Church notes - July 2017

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Church notes - July 2017
2nd July
'This is Amazing Grace': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgsbaBIaoVc
'What a Beautiful Name': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWFzMvCfLE
'Broken Vessels': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCWtEvK4JEE

Communion
Remembering what Jesus has done for us on the Cross

'Majesty': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEqQatxRCiw

A Woman Caught in Adultery
John 8: 1 - 11
Is there a sin in your life which labels you? What is the fallout of this siituation?

Leviticus 20 (What the Law says about adultery)

Should be stoned
Shouldn't be stoned
This was a political attack against Jesus. They hoped that whatever He answered, they could use His comments against Him.

If any one of you is without sin, let him throw a stone at her.

Jesus didn't condemn the woman, but neither did He ignore or condone her sin.
He told her to leave her life of sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart.

Adultery - many reasons that it may be occurring.

For whatever reason she entered into that relationship, she found herself trapped.
Sin always entraps.
She needed Jesus to free her from that situation.

Jesus set people free from their limitations.

Repentance - agreeing with God about our sin.
We can be defined by our repentance.

Romans 8:1

Do you define yourself by your sin and failure, do you allow yourself to be defined by God's grace to you?

'Grace Greater than...': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8zlq5k5S0M


9th July
Psalm 23
The LORD provides and guides.

'Praise is rising': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F1ADeQcIIU

John 9: 1 - 12

'On the altar of our praise': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkggIy2t35s

Prayer - for those who are persecuted. (Especially Christians who fled from Pakistan, only to face persecution in Thailand. Also Christians in North Korea.)

'This is how we know': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K67jH43tpjo
'There is hope in the promise of the Cross': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLW0zV6eqeY

John 9
- Disciples
Question: Who sinned? Why did this happen?

vs 3 - 5
Neither him, nor his parents.
It is due to the Fall - Genesis 3
Of course, sin has consequences! e.g. Drink Driving causing a crash!

Job
His friends were being simplistic when they suggested that Job done something wrong.

- The Man born blind
After he was healed, there was confusion - People wondered whether this was the same man.

vs 17 - He thought of Jesus as a prophet,
He wasn't intimidated by the Pharisees, even though he was thrown out of the synagogue.
A progression - A growing understanding of Who Jesus Is.
vs 11 - 'The man called Jesus'
vs 17 - A prophet.
vs 38 - worshipping as the Son.

- The Pharisees
They saw that the Sabbath had been violated.
Confused amongst themselves. The majority didn't believe that a 'sinner' could produce such a miracle of healing.
The man's parents didn't share in the joy. The Pharisees had bullied them!
The Pharisees had reached the conclusion that Jesus was a sinner, but there was no dissuading the man from what he knew to be true.
They thought that the Messiah would have the same legalistic worldview as they, but Jesus' worldview of grace is completely different.
We need to ensure that our worldview doesn't reflect the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees.
vs 39

Proverbs 26:12
The Pharisees were wise in their own eyes!

We are responsible for our own hearts.
vs 41
We need to have a journey similar to the man who had been born blind.
Christian growth is about taking a series of steps towards being more like Christ.

What would it mean to for you to take one step towards being more like Jesus?

'Your Great Name': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zpLPh6LibE


16th July
Psalm 84
'This is Amazing Grace'

100% Hope
Don't give in to complacancy

John 10:1 - 13
There are times when we require a shepherd

John 10:11 - 21
The Sheepfold and the Legitimate Shepherd
vs 1 - 2
Jesus cares for the sheep - He has compassion for the people
There are shephereds who care nothing for the sheep
Jesus is the Legitimate Shepherd. He cares.
The sheep recognise the Shepherd's voice.

When he has brought out all his own he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow Him because they know His voice.
We recognise the voice of God, of the Spirit.
Jesus is the Intimate Shepherd, who knows us intimately.
I am the Gate for the Sheep.
I am the Gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

He gives us abundant life. He protects us from theives and wild animals.

Psalm 23
A picture of a Good Shepherd looking after us.

The Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

1 Samuel 17:34, 35
David's protection of Jesse's sheep
This is a prototype of his Descendent's Sacrifice at the Cross. Jesus is the good shepherd who gives His Life for us.

Jesus is the Legitimate Shepherd who cares
Jesus is the Intimate Shepherd who knows us personally
Jesus is the shepherd who leads us to full abundant life
Jesus is the good shepherd who gives His life for us.

vs 27
We have security in Jesus
"No wolf, no theif, no bandit, no hireling, no demon, not even the devil himself can pluck the sheep out of my hand."
A.T. Robinson

'I Believe the creed'


23rd July 2017
The Canberra Declaration: https//www.canberradeclaration.org.au/index.php/the-canberrra-declaration/read-the-declaration

1 Thessalonians 1

'To be Christlike', 'Spiritual Growth', 'Discipleship', 'Sanctification'

Faith isn't just something to be studied. It is a relationship.
Jesus had a relationship with His disciples.

Read Scripture: 1 Thessalonians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No7Nq6IX23c

1 Thessalonians 3: 6 - 13
The people were imitating Paul and Silas as they were imitating Christ.
This also happens with us! We have to ensure that our modelling of Christ is excellent.
Model - Gr. Typos - Modern English derivative: Type.
We are like a template for what life in Christ is like.

The message was ringing out.
This modelling works in strong relationships.
Who can you imitate and how can you become a model?

http://fardell24.livejournal.com/270391.html


30th July 2017
Read Scripture: 1 Thessalonians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No7Nq6IX23c

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11
Paul gives encouragement
vs 4:13, 14
We have a powerful hope.
Stand Firm
1. The Believers who have died are with Christ now.
vs 14 God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
We will all be with Jesus.
'Soul sleep' - debunked!
See - Philippians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:10
We will be in Christ's presence.
2. Christ will come in great triumph
4:16 The Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God.
A picture of Christ's victory.

3. Christ will come with All the saints who have previously died.
4:14 We believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
The ultimate victory of Christ (and ourselves)
4. Christ will gather All His people together.
4:17
The 'Great Snatching'
We'll all be together with Christ
5. The Day of the LORD will come suddenly.
5:1-2
He will come like a thief in the night
At an unknown and unknowable time.
6. Christ's coming will bring judgement on the wicked.
7. In light of Christ's coming we must remain awake and self-controlled.
We have to be ready for His return. We have to be ready today and remain ready.
We are ready if we are awake in our readyness and are in the light. We need to live with a sense of self control and readyness.
Matthew 25:1-13
Five were ready, but the others weren't!
8. Believers are Destined for Salvation, not wrath.
5:9, 10
Our security is in who Jesus is and what He did at the cross.

That was God's plan. We have been rescued via Jesus' Sacrifice at the Cross.
5:10

1 Thessalonians 4:18
1 Thessalonians 5:11
What is your greatest encouragement from this passage?