Almost a month since I last wrote anything so about time I put fingers to keyboard. Our morning series looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) has continued with sessions looking at prayer, worry, money, judgement and hypocrisy since my last blog. Yesterday we finished the series looking at Jesus' challenge that it is not simply enough to listen to his teaching, or to read it. What matters is that it is put into practice.
Jesus warns about those who look the part (wolves in sheep's clothing, 7:15-20), about those who speak the part (Lord, lord, 7:21) and about those who act the part (prophesy, casting out demons, performing miracles, 7:22-23). He warns us about the dangers of being led astray by those who are not the genuine article. He also issues us with a challenge - do I simply look the part, speak the part, act the part - what's actually going on inside? What's going on with my motives and my attitudes? Why do I do the things I do?
The Sermon on the Mount contains some really challenging teaching because much of it deals with our attitudes and motives as well as our actions (see for example 5:21-32). There is the command to love our enemies. There is the truth that you can only serve God or money - you can't serve both. There is the challenge about who we trust in - and if I trust in God why do I worry so much?
And Jesus concludes with the parable (a story with a point) of the two builders (7:24-27). One builds on rock and his house survives the storm. The other builds on sand and his house falls down. We all know that building a house on sand is not a sensible idea if we want the house to last any time at all. Jesus compares this second (foolish) builder with the person who hears Jesus' teaching and doesn't put it into practice.
Monday 29 March 2010
Friday 5 March 2010
Church Anniversary
Over two weeks since my last post! What's been going on? The answer is our church has been celebrating 75 years in existence - and I have had a fascinating time reading 75 years worth of minutes, booklets and a folder of receipts from 1935-1938 as well as some other things and lots of photos. It has been really interesting, and I think we miss out if we don't know our history.
I have only been at the church since 2003 but am now much more aware of the heritage I have stepped in to, and believe that our past encourages us and inspires us for the future.
The God who encouraged those founder members is the same faithful God who empowers us today. More of the story next week, but it all began when thousands of new homes started springing up across this part of what is now NW London in the early 1930s and yet no provision had been made for a non-conformist place of worship. A small band of faithful Christians met together for prayer and their prayers inspired them to action. What followed from August 1934 to February 1936 was a month long tent mission, then the purchase of land, the erection of a wooden hut and finally the building of the church building. They met for prayer in April 1934, and the church building which we still use today was opened in February 1936.
We had a great weekend of celebrations with about 70-80 people from the past coming back to join with us. These guests included a lady who was there right at the being - although only one at the time. Also the children and grandchildren of those founding members. It was also good to pay tribute to our longest serving current member who first came to the church as a boy with his parents in 1939.
Next week I hope to give you some more detail and some pictures.
I have only been at the church since 2003 but am now much more aware of the heritage I have stepped in to, and believe that our past encourages us and inspires us for the future.
The God who encouraged those founder members is the same faithful God who empowers us today. More of the story next week, but it all began when thousands of new homes started springing up across this part of what is now NW London in the early 1930s and yet no provision had been made for a non-conformist place of worship. A small band of faithful Christians met together for prayer and their prayers inspired them to action. What followed from August 1934 to February 1936 was a month long tent mission, then the purchase of land, the erection of a wooden hut and finally the building of the church building. They met for prayer in April 1934, and the church building which we still use today was opened in February 1936.
We had a great weekend of celebrations with about 70-80 people from the past coming back to join with us. These guests included a lady who was there right at the being - although only one at the time. Also the children and grandchildren of those founding members. It was also good to pay tribute to our longest serving current member who first came to the church as a boy with his parents in 1939.
Next week I hope to give you some more detail and some pictures.
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