The Heart of our Faith 5. (22.2.09)
The Heart of our Faith 5. Service
As well as reaching out to the world with the Good News of Jesus, God also wants us to become servants, just as Jesus came to serve.
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” Matthew 20.26-7)
Our first calling is to serve God – but how do we serve God? By serving others, in his name. The Bible calls this MINISTRY.
We need three things in order to be a faithful servant.
1. We need availability. We must be available to God and others – not afraid to be interrupted. This can be disrupted by self-centredness or perfectionism or materialism
2. We need an attitude of gratitude. We will be willing to serve if we have a right attitude towards ourselves, and see what God has done for us.
3. We need to be faithful. That means not giving up, but keeping going. It means recognizing what is significant, and not just prominent. It means never belittling the little!
God needs you to be available as his servant! You cannot leave it to others – your gifts are essential, whoever you are.
Ø How is God calling you to serve?
Ø What gifts has he given you to use?
Ø Are you ready to be a part of our Church’s ministry of service to the world?
Try using this prayer this week –
“Lord, thank you for placing your trust in me so much that you want me to serve others in your name. Help me to be available to you this week, whatever that may mean. Forgive me that I am so often selfish, and prefer to put myself first. I want to use the gifts that you have given me – so help me to find out what they are, and how best to be a servant of others in your name – Amen.”
Upstairs downstairs….
Sunday 15th February 09
A few weeks ago, I moved my study upstairs. For those of you who know the Manse, you will be familiar with the layout – small study downstairs, and four bedrooms upstairs. This was fine for me from the time we moved in two years ago – but recently, it has seemed to be a very poor use of space. For one thing, my small study was overflowing with books, files, papers and technology (computer, printer etc). In fact, I often used to go into the conservatory to work – which annoyed my wife, who feels our dining table should be for dining – not writing sermons. For another thing, the third bedroom (which is a fair size) was not being used at all. In fact, it had only been slept in twice since we moved in. The solution to our dilemma was for me to move my study upstairs – which I duly did. This has had several beneficial results. 1. I now have a very nice view over the garden, instead of looking at a fence.2. I have much more room to store my books and files etc, without annoying my wife. 3. We now have a small extra bedroom downstairs (which could be useful in the future) – waiting to be redecorated. And not forgetting 4. I am now nearer to heaven than I was!
I am telling you all this so that you know life at the Manse is pretty much like life anywhere else. People sometimes think ministers are different from other people – superspiritual maybe, or perhaps just plain “weird”. A friend of mine who is also a minister once told me that someone from his Church was amazed to see him in a supermarket. “Oh – I didnt realize you went shopping!” she said. He said he felt like saying “No – my food usually comes down from heaven” – but he didnt. Yes – we may live in a Manse (and a very nice one it is too!) – but we still get bored, and have new ideas, and try out new ways of doing things, and have ups and downs like everyone else. At least now I am “up” more than I am “down” – and my sermons are coming to you from much closer to God!
I am now posting our Sunday Morning Notes here on my Blog – so if you missed them in Church, you can still catch them here. They may help you to remember what we have been studying, and to go over it again in the week.
On Wednesday (18th February 09) – we will be holding one of our “Open Forum” meetings at 7.30pm. Do come along, as we will be looking back at the year just ended here at MBC – a year of serving and celebrating.
Next Sunday (22nd February) we meet for Morning Worship at 11am, and then at 6.30pm we will have another of our Cafe Church Services. These are always entertaining and different – a chance to meet, greet, eat and be upbeat, whilst worshipping our wonderful God in ways that are a little different. COME AND BE A PART OF IT!
Thank you for you prayers for Nicky and her family at this difficult time. Have a good week – Stephen.
“If you ate pasta and anti-pasta, would you still be hungry?”
The Heart of our Faith 4. (15.2.09)
The Heart of our Faith 4. Evangelism
Our Church Mission Statement says that we must have a heart for God and a heart for God’s world. The first way that we show we have a heart for God’s world is through evangelism amongst our neighbours. Jesus said “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1. 
1. We are called to share the Good News in our own world (Jerusalem) – which for us is the place we live and work. Mission starts at home. Do we lack confidence? Do we think people are not interested? Well, we are not called to be experts or spin doctors – just witnesses of what we have seen and heard in our own experience. God changes lives – not us!
2. We are called to share the Good News beyond our own world. Judea was nearby to Jerusalem, and its people were similar. Samaria was very different, and its culture was foreign, its people enemies. We are called to “cross-cultural” mission, as well as mission to those who are “like us”. Where would Jesus be, if he was here on earth today? He would be caring for the poor and needy and the outcasts…so must we!
3. We are called to share the Good News with the whole world! We will look at World Mission another week.
Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you – because of us? Are you using your time here on earth for the purpose God has given it to you? You cant say God without saying “Go”. You cant say Gospel without saying “Go”. It is our task to “go and tell”.
Try using this prayer: “Dear Lord, thank you so much that Jesus came to die for me, and that I know I am your precious child. Forgive me for keeping that Good News to myself. Help me to share it with everyone that I can this week. Give me opportunities to speak a few words for you to someone close to me this week. Use me to bring others closer to you. In Jesus’ name – Amen”.
The Heart of our Faith 3. (8.2.09)
The Heart of our Faith 3. Obedience
Matthew 7.21 says “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”
Obedience to God’s will is a crucial part of our lives as Christians, and as a Christian Church. Our Church mission statement says “We have a heart for God..through obedience to God’s will and to God’s Word”
But how can we know what God’s will is?
God uses certain ways to guide us into his ways
1. He gave us common sense
2. He gave us His Word – the Bible.
3. He guides us by the wise counsel of other Christians
4. He guides us through our feelings and emotions
5. He guides us through circumstances, when we commit them to God
All of these have dangers, and can be misleading – for example, we may be tempted to listen only to the parts of the Bible that say what we want to hear – or only to listen to the advice that agrees with what we want. Our feelings can often mislead us too. But if we prayerfully ask God to reveal his will to us, and commit all our ways to him, he will not fail to guide us in his will and purpose.
Once we know God’s will, we must then obey it – listening is not enough we must become doers. “Trust and Obey”
Try using this prayer this week:-
Dear Lord, forgive us that we are not always obedient to your will. We much prefer to go our own way, and do our own thing, without listening to you. Help us to seek your will – to pray, and study the Bible, and listen to the advice of others, so that we can discern what you are saying to us. Then Lord, help us to trust and obey, both in our own lives and in the life of our Church family. For Jesus’ sake we pray, AMEN.
The Heart of our Faith 2. (18.1.09)
The Heart of our Faith 2. Prayer
Our Mission statement says “We have a heart for God …through prayer that is passionate and consistent.”
How passionate is your prayer life? Do you pray as if your life depended on it? Do you long to spend time with God? Or is prayer more of a chore or a duty that you feel you must fulfil?
How consistent is your prayer life? Do you pray regularly? Do you pray whatever the circumstances? Or is prayer something you turn to when your need is great, or when you feel “in the mood”?
Matthew 7.7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
1. Jesus offers us a pattern for our praying -
Ask - acknowledge your need
Seek - put in some effort on your own part
Knock – the idea of effort plus persistence
2. Jesus offers us a promise for our praying
You will receive…you will find…the door will be opened
3. Jesus offers us a proof for our praying
v 9-11 – God loves to give good things to those who ask him.
The proof that prayer is real lies in God himself – who he is and
what He has done. He is our loving Heavenly Father.
Three Practical Steps to a better prayer life this week:-
- Find a time to be quiet with God each day this week. It need only be for 10-15 mins, but make time to talk to God and listen to Him.
- Ask God to help you pray for what He wants, and not just for what you want. Pray that his will may be done.
- Tell God what you are going to do to try to be the answer to your own prayers.
Here is a prayer that you can use this week:-
“Lord, please help me to pray as Jesus prayed. Help me to pray with real passion, instead of from duty or habit. Help me to pray consistently, instead of just when I feel like it, or when trouble comes.
Lord, when I get to heaven, I don’t want you to say to me that you don’t recognize my voice. I want to spend quality time with you every day – listening as well as talking. Help me to be a Christian who loves to pray. And help us to be a prayerful Church, as we serve you together. Amen.”
The Heart of our Faith 1. (4.1.09)
The Heart of our Faith. 1. Worship.
Margate Baptist Church Mission Statement (adopted November 08)
“Margate Baptist Church – the Church at the heart of Margate.
We have a heart for God
We have a heart for God’s World
We have a heart for God’s Family”
“We have a heart for God – through worship that is real and relevant.”
Mark 12. 28-34 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”
- We must worship God thoughtfully (with all of our mind).
Ø This means giving our full attention to worship
Ø It means focussing and not being distracted
Ø Having a daily quiet time with God will help with this
Ø We might try thinking about God during the day
- We must worship God passionately (with all of our heart and soul)
Ø God loves us – the most important thing we can do is to love him back.
Ø God is passionate about us! If we understood how much he loves us, we couldn’t fail to love him too.
3. We must worship God practically (with all of our strength)
Ø Love can never be just words – it must become actions too.
Colossians 3.23 – “ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.”
Its not what you do that matters as much as who you are doing it for.
All of life can become worship, if we do it all for Him!
When you get up tomorrow, say to yourself:-
“Lord, whatever I do today, I’m going to do it for you. It may be the same things I have done for many years, but from now on I’m doing them for you. I want you to be my Lord; and I want to start living – not for myself – but for you. Help me to make my whole life an act of worship to you.”
Citizens of Heaven
Tuesday 3rd February
We have recently lost two more of our most loyal and committed friends at MBC. Ron Taylor died on Monday 19th January, after a short spell in the Pilgrims Hospice. David Thomas died later in the same week, on Saturday 24th January, after some weeks in hospital. Both of these brothers were strong in the faith; both were excellent company, and a joy to spend time with; both were former choir members, and regular Church attenders; and both will be sorely missed by family and friends alike. Such men are hard to replace; and I am comforted by the knowledge that they were both “citizens of heaven”, who knew that this world was not their true home. We continue to pray for their families, who will feel the loss most keenly; and we will always remember them with affection and gratitude. They are now “at home” with the Lord in glory, and we thank God that we have known and loved them.
Last Sunday turned into a snowy and icy evening, and we decided that it would be prudent to cancel our evening service, rather than risk anyone having an accident on the ice. The next day, of course, Britain ground to a halt; and while we did not fare too badly in Thanet, other nearby places were not so fortunate. Lets hope the winter is drawing to a close, and spring is not too far behind.
On Wednesday evening this week (4th Feb), we have our monthly Prayer Meeting at 8pm in the Coffee Lounge. I hope you can join us – snow or no snow!
On Sunday (8th Feb), at the 11am morning worship service, we will continue to look at our Church’s Mission Statement. This week, our theme is “Obedience”. In the evening (6.30pm) we will carry on with our study of Ephesians. I do hope you can be with us, to share in the fellowship and praise, as well as listening to what God wants to say to us.
I am sorry it has been some days since my last post. It has been a busy few weeks since Christmas, and time has been at a premium. Always remember that you are a citizen of heaven – and that this world is not your true home.
Every blessing, Stephen.
” This recession must be bad. I just heard that three of Snow White’s dwarves have been laid off”.
