No.18 - He will not lose us

What a privilege to gather as God's people around God's word.

Verse of the Week

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

John 18:9

A large group of armed men come to arrest Jesus and instead of overpowering them or running away Jesus goes up to them and lets them know that he is the one they are looking for. He then offers himself up to save his disciples and all of God's people.

How incredible, Jesus willingly chose to fulfil his father's plan to die for our sins. We can trust that he will keep us safe. We may face all kinds of trials and struggles but we can be confident that Christ will never lose us. We will make it to the perfect new creation to come. We don't need to fear tomorrow because Christ will keep us safe for salvation.

Encouragements

In our life group this week we reflected on how, with the perspective of the new creation, most of the things we worry about won't matter. I found this such a freeing perspective. I think this will help me be less frustrated, worried, sad etc and so be more peaceful and joyful.

We had the privilege of meeting up with the members of our church, and I was particularly encouraged by how they have been working to share the gospel with the very littlest ones in our church family during the creche. What a joy to know that they will grow up hearing about the glory of Christ.

Over the weekend we had the real joy of joining in with the St Helen's 10am weekend at home. It is always a massive blessing to catch up with brothers and sisters in the faith who we haven't seen in a while. And we were blown away as we so often are by the greatness of God's word this time shared from John's gospel. It was also incredible to hear how the speaker and his wife had continued to trust and rely on God even through the most difficult of struggles.

Our God really is good even when we may feel like everything is falling apart.

A Little Update

Here are a few of the things we've been up to and some of what we've got coming up.

The Past Week

The Next Few Weeks

Prayer Requests

We would love prayer that:

• God would help us to be grateful for the blessing of the cross and so be filled with Joy.

• God would help us not to base our worth off of what we achieve but to rejoice in whatever God gives us the energy and ability to do.

• God would help me to understand and apply deeply to myself what Psalm 2 is about so that I can passionately preach it.

  
  

We have a glorious and gracious God who sustains and blesses us with his word. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

We regularly thank God for your prayers and support. It is a privilege to partner together to help with God's plan to bring his people from death to life.

Love and prayers to you all,

Joshua & Luci :)

P.S. - Here's another video where I share some of the ways I have been delighted by Christ over the last week or two. I find it really encouraging to think back over the week and delight in all the different things I've learned about God. So I thought I'd share my reflections here with you :)

P.P.S - If you would like to view some of the notes I've taken from my TEAM bible training course click the arrow below.

TEAM Notes

Bible Overview

Session 13 - The Northern Kingdom

God’s people Isreal split in two

• The northern Kingdom - Isreal

• The southern Kingdom - Judah

The Northern Kingdom were evil

• Worshiping golden calfs

• Worshipping foreign God’s

• Child sacrifice

God warns them to repent by

• Sending prophets - Elisha and Elijah

• They do mights signs

• Which show God is the one true God

But the people keep getting more evil

God uses Assyria to judge them

The Northern Kingdom is Exiled

How to lead a bible Study

One great way of leading a bible study

• Aim for a group discussion rather than a quiz or lecture

Benefits

• Trains people to read the bible

• Allows them to help each other

Two parts

• Knowing the passage

  • Big idea

  • Purpose then

  • Call now

• Knowing the people

  • How they learn

  • Their current understanding

  • Their current context

Helpful ways to engage people with the text

• Role Play characters

• Surprises/ Questions/ Challenges

• Summarise / Paraphrase

• Modernise

• Highlighting/ Underlining/ Noting

• Compare/ Contrast

• Character Study

• Drawing

• List / Table

• Logic, Flow, Cause and Effect Diagrams

• Discussion questions - maybe 2-3s

A very simple study

• What does this tell us about God?

• What does this tell us about us?

• What does it call us to do?

Evangelism

Christ both challenges and fulfils the worlds desires

• The gospel offers what we are made for

• It requires giving up what we’re replaced God with

How to Listen well

Spend time with non-christians

Work to create ideal contexts

• Gradually invite people – less people, more private, longer time

• Engaging with stories – they’ll raise interesting questions about society

• Ask good questions

How to engage well

• Yes – what can we affirm about their desire/value

• But not – how are they looking for this in the wrong place – how would Christ confront and challenge their desire/value

• But yes – How does Christ offer to fulfil this desire/value

We want to - reflect something of what God is like in our response

• God doesn’t just say you’re stupid or you don’t need to change

• He loves and cares for them and has given them good desires, but he doesn’t want them to be led astray, and wants them to enjoy life in him

Helpful framework

1. What is the Value/desire/goal/obstacle?

2. What is right about the thing/have they Got right about God?

3. Where is the suppression/substitution/twisting?

4. What do they need to see about themselves/humanity?

5. What do they need to see about God?

6. How is Jesus a better and truer fulfilment of this value/desire?

Love and prayers,

Joshua