At our church service we looked at the real meaning of Christmas, including looking at six different short videos (part of our move to instilling more worship-full, multimedia-orientated church gatherings). Clearly the real meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus and his impact and power upon our lives. Probably the most impacting video was the one below, Breath of Heaven. To view in full and purchase in high quality please visit the film's producers website here.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Features of a Strong Church
As part of the process of reaching a mission statement we looked at the features of a strong church we admired or had previously encountered.
This is the list we came up with:-
As it states in 1 Cor 12, 18, "God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
WE ARE THAT BODY!
This is the list we came up with:-
- Baptisms.
- Unity. Seeing love between enemies united in Christ.
- Powerful church vision / plan / goals.
- Maturity, counselling, mentoring, teaching.
- Raising up leaders.
- Church plantings.
- Powerful preaching.
- Powerful singing / worship / spirit-filled.
- Assisting poor.
- Youth ministry.
- Sharp, biblical standards, which are imposed.
- Powerful friendships.
- Persecution (?)
- Fun. Radical fun. The happening place in the city.
- Much praying. Spirit-filled.
- Conversion of locals.
As it states in 1 Cor 12, 18, "God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
WE ARE THAT BODY!
Monday, 15 December 2008
Renewed Mission
We are a church with a renewed sense of mission. Last week the men met and finalised the mission statement of the church, constructed from the thoughts, inputs and brainstorming of all the members gathered the week before (and prayers!)
In current form it now states
"To wholeheartedly seek God, proclaim Christ, and empower to spiritual maturity."
We believe this encompasses all the important properties we discussed the week before, namely to seek and be led by the Spirit of God (ie. to be spiritual, and not of men!), to actively proclaim the gospel to all people, and to ensure we mature all people, through exciting, meaningful, inspirational and educational teaching and counselling. Salvation is an ongoing process!
This revival is separate from the members, and why this mission must belong to the church and not to the individuals, for if one individual falls, another must pick him up. We can not rely on one man or one vision, for as men we are weak, but in Christ we are strong!
Let us therefore build our foundation on Christ, as it states in Ephesians 2:20, "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord."
WE ARE THAT HOLY TEMPLE!
In current form it now states
"To wholeheartedly seek God, proclaim Christ, and empower to spiritual maturity."
We believe this encompasses all the important properties we discussed the week before, namely to seek and be led by the Spirit of God (ie. to be spiritual, and not of men!), to actively proclaim the gospel to all people, and to ensure we mature all people, through exciting, meaningful, inspirational and educational teaching and counselling. Salvation is an ongoing process!
This revival is separate from the members, and why this mission must belong to the church and not to the individuals, for if one individual falls, another must pick him up. We can not rely on one man or one vision, for as men we are weak, but in Christ we are strong!
Let us therefore build our foundation on Christ, as it states in Ephesians 2:20, "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord."
WE ARE THAT HOLY TEMPLE!
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
