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Posts tagged believer
Loving God, Loving Myself and Loving Others
May 4th
Luke 10: 25-37
In this paper we are going to look at how people accept, or do not accept themselves, and the images we can all project. Before doing so, we look at the context to our reading, and make a comment on God’s command to love Him.
The Context
Imagine what it would be like if every time you put your hand in your pocket you pulled out a £50 note. Undoubtedly you would be very excited, and after the initial shock, would probably think of all the people you could help. Think of the surprise on the faces of friends and others who’d struggled without finance for so long, yet were suddenly able to see how to make ends meet through your giving. It would be an amazing time.
Faith
Mar 8th
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Heb 11:1-3
In Hebrews 11 we read of ordinary people who did extraordinary things – all out of proportion to their powers. I’m sure that, at times, this must have been a surprise to themselves as well as to others, yet it is because of the Holy Spirit within them that they were able to do these things in obedience to God.
The Church
Feb 19th
A general conception
Many non-Christians and sadly some Christians, don’t understand what is meant when the word ‘church’ is referred to. We have all heard statements like the following: ‘I used to go to church as a child’ or ‘My parents go to the Parish Church’, or ‘We had a lovely church wedding’ or ‘My grandparents were church-goers’ etc. This reflects a misunderstanding of the meaning of ‘Church’. This short booklet will address the true meaning of Church, and correct common misunderstandings. Let’s begin with what the church is NOT.
The Church is not:
A material building.
James 5 13-18
Feb 19th
In James 5:15 we read that the elders of the church/Christian community can pray over a person and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, and that “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” Although this promise is very clear there are many that have suffered and died, despite having been anointed with oil. So what is going on? Is the lack of results due to lack of faith, or maybe failure because the correct procedures were not followed?
Worship
Feb 19th
- What is worship?
- When we stop worshipping God, what happens?
- What is the difference (if any) between worshipping and worshipping in spirit and in truth?
- How important is worship?
In worship we focus on all that God has already done, and recognise that we are blessed because of His hand of grace and not our own achievements.
“…Israel’s worship shows the same dynamic as Israel’s ethics; namely, that it is based on God’s prior action. God had already acted in blessing; therefore Israel was to celebrate that in worship and praise.”
The Lord’s Prayer
Feb 17th
Jesus had been speaking of the true nature and character of the believer and pointing out that life is lived in the heart and mind before all else. Actions that are merely external in order to look good are of no value whatsoever to God.
Jesus then began to talk about praying.
Praying was not to be done in a hypocritical fashion like those who stood in the synagogues or on the street corners to be heard and seen by men. These people were hypocrites. The Greek word for hypocrite is where our word actor comes from. A hypocrite is one who acted a part, who presented to others, and the communities in which he or she lived, an image of self that was false.
