabbi.
He healed on the sabbath
Religion misses the plot...it kills.
The sabbath was made for them.
They'd missed the point
Galatians 4:10-11

Matthew 23:27
Coconut community or peach community?
Coconut...hard on the outside not much on the inside
Peach...soft, not much resistance, but it has a solid core! Here you can belong! Even before you believe!
Luke 19:5-7

Mark's Gospel 2

Great message in church this morning. Paul Benger continued our series on Mark's Gospel with a message on 'faith'.

Mark 2:1-12

Whose Faith?

Their faith, our faith, his faith?
This Gospel is good news that Jesus is the Son of God

Matthew 4:13
Capernaum, Jesus did loads of miracles there but no one repented. Matthew 11:23-24
Such a key place and yet judgement came to this place and it is no more. Historians doubt it's location.

So many people experience God's presence and yet don't live for him....it has no effect on us. Get it inside of you!

God does not force them to believe...free choice
We want God's kingdom to come in our lives and to see his glory...but we need soft hearts.

4 things about faith from this story...

1. Faith is the only currency of heaven

Hebrews 11:6
Faith lives with expectation...even when it doesn't happen the way we wanted it to
Heaven comes to earth by faith
Psalm 62:5 my expectation is of Him
2 Corinthians 5:7 - live by faith and not by sight
You learn to see what you cannot see...what God sees
These friends had the currency that they needed

2. Faith comes from the preaching of God's word

Mark 2:2 - Jesus preached the word to them
Preaching is a declaration of truth, it's not a question!
He proclaimed the truth to the people...and faith was released
Faith rose in the hearts of the people
Romans 10:17
When we leave church our faith should be more buoyant because of the preached word

3. Faith acts

Mark 2:4 - tenacity! They didn't give up, they found a way!
Some people stop at the first obstacle...they think it's God telling to stop.
I love the fact they would not be denied! Their faith was in Jesus not in their tenacity...but their faith, their tenacity caused a response from Jesus
Faith prays, faith invites...it brings, it adjusts to circumstances. Faith creates new ways.

4. Our faith matters

Not just as an individual. The power of unity.
Mark 2:5
Jesus saw 'their' faith.
When we connect, when we come together...God sees our faith. We're in this together!
Our faith matters! Be expectant - that God will move.

Mark's Gospel 1

Loved today in church! Paul Benger began our brand new series from Mark's Gospel and the first chapter.

Mark's background...written AD64
Mark gets straight to the action!
He's loving the action...captivated by it!

Act 15:36-59
Disagreement with Paul and Barnabas
Mark goes off with Barnabas
The church is not all smooth sailing
The bible never hides away from reality of life
John Mark parts company and falls out with Paul...later they are reconciled
2 Timothy 4:11
Just when you think you've blown there is a way back!
You and I can pick up things again that we have let go

Let's look at this first chapter...
The Gospel...the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God (Mark's title).
Good news... People get delivered, people get healed, people are set free, made whole!
Verse 1 - the Son of God
Verse 7&8...speaking about the gift of God to the world
Verse 11 - my beloved Son
Verse 24 - the Holy One of God
Verse 34 - the demons knew who he was!
Mark gets straight into who Jesus is and the purposes of Jesus
What does Mark tell us about Jesus...
- Jesus is the forgiver of sins, he hasn't come to condemn us but to give us life!
We should never walk in shame or guilt
- Jesus is the baptiser, he will baptise us in the Holy Spirit. We can be filled!
Keep being filled (Ephesians 5)
You're not outside the kingdom of God, not outside his purposes. You're in!
Mark 1:16-17
- Jesus is a fisher of men, he chooses you and me to do the same. He went to the most unexpected people and chose them...the ordinary! He bypasses the clever, the wealthy, the noble!
1 Corinthians 1:26-27
He is the one to follow.
Our primary calling is to bring others to Christ.
- Jesus is a teacher
- Jesus is a king (authority of spirits)
- Jesus is the healer
We need to be talking to sick about Jesus the healer...bring them!
- Jesus is the one who will do the will of God regardless
- Jesus is the restorer
What needs restoring in your life today?

Ruth 3

What a fantastic morning in church. Mark Wilkins picked up on our Ruth series speaking from chapter 3.

We continue to see the great theme of grace and love flow from this story of Ruth and her family.

Chapter 3…this is our romantic bit of the story! Our RomCom!

Risqué moment where Naomi advises Ruth on what to do at the wild end of harvest party

Ruth 3:5-18

By her actions Ruth prompts Boaz to propose to her. Boaz responds in a godly way...with a heart of righteousness. He recognises that there might be a much closer redeemer, suitor from Naomi's family. We see a possible mismatch between them, rich and poor. He is not under any legal obligation to do this...yet he loves her!

Boaz says 'I will redeem you!'
God is under no legal obligation to redeem us. Yet he chooses through his Son to save us by his grace.

He lavishes grace and favour upon her...just like God continues to pour his grace and favour on us.
This is an incredible picture of the sovereignty of God at work

Boaz did the right thing
Ruth had to put a lot of faith and trust in him
Faith is taking risk
Sometimes we put faith in our own steps and yet the best way is to trust God's way...walk his path.
Jesus did it all for us!
He paid the price...let us trust him!

Ruth 2

Great day in church yesterday. In the morning we continued our series on the book of Ruth. I spoke on 'God in the Midst of Blessing'.

Ruth Chapter 2

Some people put a lot of weight in “luck.”

The Bible doesn’t talk at all about luck. Instead, it talks about ‘favour’; ‘grace’; ‘blessing’; ‘providence’.

We can often think of God’s favour in the same way others think about luck. Instead of blind chance, the Bible points us to a personal God who pours grace and favour on people.

How do we receive and know God’s favour/blessing in our lives?

Naomi and Ruth could certainly have blamed bad luck for their circumstances but from this story we will see an amazing story of God’s favour

Ruth 2:1 - Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz

Boaz…Man of standing; man of wealth; mighty man.

Ruth 2:3 - So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek

“As it turned out” - gives the impression of blind chance/luck. However the writer is using an ironic tone to grab our attention and turn our focus to the invisible hand of God’s providence at work in the daily affairs of ordinary people.

It just so happened she ended up in Boaz’s field...Of all the fields in all the places, she ends up in Boaz’s! Is this a coincidence? Or is God involved? God’s involvement in the affairs of people, guiding them to his intended end is what we call providence.

“A chance in outward seeming, yet a clear shaping of her course by unseen hands. Her steps were divinely guided to a certain field, that God’s good purpose should be worked out” (Anon)

God is constantly at work behind the ‘seen,’ arranging the events and people in our lives to flood us with his favour. For you…maybe the first time he took you to church and found faith in Jesus Christ. Luck or providence?

4 steps to knowing God’s favour/blessing in our lives…

1. RECOGNISE GOD’S HAND IN YOUR LIFE

We must learn to recognise God’s providence at work in our “coincidences”. If we look, we’ll see God’s hand in it!

Ruth’s request was unusual - not just to glean, but “gather among the sheaves.” Ruth asks for more than she is entitled to. She asks for provision. The picture is of a holy boldness and a confident patience, as she worked in the fields awaiting the answer.

Boaz’s answer is amazing. She got the job! Boaz gives her permanent work, meaning she doesn’t have to looking elsewhere. He also gives her protection. This is far more than she could have hoped for! She has received favour! Boaz becomes the source of God’s blessing to Ruth. If she hadn’t made the bold request, she wouldn’t have gotten the bold response. This is the second step to receiving God’s favour…

2. REQUEST GOD’S FAVOUR

We must be willing to ask God to grant us favour. James, in the NT speaking about wisdom, says “You do not have because you do not ask.”

Ruth 2:10 - At this she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”

Ruth responds to the grace and favour of Boaz with an expression of gratitude. But all this overwhelming favour leads her to ask a significant question: “Why?” “Why are you doing all this for me?” It shows a remarkable humility, rather than an entitlement mindset.

Let’s look at Boaz’s answer to Ruth’s question of “Why?” As we do, we will learn something essential about why and to whom God bestows his favour.

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

It is Ruth’s faith that Boaz has responded too. She was faithful to Naomi, showing her commitment to her by leaving her homeland and going with Naomi, even after her husband died. And she has shown her faithfulness to God. She has taken refuge under his wing.
He asks God to “reimburse” her, give her the wages of faith. God rewards faith. In the NT we find these words:

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him

3. REMAIN FAITHFUL

Ruth had a lot of “good luck” that day! Getting the “lucky breaks” is more than just being in the right place at the right time. When we are faithful to God, we will find God’s favour and blessing on our lives. Ruth’s faithfulness wasn’t a flash in the pan. She didn’t reap this abundant favour just for having one good day.

Remember her words to Naomi back in Chapter One…

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God”

Her faith was evident for a long time. If you want God’s favour, commit yourself to faithfulness for the long haul.

Later on in this chapter we see Naomi’s expression of praise, a reflection of her grateful heart – she is thankful! Not too long ago, she was *bitter*, but now she sees God working on her behalf, and she sees the favour bestowed upon her, and she recognizes that God is behind it, so she gives thanks.

When we realise that we have received God’s favour, it should make us grateful. This is the fourth step in receiving God’s favour. We must:

4. RESPOND WITH THANKS

When God gives us his favour, blessing, grace…we should return to him with thanksgiving. Too often we expect God’s favour, get mad if we don’t receive it, and then fail to thank him when we do.

The classic illustration of this is the 10 lepers that Jesus healed. Of the 10, only 1 returned and gave thanks. How often can we be like that?

Ruth 1

Great start to 2011 in church today. Paul Benger started our new series from the book of Ruth.

God in the Midst of Suffering

Ruth is written from a woman's perspective. 52% of the book is conversation!
Great themes...God is sovereign; God is kind he's not angry; God redeems...he buys back; God restores....it's not over til it's over
It's a prophetic book...it's about you and me, that Jesus is going to redeem us...an undeserving people can be redeemed!
A theme of Grace
Ruth is seen as an undeserving person...a Moabite woman. And yet she becomes a person in the line of David...where Jesus is born

Ruth Chapter 1

Naomi is retuning back to Bethlehem after the famine. She has become bitter.
Key verse in chapter one...verse 14
Ruth clung to her! Orpah leaves her.
When suffering comes...remember what matters...remember your convictions. Stay true to what you believe!
Ruth stayed true to her convictions...true to her confession.
Judges 21:25
Elimelek under pressure makes the decision...goes down into Moab for bread. He forgets what matters. Fellowship staying in Bethlehem...he forgets worship.  There won't be a place of worship in Moab. He's not been captured and yet he's making a bad choice.
It's not easy in tough times to remember what is right But it's   important that we do! Stay together.
Ruth 1:14, 16-17
It says that Elimelek was going to Moab just for a short while
Just a 'temporary' thing...and yet he wavered and stayed there 10 years.
When we are in times of trouble stay true to your convictions...fellowship, worship, faithfulness
How do we feel in the midst of suffering? Noami is open with her feelings.
From this chapter...
1.Even in the midst of suffering God is still at work
Romans 8:28
2. Gods people are more important than you think
Psalm 92:13
There is a turnaround coming!
He does this for a girl who stays true to her convictions.
Faithfulness is key for us today

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Loved yesterday in church! Spoke in the morning on this great truth that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Everyone will spend a portion of their lives, if not most of them, searching for significance.

The Bible says that you are significant, unique and crafted for a particular reason. Do you believe that about yourself?

Iron Man 2 quote, “What is, and always will be, my greatest creation... is YOU”

It’s just a quote from a film…BUT in all the wonder of creation God’s greatest creation is YOU!

YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made
God loves you the way you are!
God has got a plan and a purpose for your life

Psalm 139:1-18

Look at 3 important life-changing facts from this chapter this morning…

1. Recognise the wonder of He who made you (vs.1-12)

Not only does God know all these things about us, but He wants to know us personally.

What are our thoughts on God? Do you see Him as David did? Some people think of God as a distant being who sometimes hears our prayers. He’s up there but is generally disinterested with us…too many people to think about!

He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; He is the Creator and One true God. Marvel at Him and understand the wonder of His majesty. This same God made and crafted you!

2. Realise how amazing you are (vs.13-15)

The word wonderfully, some translations include fearfully, means to cause astonishment and awe, to inspire reverence. When you see YOU it should inspire you to be in awe of God.

Can you see how seeing yourself like this would affect your self-worth?

Jesus highlights the kind of God we serve and His interest in each person by saying in…

Luke 12:7, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

You are wonderfully made!

3. Remember your purpose (vs.16-18)

He knew who you would be before you were born and He has always had a plan for you.

Forget what others have said about you; listen to what God is saying to you this morning. You are significant to Him!

1 Peter 2:9-10
2 Corinthians 5:17

Made for a Purpose – we have a ‘destiny’! Let me tell you a couple of things about Destiny.

1. You’ve got one!

Jeremiah 29:11-12, “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.”

No the bible says you are a marvellous creation of God – fearfully and wonderfully made! You are not an accident! Your birth was not a coincident – nor a random event.

2. You are the right person at the right time designed with God’s purpose in mind!

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You are the right person – not a different person! You are at the right time! Today!

You reflect the splendour of your Creator and He is truly majestic.
YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made
God loves you the way you are!
God has got a plan and a purpose for your life

God the Builder 3

Loved this message from our mini series "God the Builder" in church today, spoken by Paul Benger.

Ephesians 4:11-16

God is a builder and he builds us. What you say will shape your life.
'sticks and stones...' that saying is not true. Words do have an incredible impact on our lives.

God builds up the church through what we say. There is a way of conversing that builds up lives.
Speaking the truth in love...
This isn't 'say it as it is'! Critical spirit. But this isn't what Paul is talking about.

Proverbs 10:19
Proverbs 10:21...the lips of the righteous feed many
It feeds and grows!

Before we think what we ought to say why are we going to say it. What is our motive?
We want this church to be like that... to speak in love and to see peoples lives built up. Prosper one another.

Our God connections, the church we are planted in, is our supply for life and growth. Faith, hope, grace, mercy all these things are sourced through those God connections.

We can't dismiss one another we need each other, to rejoice with one another, to celebrate together...to mourn together.

Having the motive of love. Speaking the truth in love.
We need to understand how great God's forgiveness is.
Sin is rebellion, to do our own thing and we don't need God in our lives to rule over us.
Jesus died so that we would be forgiven and that we could have the relationship God wants to have with us.
Incredible forgiveness of our rebellion. We cannot do it on our own, we will always fall short. We are saved and forgiven all because of wast Christ has done for us.

Hebrews 3:13 - encourage one another
Some of the things we need to communicate to one another...

God saves people, he rescues
God restores, broken lives get restored
God renews, he heals
God can fill us with his Spirit, not a spirit of despair
God forgives, continually
God provides, his providence...the invisible hand of God, preparing us for the future. Believe God for miracles of providence today.
God protects, Psalm 124:2,7-8
God knows, God loves
God is our strength...I can do all things...
God is good!
We don't just speak to others these things...we speak them to ourselves too.

God the Builder 2

Great morning in church. Paul Benger continued our mini series on 'God the Builder'. A growth inspiring message!

Ephesians 4:11-16
Whole nutha level...whole measure!
The taller we want to build the deeper we need to dig
The right foundations are crucial for our growth
The church is you and me...God is going to get his will done through us!
There can be restrictions to our growth, God addresses those issues through love. Let's get rid of those restrictions. Paul shows us from Ephesians 4 how we can do this.
We can't do this on our own...we need God in our lives at the centre...so that we can grow.
Be gentle...be at rest, people of grace
Have forgiveness in your life and the spirit of unity
Another restriction can be not recognising the gifts that God has given us. We are limited on our own...we need one another.
It's not about changing your environment but its about changing you! Who you are goes with you!
God builds us by increasing our capacity
Ephesians 4:11-12
God is into increasing our capacity. To have more influence. He has a blue print for your life...he hasn't changed it, he still believes in you! He restores us. Renewed...but back to it's original order. Shalom...nothing missing, nothing broken.
God is working towards his vision for us.
He builds us through the fruit of the Spirit...
Galatians 5:22
He builds us through the gifts of the Spirit...
Romans 12:6-8
He builds us through natural gifts but also supernatural gifts
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
These gifts are for the common good to build up the church
Not for our own individual good, to promote us
These are gifts of Gods grace (charismata)...gifts that rely on the grace of God.
Ephesians 4:11
It all happens in church! Success begins on Sunday.
It's all part of God growing us, equipping us...increasing our capacity. Enabling us to navigate life well.

God is a Builder

Loved this message from Paul Benger this morning in church. All about the fact that God is a Builder.

Ephesians 4:1-16

How does God build our lives?

God is into growth! Development, advancement etc
The higher we build the deeper God has to put the foundations into our lives
God develops us, test us, stretches us so that we can grow!
God takes us from a place of unbelief to a place of faith and trust

Progress is built inside of us...human nature!
If you're alive, breathing! Then you're going to want to grow!

Myths about our growth...
If we face a challenge it's not a rejection by God...he is building something our lives

Myth 1. Every growth step is met by a miracle...not always, it can start with a miracle but then God builds kingdom principles into our lives...step by step!
Myth 2. All I need Jesus...it's true but it's also not true. There are times when that might be all we've got...but that's not how we are meant to live. We need one another. The church.
Jesus is more than enough
Myth 3. I just need to read my bible. It's a partial truth. We need to put his words into practice.
Myth 4. I need new surroundings. Sometimes... but what we need is a new us! We go where ever we go! Let God change us.

1. God reveals our calling
Ephesians 4:1
2 Timothy 1:8-9
God has called us...we need to appreciate that! Don't lose sight of this! Sin separated us from God but we've been rescued...saved but also called. We are here to rescue the world!
How do I live out this calling? To live this great life that God has given us. Serve where you are...flourish.

2. God nurtures us in a unified body
Ephesians 4:3, 13
God builds in environment of unity. Things cannot be built in a place of disunity.
God has placed us in his church...an environment of unity...of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:2-3 - unity matters (Psalm 133)
God grows us by giving us an environment of unity

3. God builds us by his grace
Ephesians 4:7-8
Favour...an enabling by God.
God’s grace is sufficient for me! (Paul)
God is going to make a champion out of you!
Grace environments will cause you to flourish...even when we fall and fail.
God has given us more than enough!
God is wanting to build us, CLC, so that he can populate us with more and more people!

Involved!

Great day in church yesterday. Mark Wilkins spoke in both services about us all getting ‘Involved’ in the building of the church.

We all play a part in this great work of the church and in particular here at CLC.

Don't just go to church...be church

Matthew 22:27-40

God loves people and has a plan for their lives...even those that rub you up the wrong way!
We serve God and we serve people.

James 2

True faith means we love people as well as God...good works naturally flow It becomes who we are Don't have a consumer mentality with regards to church...be the church!

Matthew 16:17-18
Acts 1:7-8

Our mission is to build the church. Plan A...there is no plan B!
The local church is the hope for the world People doing great things for God together is the church...not just buildings.

1 Corinthians 12:7
Romans 12:4-8

There is a role for each one of us in the church and we are all different! But every part working together is vital to a healthy body.

Acts 2:42-47

The early church was a group of people being church.
Church is at its best when helping others lifting their lives
Church is at its best when people stop attending church and start being church

Future-Engage-Deliver

What it takes to be a great volunteer...

Future...those whose future is aligned to building the church. We have a vision of what we believe the church should look like.

Engage...we can agree with the vision...but to be a great volunteer we need to engage with vision, get involved! Carry the vision...not just look at it and nod our heads.

Deliver...we set our goals alongside the vision, the future of the church. Commitment to seeing it through! A great volunteer desires to deliver.

Great morning in church. Paul Benger spoke an excellent message about 'turning up the heat'.

You're not hot and you're not cold (Jesus)
God doesn't want to tell us what we're not...but to turn up the heat in our lives!
God is alive and his church is alive!
We want to be passionate but we want to be powerful as well.
Some things that help us keep the heat up...

1. Live surrendered

Matthew 6:31-34
Do Jesus in the first person not through someone else
We surrender our lives to him. We worship him...surrendered.
It's not difficult to serve when we're surrendered
We're serving him...not the organisation.
We need a revelation of Jesus Christ for our lives
When we surrender God adds to our life
Surrender turns the heat up, worry turns the heat down
Matthew 6:34 (MSG)

2. Live 'others' oriented

Matthew 20:26-28
Serving is something we are...not something we do
We are not cynical about our leadership we desire to serve
There is a joy that is added to our lives when we serve others

3. Live purposefully

Live your life on purpose. As for me and my household...we will serve the Lord
Make decisions in your life to put his kingdom first
Proverbs 16:9
God has got steps for you...your life is not random
Psalm 37:23
'Why' isn't an issue when we live purposefully...
How are we going to move forward?

4. Choose forgiveness as a lifestyle

Forgiveness turns the heat up. Unforgiveness turns the heat down! 
Luke 17:1-4
Our actions can cause others to stumble but our reactions can cause us to stumble.

Hope

Great morning…great message! Jeannie Benger spoke on the importance of having hope in our lives.

Proverbs 13:12

Live a life of hope with and anticipation and expectation
The forward view of the righteous...we look forward to!
As a church we will always look forward to the future
There is always a battle against your dreams and hopes
There is an enemy that wants to remove your hope
God is a God of hope and he wants to cement this hope in your life
Your heart condition is important for the well being of your life

Hebrews 6:19

Keep your life under control with the anchor of hope. The God of hope wants to fill your life with it!
Hope deferred is unrelenting disappointment...despair comes, and we become desperate. Don't let hope slide!
We can become reckless without hope. Our heart becomes sick.
Hopelessness is a close cousin of the impossible
That's the bad news!
Now the good news...
Luke 1:37
Romans 5:5
Hope doesn't disappoint us.
Abraham was at that point of hopelessness. Yet he served the God of the impossible.
Romans 4:18...he believed! Against all hope...he put his trust in God and in his hope.
We serve a God of hope...even where things seem impossible. With God all things are possible!
Even trouble that we face can become a doorway of hope
God wants to turn these situations around
Romans 5:1-3
in the Kingdom of God rather than go down because of trouble...we can go through trouble!
God is building our character when we go through trouble
God is building hope into your life...even patience!!
Today we hate to wait! Let God build something strong and lasting in your life.

Keys to hope that brings life to our dreams...

1. Your Focus

We always put our hope or focus on someone
Your focus is critical
Proverbs 24:14 (MSG)
Get Godly wisdom in your life. The right focus in your life.
Focus on Jesus.

2. Your surroundings

God's house should always be a house of hope
We can have a hope in God by serving him now...not just looking to a future eternity.
Hope for now! That's what God wants to give us today!
Spread hope wherever you go...
Surround yourselves with good friends! Who cheer you on!

3. Faith

Faith and hope are inseparable partners
Hebrews 11:1
We can get hold of God's promises today...that give us hope for now and the future!

Rhythm - Prayer/Breathe

Loved Paul Benger's message this morning on the Rhythm of Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15
The rhythm of Prayer...beating through our life
Often people pray when they are in trouble but stop when things are ok
We need to find a good pace of prayer in our lives
Not just the big stuff but God is interested in the small stuff too. Prayer should be like breath...important to our lives
We can talk to God like he's a machine...menu choices!
God is person who wants to know us
Matthew 6:5-9 (MSG)
This is your Father who you are dealing with
You get a person not a number!
It's not about tips and techniques when praying to God
It's not mystical! It's not vain repetition...not a chant/mantra
It's much simpler than that...it's revelatory....it's life changing, world changing
It's relational, we don't have to follow routine and procedures when we approach God in prayer.

It's breath, relational and simpler than you think...prayer
Matthew 6:9-15
Its simple, powerful and effective
Not about religion and tradition

Our Father...relationship not religion, God is our father...we can't get away from that truth. He wants the best for us!
He loves us and loves being our father. A person that we can know today.

In Heaven...God reigns in this environment called heaven. We're believing that heaven touches earth when we pray and when we praise. When the church gathers...heaven is in this place! Your will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Let your kingdom come and let your will be done!
What is heaven like...look at Jesus. He brings life and hope and healing. "may his name be honoured" Jesus

Give us today our daily bread...what's important to you is important to God. He is interested in every part of your life.
Be thankful for every little thing...not just the big stuff!
It's not either or...it's both and! Believe God for daily bread.

Deliver us from the evil one...there are things in life that can be harmful, but God is our protector our strong tower. He is making our obstacles stepping stones. He grows us when trouble comes our way. Make our enemies our footstools...as we step up to another level!
Believe that...This is just another stepping stone!
Hebrews 11:6

Rhythm

Great day at CLC yesterday. Two excellent messages morning and evening on the subject of Rhythm...

Rhythm//listen//word

God is a God of rhythm...a God of order, Days seasons weeks rests...a rhythm of life

Matthew 13:9...are you listening? Are you really listening?

There is a rhythm to listening to God...to his word

2 Timothy 1:13

There is a pattern to what you're listening to...Keep the pattern of sound words flooding your life. We need the rhythm of grace in our lives.

There is a noise around us...”you've just got to have this or do this”.
Don't let that effect the rhythm of sound words in your life. Don't let those things effect your pace...your steps

Psalm 119:105…Are you listening?

Get some promises in your life that God has given you...The wrong noises can effect your rhythm.

We need the samba of salvation…Not the military marching sound of legalism

Rhythm of Gods word brings us confidence

Psalm 1:1-3

Change the record! Get God's voice in your life!
They that do are planted fruitful and prosperous...the end game!

Are you listening? Are you really listening? God is good and he does good! He loves you and is for you! Let that word take the pace of your life...!

God's word...

1) Hear it
2) Write it down, record it
3) Meditate on it
4) Pray about it
5) Trust it...trust God
6) Live it


Rhythm//rest//grace

We need the Rhythm of Rest (Grace) in our lives

Hebrews 4

When we ‘rest’ we are living with trust and an attitude of faith for God. Rest in our lives is important for our spiritual, physical and emotional being.

Isaiah 30:15 – This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it!

Rest in the gospel of Jesus Christ…our rest is a rest based upon the completion of Christ’s work of redemption. We rest from striving to please God in our own strength, and rely upon the work which He has done (at the Cross) and which He continues to do for us.

Ephesians 2:4-6

We learn to move forward in our faith when we first learn to REST. We can approach the throne of Grace Today!

GRACE…is where it all begins.

Key to finding REST is not non-activity but being able to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence and without fear…to receive all that we need for life!

At the Throne of Grace we find THREE things…

1) It’s where we find our Salvation

Our salvation is established in GRACE. It’s not what I’ve done and therefore I deserve it. It’s what Jesus has done and therefore I receive salvation by faith - It’s a free gift!

“Christianity begins not with a big DO but with a big DONE” (Watchman Nee)

(MSG) Romans 4:4-5 - If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift!

Ephesians 2:8-9

Saved by grace and grace alone! Our identity as Christians is based on GRACE.

So often we accept that we are saved by GRACE alone…but what about life after that? We can find ourselves out of step…out of kilter…unbalanced. As we become restless, striving, trying to please God with our works!

2) It’s where we find our purpose and calling

Paul…

1 Corinthians 15:10 ‘But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them— yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me’

Paul’s acknowledgment of his short-comings and his reliance on the grace of God…resting in God’s ability…that energised him!

We need a true revelation of God’s Grace. People are mobilised when they have this understanding of His grace. Where it’s not about my performance, or about what I can do or what other people think of me. ‘It’s because I am a son of God!

Our Calling is Established in Grace

3) It’s where we find strength

Philippians 4:11-13 (Amp)

His suffiency is what matters.
We want to do our very best from a position of GRACE…resting in the truth that with Christ in me…I can do all things! Your Grace is sufficient…it’s all we need!

Building a House for God

A great day in God’s House yesterday! It was our Rise & Build Weekend and Paul Benger shared an excellent message on “Building a House for God”

Our vision...To build a world class church…To reach more people...to establish our own premises. Preparing ourselves for the future. We go from strength to strength even when we face the odd setback.

1 Chronicles 22

David's desire was to build a house worthy of an awesome God. God said no...but your son Solomon will build it. This did not stop David having a heart for God's house and preparing for the future.

Jesus is building his church...that's our passion too. Today is all about building Gods house!

Ephesians 1:23 (the Message)

God has only got one plan...plan A. To build his church and to use the church to reach people. There is no plan B!

We are carrying God's presence as go into our world. It would be a worst place if you weren't there. God speaks through you and me.

95% of people in our borough do not know Christ. That is why Jesus is building his church in our area. We would love to change the number from 95 to ?

There is a solution ... The church! He needs a devoted people who's heart is to rise and build and reach out!

3 things from 1 Chronicles 22...

David had a heart for the house (22:6-10; 19)

David encourages the people...to devote your heart and soul to build the house. God can give us a heart for his house...a supernatural heart and love for his house.

Jesus loves the church and he wants you to love it too. To make his name famous in our world!

Building the house of God is multi-generational (22:5)

Young and inexperience is needed as well the opposite! We run side by side, we don't pass on and then do nothing. We're working together to build a magnificent house

By wisdom a house is built

1 Chronicles 22:17-19

In Rise & Build we're not just bringing our finances....we're bringing our wisdom and skill

Building a house for God requires many gifts (22:14-16)

David's gift was giving...incredibly generous! But there were also workmen, craftsmen, masons, carpenters needed.

Sacrificial giving of the many not just the few. We bring our gifts into the house of God.

You are builder of the house of God!

Devoted 3

Great morning at CLC, Mark Wilkins shared a excellent message from our Devoted series

Acts 2:42 - they were devoted to the Holy Spirit

The early church didn't just squeeze church into their busy lives...the church was their life!
They were devoted to getting the message of the Gospel out to people

"Being Devoted to the Holy Spirit"

Acts 1:45...in just a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit

What/who/eh...is the Holy Spirit?

We can get embarrassed by the work of the Holy Spirit when we bring new people to church

1. The Holy Spirit is a Person

Not some mystical force like from Star Wars! But He is our advocate, counsellor and friend
He talks us up to the Father

2. The Holy Spirit is God

Baptise them in the Father Son and Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 13:14

Acts 1:7...the Holy Spirit enabled them to continue the mission and carry it out...empowered them to bring it to pass. He gives CLC the ability to go out and accomplish all of this
The right kind of equipping! Able to do the mission.

Acts 2:3-5

What kind of impact did the Holy Spirit have on them...?

Acts 2:37-41
An ordinary guy like Peter was enable by the HS to stand up and preach the good news...and 3000 were added to the church that day! The Holy Spirit pierces the heart and draws us to God

What kind of gifts and abilities are given to us to help build the church...?

Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4
Some of these gifts don't seem as exciting as others and yet they are vital to the building of God's house

Romans 12:6-8
1 Peter 4:10-11

We are given gifts to put them into action and not to sit on them...develop your gift
What does developing our gifts look like...we see that in Acts 2;42
If we want a church that looks like that we need to fully engage with the Holy Spirit

Devoted 2

Fab morning at CLC. Paul Benger spoke the second message in our Devoted series. Brilliant!

The church exploded on the scene back there in Acts
It's happening today across the world and it's about to happen across Europe
We need to live devoted lives as we seek God and all his ways
Acts 2:42
Psalm 110:3 - your people will be willing in the day of your power
We need to be willing!
You will receive power and be my witnesses. As the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them they became devoted, grew and spread throughout the world
Devotion=profound dedication, attachment to a cause, sold out
Complacency is our enemy for the cause
What would the world look like if the church was taken away? The earth would be bankrupt.
(recap from last week)
Devoted to Mission
Devoted to the gatherings of God's people
Devoted to Relevance
We need to communicate to people in a relevant way

Two more things they were devoted to...

1. Conversions, people turning to Christ

The early church gathered and the early church worshipped, they spoke and sang the wonders of God
It's always been at the heart of church to gather and to worship
Then they preached and proclaimed the good ness of Jesus
Acts 2:33-38
There is something about the preaching of the word of God it 'cuts to the heart' saves souls!
It causes change in our lives, preaching for repentance...to chains our minds, our thinking...about God, about Jesus, about you and me
"Most basic foundation for the Christian life is repentance, which is taking God's side against yourself" Phil Pringle
Acts 9:26
Can a terrorist get saved? Paul did!
We are committed to peoples lives bring changed turned around
Acts 3:19-20
Acts 4:4
This church were expecting people becoming Christians
Could we be devoted to seeing people saved? As a church committed to lifting the lives of others
We believe in the power of God to change lives

2. Devoted to Truth
Acts 2:42...doctrine
It's truth that changes us. What Jesus has done and he is doing today.
Ephesians 3:10 (the Message)
Encourage, teach and do it with great patience!
They were devoted to the Apostles teaching...and they grew!
As we are taught by God through teaching the word begins to manifest in our lives
2 Timothy 1:13
Sound teaching leads us to faith and hope and love!
We need to appreciate being together as a body hearing from God together and not on our own.

Devoted 1

A fantastic morning at CLC. Paul Benger brought an excellent message as he started our new series…Devotion.

Acts 2:42

Why do we look back to the early church?
Because when Luke wrote Acts it was his second book to the book of Luke. Like a play, Gods story...Luke is Act 1...Acts is Act 2...everything is still there in both in Luke and Acts
We are in Act 3...the church today
We see a church devoted as we look back

Acts 2:42

They gave themselves to things of God devoted passionate for him!
The Holy Spirit is at work today in the church...great things are going to happen
Not a church of convenience but a church devoted
Devoted = Profound dedication consecrated...sold out to the cause of Christ
A devoted church is alive...it's got energy! It doesn't depend on your age! It's reaching people. A Devoted church is a threat to the enemy...not phased by setbacks. A devoted church is world-changing!

What were they devoted to...? (so that God create in us the same kind of passion and devotion in us)

1. They were devoted to the mission of Jesus

Acts 1:6-8

We're here for the mission of Christ to rescue people to reach the lost. A man/woman with a mission. You have a target on your head...but have all the weapons of God at our disposal!
We are here to see thousands saved in our area!
You will receive power and you will be witnesses.
Our vision has to be local and global...!
We witnesses of the fact that Jesus is alive.
Jesus is real...that's our message.

2. They were devoted to gathering together

Acts 2:1...all together in one accord, in one place

We come together because we believe we have been put together by God. Where two or three are gathered...there I am! God builds us together...each one matters.
The bible doesn't speak about doing things solo.

Acts 2:44&46

They met more than we do! They met at the temple because they were now the temple...the people of God!

When we win we win together...when we mourn we mourn together.

3. They were devoted to relevance

Acts 2:8, 11

Common language connects people...separate language disconnects people. Be relevant! Common language connect us to the world we are reaching out to.

Our communication as the church should be relevant...we are still proclaiming the same message but saying it in a way that can be understood.