Good day New Lifers!
Just one more week of school hols, although some are back before the end of this week. I have it on good authority that from next week the weather is going to improve; the sun, that big yellow thing in the sky that's been absent for the past two months, will be making a real come back and will once again split the trees and warm up the beaches. But then, some of you will be school!! Anyway, keep smiling. There's more to life than beaches and Bar B Q's.
Sunday was yet another great day. However, I would have loved a camera to have been on to catch the expressions on some people's faces when they walked in and saw that the chairs had been rearranged. What a shocker! As I said, we at New Life like to mess with your minds - doesn't take much! Anyway:-
Sunday morning: we opened with another excellent time worship. I then finally concluded my series on Ambassadors of Christ. My 17th title was Ambassadors of the Cross. Paul said: "Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 1:17, 18). The following were not points in the message, but we saw that:
1. Whatever anyone does in church should be seen as ultimately promoting the gospel
2. The cross is central to the message of the gospel
3. Without the cross we have no message
4. Without the cross we are just another meaningless and powerless religion
5. It is the cross that gives significance and uniqueness to Christianity
6. The cross was God's Master Plan, not the devil's
7. The cross was designed in heaven, not on earth and not in hell
8. Before there was a sinner there was a saviour
9. The death of Christ on the cross reversed two things:
(i) Judgement for sin (the shedding of blood brought forgiveness)
(ii) The curse on humanity (Jesus was made a curse on our behalf)
10. The cross calls us and sends us out as Ambassadors
Sunday night: It was great to see the place well filled again. Once again we lifted our hearts in worship as we followed the lead of our worship team. It was great to hear people joining together and lifting their voices in songs that are not only contemporary, but songs that exalt and glorify Christ.
Thanks to Raymond John for sharing his personal experience and for encouraging us to lift up those personal gates in our lives to invite the king of glory to come in. This was a nice little lead in to the message 'Experiencing the glory of God'. This was based on the experience of Peter, James and John as recorded by John when he said, "We have seen his glory".
Some people are content with singing a few songs and listening to a well put together sermon, but others are looking to experience the glory of God and it's the responsibility of the preacher to hear from God and to help lead people into that experience of God's glory. The preacher needs to study to show himself or herself approved. The preacher needs to hear from God before the people hear from the preacher.
However, before Peter, James and John experienced the glory they had to climb a mountain; they had to go the extra mile and had to show a desire to spend time with Christ. Likewise, for us to experience his glory we might have a mountain to climb and an extra mile to go, but we certainly need to show we desire to spend time with Christ.
Afterwards we went into another excellent of worship when people were free to respond in their own way and I believe did so across the church. We thank God for one young lady who committed her life to Christ.
Thursday Nights: Thanks to Gareth for explaining our new Thursday night programmes as follows:
1st Thursday each Month: Virtuous Women (for ALL women of course)
2nd " " " ADVANCE (training & development everyone)
3rd " " " Contenders (for ALL men)
4th " " " BREAKOUT (for everyone - worship, gifts etc)
Crèche: Thank God for all the families coming to church and for all the children. Believe me, we are doing our best to facilitate for the needs of all children and parents. However, this is not as easy as it might appear, so we are asking for your patience and also for your support as we try to improve things. Thanks to Maureen McAuley and Deborah McCurley (mother and daughter) for helping to oversee and organise the crèche and to all who help them. Also to Donna Law for overseeing the Sunday School (starting again soon).
Wedding: John & Laura get married thsi Thursday 28 August 1.00 pm at ECC/APA. You are invited to come along to the church and to the evening celebration at the Knocka Lodge (between 7.30 & 8.00 pm).
Davy John and Maureen: Don't forget our special farewell event this coming Friday 29 August at 7.30 pm. Please bring food and let's celebrate - for the right reasons! Don't forget also that we will take up a special offering to bless them. Let's make it special and let's make it a blessing.
Final thought: God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
Pastor Jack
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