Front Page 30th April 2006

Why do you go to church? That’s probably a question most of us have been asked when someone knows you are a Christian. How do you answer? A recent survey had some interesting results to that very question. Some went because they found fellowship and acceptance, others because they believed the church to be perfect in relation to the outside world. Others because of the worship style, others for the preaching. The biggest flaw with all those answers is that the church is made up of imperfect people, and as Paul says in 1 Cor. 13:10 “when the perfect comes, the imperfect disappears” so if your looking for perfection, remember the church is full of sinners, imperfect people, the leaders are sinners, the pastors are sinners. The good thing is that while we were all sinners, Christ came to redeem and die for us, that’s the good news of the Gospel.
So why do you come to church? If we are to take any notice of the very first church as recorded in Acts, it is to encounter the living God. Do we experience God’s presence in our church? If not why not? There can be no other reason than to encounter God that would motivate any of us to continually, week after week, to come to church of a Sunday morning. Sure all those other things have value and some attraction, but all pale into insignificance when compared to an intimate encounter with the living God.
If I was to go to church to find the perfect fellowship, the perfect pastor, the perfect sermon, the worship I liked every week, then I know without doubt that I would be disappointed, no such institution exists that can fulfil all those need. But if I come with the desire to encounter God, I will be satisfied every time, God inhabits the praise of His people the Bible teaches us.
May you be blessed this morning as you encounter the perfect amongst the imperfect; and may you experience an encounter with God today that will reveal to you the real reason you come to church.
God Bless
Blair

Front Page Sunday 23rd April 2006

From the books I have been reading lately, the newspaper articles and the Christian services I have seen on the internet, I have been amazed at how each one claims to know something someone else misses out on. I have read a number of articles in newspapers reporting on the various doctrines that some churches teach and on some of the false truths that seem to be becoming part of mainstream Christian thinking, particularly in the United States. The problem is most of the Christian material we see and read comes from that source, so we are exposed to so much of this ‘questionable’ material. In addition to that we are exposed to so much “New Age” thinking in this region, ideas that appear good and pure, yet draw us away from the truth.
How do we discern just what to believe, and what to reject? A good first step is to check everything against God’s Word, don’t just take something as being correct just because you bought the book from Word or Koorong, both reputable book sellers. Check it out and make sure it’s correct, ask others, discuss it at your Home Group or wherever.
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth and Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life”. There is a simple formula for discernment, be filled with the Spirit, ask God’s Holy Spirit to give you the spiritual gift of discernment and always develop and nurture your relationship with Jesus as He leads you to what is right. Jesus said “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
There are “sheep in wolves clothing” out there, be wary, be diligent and be discerning.
God Bless
Blair

Front Page Easter Sunday 2006

I was reminded a couple of weeks ago in a newsletter from Conference about the ministry of forgiveness. It was from a reflection by John Gilmore on John 20:23 "If you forgive anyone his sin, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" This verse highlights two situations that we can find ourselves in; firstly the ministry of giving forgiveness or secondly in the ministry of retaining forgiveness. When we forgive we set people free to expereince grace and release, when we do not forgive we withold that grace. Retaining sin or not forgiving can be expresessed in many ways such as gossip, by being closed in attitude and spirit, harbouring feelings of anger and resentment, refusing reconcilliation and relationship with another etc. Which ever way unforgiveness is manifested, someone suffers; and usually it is the one who does not forgive who is often in bondage to bitterness and to a spirit other than God's Spirit.
As the preceeding verse in John Chapter 20 indicates, it is when we are filled with the Holy Spirit that we can exercise the ministry of forgiveness, conversly it is reasonable to assume that ministry of retention is without God's Spirit.
As we celebrate this Easter time, particularly this Resurrection Sunday, we can all give thanks and praise to God the Jesus Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, exercised the ministry of forgiveness of sin. It was not just a once off forgiveness, but a once for all time single act of sacrifice when He suffered and died on a cruel cross for our sin, past present and future. Because of that one single selfless act, we are redeemed and forgiven people. Praise God!
In light of that, which of these two ministries described in John 20:23 best describes your life?
Easter can be seen as a time of celebration (quite rightly) but unless we are challenged by what Jesus did for us and apply that to our own life, we can sometimes miss the point of what we are celebrating.
Have a happy Easter and may God continue to bless each of you as you follow His exampe in forgiveness.
Blair