Haywards Heath Evangelical Free Church: 12/01/2010

Friday 24 December 2010

Nativity on BBC

If you have some time and not sure what to watch on iPlayer, this is definitely worth a look, even though they may have embellished a few things, it is in my opinion a good portrayal. It fills in some of the human responses to what is happening

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00x1699/The_Nativity_Episode_1/

TFTD on Radio 4 and Richard Dawkins' Response

At this link you can listen to the broadcast
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12072115

Here's an angry response from Richard Dawkins. Of course he's got a point about the many bad things the church as an institution has done. But why so angry about sin and the Cross?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/dec/24/pope-benedict-thought-for-the-day

Wednesday 22 December 2010

What have you got to sing about? Luke 1:39-55

Why do you sing? Songs express emotion. In Luke 1 we have Mary's song. She sings because she is really happy. There’s three things in particular that she is happy about:

1. Mary Sings because she believes [verses 39-45]

Mary is told she is going to give birth to a son without a human father. He will be called Jesus. He will be great; He will be like David (descended from David and a great ruler); and He will reign forever. She hears all this and she believes, and so she sings!

Do you believe? Does it make you happy?

2. Mary sings because of the Saviour [verses 46-53]

Mary might still have some questions about how God will save through Jesus but she's definitely understood that He will save through Jesus. Mary grabs hold of lots of ideas from the Old Testament and says that this is the way God always saves. He's always worked by turning everything upside down, lifting up the humble and bringing down proud people who think they're so great.

Are you humble and hungry for God to save you?

3. Mary Sings because God Keeps His promises [verses 54,55]

God had always been with His people but now at this special moment He is keeping the promises made to Abraham in a surprising way. Mary is so happy. She believes God is saving by shaking everything upside down. She realises this is the moment God brings all His promises to fulfilment.

Do you feel like singing now?

Sunday 5 December 2010

Real Food (John 4:27-38)

A Samaritan woman drops her bucket as a sign that she now thinks that telling people about Jesus is more important. She says “come & see” and a group Samaritans from the town Sychar are heading towards Jesus. She has a new interest, new priorities. Do you?

Jesus responds to the disciples urges to eat something by telling them what really sustains and comforts Him. He says "my food is to do “the will of him who sent me.” Is it your food?

Jesus will do God’s will and finish His work. He will obey the Father all the way to the Cross and look back and be completely satisfied He has finished the work.

We are so grateful to God for the sustained obedience of Jesus but He also give us an example to follow.

One of the ways we do that is by seeing and seizing the opportunities for telling people about Jesus the Messiah. Normally the farmer sows and waits for the harvest but Jesus says the spiritual harvest is now – the time has come.

The Samaritans coming to hear about Jesus are a clear sign of the new age of the kingdom of God. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection begins a new era in world history.

The amount of opportunity may vary in God's sovereign grace in different times and places but there will in these gospel days, always be opportunities. Are you praying for this and watching out ready to take each opportunity.

The sower and the reaper have their roles, and are glad together.We can be sowers or reapers, sometimes both, but whatever our role we rejoice to be doing God's work.

To listen to sermons in the John series click here