Good Monday morning to you; or whenever it is you read this!
I trust all is well and that you enjoyed your day at church yesterday as much as I did. Yesterday morning I made some very important announcements. However, I would not even begin to put these announcements to print at this moment, because often the sentiment behind those things that are communicated verbally gets lost when we try to put it in black and white, but I do want to thank those who made some very positive comments concerning developments and future plans for New Life City Church.
Sunday morning: I brought the forth and final message in the short series entitled "I've Started, so I'll Finish". The main points I made were focused on Moses, Joshua, and Samson.
I encouraged listeners to at least do your part and do it well, whatever that might be; whether it's being on the welcome team or driving the mini bus etc; do your part and do it well. Moses might not have finished what he started in terms of getting the people from Egypt and right into Canaan, but he at least did his part by getting them to the Jordan.
Beyond doing your part, I stated that it is much better to finish what you've started. Joshua not only did his part, but he finished what he started. He took a wilderness wandering people and turned them into an army that finally took the land of Canaan.
We then looked at Samson who did his part for God and for Israel, but somewhere along the way he messed up. Yet God did not give up on Samson, but God restored something in Samson that enabled him to finish what he started.
Sunday night: Jonathan brought another good word that challenged us to have "Convictions of Steel" as follows:
1. A Work of Faith: A strong belief in what we do that is displayed in our actions, because faith without works is dead, but faith that is real will be seen in our work; sometimes it's hard work, but it's often just simply doing the things that need to be done.
2. A Labour of Love: To do what we do because we are motivated by love rather than financial gain. We do what we do because we are motivated by our love for God; for each other and for others.
3. A Steadfast Hope: To possess a feeling of optimism; to hold on to, and to not let go of hope for earthly things and for spiritual things, but ultimately to be steadfast in holding on to our Heavenly Hope.
A question I asked in the morning service, and I ask it again now: Why is it that we attend the same church; we sing the same songs and we hear the same word, yet some grow while others never seem to grow? Even as I write this I feel as sermon coming on, so I'll leave you to consider the question and for you to answer it as it relates to you. Maybe next week I will bring a message that looks more fully at the answer! I wonder will you be there?
Cross Vigil: This is something I will be doing from 12 noon until 3 pm each day, except Sundays, from 9 September until 24 October. I will stand between the gates in Northumberland Street with the Cross and will again lift the cross as a symbol of peace in the midst of gates that are a symbol of division, and to highlight the ongoing community work of New Life City Church on both sides of the dividing wall. For further details check out our web site www.newlifecitychurch.co.uk where I have set up a CROSS VIGIL page and a World Prayer Map. Please let me know if you would commit to pray for this event. I will not add anyone's name unless they request it and I will assume that once you have signed up that you will take time to pray at some point during the 7 weeks. Send me an email or sign up on the events page on Facebook at
Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.
Pastor Jack
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