Who is the Holy Spirit?

I am currently reading a book called "Forgotten God" which looks at the evengelical church's neglect of the Holy Spirit. The other side of the coin is that there has been elements of thechurch which have over emphasised the Holy Spirit, where He is almost treated as a seperate force from the trinity.

As we begin our sub theme of  "The Holy Spirit in and out of us" first we will begin with some of the basics:

The Hieldeberg Chatechism has this Q&A:
What do you believe concerning the holy spirit?
First that He as well as the Father and the Son is eternal God.
Second He has been given to me personally so that, by true faith, He makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me and remains with me forever.

From sunday we remember that The Holy spirit is God, He is a person (not an impersonal force) and is our counselor (the voice beside).

As we coinsider the Holy Spirit in light of the Trinity we understand that The creator of the Universe, the Almighty God - loves us enought to live within us - and allow us to have a personal relationship with him. That through Jesus we now become the dwelling place of God. So we may know him better

Will you speak & listen with the Spirit this week?
Will you worship God as trinity this week?
Do you have confidence?

Have a read tof Romans 8:1-17 for a glimps of what life with throughthe Spirit should look like.

What Should Church Look Like

As we read through the book of Acts can we look through these 3 glasses to see what the church should look like:    The Bible, History & Culture

As we use these three lenses it will help us keep a balanced view of the church.

What are some of the Major things that the early church focused on:

Community / care

Leadership / giftedness

Witnessing / preaching/ missions

Discipling / Nurture

Worship

How are you keeping these things central in your life?

Are there any minors that are getting in the way of the majors?

The Church is Alive

In the first 300 years the early church spread across the known world in an amazing way. The Holy Spirit fills the lives of people and as they start meet together in little communities around the world and live lives like Jesus and tell out his story

Christianity did not grow because of miracle working in the market place(although there may have been much of that going on), or because Consantine said it should, or even because martyrs gave it such credibility. It grew because Christians constituted an intense community....and the primary means of its growth was through the united and motivate efforts of the growing number of Christian believers, who invited their friends, relatives and neighbours to share the “good news”  (Rise of Christianity, Stark.)

On Sunday we will look at what this means for us today.

Church Alive Live Church

We are back on line. Our live the word Blog is up and running again.
Last week we launched our new church theme  CHURCH ALIVE  - LIVE CHURCH

We saw that as Jesus ascended to heaven and left his disciples, He was very much still alive in the life of His church as the Holy Spirit came to dwell in His followers.
The Church through the book of Acts is seen as an almost unstoppable force, infiltrating all areas of the known world. Its a bit like a humungus fungus. The biggest living thing in the world!! (you had to be there)
Jesus - his life, death, ressurection and ascenssion, remain the central focus of the church community as it begins to expand out into the world. The church has expanded in to all areas of the known world within the next 300 years.
How does this happen?   It happens as the individual parts of the body Live out their Church lives. Living the 'Jesus life' his people spread through out the world bringing good news and forming transformational communities.

How are each of us keeping Jesus at the centre of our lives?  Are we speaking about him, living like him and continuing the growth of his body?

"for a period of 40 days he gave many convincing proofs that he was Alive"  Not long into the book of Acts we hear people gathering to hear Jesus words, people are being healed, miracles are happening, people are gathering together, the disciples are having conflict withthe Pharisees -  IT'S LIKE JESUS IS STILL ALIVE.  And as Acts unfolds - Jesus is Alive - through his holy spirit - in the life of His church.

Is the chuch alive in you?  Are you living out church?

Easter is here

Easter is on our door steps again for another year. Have you been thinking about it. We are in the time of Lent - which is a 40 day period that remembers the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert.  People have traditionally fasted during this time in preperation for Easter - the crucial point in the christina calendar.

How are you preparing for easter this year? Are you going to go without something to help you focus on Jesus and his death and ressurection.

In the hustle and bust of the begining of the year - let us now plan to take some time out to focus on Easter.
Why not set a target to read through the different gospel accounts of the easter story. Take some time out to reflect and meditate on these truths.

"finally the disciple who reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed"  John 20:8

Family Fun

The Wesminster Shorter Chatechisim asks the question "what is the chief end of man?"  and answers, "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever"  


So I have been thinking about that lately - How do I enjoy God in my family? When families work well - they are so enjoyable to be part of.  As a father I continue to ask myself the question of what am I doing to make my family an enjoyable place to be? Is our home characterised by joy, fun and laughter? Is it a place where my children and wife want to be?


What activities or spaces are we creating to have us enjoy eachother and enjoy God together?  For us getting out into nature is one of those places - familiy holidays, where we get away from the routine and enjoy the wonder of creation together.  Playing sport has been another of those - backyard cricket, basketball, tennis are all places where we can enjoy life - recognising who has made it all possible.


Sometimes I think as christian families we can be all a bit serious. Glorifying God in our enjoyment of life as families is an interesting concept to graple with?   How is your family doing this?


Do you enjoy reading and praying together - or is it seen as a drag??   
Do you enjoy church togehter?    Do you talk about it discuss it before, after, during?
Do you enjoy family time together?     Do you invite others in to be part of it?


Remember - "Your family displays God to the world" - how is it Glorifying God??

Life In the family

I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.      1 Tim 3:14-14

As Paul writes his two letters to Timothy he spells out how people should live in the household of God.
As you read through these two letters I think 3 things become evident:

     1.   Living in the church means protecting the truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus
     2.   Living in the church means that family units are vitally important
     3.   Living in the church means living a holy and godly life.

Why not have a read through these letters to Timothy and reflect on how you have been living in the Family of Families compared to what Paul instructs Timothy.