Church notes - April 2019
7th April
Psalm 100
'In Christ Alone': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE
'In You Lord, do I put trust' : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcBWOBUVdfY
Communion
Ephesians 1:6, 7
Acts 12
Prayer
- Pemula Lodge
- A teen boy who has broken his leg severely (Healing, Restoration and Life in Jesus' Name!)
Acts 12
Fear and Gloom
Absolute despair and hopelessness - persecution increasing.
But God is watching our circumstances and situations
1 Peter 3:8 - 12
God hears our prayers.
vs 5
The Church's prayers were the turning point.
Our prayers significantly change situations
The angel fetched Peter out of the prison, but the prayer fetched the angel.
vs 6
Why did james die, but Peter was rescued?
Mark 10:35 - 40
They didn't know what they were asking for.
We need to trust God in all situations.
He allows us to exist in sufferings.
We have limited knowledge of situations
We should push back against discouragement. Prayers may seem to be unanswered, but in hindsight, they were answered in unexpected manners.
vs 20 - 24
Herod - struck down with intestinal parasites and died.
Peter - Set free
The Word - continued to spread.
A story of disaster changed to a story of victory.
10000 Reasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM
It is Well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqo4Un2uZI
14th April
Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28 - 38
'Lion and the Lamb': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ujBoud26k
'Whom Shall I Fear': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOkImV2cJDg
Psalm 36
Prayer
- Those who have come to know Christ through the recent Alpha course; that they will continue in the walk.
- Nicholson Family - comfort in their grief.
'Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwc2d1Xt8gM
'Build My Life': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z32HiCoFzlU
Matt Prater - Evangelist
42 people decided to come to Christ in the last week!
Be active in your gifting.
Jesus called us to go to the last, the least and the lost.
Challenge: All are called to evangelise. All need to know the Gospel. Don't miss an opportunity.
Will you be found faithful with the word?
Matthew 28:16 - 20
Not the Great Suggestion!
John 3:16
John 14:6
2 Peter 3:8 - 16
We need to live every day as if it is the Day of the Return.
We need to be excited about the Gospel
We need to be bold and take the step of faith.
Never give up praying and asking the question.
Evangelism has been mediocre. We need to be spreading the word.
Christianity is a step of faith.
But we can become lukewarm
Matthew 9:35 - 38
Prayer
Pray to make it today
Be an answer to that prayer
We need to be a work in the harvest feild.
Prayer is a two way conversation.
Matthew 24:14
Romans 1:16, 17
We shouldn't be ashamed of the Gospel.
Mess - Message
Tests - Testimony
Pray
Read God's Word every day
Be in church
Tell others!
'Christ is Enough': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9fTw9MLKAo
19th April
Good Friday
John 19:16 - 25
Psalm 24
Colossians 1
Paradoxes of Easter
Weapons turned into tools of healing and creation
John 12:33
John 12:24
A seed has great potential.
Seed planting looks like burial
Jesus - His pathway to glory was through death. Unless He was put in the ground, He would bear no fruit.
John 12:25
If we are prepared tp abandon our agendas, God can use us.
A hard thing - hate our lives in this world. (Not an unhealthy hate)
It is hard!
- To follow Jesus
- To take up the cross
But - Eternal life
Four Hard Things
The grain of wheat must die
Jesus calls us to be in the world but not of it.
Jesus calls us to follow Him
He calls us to serve Him
The cross changes everything
The original design of Creation restored.
Glorius Things
We bear much fruit!
We join Jesus where He is in Glory
The Father honours us
The Cross is God's glory
A crucified Messiah is a paradox
The world is full of sin, yet we're sustained by grace.
God will put an end to all suffering
The only hope is through faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:3 - 10
21st April
Resurrection Sunday
1 Peter 1: 3 - 12
1 Corinthians 15:54 - 57
Luke 24:1 - 12
Life is disappointing
Is there a bigger hope, one that sustains us no matter what our circumstances?
Yes. Jesus show no matter what darkness surrounds us, God's light shines bright.
John 12:24, 25
Jesus was planted. Being planted looks like being buried.
The Cross
- a method of torturous execution
- His death for us.
The resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.
We put God's will first, die to sin.
Bearing fruit
John 20:1 - 9
The women assummed that the body had been stolen.
Luke 24:11
What the women were saying sounded like nonsense.
Acts 2:22 - 37
Revelation 1:17, 18
28th April
Read Scripture: Galatians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmx4UjRFp0M
Ephesians 2:19 - 22
'Christ The Solid Rock': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswGE6rQhmE
Galatians 1
'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5qc0EcNgqw
'Good, Good Father': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqybaIesbuA
People in Vigilantes dressed as superheroes.
* ... have pasts they're trying to make up for
* If they can do enough good. if they can wipe out the memories of the bad stuff.
Similar questions being asked by the Galatian Christians
'What must we do to be Saved?'
Acts 15:1
Some Jews wanted to add the Law of Moses to what Jesus did.
Today: 'If you were a real Christian you would...'
Implication that you need to live a certain way.
The Council at Jerusalem settled the matter, but it was still troubling the Galatian Christians.
Jesus died for us on the Cross. Paul is saying that nothing else is required other than our faith in Him.
The requirements were fulfilled at the Cross.
vs 6 - 8
Paul was frustrated that people would turn from the Gospel to something that isn't a gospel at all. All it did was add additional burdens on their shoulders and throw them into confusion.
Paul's ministry was legitimate.
But we can add additional burdens to ourselves if we continue to carry our sins. There is no need for this. It was Christ Alone. In Christ alone we have confidence in eternal life.
All our sins are forgiven in Christ. Any doubts are not of God. Our sins are forgiven, Christ is our hope. We can live in a sense of confidence and assurance.
'Only a Holy God': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPi5kArL04E