Pray for Spain
Today we had our fellowship meal and this month our focus is on Spain. We learned some facts about Spain, practised our Spanish greetings and enjoyed Spanish food after the service, including Spanish omelette, paella, patatas bravas and lemon yogurt cake.
We also had two birthdays to celebrate today.
The Second Coming of Christ
Today we looked at our future and our hope as we discussed the second coming of Christ. The Bible study included looking at 2 Pet 3:1-10 and Mark 13:5-23, acknowledging that waiting for the return of Christ can seem a long wait! Throughout history, Christians have looked around and made predictions as to when Christ will return, but it’s important to be secure in our faith that this will happen, even as we acknowledge we do not know when.
Passages such as Matt 24:4, John 14:3 and Acts 1:11 all affirm the reality of this second coming, which will be personal, visible and bodily. 1 Thess 4:16-17 affirms these truths and Heb 9:28, James 5:6 and 2 Pet 3:10 all remind us that this day will come unexpectedly. It will be sudden (Rev 22:20).
Christ’s return is certain. It will be sudden, unexpected in many respects, visible and bodily. We may not know when He will come, but we are to live good lives as we wait (see Titus 2:11-13, Phil 3:20). It will result in the rapture of the church (Luke 17:34-35, 1 Thess 4:16-17), and until that day we should live holy and godly lives as we look forward to Christ’s return. (2 Pet 3:11-12)
God’s Handiwork
Yesterday we looked at Ephesians 2:10 which tells us we are God’s handiwork (His workmanship, masterpiece or ‘poem’), created by Him to do good works. This gives us value, significance and worth, for we are not just here randomly by chance, but were knit together in our mother’s womb by God Himself (see Ps 139) and have a reason to live!
We were created with purpose in mind (see 2 Tim 2:20-21) and apart from the general purpose of glorifying God through how we live, there is the specific call to serve others. How we do this will vary from person to person (see Rom 12:4-8); we all have different gifts and talents, but as the hymn says, even sweeping a room can be a divine offering! (see also Col 3:17) Knowing God’s specific call is important, but so often, we do not regard our everyday lives and service as important. It’s worth pondering that Jesus, secure in the knowledge of who He was and what He was called to do, was able to wash the disciples’ feet as part of His service (see John 13.) The ‘mundane’ jobs that are part of life can be good works if dedicated to God and to serving other people.
In the film ‘Three Amigos’, three actors are mistaken for the heroes they play on the silver screen by villagers in a small Mexican village called Santa Poco and are called on to save the village from the notorious bandit, El Guapo. In desperation, they ask the villagers what they can do, and they then use their talent – sewing – to confound El Guapo into thinking the Three Amigos are everywhere, and so defeat him. There is much comedy in the scene where they are told that sewing is the only thing the villagers can do, but with true movie magic, this skill turns out to be just what is needed, a very pointed reminder that what is scorned by others can actually be the thing that leads to our rescue! Perhaps, as Thomas Edison said, we mistake inspiration and service so often because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work!
When we stop focussing on what we are not, we are able to see ourselves as God sees us. He is no novice artist but has created us as individual works of art to fulfil His purposes for the world. We are created by God to do good works, works of service, works that show a hurting, dying world there is hope, forgiveness, compassion and love in God. Go into the world, then, and serve the purposes of God in your generation, as David did. (Acts 13:36) Live for something and Someone who is bigger than you.
Decorating
We have used the summer holidays to decorate the toilets and corridor.
We have also refreshed all the notice boards in the community room.
We’re now ready for the new term. Our Parent & Toddler group is back on Wednesday 2 September between 9 and 11 a.m. and meets on Wednesday and Friday mornings in term time.
Summer Fun (3)
We held the last of our Summer Fun days this week, working with other local churches, Grassroots Sports Academy and JJ’s Chippy, with Tesco Wath-in-Dearne donating beans and tuna for our free lunch. Although this event was not as well attended as the previous two (61 people compared to 148 and 154), we had a good time learning about living well according to God’s ways. We had a story about the Ten Commandments, a trail urging us to be kind, compassionate and forgiving (Eph 4:32) and lots of different crafts and activities. Our tug-of-war focussed on the importance of teamwork; we made friendship bracelets and decorated biscuits as well as recognising the importance of friendship and family.
Our thanks to all who helped at this event and who attended, and to God for the beautifully dry weather at each of our fun days this summer.
Money, Money, Money
Last night’s Bible study looked at Jesus’ words about money, a very practical subject that is a part of our everyday lives but which also points us to eternity. In Matthew 6, Jesus reminded us that we cannot serve two Masters and must make a choice between serving God or money. Money of itself is neutral, but our tendency to greed (see Luke 12:15-21) makes us place more importance on the temporary comfort and security it represents on being ‘rich towards God.’
Jesus reminds us that money is transitory, so we should focus more on eternal treasure that will last. The farmer in Luke 12:16-21 is called a fool by God because he thought only of his own needs and comfort instead of using his surplus harvest to bless others. Jesus repeatedly spoke about our attitudes to money and giving. It’s not the amount that matters as much as our trust in God and our willingness to obey Him (as Mark 12:41-44 demonstrates.)
Giving to the needy is commended throughout Scripture (see 2 Cor 8 and 9 in particular). God is a cheerful giver Himself, and our giving means we can use our ‘worldly wealth’ for kingdom purposes. This does not need to be ostentatious or to be noticed and commended on earth (see Matt 6:2-4). Being faithful and trustworthy with money is necessary, and Jesus told the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-15) to demonstrate in part the difference between the world’s way of doing things (where dishonesty is commended!) and God’s way.
To live rightly, we need to see our possessions and money as gifts from God, given to us to steward wisely, instead of as something to hoard and use for only selfish purpose. God gives tu us and provides for our needs (Matt 6:25-34), but we must live knowing that life ‘does not consist in an abundance of possessions’ (Luke 12:15). Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3) and recognising His rule and reign over every area of our life. We must be prudent and wise with regard to money (including paying taxes, Mark 12:13-17), but we must also live in ways that honour God (see Mal 3:10-12, Matt 19:21-30). Sacrificial giving and living are required; this is how Jesus Himself lived and how He commands His disciples to live.
