Church notes - March 2019
3rd March
Psalm 146
Acts 6 - 8
Overly bureaucratic organisation - A perfect description of modern governments, and of the Sanhedrin.
Acts 7:54 - 8:1
What Stephen had did - He had told them the truth such that it exposed a raw nerve. They were afraid of change.
Acts 6:1 - 7
Stephen was amongst those chosen.
The early church wasn't afraid to shift its structure. It is tragic when churches are unable to shift focus to deal with needs which God wants them to deal with.
Acts 5:8 - 15
Stephen was filled with the Spirit.
Acts 7
The History of Israel
Acts 6:14
Those in the Sanhedrin were afraid of change. Stephen's idea of change was offensive to them. Jesus' teachings require change. God had changed them through their history from Abraham onwards.
Stephen's perspective of history pointed a finger of accusation at them. Therefore they rejected Jesus, signing their own spiritual death warrent.
Acts 8:1
Saul was approving the stoning.
1 Timothy 1:15
The worst of sinners because he had persecuted the Church.
1 Timothy 1:16
The result: a life of purpose and hope
Emergent from the tragedy: a picture of hope.
100% Hope
Prayer - unborn baby Miracle has internal deformities
Declaration: A miracle for Miracle
Ezekiel 37:1 - 14
Stand firm on God's promises!
Don't give up. God is in you!
10th March
Communion
Acts 2:42 - 47
Acts 8:26 - 40
Philip was obedient.
Pemula lodge (A hostel linked to the Church)
- Prayer: what the future of the lodge is to be. (Congregation invited to provide input)
Kid's talk
We are witnesses for Jesus, no matter what age we are.
Acts 8:26 - 40
Stories of the Bible - Philip and the Ethiopian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGEqn7_teFo
God is unstoppable
God commands us to be part of His mission. To be lead by the Spirit, to share His word with the lost.
Acts 1:1 - 3
It appeared to that the Church was dead.
But...
Acts 1:8
He wanted His disciples to spread.
Acts 8:26 - 40
One Christian and one lost sheep.
Philip on a desert road.
God is the best micromanager - it isn't a coincidence that Philip met the Ethiopian.
The Ethiopian - reading Isaiah 53 - one of the most amazing Old Testament Messianic prophesies
A body of water suitable for baptism.
God reached the Ethiopian
We should follow His leading in a similar way.
Natural intersections in our lives
'Now is the opportunity'. Don't miss it. Take the opportunity!
It is the same God. We have the same message! We shouldn't make excuses.
God's heart is for the lost.
If a Church or a Christian hasn't got this, they are out of touch.
Matthew 12:34
We need to speak the truth. We need to test the prompting with the Word. Philip used the passage from Isaiah to talk about Jesus.
God equips us to talk into people's lives.
Security
...
Identity
- Cultural, racial, sexual
Real identity can be found in Christ.
Suffering
- Hardship and tragedy
The cross - the ultimate suffering
Satisfaction
Jesus satisfies the deepest hunger in our souls.
We are equipped and commanded to share God's Word.
John 14:6
17th March
Psalm 93
Ephesians 4: 1 - 6
Matthew 9:9 - 13
The Pharisees were questioning why Jesus was doing what He was doing.
vs 13
No one is without sin, but Jesus is using the term as the Pharisees themselves would. He is saying that He is there for those who would admit that they are sinners.
Hosea 6:6
Mercy not sacrifice
Context: The Pharisees' sacrifice is wrong. They were doing it by works.
We can sink back into these habits. The Pharisees (and others) judge others based on their moral failures.
"No" Jesus said.
He is saying that people need mercy.
All moral failings are equal. (A lier is equal to a murderer.)
We are all blackened by sin, but Jesus' sacrifice has absolved us of this, so we are as white as snow.
In our relationships with others we need to offer mercy, not legalistic religion.
We need to imitate Jesus' mercy.
How often do we open our hearts, our homes to those we see as tax collectors and sinners?
Jesus accepts people no matter what their sins are. How can we be people who can eat like Jesus in our society.
1) How do we 'eat' with our community?
2) How do we 'eat' better with our Church?
24th March
Romans 5:6 - 8
India
Hindu Nationalists are in power...
Many churches are being persecuted; many are not allowed to worship at Christmas.
Prayer:
- For these churches
- Upcoming elections
Baptisms: Matthew, James and Rebecca White, Sam
Prayer: People in the Church looking after others
The Road to Damascus
Acts 9:1 - 19
Acts 8:1 - 3
Saul was very aggressive against the Church.
He wasn't just following orders.
Galatians 1:13
He was obsessed. He thought it was blasphemous.
A dramatic conversion
The most dramatic thing: Saul's heart was forever changed.
In His Sovereignty and Power, God chooses people.
Galatians 1:13 - 16
He took us from death to life.
No one is outside the grace of God. No one is too far gone for Jesus' blood to cover them,
Response:
Pure joy and thanksgiving
We all have dramatic conversions to share.
Changed your heart
Saul is baptised.
Colossians 2:12
Saul knew his old life, his old heart was gone.
Baptism:
- A symbol of the eternal change
- A Declaration that Jesus has taken our sins away.
Ananias didn't beleive what God was saying to him about taking in Saul. Yet he called him brother. He trusted God's Sovereign Grace.
God does more than you can ask or imagine.
Ephesians 2:3 - 5
31st March
Baptist World Aid
Prayer
Zimbabwe
- Aftermath of Cyclone Idai (flooding, lack of food, Cholera...)
- For good leaders who know Christ
Nepal
87.3 % Hindu (some syncretism with Buddhism)
Savings Groups, empowering women.
Childs rights - fighting against child labor, abuse, marriages and caste discrimination
Philippians 4:10 - 20
Money Matters?
Paul thanking the Philippian Christians for their gift.
vs 10 - 13
vs 13
Twitter - most commonly posted Bible passage in 2014.
Paul isn't saying that God will give you strength to do whatever you want to do.
vs 11
Paul had learned to be contented in poor circumstances. His contentment came from Christ. This gave him a resilience to go through those situations.
We are always chasing contentment - like a carrot on a stick.
We need the right perspective.
A promise - we can be strong enough to do what it is we need to do.
vs 14 - 17
Context: Paul was in prison. Roman prisons didn't have the funding to feed their prisoners... He was most grateful to the Philippian Christians for sharing his burden.
Acts of community.
vs 18 - 20.
Giving money - it's not just a transaction. Paul was saying that giving is more than a good idea.
An act of generosity. God cares.
Why is it a fragrant offering to God. Why does He find it pleasing?
Because we are blessing His children.