Church notes - May 2018

[fardell24]

6th May 2018
Communion
the bread and juice are just a symbol of the reality of the Cross.
Victory over our sins
Romans 6:23
Colossians 1:13, 14
Victory over our guilt.
All of us have an inner voice that is critical of all we do. Some are true... but.

Hebrews 10:22
Victory over the Devil

Two Questions
Romans 8:31
Satan has become nobody.
Romans 8:35
Nobody can separate us from the victory Christ has acheived.

Sermon
Mark 2:18-22
Kodak - was unwilling to face change (from film to digital).

Are the rules the right rules?

In Matthew, it clarifies that it was John's disciples asking Jesus why his disciples weren't fasting.
John 3:28 - 30
They had missed the point.

vs21
The old and new are incompatible
The old - The Law.
The New - New Covenant

John 16:5 - 16

vs22
Greek
New Wine - Neos - recent
New Wineskin - Kainos - renewed.
An old heart can't receive this new message, if it hasn't been renewed.

Luke 5:39
A Contrast - people want what they are familiar with, but God was doing something new!

If they weren't to change, they would be left behind.
Judaism had been based on God's desires, but it became filled with Man's traditions.
The same can happen with the New Testament Church.
We need to hear the word of God, and be willing to change. We need to be flexible and hear God's voice.

The right question: 'Are these the rules God wants us to follow?'


13th May
Mark 3:20 - 30

Paradoxes
e.g. Pinocchio saying that his nose will grow or killing your grandfather before you were born.

So it was with the Teachers of the Law in attempting to explain how Jesus was able to do what He did.
Mark 2:23 - 3:6
vs 2 - They were looking to accuse Him.
There is a hostile response.

The Parable of the Strong Man
vs 22
They were unwilling to see what Jesus was doing as a good thing. Thus their nonsensical explanation of Beelzebub driving out demons.
vs 27

Revelation 20:10
Jesus has bound Satan. We are on the winning team.

vs3:28
For all who believe in Jesus, everything is forgiven.
Confession and repentance; a lfie changing work.
vs 29
It is not an action, but an attitude.
The absence of contrition and of desire for forgiveness.
Deliberate and ongoing.
Don't resist, step forwards.


20th May
Acts 2:1 - 4

'Hosanna': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZdqiQ8WCmM

Pentecost: Praise of God in multiple tongues:

Missionary - Hannah Walker
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18 - 20)
We are all sent

Mark 4:1 - 20

Communion
Hebrews 10:1 - 14
The Law was a shadow of what was to come.
The Law had a function, but it wasn't the point.
Jesus only had to go to the Cross once.
We have our assurance. Our sins are dealt with.
We should have the Jewish mindset, rather a Christian mindset.

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

Sermon
Mark 4:1 - 14
The Parable of the Sower
(Or the Parable of the Soils?)
Amazing potential, amazing growth
The potential is within us
How are you growing?
What does the parable mean? What was He saying?
Some people are open to what Jesus is saying, others aren't.
The secret has been given to the disciples.

Isaiah - His life changed, but he had a thankless task.
God using sarcasm. People aren't listening, but if they did they might learn something.

Billy Graham - He spoke to over 200 million people during his crusades.
Blaise Pascal - "Enough light for those who want to see. Enough obscurity for those who don't want to know."

Soils
The Pathway - closed minds.
The Shallow Heart
When trouble or persecution come because of the Word, they quickly fall away.
If their relationship with God is shallow, they turn away from Him because of hardship.

The Crowded Heart
vs 18, 19
Other things consume their attention, robbing them of their relationship with God.
Is my spiritual life being choked by worries, money, etc.

Good Soil People
Follow Jesus no matter what the cost. They listen obey and follow through
4:20

Legacies
Hugh Heffner - a legacy of thought that 'pleasure is a good thing', polygamous relationships, men addicted to pornography and abused women.

Billy Graham - Half of a church in the 70's having come to know Christ through his Crusades, the descendents of those who came to know Christ in that way, being saved by their ancestors' faith.

'Oceans': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2PNTq_-mZs

Psalm 91


27th May
Psalm 142
Romans 12:1 - 2
Church is better and worse than you've imagined - documentary:

Mark 4:21 - 25
vs24
We need to be replenished with God's Word (as the lamp is replenished with Oil)
Jesus needs to be on the lamp stand.
Hearing is important
'Hear' appears 9 times through Chapter 4.
The Word needs to be assimilated into our thinking and actions. The Light is the Word of God, the message of Jesus, what He came to do at the Cross, the Gospel Message. It needs to be seen by the rest of the world. We have a responsibility to share this news.
vs 21
it mustn't be hidden. It must be shared openly. Don't hide it, proclaim it! We don't often do this - held back by fear.
Have you been tempted to hide the message of Jesus' Kingdom.

The disciples were to spread the news.
We need to be bigger, brighter lights. A light that allows others to give the glory to Jesus.
vs 23

James 1:22 - 24
We need to deeply imbed God's Word in ways that show in our thoughts and actions.

vs 25
We need to exercise our knowledge of the Word every day.

No one can prayerfully and systematically study the Word of God without entering into an expanding world of truth
On the other hand, if study of the Word is ignored, truth tends to drain away, sin flows into the vacuum, and the truth is lost - David McKenna.

If we have a superficial understanding it would be like a torch with a corroded battery.