The First Sunday – Devotional Communion

Isaiah 46:1-5

Leader: Simon Downing

This evening we will be holding our monthly Devotional Communion around the Communion table. Our text for this service is Isaiah 46:1-5 in which God reminds that He is the one who made us and carries us when we are struggling. He is the one who sustains and it He who has rescued us through. Now that really is worth remembering and celebration together. Please join us.

 

The First Sunday – Family Service

Labels of Life

2 Corinthians 6:18

Speaker: Simon Downing

Today is our monthly family service and so, as you look around the congregation, you might spot some new faces. Do make them feel welcome and part of our family. As you look around, I am also sure that you won’t find anyone who is exactly the same as you. It is somewhat reassuring to know that we are all unique and, although we all made in God’s image, we are still all different. This is one of the many wonders of God’s creation. In our world people are often labelled by categories as it they were products on the shelf. Some labels are useful but labelling people can be misleading and even hurtful. It’s good to know that the LORD does not look at the things man looks at. He doesn’t label us in the way we do. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) Today take the opportunity to see beyond the labels that we sometimes use to define people by and, in doing so, challenge the stereotypes that often go unquestioned. In God’s eyes every one of us is special. Every one of us is beautiful. He loves every one of us! It’s what’s in your heart that counts.

Mandate III: Loving the Lost

Luke 10:25 – 37

Speaker: Simon Downing

As we continue into this new decade, the leadership team and I have been praying for the Lord to give us His direction for the church. In particular, how can we turn our vision to love God, love each other and to love the lost into meaningful, Christ-like action. Over the last two weeks we looked at the first two pillars of our vision – Loving God. And Loving each other. In today’s talk, we will be looking at the third pillar – Loving the lost. In our reading today, Jesus teaches an expert in the Law, what it really means to love your neighbour as he tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It is a familiar story, but do we really take Jesus’ message to heart and live our lives accordingly?

Mandate I: Loving God

Luke 10:38-42

Speaker: Simon Downing

As we begin a new decade, the leadership team and I have been praying for the Lord to give us His direction for the church. In particular, how can we turn our vision to love God, love each other and to love the lost into meaningful, Christ-like action. Consequently, over the next three Sunday mornings, I will be talking about some very important fundamentals of how we believe we are meant to implement our vision into our every day lives. Please make every effort to be here for all the services. This morning, I will use Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha as our starting point. Both of these women loved Jesus and delighted themselves in serving Him. One of these women was working her fingers to the bone, the other just simply sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His words. Martha, in being so busy, was actually neglecting her guest. Each one of us has to ask ourselves are we a Martha or a Mary. Are you so busy doing things for Jesus that you’re not spending any time with Him?