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The run up to Christmas!!

Pete — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:20:42 +0000

What do you know about the genealogy in Matthew? Get you going? Or do you tend to skip it? Well, as we see people who are waiting for a saviour to come, it ought to do the same for us. If you missed the talk on Sunday, why not click on the image below to find the talk and a link to the audio!

Justice Done - not forgotten

Pete — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:06:26 +0000

So, we have made it to the end of Jeremiah! It has been a real Roller Coaster ride from the valleys of sin and judgement to the mountain tops of grace and mercy. but God's justice and mercy and not somehow biased, as Babylon are about to find out.

With the blessings of hindshight as New testament Christians, we see the foreshadowing of final justice and mercy as the great babylon is defeated but those who trust his mercy will reign with him!

So, what are you going to do about it?

David's greater Son

Pete — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:58:47 +0000

On Sunday we were looking at Jeremiah 33. God's rescue plan for salvation is like a might river running through the whole of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and through the whole of history. Sometimes in scripture it is hard to see, like a river that continues under ground, but other times it is clearly evident where it breaks through the surface. In Jeremiah 33 it is plain to see. God will send a King and a priesthood that will last forever!! Did Jeremiah know they would end up being the same person?

For the talk click on the image of David's greater Son.

Next week we have a guest speaker so we have added an extra Jeremiah Session into the programme Jeremiah 37-38 titles 'When the going get's tough!' I can't wait!

Baptisms and God's Real Estate

Pete — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:49:07 +0000

It was great on Sunday to baptise seven individuals - five young people and a couple who know the transforming grace of God in their lives. The church was packed as they told of how God had led them through illness, sickness, broken marriages, serious mistakes and failure, grief and opposition to find him to be there ultimate saviour and satisfaction. It was a privilege to be there and to be involved. But to the world around, or to many of them at least it just looks like madness. Who really dedicates their live to live for a man who lived and died 2000years ago, especially in the enlightened and 'modern' 21st Century?

but that challenge is not new. Consider Jeremiah told to do something that looked like utter insanity, but held clues and pointed too the ultimate reality that will last forever. For him it was a challenging and exciting journey. For us it is still far more exciting than we realise! Read on by clicking the image of the desk top.

New Promises

Pete — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:51:15 +0000

New is not always good. New is often a struggle, it can mean we lose things we have grown to love and struggle to keep up. But when we are promises something that is new and far supercededs anything that has gone before, surely we will want to find out! Look no further. Click the image for more details!

An Outcast restored

Pete — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:04:53 +0000

Ever been overwhelmed by undeserved favour, attention, love or affection? Ever been so stunned by someone's mercy that you don't know where to turn or how to respond? Grace in the face of sin and judgement is hard to capture in words, but God's revelation of his restoring work amongst his people Judah is stunning. And it still is today. Click the image to see the latest talk in the Jeremiah series. It's 'the gospel according to Jeremiah', if you like!

11th September - Jeremiah 1v1-19 - 'Stand up and speak'
2nd October - Jeremiah 2v1-3v5 - 'God's adulterous wife'
9th October - Jeremiah 5v1-6v30 - 'Rejected by God'
16th October - Jeremiah 30 - 'Outcast restored'
23rd October - Jeremiah 31 - 'New promises'
6th November - Jeremiah 32 - 'God's real Estate'
13th November - Jeremiah 33 - 'David's greater Son'
20th November - Jeremiah 50 - 'Justice done, not forgotten'

Challenging and Challenging - Rejected by God!

Pete — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:25:11 +0000

On Sunday morning, someone came up to me after the sermon and said 'I'm not sure how much more I can take of this. I can't cope'. I know the feeling. I found the subject of Judgement in Jeremiah 5 & 6 the most challenging talk to prepare and the most challenging talk to preach. but we need to hear it so preach it we must.

Next week we are back in more familiar territory - Jeremiah 30, but it is so important to see the depths of our sin and God's holiness in order to grasp and understand the awesome magnitude of God's grace and salvation in Jesus Christ. So don't look away as you eyeball judgement in Jeremiah 5 & 6, but make sure you follow it through to the end!

11th September - Jeremiah 1v1-19 - 'Stand up and speak'
2nd October - Jeremiah 2v1-3v5 - 'God's adulterous wife'
9th October - Jeremiah 5v1-6v30 - 'Rejected by God'
16th October - Jeremiah 30 - 'Outcast restored'
23rd October - Jeremiah 31 - 'New promises'
6th November - Jeremiah 32 - 'God's real Estate'
13th November - Jeremiah 33 - 'David's greater Son'
20th November - Jeremiah 50 - 'Justice done, not forgotten'

God's Adulterous Wife!

Pete — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:43:34 +0000

I recently heard of a young minister who left his church, his wife and his family because he had been involved in an affair. It started online and let to lies, betrayal and damage to so many people. Like everyone I tutted, sighed and put my head in my hands in despair. 'How could this happen?'

But I know how this could happen and really deep down we all do. Jeremiah 2v1-3v5 exposes the depths of our sin and just how manipulative we are willing to be to pursue our idols. it is easy to look away but please don't. As our hearts are exposed, so the glory and majesty of God and of his rescuer King Jesus shine more clearly. So, please tread carefully as you read these verses, but don't run away from it. We need to hear it. Just click the image to go to the talk

11th September - Jeremiah 1v1-19 - 'Stand up and speak'
2nd October - Jeremiah 2v1-3v5 - 'God's adulterous wife'
9th October - Jeremiah 5v1-6v30 - 'Rejected by God'
16th October - Jeremiah 30 - 'Outcast restored'
23rd October - Jeremiah 31 - 'New promises'
6th November - Jeremiah 32 - 'God's real Estate'
13th November - Jeremiah 33 - 'David's greater Son'
20th November - Jeremiah 50 - 'Justice done, not forgotten'

Jeremiah - a reluctant prophet

Pete — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:45:06 +0000

We have recently started a series in the book of Jeremiah. Though I would love to work through the whole book systematically, they may be too much for our Sunday mornings so we are going to looking at important sections in the book which will give us a grasp of the whole. Regardless, may i suggest you read the book from start to finish over a couple of weeks?

It is gripping; at times terrifying and at times inspiring and heart warming. But not because of the storyline. God makes plain his hatred of and response to sin, especially the duplicity, antipathy and spiritual adultery of Judah. Yet they fail to listen to Jeremiah's words. What about me?

And then we read the mountain top passages, especially the 'book of consolation' - chapters 30-33 and we are left breathless by God's vision of a redeemed, changed people who are filled with his Spirit and devoted to him and his Son.

Please, give Jeremiah your attention and allow God to attend to your heart as we walk through it together. As a forewarning, here is where we are going -

11th September - Jeremiah 1v1-19 - 'Stand up and speak'
2nd October - Jeremiah 2v1-3v5 - 'God's adulterous wife'
9th October - Jeremiah 5v1-6v30 - 'Rejected by God'
16th October - Jeremiah 30 - 'Outcast restored'
23rd October - Jeremiah 31 - 'New promises'
6th November - Jeremiah 32 - 'God's real Estate'
13th November - Jeremiah 33 - 'David's greater Son'
20th November - Jeremiah 50 - 'Justice done, not forgotten'

The first talk (click on the image) includes an explanation of the historical context - so important in getting to grips with the book so if you don't know it, have a look there first!!

Disciples making disciples - Missional Church!

Pete — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:17:24 +0000

After the Summer break it is good to reconsider what it means for us to be disciples making disciples both in our town and in our church. With a challenge to engage in small groups in the church, and in with those who don't know Jesus in the town, 'Missional' - the church with its skates on looks at what it means for us to be ambassadors of Christ. We need to be reminded of this time and time again!!