What Family do you Belong to?

17.04.18

Dean Cotes from family ministries came to share with us today. He asked the question "What family do I belong to" and he talked for a while about how families have changed over the past few decades and what a vast difference there is today from sixty years ago. He also talked about family resemblance, and how if we know the family we can see the family likeness but even so everyone is unique with their own character and needs. A loving family will support each other, be there for one another in times of trouble and cheer each other on in their accomplishments, families are important.

If we are a Christian then we belong to the family of God, and we may all be different but we all should have a family resemblance to the Father and to Jesus. And this is portrayed in how we treat one another, how we help one another, how we share in each other’s joys and sorrows. God’s Word makes it clear that if we do not love our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we don’t love God.

1 John 3

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

This love also extends beyond the family to those who are lost, and by the way we act, by the compassion and care we show to them, they will see the love of Christ in us. Dean shared with us what the Helping Hand Appeal will be doing this year. They have called it, Waves of Transformation, transforming lives by the simple act of supplying clean water to those who are without. Every minute, everyday, people suffer and lives are lost needlessly because of a lack of safe water and sanitation. so when we give each week to Helping Hands we will be helping others in other countries, people who we could not normally reach. 

Colossians 3:12

Let us go out into the world with love in our hearts, 

Let us go our into the world with love in our hearts,

Love is patient love is king,

And leaves selfishness behind,

Let us go our into the world with love in our hearts.

Let us go out into the world with Christ in our hearts,

Let us go out into the world with Christ in our hearts,

He will take away our sin,

and new life will then begin.

Let us go out into the world with Christ in our hearts,

Not a Game

4.4.18

Major Ruth brought several games today of all kinds, some easy, some hard, some just fun, others needed a little more thought, but it was literally a fun and games afternoon. But there was a serious side to all of this, Major Ruth shared with us how the soldiers made sport of Christ as He went to the cross, and how they cast lots for His garments, they had fun and games at the Lord's expense. He endured all this, for the sake of the sinner, and that includes everyone who ever lived, who lives now, and who will live in the future, we are all sinners.

They put a purple robe upon Jesus, they put (not lightly) a crown of thorns on His head, and mockingly bowed before Him. They were at the foot of the cross as He was dying in agony casting lots for His clothes, and everyone around was mocking and scoffing, as though it was a game. But this was no game, this was no sport, this was the Son of God taking on the sins of the world in order that everyone who repents of their sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ may be saved. Having done so, each true believer is in Christ, and they are then a Christian and being a Christian is not a game, it is not a sport, it is not part time, it is not just when we are in a church meeting. Being a Christian is life-changing and those around us should be able to tell that there has been a transformation, not just because we tell them but because they can see it in our lives.

The Bible tells us that being a Christian means perseverance, it means endurance, it means suffering for the sake of the gospel the same taunts, mocking and scoffing that Jesus endured. Being a Christian is not a game, it’s a commitment, are you committed to following Christ, no matter what the cost?

Hebrews 12

Questions

It's surprising how many questions we ask in one day from asking our spouse if they want a cup of tea, to asking God for forgiveness. I took just a few of the many questions that are in the Bible, some that God and the Lord ask, and some that man ask.

"Where are you?"

"Am I my brother’s keeper?"

"Son of man can these bones live?"

"Who do you say that I am?"

"How can a man be born again?"

"Are you the Christ?"

"Lord, don't you care that I am left to do all the work?"

How many questions I wonder, do we ask the Lord when we talk to Him? Of course, God knows what we are going to ask before we ask Him. And oft times He doesn't answer in the way that we expect, because He knows what is best for us, much more than we do ourselves because we don't always ask the right questions. God in His grace forgives us when we repent, and so we have no right to hang on to grievances, we should forgive others as our Father has forgiven us.

If we understand God's will for us (which we find out by reading His Word) then more and more our questions will be in line with His will.

John Wesley each day would give himself a spiritual health check by asking these questions.

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

Can I be trusted?

Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

Did the Bible live in me today?

Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

Am I enjoying prayer?

When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

Do I pray about the money I spend?

Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

Do I disobey God in anything?

Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

Am I defeated in any part of my life?

Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

How do I spend my spare time?

Am I proud?

Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

Do I grumble or complain constantly?

Is Christ real to me.

These are really challenging questions which we would do well to ask ourselves.            

10 little Christians  

10 Little Christians standing in line

1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late

1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven

1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks

1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive

but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore

but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee

1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do

1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done

differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true

brought his friend to Bible study, then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more

that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late

Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before

In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,

Do You belong to the building or to the wrecking crew?