We will see Him

Hi Blogger The biggest movement of people in human history has been taking place over the past 50 years. At some stage in the middle of this century more people will live in cities than in the countryside. So who's idea was cities anyway? After God created man he said: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it..." Gen 1:28. Based on this it might be fair to say that this is God giving man the job to build a civilisation. That much is clear. But more focussed I would say that it is also God commanding us to build a perfect city! The reason I can say this is that the Bible starts in a garden but ends in a city! The completion of God's plan is not more trees and plants and animals but actually a city, densely populated with people! Why is that? Because to God, humans are the most beautiful thing he has ever created! After all, he made us in his image (Gen 1:27). Prayer : Lord Jesus Christ, when you were on ear...

Hi Blogger It is not accurate to think 'the gospel' is what saves non-Christians, and then, what matures Christians is trying hard to live according to Biblical principles. It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our mind, heart, and life by believing the gospel more and more deeply as our life goes on. -Tim Keller, Preaching in a post-modern city > Where does the church get the power to live the Christian life? 1. We can beat ourselves up with fear or guilt to do what is right. 2. Or, We can stop trying to do what is right and claim that God doesn't care about how we live. 3. Or, we can believe that Christ has fulfilled all that God requires of us in our place and now call us to believe that it is possible to please God through following him. Prayer : Lord Jesus Christ, please don't stop changing us to be more like you as we try to work out how to live according...

Hi Blogger Where did the church come from? "The gospel word and the gospel community are closely connected. The word creates and nourishes the community, while the community proclaims and embodies the word.” - Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church > The church is just normal people who have been changed and are being changed by God's Word. > According to Chester and Timmis the church is supposed to do two things: 1. Proclaim (teach, preach, sing, write, talk) the Gospel. 2. Embody (be, enjoy, relate, forgive) according to the Gospel. > We can only do and be these things if we have come to be part of Christ's body by the faith He gives. Prayer : Lord Jesus Christ, reading your word is not just an intellectual thing, neither is it an impersonal force. It is your voice and through the word you call us to respond in faith to you. Help me to see how you've called me to yourself - not just through words but by dying for me on...

Hi Blogger Where did the church come from? Jesus said: "...I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18 > Here we see that Jesus promises that he will continue to 'build' the community he called to himself. > The surprising thing is that he builds it not by giving the church more power... but by dying for the church on the cross. > It is because he died for the church that it is eternally protected from the powers that aimed to destroy it. Prayer : Lord Jesus Christ, you built your church by sacrificing yourself. I pray that you will help me to do the same. Protect me from building a religion that wants more power but rather help me to build a community of relationships with more to give. Amen Another Prayer point: Please pray for our outreach event: Carols by Candlelight on 12 December at the Hilton Hotel in Rotherhithe Street. We need help with: - 8 people to give out leafl...

Hi Blogger , Where did the church come from? Jesus said: I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:14-16 > Just as God called Abraham to be his, so Christ called people to be His. Today believers make Jesus' voice heard when they call others to believe in Christ's death in their place. > But here God explains why some hear him calling and respond while others don't. He says: "I know my own and my own know me... they will listen to my voice." > If you are reading this today and you are a follower of Jesus see once again that you heard Jesus and responded to him because before you were born you already belonged to the Shepherd. Prayer : Lord Jesus Christ, you la...

Hi Blogger , Where did the church come from? Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3 > God calls Abram, at that stage most likely a worshipper of the moon, to be the beginning of a new people for God. > Abram has to give up his security and trust God's goodness as he's called to leave his family and his country. > God promises that he will get a new country and a new family - but above all that through his family people from all the nations in the world will be blessed. > Christ was the fulfilment of this promise - through faith in Him we came or can come into God's family and inherit an e...

Hi Blogger , "The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued and that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time.”                                                 - Timothy Keller, The Reason For God Prayer : Lord Jesus Christ, it is hard for me to view myself as someone that is so sinful and corrupted that you had to die for me. Help me to believe this about myself. As I start to be this honest with myself - give me the faith to see that you gave yourself willingly up for me - in spite of who I am. Amen Another Prayer point: Please pray for our outreach event: Carols by Candlelight on 12 December at the Hilton Hotel in Rotherhithe Street. We need help with: - 15 people to give out leaflets and posters around C...

Hi Blogger , "Will you trust the grace of the Gospel and quit frantically seeking what you have already been given in Christ?”                                                 Paul David Tripp, Twitter post Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help me to see what I already have in you. As I continually re-discover that I am a child of God, help me to live like one. Amen Another Prayer point: Please pray for our outreach event: Carols by Candlelight on 12 December at the Hilton Hotel in Rotherhithe Street. We need help with: - 15 people to give out leaflets and posters around Canada Water - 6 people to welcome people on the evening and give out Orders of Service - 8 people to serve mulled wine and mince pies after the service - at least 10 people to sing in the music group - 4 people to decorate the hall with Christmas d...

Hi Blogger , "The gospel brings me explosive news: my search for approval is over. In Christ I already have all the approval I need.”                                                         Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I feel good about myself when someone important affirms me. Help me to see that your death on the cross in my place affirms your love for me more than anyone or anything else . As I trust in your love, transform me to be more sure of who I am in you. Amen Warm regards Kruger de Kock Prayer point: Please pray for our outreach event: Carols by Candlelight on 12 December at the Hilton Hotel in Rotherhithe Street. We need help with: - 15 people to give out leaflets and posters around Canada Water - 6 people to welcome people on the eve...

Hi Blogger , In the next week I am going to use quotes from different Christian authors to show you the simplicity and power of the central message of Christianity - the Gospel. "The message of the gospel is this: God can forgive you, and He is willing to do so.”                                                                                Sinclair B. Ferguson, By Grace Alone Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I must admit that it sounds to good to be true: someone that is able and willing to forgive me completely... Please help me to see that you are not like me. You don't hide things for yourself, instead you've dealt with sin on the cross and I can have that forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. Amen Rev. Kruger de Kock London You a...

Hi Blogger , Very few of us will ever have the opportunity to spend a year traveling across Italy, India and Indonesia. For us eating, praying and loving will have to happen in the chaos of everyday life, wherever we are. Perhaps the challenge lies in making the most of the meals, of God and the relationships we have rather than craving for what we don't have. In Jesus' life on earth He made the most of all three. The meals he had were simple but fun - he was even branded as "glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and 'sinners.'" His prayers were often and intimate (Luke 5:16) and his love was real - not directed on self-fulfilment but on the salvation of others. Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Prayer: Almighty God and Father, everything I eat is a gift from you - help me to enjoy the simplest of meals. Everyone I lo...

Hi Blogger , What is the first image that comes to mind as you hear the word 'meditation'? Most of us will invariably think of someone sitting in the lotus position, legs folded, hands relaxed by their sides and eyes closed. Christianity has a different idea of it altogether. As part of a Christians' spiritual life we mostly do two things: read the Bible and pray. Meditation is a combination of both. It is taking truth from the Bible and instead of praying it to God, we take it and tell ourselves this truth about God. In Psalm 1 we hear that David 'meditates' on God's law day and night. In Psalm 103 we get a glimpse of what he does: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." He is talking to himself - telling himself to remember everything He knows of God through the pages of Scripture. Prayer: Almighty God, to know you completely is impossible. Help us to take what we know of you and meditate on it moment by ...

Hi Blogger , Most Christians end their prayers with the words: "In Jesus' Name, Amen". For some of us this has become such a habit that we do not even hear what we are saying. For others is almost like name dropping, something you do at the end of a business lunch or a job interview. But this is not what it should be. Praying in the name of Jesus means that you meet God, not as an enemy but as one of his own. Even more - you are not viewed by God with your record of sin and wrongdoing but with His Sons record of mercy and righteousness. You see - it is praying in the Name of Jesus that gives you the right to boldly speak to God, not as an angry judge but as your loving Father. Perhaps its time to start our prayers with these words rather than just ending them with it! Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Prayer: Heavenly Father - thank yo...

Hi Blogger , This phrase, 'On a wing and a prayer' originated from a world war II song by Harold Adamson and Jimmie McHugh, which tells of a damaged warplane, barely able to limp back to base with only one engine and a damaged wing. I'm sure you've experienced something similar - hopefully not on a warplane but perhaps at work or while studying for exams. You're stressed, there is more to be done than you can actually manage, perhaps your computer is giving you trouble (especially when a Epson Printer in involved!). As you struggle to get the job done you shoot a prayer up to ask God to help you. It seems that even people that doesn't believe in God sometimes do this... The truth is we live most of our lives like this - on a wing and a prayer. Have you ever spent time, perhaps just a moment in the midst of your stress and worry to think who this God is that you are praying to? The Christian faith has always held that he is a gracious, genero...