Church notes - October 2020
4th October
No one by themselves is good enough to be with God.
Hebrews 10:16 - 25
Ephesians 2:4 - 9
It is by grace you were saved.
Ecclesia
- A gathering
Therefore - why is it there?
A foundational truth.
What Jesus accomplished and why it matters.
How do I have access to God?
We alll carry shame and guilt. But we we can access God!
Hope
- locked in a person. Jesus.
- A sense of certainty.
- He died on the Cross, carrying our sins. opening the way to heaven for us.
vs 18
Our sins have been dealt with.
vs 19
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.
Mark 15:37, 38
The curtin tore. The way to the Most Holy Place is open.
vs 21 - 23
'Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace with grace without discipleship, grave without the Cross, grace without Jesus Christ.' - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
We also draw near to each other.
vs 24
How might we spur each other on in love and good deeds?
Finding opportunities. (What is it we can do in the COVID situation.)
Persecution.
'Scripture knows nothing of a solitary Christian. People of faith are always members of a community . God never works with individuals in isolation but always with people in community. The Christian needs another Christian who will remind them of God and who will speak God's word to them. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain, when he becomes discouraged, for by himself the Christian cannot help himself.' - Eugene Peterson
vs25a
11th October
Ephesians 3:17 - 20
Jesus loves the children.
God shows His love through the people.
The Kingdom of God.
He invites us into His Kingdom.
Matthew 11:25 - 30
Matthew 18:1 - 5
COVID 19 is supercharging poverty.
For the first time in decades global poverty is increasing.
18th October
Mark 10:13 - 16
John 3:16
Matthew 11:28 - 30
Expectations
This is a season in which we need to encourage each other.
Matthew 11:28 - 30
We need to grow in our relationships. With Christ. And with others who know Him.
Ephesians 4:11 - 15
When we are in a storm, Jesus is our Rock.
1. We grow when we feed on God's word.
We can have confidence in Him.
Acts 20:32
We need to spend time each day studying the Word.
2. We grow from different learning experiences.
Personal quiet time - personal study.
Sunday service and sermon.
Small group/home group.
Hebrews 10:24, 25
3. We grow when we develop spiritual habits.
We sow a thought and reap an act. We sow an act and reap a habit. We sow a habit and reap a character. We sow a character and reap a destiny.
John 13:17
1 Corinthians 9:25
Habit of weekly large group worship.
Habit of small group fellowship.
Habit of a daily time alone with God (Reading the Bible and Prayer).
Habit of memorising God's Word.
Acts 2:46
4. We grow when we help each other grow.
Romans 1:11, 12
5. We grow when we expect to grow.
6. We grow when we commit to grow.
1 Corinthians 3:5
Jeremiah 29:13
25th October
Ephesians 1:3 - 14
1 John 5:11 - 15
40 Days of Prayer
Ecclesiastes 3:11
There is a need to connect with God. There are also moments when we all pray.
Prayer is a conversation, not a ceremony. It is a relationship, not a ritual.
1. God wants us to talk to Him about anything.
2. Prayer should be our first choice, not a last resort.
Psalm 103:13
Jeremiah 29:11
God has a plan for our lives.
2. Pray simply and sincerely.
Matthew 6:5 - 15
He encourages persistant prayer, but objects to shallow and repetitious prayer. He wants sincre communication.
Hebrews 10:22
Jeremiah 33:3
3. God shows us His grace by answering prayer.
James 4:2
We need to ask.
Often we ask for the wrong things, or the wrong reasons, out of selfish desires.
Start a conversation, see where it goes. Prayer is opening our heart to God.
4. God longs for you to be close to Him.
Isaiah 30:18
Hosea 6:6
James 4:8
We need to make a commitment, to draw closer to God.