On our missionary journeys with Paul (we’ve now reached Thessalonica and Berea as we look at Acts 17:1-15), we have seen how this great apostle preached the gospel wherever he went. Now we see that this gospel message involved ‘proclaiming Jesus.’ (Acts 17:3) We need that same focus on Jesus if we want to be effective evangelists. John Stott says we must ‘tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth: his birth, life and ministry, his death and resurrection, his exaltation and the gift of the Holy Spirit, his present reign and future return, his offer of salvation and warning of judgment.’ (P 271)

So here goes!

Jesus of Nazareth is ‘totally God, totally man’, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He’s God’s Son, come to earth to rescue humanity from our sin and rebellion against God which means we face His judgment and eternal separation from Him. Throughout the 33 years he lived on earth, Jesus demonstrated what it looked like to live in perfect obedience to God and went about doing good, healing people and seeing the kingdom of God come to earth. In order to reconcile us to God, however, he had to die, offering himself as a sacrifice for sin. The Jews and Romans thought they were getting rid of a rebel and a political problem when he was condemned to die by crucifixion, but this was actually all part of God’s great salvation plan, for Jesus was a willing sacrifice for sin. God vindicated him by raising Jesus from the dead on the third day. By defeating death and the grave, Jesus was able to bridge the gap between God and humanity and now rules and reigns from on high, giving the Holy Spirit to be with us until his return. If we want to become part of God’s family, we have to accept his offer of salvation and acknowledge that without him we face God’s judgment and separation from Him in hell. We are freely forgiven and welcomed into that family with open arms, saved through faith by God’s marvellous grace and facing a glorious future with Him!

As always, the response of the people in Thessalonica was split. Many people believed the message; others were jealous and tried to stir up trouble. We must always remember that the gospel message requires a response. What is yours?

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says that speaking the truth in love is one way we grow and mature to become more like Christ. (Eph 4:15-16) Speaking truth is an essential element of spiritual growth; what we say has an enormous influence on us and on other people.

What we think is at the root of what we say; our mouths speak from the overflow of our hearts. (Matt 12:34) What we say can, however, also affect our thinking. If we constantly think about unwholesome or trivial things, it will affect our speech (and later our actions), which is why Paul is determined to focus our thoughts on all that is true and good. (Phil 4:8) What we say reinforces our thoughts, like a circle without end, creating a loop from which it is impossible to escape.

The psalmists knew this, urging themselves to speak of God and truth: ‘I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”‘ (Ps 91:2) ‘If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you,no disaster will come near your tent.’ (Ps 91:9-10) What we say about and to God is absolutely essential. Talking to ourselves in this way can be an important step in realigning ourselves with truth. Ps 27:8 says, ‘My heart says of You, “Seek His face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ As we speak out truth and repeat what God has said (rather than what we, others or the enemy say), our faith is strengthened and truth becomes the bedrock of our lives.

The British comedy series ‘Dad’s Army’ told the story of the Home Guard in England during the Second World War. The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers who were otherwise ineligible for military service, either because of age or by being in professions exempt from conscription, and the series regularly focussed on the ineptitude of these men (led by Captain Mainwaring, a pompous but brave and patriotic bank manager.)

I grew up watching and loving this series which poked fun at many institutions and reminded us that bravery comes in many shapes and sizes. There were two catchphrases I particularly associate with the series: Corporal Jack Jones’ flustered ‘Don’t panic! Don’t panic, Captain Mainwaring!‘ as he inevitably panicked and Private James Frazer, a dour Scottish undertaker, the epitome of pessimism, whose catchphrase was ‘We’re doomed! Doomed!’

It feels like we’re living in doomed times at the moment. The pandemic caused by the coronavirus has transformed our lives, leaving people fearful, uncertain and on the edge of a precipice which seems inevitably to lead to doom. The message that shouts at us from headlines and news broadcasts on a daily basis seems to be Frazer’s message: ‘We’re doomed! Doomed!’

How do we respond to this daily bombardment of negativity and pessimism, which pelts us more furiously and relentlessly than any hailstone storm? How can we have hope when everyone is telling us we’re doomed?

For the Christian, we must resist the scare-mongering, fear-inducing tactics of government, media and any other source – and John tells us how: perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) There is no place for fear in our hearts if they are filled with the love of God. We don’t need to fear the ‘invisible mugger’ of coronavirus because our God is more powerful and is in sovereign control, even if we must journey through illness, sorrow and loss. As we allow God’s love to fill our hearts, fear has to go.

Secondly, we have hope, despite all the modelling predictions, worst-case scenarios and restrictions seen as the only answers. We have hope in God, even when our situations look hopeless and desperate. Open the Bible at just about any page and we see God doing impossible things: healing people, rescuing people, raising the dead to life, delivering people from evil. That God is our God. Even during sieges and exile, God’s people had hope. (Lam 3) Jeremiah faced affliction, wandering, bitterness and gall, and yet spoke about hope:

• “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam 3:22-23)

• “No one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” (Lam 3:31-32)

• “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lam 3:37)

We may feel as ramshackle an army as Dad’s Army, as ineffective and incompetent as that motley crew. But ultimately the gates of hell will not prevail against the church (Matt 16:18) and God’s purposes will not be thwarted. (Job 42:2) Ultimately, we are not doomed if we are on God’s side, for He will have the final word. That’s why we can live with hope and confidence even in these dark times.

Once again we celebrated being together again after 19 weeks by giving God a wave offering through our balloons and flags!

We also heard testimonies of how God had kept people through illness and bereavement and how He has spoken into situations as only He can.

In our evening service, Garry focussed our attention on accessing the power. People can often have great strength and power (as do animals and insects), but the difference with humans is that we can think and can use power that isn’t just our own. There are many diverse sources of power, including wood, coal, water and gas.

Newer sources of power (solar power, wind power, wave power and hydro-electric power) are also useful for generating electricity which is used for all kinds of things, including electrical instruments, lights and computers.

The greatest source of power we can access is God’s power, however. He has power to do what no one else can: He can forgive us completely and give us a new life, enabling us to access eternal life. He is always with us wherever we are and can help us and work through us in miraculous ways.

How do we access this power? We access God’s power through prayer, as we seek God and respond to what He says. This power may be seen in healing and in giving us wisdom and knowledge beyond our natural abilities. God is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20-21) – so let’s be people who ask and imagine lots!

Here are some more photos from this morning’s service as we praised God through our wave offering with balloons and flags!