Church notes - August 2015

[fardell24]

Church notes - August 2015
2nd August
'In Christ we Stand'

Matthew 25: 14- 30
The Parable of the Talents
Spritual gifts connect with this parable - but it is not the main focus of the parable.

Matthew 24: 43 - 46
The faithful servant
Focusing on one thing only (eg When He would return) not what Jesus wants.

Faithfulness
Be faithful
Don't explore spiritual gifts if you're not doing it out of passion for God's work.

Accepting responsibility.
Entrustment not ego
Jesus trusts us with His resources
Don't compare. Entrusted, not earned (Don't let your ego get in the way).
God entrusts us with what we can handle.
He knows what resources we need.
Whatever you have, use it or loose it!

Effort, not excuses

It is time to start investing in God's Kingdom.

Ephesians 2:8 - 10

We are saved by Grace for a reason.

What excuses do we have not to do God's work.

Don't create a heirachy of gifts!

Spiritual gifts need to be developed.
Don't use them as an excuse not to do anything.
Don't get laziness get in the way. Take responsibility.

The gift and responsibility will grow.


9th August
1 Corinthians 12:1 - 11
The Corinthian church were making big mistakes with everything God had given them, including spiritual gifts.
They had false pride, and had held themselves up.

Authentic Spirituality
Not gained by an elite few, nor by a special spiritual experience.

1 Cor 8:5 - 6

vs 7
Spiritual gifts are given to those who proclaim Jesus as Lord.
Two reasons for having and using spiritual gifts.
- To show the visible glory of the Holy Spirit
'And I seeking to show His Glory'
'Shown in the Body of Christ'
- To be a unified yet diverse Church that builds each other up in Christ.
-- A cause for unity
-- One gift isn't better than any other gift.

Don't seek praise.


16th August
'Praise is rising'
'When I survey the Wonderous Cross'

Romans 12:1 - 11

Romans 3:23

1) Paul urges us to offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice.
Response - make your life a living sacrifice
All sins were paid for on the Cross.
Being a living sacrifice is not unreasonable

2) Do not conform to the pattern of this world
Don't let us squeeze us into its mold.
e.g. materialism, sensuality, power

3) Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
Know yourselves well vs 3
Paul is giving this message to each of us as individuals. Don't think it is just applying to others.

Paul encourages us to embrace our diversity.

vs 6 - 8

The source of the gifts is God and His grace.

The purpose of the gift is related to the building up of the body of Christ

There is a variety of the gifts.

vs9
Love should be genuine. The Church should be like a family.
Our relationships should be healthy, and our actions show respect for others.


23rd August
Ephesians 4:7 - 16

Eph 4:1

Don't be consumers, be contributors. It is not just about meeting our own needs.

Humble
Gentle - power under control
Patient
Bearing with one another
Love
All of these ensure unity.

vs 7
Everyone has received the gift.
We are gifted in different ways

vs12
The comma was controversial
We are to build each other up
The Pasters aren't to do everything themselves.
All others are to help each other in ministry.

To Prepare God's people for works of service
'So that the body of Christ might be built up'


30th August
Psalm 80

1 Corinthians 12:12-27
All parts of the body are equally important. These differences shouldn't divide, but unite us.
vs13
There were enormous cultural differences between the Jews and hte Gentiles. There are similar divisions in our societies.
The unifying influence of Christ is greater than these divisions.

We all need each other.
We all have different roles to play.