Friday, 25 February 2011

The blessing of joyful service (Isaiah 58:1-14)

Here's the link for the sermon which is also available as a podcast
Isaiah 58:1 to 14

Christian Men - do you need to read this?

Captured by a better vision - Tim Chester : Inter-Varsity Press

Useful article about an abortion study

RCOG Smoke and Mirrors (Article by Nadine Dorries MP)

Wednesday, 23 February 2011

John 7:1-24 Right Judgements

Naturally, we are hostile to God. Jesus explains that left to ourselves we are not neutral when it comes to deciding about God which really means deciding about Jesus Christ.

We don't really have an open mind. We are deeply committed to a life of resisting the will of God.


The way to know the truth is to end our rebellion and submit to God who speaks to us in Jesus.






Saturday, 19 February 2011

Reaching the Community with Church Websites

http://www.internetevangelismday.com/docs/churchsite_dissertation.pdf

Friday, 18 February 2011

The Bible versus Qur'an

Government plans to transform Marriage

Government plans to transform Marriage a “social engineering experiment” with profound consequences for society warns Christian Concern

Lively Jay Smith Debate!

Thursday, 10 February 2011

John 6 - Safe and Secure

John 6 - Safe and Secure

The chapter begins with Jesus & his disciples crossing the lake, where Jesus feeds more than 5,000 people with just 5 loaves and 2 fish. The disciples then return across the lake and Jesus walks on the water to the boat which is struggling in the middle of the lake but with Jesus there it immediately lands on the shore. The people follow and then begins the dialogue which takes up most of John Chapter 6

2 well known miracles – great in themselves but purposely put there by John to connect with the words of Jesus that follow.

Jesus begins with two statements about himself:

1. I am the bread of life

He is the essential food for eternal life. We must come to Him and believe Him

2. I shall lose none that He has given me

There is a commitment from God the Father and God the Son that everyone who comes to Jesus is safe and secure.


For the Jews, and maybe for you, this raises questions and yesterday we looked at the 3 questions in chapter 6

1. How can he now say, I come down from heaven?

The Jews were unwilling to believe the teaching about Jesus’ supernatural origin and Jesus explains this is because coming to the Son for life is entirely dependent upon the Father’s drawing work. We need Spiritual illumination. We need the Father to draw people to Himself by His Word. We should pray that God would bring spiritual illumination to ourselves and those we tell the gospel to.


2. How can this man give us His flesh to eat?

Jesus explains that he must die to give them life – and they are scandalised. To feed on Jesus is to believe in Jesus. He gives us Life by His death. We are to approach his death like a starving man approaches a loaf of bread in the desert. Do you believe? Bread won’t do you any good unless you eat it!


3. This is a hard teaching – who can accept it?

It’s hard to accept Jesus’ supernatural origin and his death. It’s hard to accept that the way of the cross is right for Jesus and for you. Jesus criticises them for being unable to see His divine nature and divine mission. It is through his death He will be glorified.

It is the Spirit who gives life. Those who are given spiritual life say ““Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Can you say that?


To listen to sermons in the John series click here