Church notes - February 2019

[fardell24]

3rd February
Psalm 32

Alpha starting - Tuesday 12th February

Communion
To understand what Jesus has done we need to understand the gravity of our sin.

Acts 1:1 - 14
The message of the Risen King Jesus cannot be stopped.

Vision - looking forward. What's next?

vs 6
They were thinking too small. They were fixated on earthly desires. (Kicking out the Romans and restoring Israel.)
Should we focus more on eternal needs rather than temporary needs?

vs 9 - 11
The disciples were bewildered. But what was next? Spreading the Word.
His death and resurrection are the centre.

Hebrews 1:3
Philippians 2:9 - 11
The Risen Jesus is indeed Lord of the universe. He is indeed worthy of worship. But do we live so that He is on the throne of our lives?

vs 4 - 5
God is ever present with His people. Jesus didn't desert them.
vs 8
What does the Spirit giving us power look like?
- We carry His Name.
- The chance for all people everywhere to repent and have their sins forgiven.

Luke 24:46 - 50
Our witness takes place through the bold, unashamed declaration of His Word.

We are witnesses clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit.
How - Read the Word
- Prayer - talk and listen to God.
vs 12 - 14
They waited in prayer for an answer on what God wanted.
So should we!


10th February
Acts 1:8

Indonesia
- Praise - the Church is growing
- Prayer - Wisdom for the christians in their situations

2 Peter 1:19 - 21

Prayer - Alpha - Starting this Tuesday

Pentecost
Acts 2
Jesus kept His promise, the Spirit came.

James 4:10

Acts 2:1 - 24
Acts 1:8

A promise - not only had He defeated sin and death, He was giving them power.

Is it evident that you're Sprit filled?
Are you allowing God's spirit to radically transform your lives.
It was already a special Jewish festival celebrating the completion of the harvest.
Wind and fire
The sound of wind and what seemed to be fire.
Signs of God's presence.
e.g. Exodus: Burning bush, pillar of fire.
There were no doubts in the disciples' minds. But there was a difference; separate tongues of fire. The languages of the people attending the festival - a reversal of the Tower of Babel. How should the indwelling of the Spirit change us?
Acts 2:42 - 47
What a community and individuals should look like.
Challenge yourself. How can you continue to experience the power of the Spirit in your life.
A life transformed through the Spirit is focused on God's word.

Fellowship
- It misses the point if we don't talk about Scripture.
- With Jesus
- Our fellowship together needs to be the same
- God's word in action

vs 44, 45
Helping others in need
Cliques
Are you in a clique which doesn't challenge you, or help you strengthen your faith?

A worshipping believer
vs 46
Both informal and formal
Worship every day of the week. Sincre and glad hearts. Joy based on the fact that Jesus is our Savour no matter what life throws at us.

Acts 1:8
An outward focus
Are we working in the power of the Spirit as we witness? Or are we trying to do it in our way.

How are you ignoring the indwelling Spirit in your life?


17th February
Praise and Prayer
Alpha - 47 people attended on Tuesday night. Some of them searching for answers...
Nepal
- Poverty stricken - The same caste system as in India...
- Baptist World Aid missions in some poorer regions.

Acts 3:1 - 19

Communion
Luke 23:44 - 49
Through this we have forgiveness

Sermon
Unstoppable
Acts 2:46
The early Church continued to meet in the Temple, but also in home groups.

Acts 3:7
The power was Christ's but the hand was Peter's. He had an outward looking attitude.

Acts 1:8
Peter and John remembered what Jesus said. We have a job to do - to take the Gospel to the world. We need to pray, invest time in relationships and time to serve.

The attitude: What I have, I give. This is the attitude we should have. We have plenty to give, but are we willing to? Are we prepared to have the time to do this?

Peter told the crowd that they need to repent. vs 19
Faith in the Name of Jesus.
Confession, believing. Sin is wiped out.

Acts 4:12
John 14:6
God's pathway to Himself is through Jesus

Salvation - includes healing and health. It's not just reconciliation to God. We are set free.

But they get arrested.

Acts 4:19
Are we influenced by society, or by God?
It was their actions that lead to the Crucifixion.

God must be obeyed and the Gospel message preached.

24th February
Titus 3:3 - 5

'O Glorius Day' : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRSOLhFqWh0
'Unstoppable God': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfzXHU0HOWI

Acts 1:8

North Korea
- Changes instigated by Kim Jung Un - families and cooperatives able to keep some funds, whereas previously all had to go to the Government.
- More Reunions occurring
- Christian medical charities gaining more access

James 4:1 - 10

Colossians 3:5 - 17

Only a Holy God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPi5kArL04E
'Holy Holy Holy': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHrNNM23p8

The Grim Tale of Ananias and Sapphira: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRRsPUeuhZY

Are we 'lipsynching' the Christian life?
Acts 4:32 - 37
A follow on from the picture of the Church at the end of Acts 2. It was a stark contrast to the pagan world around them.

Barnabas knew God's Grace and acted upon it. He showed grace and wasn't conformed to the pattern of this world.

Acts 5:1 - 11
A Warning! There is no fooling God.
Sin is very serious to God. The sin could lead to God's people being corrupted.
Their deceit was the problem. Their hearts were seeking their own glory rather than that of God. Where else are we deceitful in our lives? Where else are we seeking our own glory, afraid to expose our true selves?
Do you go to Church for your own purposes?

We need to share our problems, have a desire to let the Spirit mould you. To take the log out from our own eye.

Putting up a facade to God's people is tantamount to putting up a facade to God.
You cannot fool God.
We need to be more honest with each other.

Humble yourselves, submitt.

What is clear; there is no backup plan with God. Ananais and Sapphira thought they had one...

God can see whether you are honest with Him or not. Don't fall to the idolatory of having a 'backup plan'

Acts 5:12 - 14
People realised that a half-baked committment was dangerous
But - people continued to be saved.

A tale of corruption and sin that can so easily infect people who claim to be Christian.

But God's glory is shown. We need to submit to Him in truth.

'Yet Not I': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zundjUFazfg