Another great day at New Life City Church! The worship was awesome. I felt that this was perhaps the first day since our move that we really felt at home with our worship. It was great to stand alongside others who are like minded and to immediately enter in. Thanks again to our Worship Team and to those at the desk controlling the sound, the lights and the projectors etc.
The message I brought was the 3rd in a series and was entitled "Getting into the Zone of Servanthood". I began by making the point that many Christians think that God saved them simply to take them to heaven when they die, but that this is such a shallow understanding of what it means to be a Christian, otherwise God would just beam us up the moment we get saved! The fact is we are saved to serve.
The first requirement in following Jesus is one of self-denial, not self-promotion. It's taking up our cross and being willing to give and to bless others, even to the point of sacrifice. It's being willing to step into the Zone of Servanthood. It's not about lordship; it's not even about leadership in terms of being "the boss", but it's about serving; serving God; serving vision; serving the church, and serving others.
Moses took off his shoes, not only because it was Holy Ground, but to acknowledge he was in the presence of someone greater than himself. It was a sign of respect and of his willingness to submit and surrender to God. It was the moment he stepped into the Zone of Servanthood. We looked at Boaz's cousin and then finished by looking at Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve; who took on himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Offering for Haiti. We gave everyone an opportunity to contribute to help support the ongoing relief efforts in Haiti. We took up a second offering and raised £370. Every other Elim church in the UK and Ireland has done the same. All of the money raised will go directly to an organisation working on the ground in Haiti. It's not too late to give.
Weekly Newsletter. If you were at church you would have got one of these, but I have attached the latest one with this email so you can see what's happening during the week etc. Thanks to Colin Morrison for doing this Newsletter.
Bible Study & Prayer. From next Thursday night we will be having "Bible Study and Prayer" in the lounge upstairs. Each week we will have someone different share a 20 minute Bible Study, then perhaps a short discussion and then pray for around 40 minutes or so.
Email Connect Group. Several people signed up for this. We want to get going very soon. Please let me know again, even if you have already done so, that you want to be part of this Connect Group by simply responding to this email with the words "Count me in". Go ahead and do it now! Deborah McCurley will be the "Moderator" of this Connect Group. She will help give it direction and will take it forward with your support.
Volunteer Cleaners Needed. If you can give sometime to help clean the church on a rota basis, please contact Gareth at Spudmurphy123@btinternet.com
Thanks again for your support and for all you do for God via New Life City Church. I look forward to seeing you next Sunday.
Have a great week. Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.
Pastor Jack
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