Galatians 4:11
Brad is going to start a new sermon series on Galatians. The epistle is about how our salvation is through grace and not by works. I'm pretty excited about it because it's the sort of thing I like, but that's me.
There hasn't been much said about Galatians yet but I'll share a little about my struggles with works and grace. Sometimes I find myself trying to do things for God, as if to regain His love or favour, this is usually when I have failed or fallen. It's almost as if I need to prove myself, that I am worthy of God's love and His blessings. Perhaps you might feel the same way too sometimes but as you will see as we go through Galatians that God's love and grace is always there.
So keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming blogs!
~Sck
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Remain
The Scripture reading was John 15:4-7.
“4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
As the exam season approaches stress and frustration plays a huge part in many of our young adult and teenage lives. So the most important lesson I took from this message was that I must remain in God for him to give me strength and bring me through this tough period in the academic year.
I admit there have been times when work has taken over my life and I have brushed God aside. However time and time again I have realised this does not work.
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” I believe this quote is of great importance and will be helpful to all of us who need God by our side.
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Healer
Mark 9:14-30
Last Sunday Ben from St.Cuthberts spoke to us about healing, going out and actually doing it. It's true that the gospel we have is much much more than just words, in fact, it's pretty much all about action. Jesus goes and heals people, He resists temptation, He teaches, He gives and He humbles Himself on a cross. What struck me most is how often we say but never do, how often it's really easy to tell people about Jesus but never live it out, never show His life. I just got back from SEEC which really is no reason for this to be so late but I got more insight there about this notion.
1) 2 Corinthians 3...Here we are told that we are like letters which are read by all. This means that we, our lives are a living and walking gospel for all to read. When Jesus enters Jerusalem, He says that even if all these people were silent, the rocks would cry out in praise! That is exactly what we need to be doing, out lives, our very being should cry out in praise, our whole existence should be to reflect the glory of God!
2) 2 Corinthians 4...We are jars of clay. Ben said that we have the power and authority to go out, preach, heal, free and yes we do. But one thing that I was reminded is that NONE of this is of ourselves, it's not that we have been given a boost by God, but it is God actually working through us. It is in our weakness that God's strength shines through, that His power is perfected.
So let us GO
~Sck
Last Sunday Ben from St.Cuthberts spoke to us about healing, going out and actually doing it. It's true that the gospel we have is much much more than just words, in fact, it's pretty much all about action. Jesus goes and heals people, He resists temptation, He teaches, He gives and He humbles Himself on a cross. What struck me most is how often we say but never do, how often it's really easy to tell people about Jesus but never live it out, never show His life. I just got back from SEEC which really is no reason for this to be so late but I got more insight there about this notion.
1) 2 Corinthians 3...Here we are told that we are like letters which are read by all. This means that we, our lives are a living and walking gospel for all to read. When Jesus enters Jerusalem, He says that even if all these people were silent, the rocks would cry out in praise! That is exactly what we need to be doing, out lives, our very being should cry out in praise, our whole existence should be to reflect the glory of God!
2) 2 Corinthians 4...We are jars of clay. Ben said that we have the power and authority to go out, preach, heal, free and yes we do. But one thing that I was reminded is that NONE of this is of ourselves, it's not that we have been given a boost by God, but it is God actually working through us. It is in our weakness that God's strength shines through, that His power is perfected.
So let us GO
~Sck
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