Equipped with pattern released with purpose
Sunday service - 7th July
Hi everyone, just a quick update. I was unable to attend last week's service so I don't have any notes however, I've heard it was absolutely fantastic so I'm hoping to by the DVD and maybe I will be able to upload it on to this page. Will keep you posted.
God Bless!
Pastor Danny had a conviction today that he felt necessary to share as he believes God wants to be in the midst of our struggles. He wants us to draw in closer to him.
What is the purpose of the church?
- We are called to worship daily, not just on Sundays.
Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."
- We are all called into a type of ministry and our ministry is to love our neighbours. The great commandment!-
Matthew 28:16-20 "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
**Ministry is the way we care for one another.
1 thessalonians 5:12-28 "12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
- Pastor Danny said we need authentic friendships to be able to do the above.
2. Build relationships with one another without the church organising it. Go beyond the image of our homes.
3. Become committed Christians not just congregated Christians.
I asked myself "What would it look like to me in my life if I were to be more connected, one anothering?"
Well for me, I realised that there are a lot of people around us helping and supporting us already which is fantastic however, I feel that I could personally be doing more. I realise that God has a calling for my life that is far bigger than I realised until recently. I realise that there are so many people who are walking through life's many struggles and that God has put a deep rooted desire within my heart to connect with the broken hearted. Why you ask? Well, because I too have been one of those people and honestly, I still am because like most things it's a journey to fulfilment and it's not something you just snap your fingers and its dealt with. So I feel that I need to reach out more to those in need, be the listening ear and help pick up people when they are down. Honestly, I haven't had to do too much reaching because God is just sending people my way by the flock load. I believe in Gods timing for all circumstances so I allow him to lead and I just follow. Recently, I've made even more genuine friendships and I'm loving the movement God is doing. I think it's important for ALL of us to know that we are NEVER alone in this world. We always have Jesus but that shouldn't be the limits of our togetherness. As a whole body of Christ we truly have each other. In all it's realness, in the highs and lows we should be there for one another. Not passing judgement but loving one another because it's easy for us to sit back and judge but just try imagining yourself in the other person's shoes and that's without knowing the full extent of their lives. Compassion is such an important expression that we all need to take on board. I know I do! God is working on this one with me at the moment, even in my marriage. We are all growing and learning.
God wants me to shine a bright light on them to help them out of darkness because that is what doing life together is all about. Loving one another as Christ loved the church. I realised also that through many life struggles I've learnt to accept things from people, the helping hand God has called for us to be and accept. I realised that quite sometime ago my pride was getting in the way from accepting those helping hands. I was always ready to help someone but to take a helping hand use to be a big no no. Not anymore! I realise as Christians we are called to love the unloveable, we are called to do life together as a whole. Not allowing anyone to fall behind or fall short because we as a whole body need to play our part. Less of Me and more of Us is my focus!
This is all new to me and I realise some people will take my forward thinking the wrong way however, my heart is to only line up with what God intended for my life and I can honestly say that I know I'm heading in the right direction now. I will continue to stay true to the many convictions he lays on my heart and right now "one anothering" is what is genuinely placed on my heart.
God Bless,
Truth and touch!
What is the purpose of the church?
- To fulfil the great command
- To fulfil the great commission
- We are called to worship daily, not just on Sundays.
Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."
- We are all called into a type of ministry and our ministry is to love our neighbours. The great commandment!-
Matthew 28:16-20 "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
**Ministry is the way we care for one another.
- Some people are more interested in titles than touch then recognition instead of reconciliation.
- Norwegians are out buying bibles over 50 shades of grey. Norway is the most secular place known. 1% of the 5 million attend church.
- Ps Danny talked on denominations in Christianity and how that wasn't God's plan or purpose and that we need to all come together as one body. He also mentioned how confusing it is to the non believer that we as Christians can't even seem to get on the same page so why would they want to be apart of that?
- Ps Danny mentioned a cafe owner asking him to do an exorcism in a cafe. Ps Danny, had a chuckle in relation to "exorcism" however instead dedicated the cafe to God and prophesied over it, giving God the glory, not satan.
- Can't separate saviour and lord!
- God is reclaiming his church!
1 thessalonians 5:12-28 "12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
- Pastor Danny said we need authentic friendships to be able to do the above.
One Anothering.
1. Honour our leaders. If your leaders being truth, honour it by applying it.2. Build relationships with one another without the church organising it. Go beyond the image of our homes.
3. Become committed Christians not just congregated Christians.
My Own Personal Thoughts
Just to dive a little deeper into the "one anothering". I personally had a serious revelation as Pastor Danny spoke on this specific topic. I now truly understand the importance of us all doing life together and like he said "not being just congregated Christians BUT committed Christians". I think it's important to note that "one anothering" doesn't fall on just one specific person, it takes the "whole body" of Christ to get on board. I know there are many people who are already doing this which is fantastic but I believe we can always do more. Although it's not just the job of one person to make this happen successfully, sometimes it takes one brave person to stand up and speak out and I guess that is what I try to do. Am I brave? No, I don't think so but I do stay true to my convictions these days.I asked myself "What would it look like to me in my life if I were to be more connected, one anothering?"
Well for me, I realised that there are a lot of people around us helping and supporting us already which is fantastic however, I feel that I could personally be doing more. I realise that God has a calling for my life that is far bigger than I realised until recently. I realise that there are so many people who are walking through life's many struggles and that God has put a deep rooted desire within my heart to connect with the broken hearted. Why you ask? Well, because I too have been one of those people and honestly, I still am because like most things it's a journey to fulfilment and it's not something you just snap your fingers and its dealt with. So I feel that I need to reach out more to those in need, be the listening ear and help pick up people when they are down. Honestly, I haven't had to do too much reaching because God is just sending people my way by the flock load. I believe in Gods timing for all circumstances so I allow him to lead and I just follow. Recently, I've made even more genuine friendships and I'm loving the movement God is doing. I think it's important for ALL of us to know that we are NEVER alone in this world. We always have Jesus but that shouldn't be the limits of our togetherness. As a whole body of Christ we truly have each other. In all it's realness, in the highs and lows we should be there for one another. Not passing judgement but loving one another because it's easy for us to sit back and judge but just try imagining yourself in the other person's shoes and that's without knowing the full extent of their lives. Compassion is such an important expression that we all need to take on board. I know I do! God is working on this one with me at the moment, even in my marriage. We are all growing and learning.
God wants me to shine a bright light on them to help them out of darkness because that is what doing life together is all about. Loving one another as Christ loved the church. I realised also that through many life struggles I've learnt to accept things from people, the helping hand God has called for us to be and accept. I realised that quite sometime ago my pride was getting in the way from accepting those helping hands. I was always ready to help someone but to take a helping hand use to be a big no no. Not anymore! I realise as Christians we are called to love the unloveable, we are called to do life together as a whole. Not allowing anyone to fall behind or fall short because we as a whole body need to play our part. Less of Me and more of Us is my focus!
This is all new to me and I realise some people will take my forward thinking the wrong way however, my heart is to only line up with what God intended for my life and I can honestly say that I know I'm heading in the right direction now. I will continue to stay true to the many convictions he lays on my heart and right now "one anothering" is what is genuinely placed on my heart.
God Bless,
Truth and touch!
Sunday service - 16th June
1 chronicles 29:11 "Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;you are exalted as head over all."
Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Your grace abounds in deepest waters - (very inspirational song)
Ephesians 4:11 - last weeks service
Homework from last week**
Grown up grace extended
Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32
Paul in Corinthians wrote a letter which talked about how it's normal for us to start our walk in immaturity as a child of God. We have the born again scenario when we accept Christ in our life. No matter how old you're you are only as old as when you accept god into your life. There is an appropriate level of immaturity.
There's two different forms of immaturity. The 6 year old acting like they 26 but there's the 26 year old that acts like a 6 year old.
We are all a work in progress. There will always be something that Jesus needs to work on with us.
Grow up with a sense of grace. Be angry but do not sin. Anger is a high risk emotion. Injustice brings anger but do not let it turn to sin. Less likely to sin in joy. Likely to act out in anger.
Matt S. talks on things that makes him angry but brought it back to do not sin.
Dee discussed Anger:
Old clinical view
20 years ago as long as anger didn't lead to aggression it was classed as okay. Apparent healthy expression of writing letters and tearing it up is no longer healthy. Just feeds into your anger.
"New" clinical view
Now they are saying we need to get to the root of the issue by getting help for our thought life. Venting anger is wrong. It's your expectations you've put on people that could be fuelling your anger because no one is perfect.
James 4:1 "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?"
Our expectations can be the cause of our anger and bitterness. Blaming ourselves or others is not moving toward freedom. When we want something and we're not getting it we can become upset and at that point, maybe we need to talk about our expectations. Discuss what are fair and unfair expectations.
Don't let the sun go down while you're angry. Let go of the pain, suffering and forgive those who have wronged you.
Ps Mat gave an example of a hunter with a monkey trap and the monkey puts his hand in the jar for the banana or whatever and all he needed to do was "let go" to be free.
Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Romans 5:6 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."
Romans 5:8-10 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"
Equipped with pattern, released with purpose!
Verses that Pastor Danny spoke on:
1 chronicles 9
1 chronicles 29
Psalm 78
Danny has had a feeling for the past 12 months that each generation is to help equip and release the next generation.
Repositioning is currently happening at edge church south campus with Pastor Jonathan taking leadership and Pastor Danny stepping into a fathering role, which will free him up to be able to put his many God given talents to work. Danny also has a vision for a training centre through edge which will help equip the next generation of leaders.
The Grown Up Church by Pastor Mat.
Ephesians 4:9-16: "What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
The church is the bride of Christ and our senior pastor is Jesus Christ. All though we hear biblical advice through pastoral care we are to seek out Jesus in all things we do. God's plan for us is that we are fully grown up (Ps. Mat's words). We are to grow into the full stature of Christ by sinking our spiritual teeth into the gospel which is our soul food.
At a certain point in a Christian's walk of faith we need to move beyond the milk or being bottle fed and start eating solids. The milk is all about me, we need to move beyond the "me" factor and put our whole focus on Jesus. When we are broken or hurting it's important that we seek our Jesus and through seeking him we will inevitably grow up through the works he does in us and through us.
Pastor Mat talked about the stretcher and that when we are broken we can sometimes lay down and choose to stay down but the stretcher is not our destination. All though there are times in our lives where there will be moments for the stretcher and that is okay because as it's mentioned in the bible at times we just need to trust in The Lord and be still but only for a season as God doesn't want his children to be stuck there, he wants us to rely on him to bring us through it.
Jesus has given us what we need to get through those tough seasons so that we can then grow up.
If we don't understand who Jesus is, we will never understand who we are so it's important to sink our spiritual teeth into the bible and find out who he is so that we then know who we are. It's important for us to always find our identity in Christ Jesus because through this realisation we will find peace and joy. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, alpha and omega, he is our way when there is no way, he is the one who wears the victor crown, he is the one who bare our sins on the cross, he is everything.
The 7Ts is about maturity and being equipped.
Homework: The grown up church!
Our maturity is not shown through our prayer and praise its shown through our relationships. Whilst reading through Ephesians 4 be sure to invite the Holy Spirit in before reading so that he can help guide you through these scriptures to provide you with a better understanding of what is being said.
Grown up talk
Eph 4:25
Eph 4:29-30
Grown up Grace
Eph 4:26
Eph 4:31-32
Grown up Purpose
Eph 4:28
Eph 5:1-2
Grown up Relationships
Eph 5:3-13
Grown up Marriages
Eph 5:21-33
Grown up Families
Eph 6:1-4
Grown up Workplaces
Eph 6:5-9
I hope you found these notes helpful and that you to can learn something from this very important topic.
God Bless,
My identity is in Christ!
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