Where is Jesus in the Storm?
Sunday 21 Nov 9am
Dan Lian
Dan asked this question in light of the following experiences in our lives: ‘Where is Jesus’ in…
• The ‘valleys’
• Doubt
• Discouragement
• Denial
When God is silent and the Storm is raging; Mark 4:35 ‘Let us go over to the other side’ Dan reminded us that this was Jesus instituting this movement towards the boats. Storms are not always displays of God’s anger or displeasure; in fact common to all of us. 3 things we learn from this story
First, Jesus is still in the boat – what we experience / He experienced.
Second, Jesus is still in control – his humanity clothed his divinity; still needed sleep but still God!
Third, Jesus was still going to act – was not going to let them perish / acted with perfect timing.
God was able to bring a new revelation to his disciples of his character & power.
Where is the love?
Sunday 21 11am
Dan Lian
Dan asked another question of our community; He described how different teams wear different colors, they are defined by the colors they wear; He proposed that love is the Kingdom’s defining attribute and our love as disciples for one-another as outlined in John 13:34. Jesus focused on what is the primary motive and motivation for Kingdom life.
1 Corinthians 13 guides us in a practical way as to how this love demonstrates itself. We can have a concept of this love; a theology on this love; a corporate agreement that it is important – Dan encouraged us to have a personal, practical and meaningful demonstration of this love.
How did Jesus love us? “As I have loved you” Christ example was a servant with a towel!
• service
• sacrificially
• non-conditionally
• extravagantly
• passionately
These are also ways in which we can demonstrate the love of God to each other & the community which we are called to reach.
This will be the last official small group meeting for 2011. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you for your wonderful service and faithfulness to small groups throughout the year. Please feel free to meet informally and invite new people to your groups throughout Christmas & the New Year.
Kind Regards – Ps Rhett & Gaynor.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Kingdom Culture - forgivness
Theme - Kingdom culture
Scripture: Eph 4:32, Matt 6:12, Col 3:13
Dale T Hewitt Sunday 13th November
Dale began with his Indonesian & Cambodian report with details of the mission trip to house of hope & ministry to the Cambodian Apostolic fellowship.
Dale's theme was forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships. We all crave healthy relationships, but life and inevitable offences both committed by us and done to us necessitate the need for the exercise of forgiveness. Christ's death on the cross made forgiveness possible for us - and makes it possible that we can also exercise forgiveness to others. Matt 6:12 seems to indicate an expectation that we would do this in regard to offences committed to us. Col 3:13 also guides us in this area.
Other scriptures on forgiveness:
Psalm 78:38
Matt 6:14
Matt 18:21
Ps Rhett
Scripture: Eph 4:32, Matt 6:12, Col 3:13
Dale T Hewitt Sunday 13th November
Dale began with his Indonesian & Cambodian report with details of the mission trip to house of hope & ministry to the Cambodian Apostolic fellowship.
Dale's theme was forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships. We all crave healthy relationships, but life and inevitable offences both committed by us and done to us necessitate the need for the exercise of forgiveness. Christ's death on the cross made forgiveness possible for us - and makes it possible that we can also exercise forgiveness to others. Matt 6:12 seems to indicate an expectation that we would do this in regard to offences committed to us. Col 3:13 also guides us in this area.
Other scriptures on forgiveness:
Psalm 78:38
Matt 6:14
Matt 18:21
Ps Rhett
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Holy Spirit
Theme: Holy Spirit gifts
Key Scriptures 1 Cor 12 &13, Rom 12, Eph 4
Steph Hewitt 30 Oct
This was the last session on the Holy Spirit, the week before that Dale T spoke on the issue of tongues, There are 9 distinct gifts mentioned in the passage; Word of Wisdom, Word of knowledge, Special faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues & interpretation of tongues (See also Romans 12 & Ephesians 4)
[ For an excellent analysis and detailed explanation of the Gifts see chapter 2 'Three Colours of Ministry' by Christian Schwarz, Church Smart Resources 2001, this also has an excellent gift analysis tool for you to assess and develop your gifts also see http://bible.org/article/gifts-spirit article for a detailed study ]
Steph pointed out that they are 'gifts' not 'rewards' and therefore are bestowed not earned. We must always seek the Giver before the gifts, God must be worshipped first and foremost before any blessing or gift. Another facet is how may times Paul mentions the diversity of gifts with diversity of recipients! No one individual, family, local church or denomination has all the gifts! God has seen to it that his gifts are distributed across the body of Christ, as He wills, for his purposes.
Love must be the ultimate motive and reason for the exercise of Spiritual gifts as summed up in 1 Cor 13
Gifts and there demonstration must be subject to scripture (esp the gift of prophecy) as the spirit of God will never contradict the word of God. i.e. if a 'prophets' revelation or prediction is in clear contradiction or God's word or claims a superiority over God's word, they are not ministering in subjection to the Holy Spirit. Believers would do well to judge prophecy both corporate & private in this way.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are to glorify God, not self and to serve others not self.
This concludes our series on the Holy Spirit.
Ps Rhett
Key Scriptures 1 Cor 12 &13, Rom 12, Eph 4
Steph Hewitt 30 Oct
This was the last session on the Holy Spirit, the week before that Dale T spoke on the issue of tongues, There are 9 distinct gifts mentioned in the passage; Word of Wisdom, Word of knowledge, Special faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues & interpretation of tongues (See also Romans 12 & Ephesians 4)
[ For an excellent analysis and detailed explanation of the Gifts see chapter 2 'Three Colours of Ministry' by Christian Schwarz, Church Smart Resources 2001, this also has an excellent gift analysis tool for you to assess and develop your gifts also see http://bible.org/article/gifts-spirit article for a detailed study ]
Steph pointed out that they are 'gifts' not 'rewards' and therefore are bestowed not earned. We must always seek the Giver before the gifts, God must be worshipped first and foremost before any blessing or gift. Another facet is how may times Paul mentions the diversity of gifts with diversity of recipients! No one individual, family, local church or denomination has all the gifts! God has seen to it that his gifts are distributed across the body of Christ, as He wills, for his purposes.
Love must be the ultimate motive and reason for the exercise of Spiritual gifts as summed up in 1 Cor 13
Gifts and there demonstration must be subject to scripture (esp the gift of prophecy) as the spirit of God will never contradict the word of God. i.e. if a 'prophets' revelation or prediction is in clear contradiction or God's word or claims a superiority over God's word, they are not ministering in subjection to the Holy Spirit. Believers would do well to judge prophecy both corporate & private in this way.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are to glorify God, not self and to serve others not self.
This concludes our series on the Holy Spirit.
Ps Rhett
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