Last Sunday we were blessed to have a good friend of mine, Preston Centuolo, come and preach the Word. Preston was in Australia for 3wks on the Youth Alive tour, and we were the final speaking engagement he had before heading back to New Jersey.
He shared powerfully about friendship & relationship, and how important that is, but also how so often there is separation & breakdown due to conflict or disagreement. Particularly in church life, there can be conflict over the strangest things - the colour of the carpet, the mess the youth might have left on Friday, someone sat in MY seat last Sunday...really weird things like that!!
In Luke 22:49-51 we read a portion of the story where Jesus is being arrested, and one of his disciples strikes with his sword, cutting off the ear of one of the High Priests servants. Jesus speaks & says "No more of this!" and touches the mans ear & heals him.
As Preston suggested, & I write today, I think those words echo today when we consider our friendships & relationships. If Jesus can heal a mans ear that was cut off, do we trust Him to heal the relationship that we've messed up? Can we get off our high horse long enough to realise how silly we often are in arguing things that really aren't that important? Ask forgiveness, humble yourself, trust that God can & will heal.
Colossians 3:12-14 is a great read!
God Bless!
Ps Leighton
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Net Effect
The Net Effect
We have spoken a lot this year about the importance of God’s Kingdom. As a church we can focus on lots of good things including our fellowship together, good teaching, powerful worship, in fact it is possible for a church to spend all of its energy and time doing that which is “good” without doing that which is “great”.
We are called to a “great” commission. We have been commanded to make
disciples and win the lost. I have a particular sense of urgency regarding the
season we are in, it is time to reach out and gather in a net load of souls. We are God’s fishermen, called to catch men. I believe it is important to examine our nets. It is possible to preach the gospel and lose the fish. Let’s check how effective our nets are. Holes in our nets can let the fish through or we can be too slow and miss God’s timing as we cast out. Maybe we are using the wrong bait. Jesus is the ultimate fishermen of men’s souls. Let us learn from Him. The next Life Builders series will be designed to equip the saints to do the work of ministry.
God Bless
Pastors Malcolm & Karen
We have spoken a lot this year about the importance of God’s Kingdom. As a church we can focus on lots of good things including our fellowship together, good teaching, powerful worship, in fact it is possible for a church to spend all of its energy and time doing that which is “good” without doing that which is “great”.
We are called to a “great” commission. We have been commanded to make
disciples and win the lost. I have a particular sense of urgency regarding the
season we are in, it is time to reach out and gather in a net load of souls. We are God’s fishermen, called to catch men. I believe it is important to examine our nets. It is possible to preach the gospel and lose the fish. Let’s check how effective our nets are. Holes in our nets can let the fish through or we can be too slow and miss God’s timing as we cast out. Maybe we are using the wrong bait. Jesus is the ultimate fishermen of men’s souls. Let us learn from Him. The next Life Builders series will be designed to equip the saints to do the work of ministry.
God Bless
Pastors Malcolm & Karen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
