church notes - August 2017

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Church notes - August 2017
6 August
Read Scripture - 2 Thessalonians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbPBDKOn1cc&t=7s

Stand Firm
2 Thessalonians 1
Do you want to know God more?
God's plan is for us to grow in Him.
"More and More." - Paul is talking about growing in Christ.

Fear - causes people to loose faith and hope.

vs 3, 4
None of Paul's fears had come true
E.G. the Church in China after the Communist takeover.
But the Church had grown.
200 million in the Chinese Underground Church.
Like the Thessalonians they had perservered.

How to encourage growth?
'A well tended soul'
Looking after your soul?
e.g. maintaining lawns.
Do you have a well tended soul?
Evidence
Perserverance in persecution
Growing love.

vs 4, 5
Despite persecution, they were growing spiritually.
Persecution: A program of harassment.
Trials - pressure, problems
Suffering
A level of pushback can be a good thing

Australian Media - various voices attacking Christian thinking.

What barriers do you need to remove that stop you growing in Christ?

Communion
It is like going into the pits during a motor race.

Am I obedient to Jesus?
Do I have a sin to confess?


13 August
Mark 5:24 - 34
Jesus, Power and Poverty
The woman is physically powerless, and had become broke because of it.
The Law had been turned into a burden and she felt the full crushing weight of that burden,

vs 29
Jesus healed her. He used His power for the sake of others.

vs 30 - 34
The woman was shocked when Jesus asked "Who touched my clothes?" But He had more than healing in mind for her! He called her 'Daughter'.


20 August
All Age Service
Communion
Does God just tolerate sin?
Ephesians 1:4 - 5
It is His pleasure to have a relationship with us
Ephesians 1:7 - 9
Lavished - extravagent, over the top.
Forgiveness that is over the top.
God doesn't regret saving us.
There is no sin that is too great for God to forgive.
The price is paid in full!

Matthew 18:21 - 35
Forgiveness
vs 21
Peter is asking something that we might ask.
Jesus' answer - never stop forgiving!

Forgiveness
- Not forgetting what has happened.
- Not ignoring sin.
- Not being a doormat.
- Means not seeking revenge.
- Handing anger over to God.
- Not saying 'stay in harms way'
- Meant to heal relationships.
The Talents - the unpayable debt.
The unmerciful servent - He doesn't understand forgiveness.
- Our response can be shallow..
Forgiveness is key - It is vitally important to your new life in Christ.
vs 32 - 35
unforgiveness causes problems in the relationship!
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 4:3
Matthew 6:12 - 15
If you can't forgive, you're forgetting the reason for forgiveness.
If we hold onto bitterness - the person is turning from what God has done through Jesus.
Sin is so offensive to God that He had to sacrifice His Son at the Cross. That is the length He went to to show His love. We should be eager to lavish forgiveness on those who have offended us.
Forgive as the LORD forgives you.


27 August 2017
Kids Talk
Daniel 5
Writing on the Wall
God is showing that He is in control (Not the King of Babylon).

2 Thessalonians 1: 5 - 10
Stand Firm
vs 9
Hell is a Biblical reality - the above verse shares a picture of that place.

We can trust that God's judgement is right and just.
those persecuting the Thessalonian believers would face this justice.

To reject God's love is to reject our only opportunity of salvation.
Those who don't know Jesus personally will face everlasting destruction.
Paul wants to be with Christ (Philippians 1:21 - 23)

vs9
Shut out from His presence and His Glory
John 3:16
The positive view

Hell - a permanent banishment
Heaven - Being with the LORD forever.

Hebrews 9:27
Your eternal destiny is determined by our accaptance of What Jesus has done for us.
Hell is a reality
Jesus spoke the most about it.

2 Chronicles 28
King Ahaz - Gohenna - the garbage pit.

It was not part of the originall plan for the creation.

Both Heaven and Hell are described metaphorically - figurative language. It is not a literal description, but Jesus was comparing them to what people already knew.
(C.S. Lewis pointed this out once.)
People should know that the afterlife is real.
'Fire of Hell' - Destruction, cut off fromGod and all that is good. It is what would happen in you. Trapped in yourself and what you've become.
But it's not God's will. Therefore, the purpose of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross is so that we shall not face that reality.