Jesus Said: I Am the Light of the World

Today's All Age Service was the 2nd of our series in which we are considereing
the "I am" sayings of Jesus. Today this was: "I am the light of the world." We saw how different the attitude of Jesus was to the people around as he dealt compassionately with the woman found to have been in adultery. We realised how Jesus was light compared to the darkness of the world around, the sorrow and evil and how he wanted to change his followers so that they too would be lights.

We continued this theme into our time of prayer as we wrote prayers on pieces of paper for the things that troubled us and brought them with a candle to a larger candle representing Jesus, the light of the world.

The series will continue on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Do come and join us.

I Am… The Bread of Life

This morning the congregation entered the church with the aroma of freshly baked bread in their noses. It has been decided that at All Age Services (held once a month) we will be considering the seven occasions recorded in John’s gospel where Jesus said: “I am…”

This morning we were considering Jesus’ saying: “I am the bread of life.” (John 6.28-35). Our rector, Steve Bailey, who had once been a pastry cook had revisited his former profession and cooked a loaf of bread. He showed us all the constituents (flour, water, milk, sugar salt and yeast) and described why they were needed and drew parallels for our Christian life.

Just as bread is a staple in our diet, so too should be our belief in Jesus and dependence on him for our forgiveness; and prayer and praise to him are essential for our spiritual life.

A Messenger of the Gospel

Last Sunday, we reached the last of our sermon series “Fruitfulness on the Frontline.” This was entitled “Being a Messenger of the Gospel” and Steve centred it around the words of St Peter: “Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3.15-16).

Steve acknowledged how difficult people found it to share their faith (like going to the dentist!). But Peter wasn’t telling us to be Billy Grahams. He was just asking us to reply when people asked us why we believed or behaved as we did. Hopefully, the other forms of fruitfulness, mentioned in the previous sermons, would invite just that question.

May we be as loyal to Christ as St Peter.

Heads above the Parapet

On Sunday, we reached the sixth of our series: Fruitfulness on the Frontline. This one was: Being a Mouthpiece for Truth and Justice. Gillian took the account of the prophet Nathan who told King David the story of a rich man who had seized and eaten a poor man’s pet lamb, rather than use one of his own flock (2 Samuel 12.1-13). The King was appalled, but the prophet then confronted him: “You are the man.” Relating to the way that he had taken Uriah’s wife and organised for Uriah to be killed.

Gillian emphasised the importance of Christians being prepared to stand up for truth and justice and “put our heads above the parapet.”

That is often not an easy task, but as servants of Christ, it’s one we are called to undertake.

Making Good Work

Last Sunday we continued our series, studying what a right Christian lifestyle should be. The Sunday, Colin Chettle preached on: “Making good work.”

Using Bible passages in Genesis 3 and Colossians 3, Colin showed how it was God’s will that we should work – and that we should work in a way that was pleasing not only to Him, but drew respect for the God we worship from those around.

May that be the impression that we make.

Model Godly Character – Fruits of the Spirit

In the 2^nd of the series on “fruitfulness,” Steve Bailey talked of the importance of modelling Godly character. Godly character in Christians will speak to those outside the faith about God. In contrast to the human weaknesses that St Paul mentions first, in Galatians 5, he highlighted the nine “Fruits of the Spirit”  – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

Steve had laid out cut-up portions of different fruit in bowls at the front of the church. He asked us which fruit we felt we were particularly in need of (more than one was allowed!). He then asked everyone in church to form a queue, as if taking communion, and select those fruits which corresponded to their needs. 

Which one would you have chosen?

The Big Picture -- God Cares

Taking the first of the series on “fruitfulness” – The Big Picture, Hugh  James led our thoughts, studying Colossians 1:15 – 20, with an emphasis on the fact that God Cares.

“God cares.” God cares for the earth that he has created. God cares for the church – all the people who have turned to him. And God cares for us – as individuals. And He is equally concerned for those who do not yet know him.

So it is the duty of every Christian to bring honour to Jesus, so that all those around us may also be attracted to him.

Bearing Fruit

Poster in the Church Foyer

"My father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit. "But what does it mean for Christians to “bear fruit?” This is the question that we will be studying in our next series of sermons. Our poster in the church foyer introduces the question.

You are very warmly invited to any of the forthcoming series of sermons. Using the headings from Mark Greene's book "Fruitfulness on the Frontline," these will be:

Introductory – the Big Picture

M1 – Model Godly Character

M2 – Make Good Work

M3 – Minister Grace and Love
M4 – Mould Culture
M5 – Be A Mouthpiece for Truth and Justice.
M6 – Be a Messenger of the Gospel.