Church notes - October 2018

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7th October

Praise Points
- Rain throughout most of western New South Wales
- A Lady who was thought to be terminal: She no longer is dying.

Haggai 1:15 - 2:9
Disappointment
A Sense of disappointment. A massive disappointment, that the New Temple wasn't matching the old.

When we look at our lives we are disappointed. In our walk, with the Church, in our lives or in our outreach to others.
The LORD is asking us to shift our expectations. To shift them to something better. To Himself! He says to be strong in Him.
We need to ask the same about our expectations. We shouldn't hinge our faith on expectations. The only certainty we can get from God is God Himself.
Is that enough?
God offers Himself. He is enough. Nothing else is enough
vs 6 - 9

Matthew 16:22, 23
Peter had the wrong expectation.
Jesus was there for a different reason.

Revelation 21:1 - 4
God with us, dwelling with us for Eternity.

Five hundred years before the Temple brought fruit at Jesus' time. Five hundred years of disappointment.

God is with you working out His purposes, despite your disappointments in life.

Communion
'Turn your eyes upon Jesus': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5qc0EcNgqw


14th October
From next week - Famous Last Words - 2 Timothy

Prayer - Careful consideration of the Building Plan, and whether it is what the Lord wants for the Dubbo Baptist congregation.

Haggai 2:10 - 19
I Am With You
God's word is meant to challenge and rebuke us.
Ch1: Do you have the right priorities?
Ch2: 1- 9: Do you have the right expectations?
This week: Do you have the right behaviour?
vs 10 - 14
Using the food laws as a parable. What is holy can become defiled.
Holiness isn't contagious in that manner..
Don't think that going to the Temple (or to Church) covers over your sins.
Works don't cover sin!
God is saying: I don't want your religion!

We shouldn't re-enter the sinful life and forget about God until the next week.
Do we understand what repentance means? True repentance is accepting the true sacrifice of what Jesus did and then obedience.
vs 15 - 19
Obedience is the best option.
Are you obedient to God only when it suits? When it is comfortable? Do you go and make disciples or are you sitting comfortably?
God wants full time repentance and obedience. He wants a full time relationship.
Get your comparisons right. Don't compare yourselves to others. The standard of holiness shouldn't be comparison to others, or to the sinful world. We should compare ourselves to the Word of God.
Give careful thought. Consider your ways.
Are we having ourselves on?
Do we pursue our own desires?
Repentance means we should be seeking God's standard, not the World's.
vs 19
True obedience leads to blessing.

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Take up your cross

Question Time.
KH: "I have noticed that there are few more verses."

Haggai 2:20 -23
Zerubabbel - Sygnet Ring
A Descendant of David, and an ancestor of Jesus. (Luke 3:27)
Pointing towards the future Messiah

Jeremiah 22:24
The signet ring - a symbol of authority. (The Lord was taking it from Jehoiachin.)

FM: "Did the Early Church have more power in the Spirit than we do now?"

JF: "Almost certainly."

Acts 2 mentions them selling possessions and meeting together. (Did they meet more often than once a week? Almost certainly. Possibly every night.)

Revelation 3 (Are we like the Church in Laodicea?)

How easily do we forget about Jesus?


21st October
Gary and Shirley Moore - going on Mission to Malawi with Global Interaction
Prayer - for their mission. Teaching at a Baptist Theological College. (Including English to those who don't know the language.)

Jeremiah 32:1 - 15
Jeremiah and the Mission of God
Josiah, the last faithful King of Judah, had been a puppet King, under the power of the King of Babylon. King Zedekiah had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, therefore Jerusalem had come under seige.
The land that Hanamel offers Jeremiah is no longer under control of the Kingdom of Judah. But the Seige had caused food to become scarce, and therefore prices to rise. Hanamel had to raise money, but according to the Law Jews had an obligation to sell to those of close kinship. Jeremiah had an obligation to redeem the land for his cousin. To get his cousin out of his plight.
However, this purchase makes no human sense. The LORD had told Jeremiah not to marry. Therefore he had no heirs.
However: see verses 13 - 15
It is a sign of hope.

Jeremiah 31:31 - 33
God is going to be changing hearts and minds.

God is all about changing hearts and minds
e.g. after 40 years of labour: Bill Hayden and Sister Angela: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-19/bill-hayden-turns-to-god-at-85-baptism-brisbane/10280724, https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/bill-hayden-finds-god/
God doesn't want you to give up on your community.


Discipleship - Session 1 (27th Oct)
Session 1
What are we supposed to be doing?
As A Christian - What is my mission?
Mark 16:15
Acts 1:8
We need to engage our community
Steps to know Christ or to be more like Him.
Trellis - The Structures of the Church are important. But they serve a purpose: to support the people. But without the people, they are useless. They exist to grow people.
The End result - Amazing people
2 Timothy 2:2

Four Convictions
1. To make disciples
Disciples need to be made
Curse of sin
Everything is more difficult
God has a plan for uniting all His people (Jew and Gentile into one united community under Christ.
The Ultimate result of all this is that Jesus should be glorified and worshiped forever.
Not just saved
Being transformed

Ephesians 2

Why make disciples?
Because people are lost.

1. If Someone said to you "I'm OK with Christians having their own faith; I'd just prefer that they kept it to themselves", how might you respond?

It is an essential part of our faith.

How does the task of making disciples fit into Jesus' larger plan? Look at the Great Commission
Matthew 28:16-20. Also take a quick skim 'squim' of Matthew 26 - 28
2. What key events are described in these chapters? Why would these events make the 11 disciples feel the weight or significance of Jesus' commission?

3. What does Jesus say about Himself in 28:18?

All authority.

4. What is the connection between what Jesus says about Himself and why His disciples should make disciples?

Jesus has delegated His authority to us.

5. The Great Commission is structured around the four-fold repetition of the word "all": all authority, all Nations, all that I have commanded. What weight or significance does this repetition give to Jesus words?

Colossians 1:9-20
6. How does the Apostle Paul understand the extent of Christ's authority? According to Paul how does Christ use His authority.

7. What are your biggest hesitations in obeying Jesus' commission to make disciples?

Fear of being told off.

Worries about the flaws in your own faith.

8. To what extent do the things we see in this study help you overcome any inhibitions you have about this task?

9. Based on what we've learnt in this study, why should disciple-making be at the centre of your Church's agenda?

No Disciples, no Church.


Discipleship - Session 2 (27th Oct)
A Disciple is one who is restored to relationship in Christ and is growing in him.
Learner, student, apprentice
We don't simply learn about Jesus, we learn Christ
What does that look like?
An exclusive life long subject. A life long subject. All or nothing
Luke 14:26
Don't forsake your first love
All types of learning changes you.
Learn Christ
Matthew 28:16 - 20
Go and make disciples
Two key things
Baptism
Colossians 2:12
Galatians 3:26 - 29
We have clothed ourselves with Christ. A picture of what happens when one first becomes a Disciple of Christ.

New identity. We bare the Name of God.
A disciple is one who is learning Christ
Our job isn't just done when someone is Born Again.
There is more to being a disciple than just the first step.

Teaching
We need to be kept on being taught.
Life long learning and obedience.
Romans 16:17
Philippians 4:9
Philippians 4:11
Ephesians 4:19 - 24
Titus 3:14
People in the early Church kept learning Christ. So it should be today.
Romans 12:1-2
The renewing of our minds

1. How can the idea of disciples being "learners" be used in a way that misses the point of "transformative learning"?

If you miss the point, you're just learning about Jesus.

2. What would happen to a church (and ourselves as individuals) of we ignored the fact that we are called to be 'learners' of Christ.

It would just be a social club.

Ephesians 4:17 - 24

3. What is the condition of those who have not 'learned' Christ?

4. What happens to the minds and actions of those who learn Christ?

Ongoing process. The continuing renewal of their minds.

5. What is God's ultimate goal for our transformation?

To be more like Him.

Ephesians 4:25 - 32
6. When we learn Christ, what must change in our relationships with others?

Everything

7. What motivations should drive us to change?

Ephesians 5:1 - 13

8. What will our lives look like if we 'walk in love' (v2)?

9. What will we change in our lives if we "walk as children of light" (v8)?

10. In what ways will be out of step with the world as we live this way?

11. Why is Christ's sacrifice for us motivation for such change?

12. In what way do you personally struggle to maintain this identity and live it out


28th October
How are Disciples made?
By what method or means is God rescuing and gathering His people into the Kingdom of His Son and making them into disciples of Christ?

Proclaimation of the Word of God.
It is God's word. Totally inspired by God.

John 6:68, 69
It is the everyday injection of God's word into our lives. People as God's fellow workers.

Prayer
Spurgeon "Prayer is the engine room"
It is not an afterthought.

We have learned love from Jesus
A Gospel love

Perseverence

In God's power

With Humility, Confidence and boldness
It is God who is at work, powerfully

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Who makes disciples? Who looks after the vine?
Everyone
Trellis - building, budget, meetigs and programs
vine - people
God has an expectation - that people look after the vine.

It is not enough for us to grow in Christ. It is our task to help others do so.

1 Corinthians 3:5 - 7
God is an essential part of our spiritual growth. Your spiritual growth is your own responsibility. Resistance to growth can occur due to pride and willful disobedience.
Important items: an alarm clock and a Bible.

The Body of Christ - the 'grass roots'
Ephesians 4:11, 12
Every Christian
Created for Ministry
Eph 2:10
Called to Ministry
1 Peter 2:9, 10
Gifted for Ministry
1 Peter 4:10
Commanded to Minister
Matthew 20:26 - 28

You become a Christian - You become a better you. You have a personal relationship with God through Jesus,

Where are disciples made?
In Church on Sunday
In Your small group/Bible Study
At Home - learn everything day to day life and relationships
In Your community (neighbourhood, workplace, class, hobby group, sport)

Engage, Evangelise, Establish, Equip,