Impersonators are those who are adept at imitating other people: their voices, figures of speech,  mannerisms and body language. Many impersonators (Mike Yarwood, Rory Bremner, Jon Culshaw) have entertained us over the years through their satirical impersonations of famous figures; theirs is a skill that requires patient study and constant practice.

If we think about how we all learn, though, there is a good deal of imitation and observation going on for all of us. The Message version of Eph 5:1-2 says ‘Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents.’ J. B. Phillips paraphrases this verse says ‘As children copy their fathers you, as God’s children, are to copy him.’ All children learn through copying the speech and behaviour of those around them. A baby is born into the world with few skills and has to learn to walk and talk through careful observation of all around him. Usually it takes about a year for a baby to learn to walk; often it takes about 18 months for recognisable words to be spoken and full sentences can often take up to about 2.5 years to master. In this time, the baby has to show patience and persistence (learning how to shuffle or crawl, then pull itself up to a standing position before taking tottering steps that gradually become stronger), a commitment to learning through repetition and a good deal of practice (all its time and energy when awake!) The interaction of others is vital (babies left alone in orphanages in Romania were found to be much less advanced in these abilities than those who had been talked to and played with), for babies learn from observation.

We need to see role models who show us what faith, patience, love, hospitality, kindness and forgiveness look like. We need also to learn from Jesus, who is God made visible for us to see how we should behave in every situation. Then, and only then, can we become role models for others who reflect God’s character to those who have never seen Him.

Last night’s Bible study started with a game of ‘Simon Says’ and saw members trying to make a giant panda out of plasticine! Their aim was to model according to the photo:

These were the attempts!

The reason for these creative attempts was found in 3 John vs 11: ‘Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.‘ Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery. It is certainly what we are required to do in the Christian life, with the word ‘mimetes’ (imitate, be an example, copy) found in several places in the New Testament (Eph 5:1-2, 1 Thess 1:6, 1 Thess 2:14, 1 Cor 11:1, 1 Cor 4:16, Heb 6:12, 1 Pet 3:13). The thought of being followers or imitators of God makes sense, for as children of God, we learn from our great Example, Jesus, whose life demonstrates love, humility, servanthood and obedience to the Father’s will for us. It is more surprising to find that we are expected to imitate other Christians, for we know all too well the failings and weaknesses of people. Nonetheless, we are called to be role models, living letters that are read by all (see 2 Cor 3:2-3).

John’s third letter is very personal, dealing with practical issues of faith and truth. Three individuals are named in the letter (Gaius, Demetrius, and Diotrephes) and we see something of the things we are to imitate as well as what should be avoided (Diotrephes wanted to be first, and clearly John has learned his lesson from Mark 10:32-45 and knows that the path to greatness in God is through servanthood and humility, not arrogance and unkindness.) 2 John dealt with visiting missionaries who were deceivers or imposters, but here, John urges support for the genuine missionary. As John Stott reminds us, “There are many good causes which Christians may support; but they must support their brethren to whom the world should not be asked to contribute.” (John Stott, ‘The Epistles of John’, P 223)

Clearly, we should not imitate sin, nor those whose lives are inconsistent with the Truth. But we should imitate those who by faith and patience have inherited what God has promised. (Heb 6:12) We learn best from observation and experience and are called to persevere in following Jesus, fixing our eyes on Him (Heb 12:1-2) and spending time with Him in order to be transformed from the inside out. Discipleship also requires discipline (see Col 3:15, Rom 8:13, Gal 5:24) and requires us to walk in truth continually.

Sunday 1st February will be our usual family service, starting at 6 p.m. This month’s theme (with a nod to Valentine’s Day later that month!) is ‘True Love… not just for fairytales.’ Come along to find out more!

On Monday 2nd February, a group of people from church will be attending the ‘Worship Central’ event at St Thomas Crookes church in Sheffield. If you want to know more, please see Garry or Julie on Sunday.

In February, we will be starting a new Bible study on 1 Corinthians. Come along on 12 and 26 February to find out more.

Later in February (Saturday 28th February) we will be holding an information and envisioning evening for church members. If you want to know more about what the church is doing and what we’d like to do in the future, please come along to that meeting which will start at 6 p.m.

The Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held on Friday 6th March at St Peter’s Church in Barnburgh. This year, the service has been written by Christian women from the Bahamas and is based on John 13. Further details will be available soon.

The prayer focus for February will look at children and young people in our area, especially praying for the outreaches run by the church to this age group. Pray for all who are involved in teaching children God’s Word, especially on Sundays. This is a tiring and time-consuming ministry which often is carried on behind-the-scenes, but it is vital that helpers are soaked in Biblical truths and can present these to children in fun and relevant ways… all of which requires their commitment, energy and enthusiasm. We are grateful to all who are involved in this work and who have a real commitment to teaching children the truths and joys of God’s Word.

The church also runs a youth club on Monday evenings for 5-11 year olds. Give thanks for the fact that we have new adult helpers at this who want to be involved in this work and for the many people who have served faithfully in this ministry for years. Pray for the children who attend, many of whom do not have any other association with church. Pray that there will be opportunities for Christians to share Jesus with these children and that the children will be drawn into church through this outreach.

Pray also for the Parent & Toddler group which meets on Friday mornings. Some of the Mums who attend also have children who come to the youth club. Pray for each of the families with whom we have contact, for friendships and the opportunity to share Jesus.

It’s not easy growing up in our present society. There are enormous pressures on children and young people: pressures to perform well academically, pressures to find appropriate training and jobs, pressures to ‘fit in’ with friends and conform to the world’s ideas about fashion, morality, media and so on. Family structures are not always stable and there can be issues with insecurity, image, self-esteem and worth. Pray for all who work in schools and for Christian witness in schools. Pray also that children and young people will be taught about God and will come to know God for themselves. Prov 22:6 reminds us ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.’ The Message version of this verse says ‘Point your kids in the right direction— when they’re old they won’t be lost.‘ Pray also for children of church members (whatever age they now are!) who do not follow Christ to find Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life and to pledge themselves to His way.

Stephen continued looking at the armour of God which is necessary for us in our prayer kitbag, focussing on the breastplate of righteousness. (Eph 6:14)

A breastplate aids our defensive position, covering the upper torso, protecting our bodies. Righteousness is a state of being acceptable to God which is possible through Jesus Christ. Rom 13:14 urges us to clothe ourselves with righteousness and Gal 3:27 reminds us that all who have been baptised into Christ have clothed themselves with Him. Christ is our defender, our defence, the One who intercedes for us (Heb 7:25), the one who needs to be in the centre of our lives. Is 59:1-17 reminds us that man’s righteousness will never be enough to bring salvation; God ‘put on righteousness as His breastplate and the helmet of salvation on His head’ in order to be able to work salvation for us. 1 Pet 2:24 reminds us that Christ died for us ‘so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.’ When we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, we have nothing to fear.

The imagery of armour may seem remote to us, but each one of us is called into God’s army and we need to ensure that the breastplate of righteousness is in place, with Christ having the central place in our lives. If He is not there, we are vulnerable and are not protected from the enemy’s attacks, but if He dwells within us, we are protected from every onslaught he may make.

What happens when we hear God’s voice? How does it change us and our community?

God’s voice is the real catalyst for change that we desperately need. In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected. God is the real catalyst who precipitates events or changes. He is the One who whispers ideas to us, who gives us inspiration, who nudges us to do things which may not seem particularly earth-shattering in many ways but which gradually cause a shift in the way things are done.

Think of William and Catherine Booth serving tirelessly among the homeless in London, ultimately founding the Salvation Army because they heard God’s concern for the poor and needy in their personal times with God.

Think of Elizabeth Fry, driven by divine compassion into the hellhole of Newgate prison and the force behind prison reform, motivated by the love of God to make a difference to her society.

Think of William Wilberforce and others, labouring to see the slave trade abolished because they listened to God’s heart of freedom for all.

Or what about George Washington Carver who used to pray regularly to ‘Mr Creator.’ One night he walked out into the woods and prayed ‘Mr Creator, why did you make the universe?’ He listened and felt God answer ‘Little man, that question is too big for you. Try another!’ So the next night, he walked into the woods again and prayed ‘Mr Creator, why did you create people?’ Again, he felt the answer was ‘Little man, that question is too big for you. Try another!’ So on the third night, he asked ‘Mr Creator, why did you create the peanut?’ And he felt God say ‘Little man, that question is just your size. You listen and I will teach you.’ And apparently he went on to invent 300 ways to use the peanut, including 105 food recipes using peanuts and about 100 products made from peanuts that were useful for the house and farm, including cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline, and nitroglycerin.

We might never be famous like any of the above, but when we hear God’s voice speaking to us, we never know what that will do or where that will lead. The prophet Jeremiah said, ‘This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ (Jer 33:2-3) He gave this word whilst he was kept confined in the courtyard of the guard, effectively under house arrest. We might feel our circumstances aren’t good; our situations are not what we want them to be; we might feel we ourselves are not where we want to be or who we want to be… but nothing is a barrier to God speaking. Let’s call and listen for His voice and be prepared to hear great and unsearchable things we do not know, to be changed forever by the things that God will say.