I will build my church

I have recently heard 2 excellent sermons on 'I will build my church' a great promise of Jesus.  It has started me thinking about the outreach of the church and our witness.  It is all very exciting if someone goes to serve the Lord in a township in Africa or a village in Peru but what about our homeland.  What do we think of someone serving the Lord in little church in little village in homeshire?  We should be living as missionaries in our own neighbourhoods, seeking to serve the Lord and reach out to the lost.  If we saw ourselves as missionaries - people serving with a mission - how differently would we live our lives?  Should we move to areas where there are small struggling churches so we can help them and add to their numbers or should we join the large popular church 20 miles away where we can have good fellowship and don't have many duties?

I know I have a lot to change in my life to be able to serve more faithfully.  I need to learn to speak more about my Saviour, it is so easy to talk about church and church politics, but what about Jesus?  Much more to pray about and much more to learn and to act upon.

In the sermon at my church the preacher highlighted the number of villages within a few miles of the church with no gospel witness.  If just 0.025% of the people living in those villages came to the church we would double our congregation, surely that is a stimulus for out-reach and should give us a vision for our prayers, imagine if we got 1% the church would be full! - With God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

Sensitive Measures

Taken from Tinshill evangelical church magazine

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee… you will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her into the kitchen. She filled three pans with water and placed each on a high heat. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed
ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter she asked “Tell me, what do you see?”
“Carrots, eggs, and coffee”, she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After peeling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked “What does it mean?” Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid
interior, but after sitting through boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. “Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Think of this; Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour.

When things are at their worst, the Christian can trust in the Lord with all his/her heart knowing that He does all things well. When the hour is the darkest and trials are at their greatest the Christian waits patiently for God, trusting Him for all things. Whether the trial ends or strength is given to bear it, the fragrance of the presence of God brings light into the darkness and glory to God through the trust of His servant.
Remember this next time you have a cup of coffee.
(Submitted with kind permission of Anchored Magazine)

Keswick convention #6 - In conclusion....

I had never been to Keswick before and I found it an extremely enjoyable and spiritually valuable holiday.  It is amazing to be in a meeting with 3000 other Christians all united in praising God.  Wandering around a town which is full of Christians is a little surreal where you can sit in a cafe and hear others engaged in spiritual conversation and many children with Biblical names.  Being able to follow the crowd of people going to the meetings is nice also.  Action Partners campsite was also fantastic - good facilities, good food and extremely well organised.

I hope from my notes you can have a feel of what the ministry was like.  I admit that my notes are a very feeble representation, and you would be far better getting the CD, I often was absorbed in the ministry (or sometimes distracted by the signing for the deaf) so forgot to write a lot of things.  Some of my notes have phrases written in italics which I found particularly helpful statements.  I think the overall emphasis was on keeping the eternal perspective, I personally find in my church and denomination very little is mentioned of the new heavens and earth and the future we have to look forward to in the preaching or the praying.  I hope that I will be enabled to keep my eyes fixed on the future hope of eternal glory and that new heavens and earth.

On the Sunday morning we went to Lakeside Congregational church in Keswick, the church was crammed full with an overflow in the adjacent church hall.  The ministry was very good, the church came recommended.  The pastor preached on 2 Peter 3:11 'What sort of people ought you to be?' We should be holy and godly.  This verse lies between a description of the past and the future.  Without God people have no future to mold their present.  Scripture is not just a special interest, it is intended to produce character in us.  God has called us to be separate and distinct, both as individuals and as a church.  Holy = washed in the blood, born in the Spirit, it is something in the heart, a change brought about by God.  Godliness = what comes out of the heart, what we do.  God rules this world and we are to live holy and godly lives because of what lies ahead of us - a new heavens and a new earth, eternity.

Keswick Convention #5 - more evening meetings

Wednesday - 2 Peter 3:1-13 Where is the world heading? Jonathan Stephen

1 Fatal forgetfulness of unbelievers/godless

They really want to believe that God doesn't exist so they 'forget' and deny the heavens exist and were created and there will be an end time of destruction.  There are no human answers without God.  God's word used water to form the earth and also used water to judge the earth in Noah's time.  At the final judgement there will be purging and cleansing through the use of fire.  The Bible is linear it has a beginning and an end.  A cyclical view of life, without God, is hopeless as explained in Ecclesiastes.

2 Forgetfulness of the godly

Even in Peter's time they thought they had been waiting a long time for the Day of the Lord.  God has delayed His coming because He is waiting for all the elect to be gathered, there is a gospel reason for the delay of the Lord's coming.  God is so patient, He is outside of time, He does not change, He has all the time in eternity.

Are you ready for the coming?

We must study to be holy and godly.  The Lord will come as the lover of your soul, the bridegroom.  We are experiencing the smallest deposit, what lies ahead will be so much greater.  Hope with love and faith is one of the three great engines driving the Christian life.  Christ needed the joy to be set before Him to endure the cross, how much more do we need the hope and joy to be in front of us.  We look forward to the coming of the Kingdom - Your Kingdom Come, Maranatha.

Thursday night was the mission evening, and was recorded for the BBC Sunday morning worship.  Steve Brady preached on the words of Jesus ' I will build my church'.  A short sermon for the BBC and then a longer more indepth sermon for us.  

Does the future have a church?

1 It is important that we know our foundations.  We need to be Biblically wise.  If you read 3 chapters a day and 5 on a Sunday, you could read the whole Bible in a year - an interesting fact!

2 Trust the Founder - Jesus will build the church

3 Join the Framework - The building is made of living stones.  Bricks are very similar/standard, stones are all different.  We need to lay aside other things and be equipped to serve the Lord

4 Engage in the Fight - The work of God is always opposed.  Go and give.

5 Embrace the Future - We win in the end, we have an Almighty God.  There will always be a church.

Friday - 2 Peter 3:14 -end Living in the light of the Future - Hugh Palmer

There is a new creation ahead to enjoy - the home of righteousness where you will be godly and at home.

1 Live looking forward

Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace.  Be found with your sleeves rolled up, looking forward to the glory days

2 Remember the Future - Delay means salvation. 

3 Guard all of this by growing - not reatreating into a ghetto.  Aim to end well, not looking back how far you've come, looking forward.

Just some conculding thoughts tomorrow......

Keswick convention #4 - Evening meetings

Here are the summaries of the evening meetings on 2 Peter, with a variety of speakers:

Saturday - 2 Peter 1: 1-4 Jonathan Lamb

The Christian life is a Christ-centre life.  The letter begins with a description of the Christian life:

1 Knowing Christ's call

Christ's call is the foundation of the Christian life.  There is only one faith, no first or second class, all are equal, benefiting equally from God's gifts.  It is an unshakeable call - Jesus Christ from beginning to end.

2 Experiencing Christ's power

We can be absoulutely sure and certain because we have all the resources we need for this journey.  Christ's power supplies all our needs.  We can lack certainty because we feel our inadequacy to live up to the standards of the Bible.  We are not left to our own devices.  Christ centred renewal = Christ experienced empowering.  If we have Jesus we have enough.

3 Trusting Christ's promises

We are now participating in Christ's glory and promises.

4 Sharing Christ's life

Through union with Christ we share His life.  Christianity is to be 'In Christ'. Increasingly we are separated from the world and become more like Christ.  True Christians have everything they need for life and godliness.  Whatever we are facing if we have Jesus we have enough. 

Sunday - The fruitful Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 - Hugh Palmer

1 Faith that comes fully equipped

2 Faith that is kept effective

3 Faith that confirms your reservation

 We are required to add to our faith, not the faith.  It needs to be worked out in living and we must invest in our faith.  The characteristics listed enable our faith to keep growing.  Faith comes fully equipped, it is not just sitting back and doing nothing.  God longs to give us an entrance to eternal life.

Monday - Remember, remember - 2 Peter 1:12-21 Jonathan Stephen

Peter cares so much for his people he wants to tell them he loves them and wants them to know the Lord.  Peter reflects on the meaning of the resurrection and transfiguration.  As Peter saw Jesus unveiled, He saw prophetically the return of Jesus.  It rendered the coming of Jesus absolutely certain.  Not long before, Peter was a fisherman and here He is confirming the great Prophets.  Peter gives a model of understanding the old testament in the light of the new.  

Peter is relentlessly Christ-centred.   Our supreme incentive in Christ-centred living is the second coming.  We need to see Christ in all the scriptures.  Fix your mind on Jesus and you inevitably grow in holiness, Christ-centred work, leisure, church, relationships....

Tuesday - 2 Peter 2 Springs without water - Derek Burnside

Be Alert

There will be false teachers.  The concept of heresy demands a belief in absolute truth.  Our world bombards us with heresy.  False teaching needs to be looked for in:  Contempory culture, the wider church, our own denomination/church and in ourselves.

How to recognise false teachers

There catch phrase is Be Free - denying Christ's ownership of them.  Freedom from Christ's return so free from God's judgement and free to do do as you please.  They are condemned, having wreaked havoc.  We must search our own hearts and turn around where we have been exploited by false teaching.  Any shadows of fallen teachers over our lives need to be dealt with - the shadow of rebellion against the Lordship of Jesus.

More evening messages tomorrow...

Keswick Convention #3 - More Don Carson

Don Carson's morning addresses continued:

3) Matthew 11:2-19 Are you greater than King David?

1 Portrait of a discouraged baptist

John is in prison and doubts because Jesus is not the Messiah he anticipated (Matthew 3:9-13)

2 Portrait of a defended baptist

Jesus tells the crowd not to condemn John the Baptist because of his questions.  John was greater than all before because he pointed out Jesus in person.

3 Portrait of an eclipsed baptist

John is eclipsed by ordinary people.  The least in the kingdom can confess Jesus mor comprehensively than John with the benefit of post resurrection insight.

The title to the sermon comes from v11, and a link to a verse relating to David which I failed to note down, maybe in the Psalms - any answers welcome.

What makes you great? Proclamation and witness of who Jesus is and the kingdom to come.

4) Matthew 24 & 25 How to wait for Jesus

1 Wait as those who do not want to be surprised by the Master's return

We don't know when He is coming.  It will be like they days of Noah - they were living ordinary lives.  The flood was unexpected except to those who were waiting as will be the coming of the Son of Man.

2 Wait as stewards who must give account of their service

There are many who appear to be following the Master but forget they will have to give an account.

3 Wait as those who hone the Master's coming may be long delayed

This should engender perseverance and a sense of strategy - training the next generation, passing on our heritage.  Live, give, plan, pray and serve in light of a possible long wait.

4 Wait as those who understand they must enhance their Master's assets

The equivalent of half a million pounds to take care of is considered small things compared to the great responsibilities we will be given in heaven.  We should live lives of obedience, witnessing and using our gifts, graces and money to enhance the assets He has bestowed on us.

5 Wait as people transformed by the gospel so they are unselfconsciously serving brothers and sisters in Christ

Transformed by grace they take care of one another because they are part of the redeemed family of God.

5) Matthew 27: 27-51 The Ironies of the Cross

The Man mocked as King is the King

The Man who is utterly powerless is all powerful - powerless to carry His cross, but destroys the temple

The Man who cannot save Himself saves others - cannot is moral, because He came to do His Father's will

The Man who cries out in despair trusts God - The cry went up so no child of God will have to use this cry

Evening meetings tomorrow.....

Keswick Convention #2 - Don Carson

Don Carson took the morning meetings with expositions from Matthew, it was thrilling to hear the gospel expounded drawing from all of scripture, I offer a summary of my notes which very inadequately represents the messages:

1) Matthew 5: 17-48, Jesus fulfills the Law of God. (part of the sermon on the mount)

Six  times in this passage is repeated: 'You have heard that it was said..... but I say to you....'  Jesus explains how our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees.  The chapter may drive us to self-righteousness, popousness or despair.  We will never be good enough but this passage is to be understood in the context of Matthew's gospel, Jesus has come to fulfill the law, He brings to pass that which was predicted - the new covenant, abolishing the Day of Atonement, passover etc.   The dawning of a new kingdom has started now, in the new heavens and the new earth all these requirements will take place.  

We are not what we were, we are not what we will be but by God's grace we are what we are.

2) Matthew 8:1-17 The authority of Jesus

 As shown in the sermon on the mount, Jesus taught as one having authority - I say to you....

1 The authority of Jesus to heal and transform is implicit in His mission and person

Jesus has all authority, all the omnipotence of God.  One word from Jesus can bring worldwide revival.  The leper's statement recognises Jesus' authority.

2 The authority of Jesus, formerly submissive to the law, transforms it and transcends it

Jesus does not tell the leper the law is over but tells him to go to the priest.

3 The authority of Jesus is so sweeping that when Jesus speaks, God speaks

In the army the whole chain of command speaks through the one commander -  when the centurion speaks, Caesar speaks.  When Jesus speaks, God speaks.  All of God's authority is mediated through His Son until the second coming.

4 The Authority of Jesus is a great comfort to the eye of faith but a terror to the merely religious.

There is an eternal dimension to the gospel, fundamental to understanding who Jesus is and what He has done.  Salvation is first and foremost about being reconciled to God - now and forever.  It is no good taking care of the poor or the environment but going to hell.  The heart of the gospel is Jesus crucifiction and resurrection.

5 Jesus' authortiy is in function of His work on the cross

The atonement - Christ has born all sin, there is a resurrection body and a new heaven and earth.  It is paid for, it is done but by God's wise decree the pouring out of these blessings still waits.

a) Perfect healing is secured in the cross, all disease will be gone forever.

b) Matthew's gospel ends with the great commission 'All authority is given in heaven and earth... When we pray we are confessing His authority to heal, forgive, transform, rule over our lives until every knee shall bow and confess Him as Lord.

More tomorrow.........

Keswick Convention Week 1 2010 #1

This week I am going to attempt to post each day a summary of the ministry from Keswick Convention Week 1 which I attended for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

My friend and I stayed on the Action Partners campsite which was fantastic.  Once we managed to pitch the tent (which wasn't without some difficult and much needed assistance) avoiding the parcels left by the cows, we really enjoyed the camping experience.  Action Partners do all the catering for around 200 people and there is an abundance of food for every meal and supper.  The facilities were fantastic.

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The week started with rain and more rain and then more rain until Tuesday afternoon when it brightened up.  Camping in the rain is challenging and I was definitely glad when it stopped and remained dry for the rest of the week.

The main speaker for the week was Don Carson and the evening speakers included Jonathan Stephen, Steve Brady, Jonathan Lamb and others.  But more about them another day.....