No.8 - Glory in weakness

Singing with sixteen churches and the power of Christ.

Verse of the Week

'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.' - 2 Corinthians 12:9

I was very grateful for the reminder this week that God uses our weakness to display his glory. We don't need to let our weakness hinder the peace we have from God. I pray that as God makes us aware of our weakness, he would create in us a deeper peace, knowing our weakness helps display his glory.

Encouragements

What an encouraging weekend. We had over 70 Men attend the Men's conference from over 16 Churches! God was very good in allowing all the music to run smoothly, and I was greatly encouraged by the passion of the singing. Matt Lillicrap, the new CEO of UCCF, did an great job with the talks. It was wonderful to learn more about how God has made us trophies of His glory and how even the worst things we experience can grow our faith in Christ.

I was specifically inspired this week at TEAM as we looked at the need for good quality youth ministry teaching.

It was a real privilege to see more of Jesus at our 2nd Christianity explored evening.

Luci and I are also very grateful that is seems like there is an opportunity for us to start to do a bit more ministry work and study together :)

A Little Update

From Men's conferences to Bible talks to RE lessons, here's a few things we've been up to and some of what we've got coming up.

The Past Week

• Enjoyed meeting up to encourage members of our church family

• Helped out with JTD kids work

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

• 13th Nov - Studied a Bible Overview, Youth Ministry and 1 Thessalonians at TEAM bible training in Cambridge

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

• 14th Nov - Help host our 2nd Christianity Explored Evening

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

The Next Few Weeks

• Sunday mornings - Helping with JTD Kids

• Wednesday mornings - Luci helping with an evangelistic Tots Group

• 18th Nov - Men's Christian book group

• 20th Nov - Giving a presentation on Ruth at my bible training course in Cambridge (TEAM)

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

• 21st Nov - 3rd Christianity Explored Evening

• 24th Nov - Leading the music for our friend's baptism

• 27th Nov - TEAM Teaching Day on Mission

• 28th Nov - 4th Christianity Explored Evening

• 7th Dec - Carol Singing round Upton

• 14th Dec - Walkthrough Nativity

• 21st Dec - (Organising and attending) A Carol Service

  
  

Prayer Requests

We would really love prayer that:

• God would help us to find peace not in our own strength but in God's grace.

• God would give us the energy to keep supporting each other well as we seek to serve him with more of our lives.

• God would use me to make himself known as I help share the gospel in a Primary School RE lesson for the first time.

A Final Word

Praise the Lord for He is good! Let us rejoice in the wonder of our God and Father.

'Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.' - Psalm 34:8

It is such an encouragement to know you are praying for us. May you never lose sight of the goodness of our God.

Love and prayers,

Joshua & Luci :)

P.S - Bonus present - We hope this song helps you to delight in God our Father <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

Some highlights from Session 6 - Exodus

• God promises to redeem Isreal to be his people: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” - Exodus 6:7

• God wanted them to remember the passover

• Themes in the wilderness journey - Grumbling, Provision & Protection

Youth Ministry

Some key points

• Thousands of under 18 leave the church each week

• Youth ministry is important - Caring for them and the future of the church

• Youth ministry is the responsibility / joy of the local church

• Suggested aim for 0-18y ministry - Raising biblically literate, doctrinally aware and theologically equipped articulate godly young men and women in our churches

• They are very influenced by the world - school / online

• The idea of objective truth is very unpopular

• A helpful model for ministry - Teach Tell Train

Workshops

A Helpful idea for understanding a passage

• Once you’ve identified a theme in your passage, studying where it comes up in the rest of the book can help you understand why it’s there in your passage.

  
  

Thanks so much for reading,

I hope it has helped point you to Christ.

God Bless xx