Church notes - September 2017

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Church notes - September 2017
3rd September
Communion
A Practice of Truth. It doesn't matter how we feel about it.
Forgiveness - a doorway.
Matthew 27:51
The Death of Jesus allowed us to meet Jesus, restoring the relationship to what God intended it to be.
The Knowing is important.
How is the Knowing going? (Knowing Him and being known by Him)

Dedication - Steele, Georgina
Psalm 137:3

2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 12
Persecution - Don't be unsettled or alarmed.
- Suffering is real, but it won't prevail.
The Man of Lawlessness
- Will break all of God's laws.
- Will be destroyed.
- Exalting himself above everything that is worshipped.
Daniel 7
The prophecy hasn't been fulfilled yet. (Not by Anchiochus IV, the Romans or anyone else in history)
Lesser fulfillments of the prophecy have occurred,
The Restraint
- Law and Government
- The Activities of the Church
- The work of the Holy Spirit
The Prophecies will be fulfilled at the proper time.

In our time - Secular Humanism
Same Sex Marriage - Australian postal plebycte
Leviticus 18:22
Euthanasia - a bill is before the New South Wales Parliament.
Abortion

But the Man of Lawlessness will be destroyed. God's rule will prevail.

Paul calls the Thessalonans (and us) to persevere, to stand firm.

Daniel 7:14

When you think of Jesus' Return, what unsettles or alarms you?

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10th September
Celebration Sunday (and AGM)
Matthew 6:33
1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18
John 13:34

Celebration Sunday
Building a strong sense of Ownership
- In anything you have involvement in.
1. 1 am built into a temple
- You are like living stones, are being built into a spiritual home to be a holy preisthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Our lives should be lived as though we are serving God in a temple.
Ownership Goal
Develop a serving Goal.
Romans 12:4
2. We belong to each other
in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Our differencs are for the common good.

3. Spur one another along.
- Let us consider how we may spur one another towards love and good deeds.

Ownership goal
Develop an atttendance goal
Isn't it a question of committment?


17th September
2 Thessalonians 2:13 - 17

The Gideons
- Placing Bibles where people in need may see them.
Prayer
- Dubbo Hospital, and two Dubbo schools that presently don't allow Gideon Bibles...

Communion
Jesus - The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 - 17
Life is getting more difficult for Christians
Paul - Also had pressures and despair
Chuck Swindoll aslo
Every Christian
The Thessalonians were persecuted for their faith.
4 Encouragements
1. God chose you to be saved and to grow.
vs 13
Salvation begins and ends with God. All we have to do is to accept this gift,
2. Share in the glory of Jesus.
vs 14
Something that shows God's greatness. He shares this with us.
3. Stand Firm
vs 15
Paul knew that they would face challenges, both from the world and in their own minds.
Don't worry about world events (e.g. North Korea) or about problems in your life.
God's in control. We need to stand firm, not be relaxed. Hold onto God's word.
4. May God Encourage you.
vs 16, 17.
Be in a strong, stable place in Jesus. He wants a changed life.
Paul had pressure, but he had encouargement from God. We stand firm in Him, we have strength, encouragement and hope.


24th September
Rob Sweeny Testimony
- A Christian family
- Falling away as a teen
- Turning left (towards the church) instead of the right (towards home).
Philippians 1:21
Studying - employers were flexible regarding hours.

Philippians 2:1 - 11

2 Thessalonians 3:6 - 15
Eschatology - Study of the End Times
We need to be ready for Jesus' return. The Thessalonians weren't living according to this.
vs 6
vs 11
The teaching had been misunderstood.
Problem 1 - Denial of 'No one knows the day or the hour'.

Matthew 24:42 - 51

Be Faithfully Serving
We have a purpose.

We serve God by serving others
Mark 10:45

vs 7
Paul had worked not being a burden on the Thessalonian Christians. He had made himself a model, being an influence in this way. But they weren't following this model. Jesus' greatness is measured by the number of people He served. This is in opposition to what the world values.

God made you for service, not for self-centeredness.
Servants make themselves available.
Servants don't fill up their time.
But they live in readiness to serve the LORD.

Servants pay attention to needs.
Proverbs 3:28
On the lookout for small ways they can serve.

Servants are faithful in small tasks.
- Do every task with equal meditation
Jesus did menial tasks - e.g. washing the disciples' feet. Nothing was beneath Him. It is because of His greatness He came to serve.

Servants Finish their tasks.

Some Thessalonians said. "Jesus is coming, Let's relax until He's here."
In contrast, Paul said, "Jesus is coming. I need to serve Him faithfully until He's here."

What about you?