Church notes - May 2020
3rd May
Psalm 34:8
Sunday School - Joseph trusting in God.
Hebrews 11:8-18
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of the saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
1 Corinthians 11:23 - 26
Matthew 28:16 - 20
What makes a good friend?
Loyalty, Honesty, Acceptance, being vulnerable and real, being there when one needs you to be there.
Jesus is there 24/7.
2 Chronicles 20:7
Isaiah 41:8 - 10
James 2:20 - 24
Abraham as God's friend
What does it take to be a friend of God.
Time
Time to spend with each other. Shared experiences. Trust. Friends are people you want to spend time with.
'Friendship is something that Abraham and God did together.
Abraham and God met together for the sake of meeting; as perhaps Abraham whittles a stick or fixes a tent peg. They are simply together the two of them, a being themselves; enjoying each other's company' - Frederick Buechner.
Tolerance
A lot of love and sometimes a little blindness.
Tolerating our faults. There were times Abraham didn't respond with faith.
Telling others that Sarah was his sister.
Ishmael being conceived.
But he walked with dependence on God.
Trust
He trusted God.
Hebrews 11:1, 2
A friend - someone who walks in when everyone else walks out.
Abraham trusted God more than the visible circumstances.
Genesis 12:1 - 9
Abraham leaving to go to the land where God wants him to go.
Genesis 13
Genesis 16:1 -4
Genesis 22:1 - 19
Although there were times when he faltered, Abraham trusted God through each circumstance.
When difficulty hits:
Romans 4:18 - 25
Friendship with God is possible.
Time, Tolerance, Trust
But, one needs to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, if they haven't already.
3rd May - PM
Colossians 3:12 - 17
Praising God with thankfulness.
Philippians 1:1 - 11
vs 7, 8
Paul was longing to see the Philippian Christians
A very deep relationship. A challenge for everyone.
Do we feel that way about the people in our local churches?
Do we long for each other.
vs 3 - 6
What is the source of Paul's joyful thanksgiving.
Koinonia - means more than just fellowship.
Encouragement and prayer for each other.
Philippians 4:10, 14 - 18
Why Paul had confidence in the Philippians continuing in their faith.
What deters us from having the same confidence?
Who encourages you as Paul encouraged the Philippians?
Family, etc.
Partners in the Gospel
vs 9 - 11
Our love grows as we open our eyes more to the knowledge of God and His Word.
God knows best.
Do we act on this day to day?
Does it determine what our love looks like for each other?
Love full of truth.
vs 11
Abound more and more in love.
Together
10th May
Mother's Day
Romans 12:15
2 Timothy 1:17
Joshua 14
Caleb
Finishing well doesn't always happen, but it is important.
Caleb started well but he also finished well.
Start well, but finish well in our
Relationships
Marriages
Parenting
Ministries
Numbers 13: 26 - 14:45
Caleb believed the Israelites could take the land, because he remembered that the Lord had brought them out of Egypt and supported them in the desert. He applied the lessons of God's faithfulness in the past to the challenges he faced each day.
The ten unfaithful spies were defeated, but Caleb held onto God's promises.
Fear is a powerful motivator. Israel was paralysed with it but Caleb held onto God's promises.
Perseverence.
Caleb persevered through the 40 years in the wilderness.
Like Caleb each one of us mus persevre and not to give up.
He had a sense of purpose. Those who finish well have a sense of purpose about their life.
vs 14:2, 3
The children of those who were fearful of the inhabitants inherited the land, but they didn't.
Humility
There is no hint of a rivalry between Joshua and Caleb. Either his pride wasn't injured, or he had dealt with it in the course of the 40 years. He accepted God's timing for his reward. He waited for God's promises to be fulfilled.
Deal with pride.
10th May - PM
1 Peter 1:3
Psalm 13
Philippians 1:12 - 26
VE Day (last Friday)
A moment of anticipation
Paul's death
vs 21 - 23
To live is Christ. To die is gain. It is a very big statement. Do our lives say that?
To die is gain - Paul understood the bigger picture.
vs 23
Nothing compares to spending Eternity with Christ
To live is Christ
- In Earthly life, Paul (and we) have one priority - to give way to Christ.
vs 18 - 20.
vs 15
Defending the gospel.
vs 16
He's still preaching the Gospel in prison.
Paul is in it because the only joyful life is from making Jesus the focus of one's life.
Challenge
To live is Christ - Are we pursuing the goal as Paul did?
In Relationship with Him. Nothing else compares.
To live is Christ.
To die is gain.
Do you do all you can to spread the Word?
17th May
Dedication
Tickell, Hudson
Tickell, Adelaide
1 Samuel 1:27, 28
Luke 2:21 - 24
Joseph and Mary dedicate Jesus at the Temple
Deuteronomy 6:5 - 9
Matthew 19:13 - 15
Romans 8:38, 39
Nehemiah 1
Opportunity International
Making a Difference
Nehemiah
Jerusalem was still a mess.
Enemies surrounded them, the walls were in ruins and morale was low.
Holy Discontent
e.g. Wilberforce - against the slave trade.
Outrage
God's call to go to do something.
vs 4
4 months of prayer
Chapter 2
vs 17
They were well aware of the mess Jerusalem was in, but they had learned to live with it.
Urgent Prayer
Take Action
"Someone should do something about that."
But some people actually take action.
Overcome Opposition
2:19
But troubles arose.
Life is a battle.
Opposition Persistent
Persistance, overcomes opposition
Nehemiah refused to spend time to please people who couldn't be pleased.
Nehemiah 4
Discouragement came.
What is your discouragement?
Nehemiah 6:15
Completed in 52 days, ahead of time and below budget.
Joy
They experienced God's grace.
Nehemiah made a difference in his generation. Won't you make a difference in this?
Sunday School
The Battle of Jericho
Joshua 5:13 - 6:23
Memory Verse: Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." ESV.
24th May
Hebrews 11:6
Jeremiah 29:13
Joshua 1:9
Malachi 3:6 - 17
Bring the tithes into the storehouse.
Joshua 2:1 - 21
Rejected
Ridiculed
Marginalised
Ostracised
Rahab
James 2:25 - 26
Hebrews 11:31
A Canaanite, a woman and a prostitute. Also she was dishonest (lying about the whereabouts of the Israelite spies.)
God can bring change into our lives.
Rahab was desperate to change her life. She was ready to change.
vs 8, 9
She was developing a faith in Him.
vs 11
An expression of faith.
1 Corinthians 6:11
God can change our circumstances and our hearts. He will accept us no matter what we have done.
God can cleanse us.
A reminder of the Good News of Jesus. What God said to Rahab, Jesus also said to the woman caught in adultery.
God sees the potential in all of us. He doesn't see what the World sees.
2 Corinthians 5:17
All can be saved, no matter their past.
God uses the most unlikely people.
Matthew 1:4, 5
Rahab is one of Jesus' ancestors.
No matter what your past and current circumstances are God can use us.
God can
- Change us.
- Cleanse and restore us.
- Use us for His purposes.
31st May 2020
Lamentations 3:19 - 27
Ruth 1
Ruth
Hopelessness
Devastation
Ruin
Loss
Weakness
Three widows - Naomi had lost her husband and her sons.
vs 20
Naomi - favoured one.
Mara - bitter.
She thought God had abandoned her. She was disillusioned. But God was working in an extraordinary way.
God is there for us as He was for Ruth and Naomi, in the midst of loss and heartbreak.
Not a story about an Israelite Man but a Moabite woman.
Deuteronomy 23:3 - 6
Moabites weren't friends with Israel.
But God embraced those who were marginalised and downtrodden.
vs16
Ruth wanted to go where Naomi was going. She didn't want to abandon her.
Boaz
Ruth was exposed to God through her former husband. Somehow, she had more faith in God than her mother in law did. A faith in a God who didn't abandon those who trusted in Him. She found refuge in Him. Her faith could not be discouraged.
Levictus 19:9, 10
Boaz
Ch 2.15
Kinsman Redeemer.
Ruth 4
Boaz convinces the other man to let him marry Ruth.
Destitution to Inheritance
We have a Kinsman Redeemer.
Hebrews 2:11
Galatians 4:4-7
Ephesians 2:19
Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer.
Tenacious love and friendship - a model of how we should act.
No matter how you're down, you have a Kinsman Redeemer in Jesus.