No.6 - An ever-present hope

Celebrations, ministry chats, bible study and prayer.

Verse of the Week

'There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.'

Proverbs 23:18

We can have peace as we have an ever-present hope. When we feel hopeless, it is not because we are without hope, but rather that we have lost sight of the very present hope that we have in Christ.

Encouragements

I have had the joy of preparing a presentation on 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5. Often, though I love God's Word, I have found spending a few hours trying to figure out the purpose of a passage very tiring and sometimes frustrating. However, this week, praise the Lord, it has been a much more joyful experience. (I think breaking the process down into more manageable tasks, like highlighting repeated or connecting words, helped).

We also had a great time giving thanks to God for the last 25 years God has given me :)

One more thing, I have been so encouraged this week by the desire of people in our church to help others cling onto and rejoice in God's Word.

A Little Update

It has been a great week full of celebrations, ministry chats, Bible study, and prayer. God has also been good in not letting poor health take our eyes off his goodness.

Looking forward, we are extremely excited and slightly nervous about next week. Praise God he has blessed us with so many wonderful things coming up. We think they will be such a blessing. However, we would love your prayers as it's going to be quite a full next two weeks. (Click the arrows below to learn more)

The Past Week

• Celebrated my 25th birthday.

• Prepared music for an upcoming Men's Conference.

• Preparing for 'TEAM' talk on 1 Thessalonians.

• Helped with preparing a GCU report document

• Men's prayer breakfast

• Helped with Sunday kids work.

• Helped lead the music in church

The Next Few Weeks

• Sunday mornings - Helping with JTD Kids

• Wednesday mornings - Luci is helping with an evangelistic Tots Group

• 4th Nov - Both visiting Cornhill, a bible college in London, to study the book of Judges for a day.

• 6th Nov - Leading a TEAM small group study (On 1 Thessalonians)

• 6th Nov - GCU Members meal

• 7th Nov - Starting to help host a Christianity explored course with our life group

• 8th-9th Nov - Joining the St Helen's 10am weekend at home

• 11th Nov - Starting a Men's Christian book group

• 14th Nov - Zoom ReNew Meeting (Local Church partnership)

• 14th Nov - 2nd Christianity Explored Evening

• 16th Nov - Leading the music at a Mens Conference

• 20th Nov - Leading a TEAM small group study (On Ruth)

• 21st Nov - Helping with my first primary school RE lesson

• 21st Nov - 3rd Christianity Explored Evening

• 27th Nov - TEAM Teaching Day on Mission

Prayer Requests

We would really love prayer that

• God would keep the hope we have in Him at the front of our minds, especially as we have a busy week coming up.

• God would strengthen us to be patient with each other, not losing perspective of God's promises.

• God would help us to clearly and lovingly share the gospel at our first Christianity explored evening.

A Final Word

It is always such a joy to think of the love you hold for Christ Jesus, and the desire you have to make Him known. We give thanks for your amazing faith, gifted by God, and we rejoice knowing you are keeping us in your prayers.

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. - 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

We love you all immensely.

God bless,

Joshua & Luci :)

P.S - Bonus present - 'It's in you, we find our whole purpose to know you and make you known' - We hope this song helps point you to Christ <3.

P.P.S - For those who are interested here are some interesting points from my TEAM bible training course

TEAM Notes - Click arrow to view

Bible overview

Session 4 - The new beginning with Abram

• Story of the Bible = Story of the promises to Abram being fulfilled

• God makes a covenant with Abram

• The people in the Old Testament were made right with God through faith in His promises as a gift

Doctrine of the Creation and Fall

Original sin - Everyone is born a sinner

• We inherit a status, pattern of life and destiny from one man’s act

• It is all Adam’s fault but we are just like Adam

• We all, children included, need discipline and the gospel

Total depravity - every part of us is effected by sin

• Our mind, body, desires, emotions and will are all effected by sin

• Don’t trust you heart, instincts, feelings, reason or will power

• Salvation and sanctification is only by the Word and Spirit of God

Evangelism 1 - What is the gospel (Andy Atkins)

The Gospel is

• A declaration of good news

• Not vague – focused on Jesus’ purpose and identity

• Objective historical events

• Life giving and changing

• The greatest message and greatest power the world has ever seen

Amazing points

• Shortest gospel summary - Jesus is Lord

• We are announcers of what God has done in the world

• There is an unchanging gospel - but we can package it in different ways for different contexts

• Acts contains some of the first gospel talks

• The gospel has effects personally, corporately and cosmically

• Gospel outlines are good by any summary will miss parts

One helpful Gospel outline

• Creation

• Rebellion

• Old Testament Promise

• Christ’s Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension

• New Testament Mission

• Judgement

• New Creation

Workshops

Helpful ways to understand a passage

• Identifying the structure of the whole book

• Identify the key emotions conveyed in a passage

• Identifying the key idea that unites the different sections of a passage

Thanks so much for reading,

I hope it has helped point you to Christ.

God Bless xx