CONTENTS
1. Introduction to our vision at CCP
2. Come to Jesus Daily devotional
- MONDAY – “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT.1
- TUESDAY – “COME TO ME” …HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 2
- WEDNESDAY– “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 3
- THURSDAY– “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT.4
- FRIDAY – “COME TO ME” …HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 5
- SATURDAY–“COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 6
3. Community Group/Family Study
For links to the message go to our website,
1. VISION SERIES INTRODUCTION
Whilst praying about this vision series I felt led to the gospel of Matthew. Matthew wrote because he wanted to bring people to Jesus - the promised Saviour. Matthew wrote,
‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).’ (Matthew 1:21-23)
God’s wants us to know that in Jesus, forgiveness and His presence are available to you, me, to anyone! This gospel ends with Jesus’ direction to take this Good News to the whole world,
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
Jesus invites you, and through you, He wants to invite your friends to, “Come to me”.
LET’S OWN THIS VISION TOGETHER
Vision is something that we need to ‘own’ together. Therefore, I encourage you to commit to three things:
1. Make Sunday special by coming to church each week.
2. Get along to a Community Group so as to learn with others.
3. Use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ devotionals each day.
May we, like Matthew, respond to Jesus’ call to “follow me”,
‘As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.’ (Matthew 9:9)
Let’s whole-heartedly respond to Jesus’ invitation to “come to me”.
Matt Beaney September 2019
VISION AND GOALS AT CCP
Our vision at CCP is, Bringing people to Jesus - Myself, One-another, Non-believers. Two key texts have shaped this,
John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Matt.11:28-30“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Bringing people to Jesus is to share in God’s greatest ambition. This is a vision with eternal worth that invites us to give our lives for the worlds’ greatest need.
HOW DO WE BRING PEOPLE TO JESUS?
Bringing people to Jesus involves three different relationships:
1. MYSELF
Goal to help me to bring myself to Jesus: I 'come to Jesus daily' by setting aside quality time daily in prayer and worship out of the bible (20 minutes, using the ‘coming to Jesus daily’ blog is a good start)
2. ONE-ANOTHER
Goal to help bring one-another to Jesus: Every member is in an amazing Community Group.
3. NON-BELIEVERS
Goal to help us to bring our non-believing friends to Jesus: Hospitality Week – on the first week of each month, we ‘invest and invite’ through 'Hospitality Week'.
2. COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
One of our goals as a church is to 'come to Jesus daily' by setting aside quality time daily in prayer and worship out of the bible (20 minutes, using the ‘coming to Jesus daily’ blog is a good start)
Jesus promises rest for the weary and burdened (Matt. 11:28-30) and ‘living water’ (John 7:37-38) if we will come to Him. During our devotionals in this vision series, we will seek to learn from the Gospel of Matthew how, what it means, and what happens to those who will respond to His invitation.
MONDAY – “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT.1
As we’ve seen, Jesus invites us to ‘come to me’ and ‘find rest for your souls’ (Matt. 11:28-30) . But we must understand that this promised rest requires that we learn from Him, and keep coming and learning from Him. Today, let’s come to Jesus, let’s learn from Him as we continue to look at The Sermon on the Mount. Through this devotional this week, we will see that as we come to Jesus, He teaches how to be ‘the salt of the world’ and ‘the light of the world.
1. You are the salt and light of the earth
Read and meditate on Matthew 5:13-16
Coming to Jesus redefines our identity. All Christians are now ‘the salt of the earth’. Salt, in the first century, was used for seasoning, and, in a day without refrigeration, it was used to preserve food. The two metaphors of salt and light speak of the good influence which Christians are to exert in the community if (and only if) they maintain their distinctive character as portrayed in Jesus’ teaching.
What it means to be salt and light is defined by the whole of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29).
RESPONSE – Our words and lives are to be salt and light. We are God’s representatives in this dark and wicked world. This begins by learning from Jesus. We are to have the posture of Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet to learn, rather that Martha who was busy and burdened (Luke 10:38-42). Being salt and light is not, firstly, about doing more, it’s about learning from and having a living relationship with Jesus.
How are you learning from Jesus each day? Jesus says “come to me…learn from me…you will find rest for your souls” in the end, we do not make Jesus attractive to others, or influence them for good, if we are weary and burdened with busyness and fear.
2. We become salt and light as we read and obey the Old Testament in the light of Christ (5:17-20)
Plead read and meditate on Matthew 5:17-18
Jesus has not come to abolish, but to ‘fulfil’ the law and prophets - this means that Jesus brings about what the law and prophets pointed to: He is the promised Saviour King (Gen. 3:15; Isaiah 53:6). He is the offering for sin (foreshadowed in the temple offerings – Heb. 7:27). He changes the heart (Jeremiah 33:31). He is our sabbath rest. Through Him, the Spirit is poured out and all will prophecy (Joel 2). He will ultimately bring about (‘accomplish’) the ‘new heavens and earth’ and the promise of eternal peace (Isaiah 65:17) etc.
In essence, we are to read and obey the whole Old Testament but in the light of Jesus and the gospel.
RESPONSE – We don’t have room to do justice to this theme of the Christian’s use of the Old Testament (the Law and Prophets). But, we will become ‘saltier’ and our light grow brighter as we honour God’s word and apply it in light of Jesus.
In response, I challenge you to memorise the Ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Thank Jesus that He has died for your transgressions of this Law; Thank Jesus that He gives you His Spirit to obey this Law from the heart, rather than outward show.
TUESDAY– “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 2
Let’s not forget the context of The Sermon on the Mount. It says,
‘Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.’ (Matt. 5:1)
Our vision is ‘bringing people to Jesus’, this series is called ‘Come to me’. As we come to Jesus each day, He will teach us. It’s only as we learn, and keep learning, from Him that we become the people and church that can be effective for God.
This week, we have been learning how to be ’salt’ and ‘light (Matt. 5:13-16). In summary, Christians and the church become salt and light - an influence for good - as we live out the teaching of Jesus, particularly as they are presented here in The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29).
Today we will seek to apply the first 4 sections of this teaching.
1. We are salt and light if we are peacemakers (5:21-26)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 5:21-26.
Jesus is taking the Old Testament and showing how it is to be applied in light of His coming. Jesus raises the standard – we are not to murder, but we are also not be be angry! (Of course, this is not prohibiting godly anger - Eph. 4:26). On top of this, Christians are to take the initiative in making peace (See 5:9)
RESPONSE – Are you prone to anger? Do you lash out at people? Are you violent? If so, you need to ask God, and those you’ve hurt, for forgiveness. You may need to seek advice from a trusted church leader if this is an ongoing struggle for you.
2. We are salt and light if we seek sexual purity (5:27-30)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 5:27-28.
In a culture that idolises sinful sexual relationships, Christian are salt and light as they strive go please God in this regard. Jesus takes the Seventh Commandment “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). And, raises the standards for Christians who are also not to commit adultery with their eyes or thinking. Jesus says, “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. R. T. France says of this text, ‘Jesus’ intention is is not to prohibit natural sexual attraction, but the deliberate harbouring of desire for an illicit relationship.’
RESPONSE – Jesus teaches us that we are to do all that is necessary -even sacrificial - to avoid sexual sin. For example, you may have to break off a friendship if you are feeling drawn into sexual sin.
Are you being ‘salt and light’ - promoting and showing God’s will in regard to sex - in the way you live in public and private? How is your thought-life and your on-line life?
3. We are salt and light if we honour God’s design for marriage (5:31-32)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 5:31-32 (19:8-9).
There is not space to go into all the complexities of marriage and marriage breakdown in this devotional, so please do talk to a trusted church leader if you need further advice.
Jesus challenges the easy-divorce culture of His day. Jesus raises the standard, only allowing divorce on the grounds of adultery - sex with someone other than your spouse. You are the ‘light and salt of the world’ if you will set an example and stand up for christian marriage.
RESPONSE – If you are single and desire to be married, are you willing to only marry someone who shares your ‘Jesus-shaped’ view of marriage? If you are married, are you seeking to keep your relationship joyful and healthy?
4. We are salt and light if we keep our word (5:33-37)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 5:33-37.
The Old Testament has teaching on when to make oaths. However, Jesus is re-stating the law in light of His coming. Christian’s, those who are ‘born-again’ of the Spirit, do not need to make oaths because they are people who keep their word and tell the truth.
RESPONSE – I wonder if the advent of modern communications has made us all less thoughtful about our use of words. In my experience, people often say they will do something only not to follow-through.
Do you always tell the truth? Is your “yes” and “no” honest?
WEDNESDAY– “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 3
A key text for our vision is,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”(Matt.11:28-30).
Let’s continue to sit and learn from Jesus. There is great promise of ‘rest for the soul’ if we will ‘learn’ from Him.
1. We are salt and light as we show grace and refuse vengeance (5:38-42)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 5:38-42.
This legal system - ‘eye for eye…’ was given because of the sinfulness of the human heart; it was given to reduce the perpetuation of feuds. However, Christians have renewed hearts and so are to forgive and be gracious, like their Heavenly Father. They know that they deserve ‘eye for an eye…’ justice from God, but He has given them grace in Christ - He received the punishment that we deserved! ‘by His wounds we have been healed” (Isaiah 53:5)
RESPONSE – Are you harbouring a vengeful attitude? Do you wish that certain people would get their ‘comeuppance’? Let’s seek God for the grace to show generosity toward those who deserve an ‘eye for an eye…’.
2. We are salt and light as we love our enemies (5:43-48)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 5:43-48.
This compliments the previous section. Like our ‘Heavenly Father’, Christians are to love ‘neighbour’ (those on your side, particularly other Christians) and ‘enemies’ (those who persecute you). In a world that is easily triggered into vitriol at one extreme, or passivity toward anyone outside of one’s immediate family or community on the other, Jesus calls Christians to active love - prayer, acts of kindness, refusing to retaliate… The Christian’s approach to relationships is so well illustrated in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10).
RESPONSE – Are you loving the church and the world? This is not an encouragement to endorsem or keep silent about wicked behaviour, that would be a denial of Jesus’ will that we be ‘salt and light’! Rather, we set an example of righteous living, we, considerately, speak out against wickedness and the need for God’s forgiveness, whist praying for and actively doing good for those who, just like us, deserve nothing from God.
3. We are salt and light as we give to the poor but not for show (6:1-4)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 6:1-4.
This command must be taken in conjunction with Jesus desire that you ‘let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (5:16). Jesus is challenging the motive of our giving; if it’s for self-glorification, it’s worthless before God. However, If our generosity is out of genuine love for people, and that God be glorified, then this pleases God.
RESPONSE – Generosity is termed ‘righteousness’ (6:10). Do you realise that what and why you give are seen by and are important to God? Take a moment to consider how you steward the resources that the Father has given to you.
4. The way we pray makes us salt and light (6:5-13)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 6:5-13.
This section on prayer compliments what Jesus has just said about generosity.
Let’s be clear, it’s good to pray in public. Jesus Himself regularly prayed in front of others. Further still, it’s extremely encouraging and can teach others to pray when we intercede publicly with the church. However, as with the previous section, It’s the heart (the motive) that counts.
The Lord’s Prayer is a model prayer given to us by Jesus. It’s not to be used as a rigid ‘mantra’, rather, its themes are examples of what one should regularly include in prayer and worship. Regularly using this model will teach us to pray. We become ‘salt and light’ through prayer because prayer improves us; but prayer is also powerful in promoting God’s work and hindering evil because prayer is a powerful weapon in itself.
RESPONSE – When you pray in public, do you speak to God or are you more aware of performing well? Do you fail to pray publicly because you fear performing badly? (This just shows that you are too concerned about your performance!) Do you ‘babble’, thinking that filling the space with unconsidered waffle will make your prayers more effective with God or more impressive to others?
If you’ve never done so, I encourage you to use the Lord’s Prayer as a guide for your prayers for a couple of weeks. If you would like a study that teaches further on using the Lord’s Prayer please email the office.
THURSDAY– “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 4
Let’s remind ourselves of what we are doing in these devotionals this week. In Matthew 5 Jesus declared ““You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Too often we hear this without any clear explanation of how to be salt and light. Let’s be clear, it’s to the extent that we understand and do Jesus’ teaching, particularly as revealed in The Sermon on the Mount, that we influence the world for God’s glory.
Today, let’s continue to come to Jesus in oder to learn from Him from The Sermon on the Mount.
1. We are salt and light if we forgive (6:14-15)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 6:14-15
It’s interesting that Jesus reinforces what He has already said in 6:12 regarding forgiveness. Forgiving people who sin against us – desiring God’s blessing rather than retribution – is of deepest importance, is rare and is a very difficult thing to do.
Jesus is very clear, ‘if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” Another way of putting this is, “If you desire judgment on others, you simply reveal that you are not a Christian -one who has received God’s forgiveness.” Let’s be clear, we all struggle to forgive, that’s why Jesus repeats this. These hard words of Christ are not to condemn those struggling to forgive, it condemns those who feel justified in their judgement, at the root of which is a self-righteous conceit.
RESPONSE - Are you struggling to forgive anyone? Forgiveness in an ongoing decision to be gracious. Let’s keep choosing to desire God’s blessing for those who have sinned against us.
2. We are salt and light if we fast, but not for show (6:16-18)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 6:16-18
It’s worth noting that Jesus expects Christians to fast. Fasting (Normally from food) is a means of focussing on prayer. However, fasting done to boost our spiritual reputation is worthless. However, fasting carried out for the purposes of focused prayer will make us ‘salt and light’ because powerful prayer revives us and the church.
RESPONSE – When do or will you fast? (We have a week of prayer of fasting beginning 14th October leading up to ‘Encounter’ on the 19th)
3. We are salt and light if we seek true treasure (6:19-34)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 6:19-24
Through this section, two ‘treasures’ are set in contrast – God or money. One can live for and invest one’s life into gaining worldly treasure, or one can seek to love and serve God - you cannot do both! The message of verses 22-23 is that what one ‘sees’ or looks for in this life reveals our heart: one can see life as an opportunity for worldly gain, or ‘see’ the world as an opportunity to invest into God’s Kingdom.
RESPONSE – Where you are investing your time, talents and treasure indicate the condition of ones heart. Let’s not miss the radical nature of Jesus’ words ‘do not store up treasures on earth’….that’s none! Only ‘invest’ in what’s eternal - that’s putting all that we are and have at God’s disposal. For example, it’s not wrong to have a nice home, but, surely, God has given it to you for generous hospitality etc.
Each of us must pray and respond as God leads us in our personal circumstances.
Finally, in a world of fear regarding financial security, we will fail to glorify God if we join them in their gloom. We become salt and light, we find rest for our souls, if we trust Jesus’ command, “do not worry…the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them….seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
FRIDAY– “COME TO ME”…HE WILL MAKE YOU SALT AND LIGHT PT. 4
Our vision as a church is ‘Bringing people to Jesus’. We do this is three ways: myself, one-another and non-believers. This week we have been focussing on bringing myself to Jesus - have a living daily relationship with Him. A crucial aspect of coming to Jesus is learning from Jesus; sitting at His feet, Like Mary in Luke 10:38-41. In fact, at her sister Martha’s complaint, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Jesus corrected her, and I’m sure that we all need correcting to some degree in this way, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Jesus invites us to learn from Him. Let’s do so as we continue to look at the Sermon on the Mount.
1. We are salt and light as we judge correctly (7:1-5)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 7:1-5
This is a warning against judging inappropriately, however, Christians are to make judgments as even the next verse (7:6) makes clear!
In what way is it wrong to judge? It is wrong to judge someone as beyond God’s grace; such an attitude looks at another’s sin and wants them to go to hell rather than hope and pray that they, like them, may receive God’s mercy.
Such people make much of another’s sin whilst minimising and failing to remember their own condemned position whilst they were outside of God’s grace in Christ.
Of course a Christian ‘judges’ people as condemned, otherwise they would never seek to share the Good News of forgiveness in Christ (Rom. 1:16). But, this kind of biblical discerning desires mercy rather than condemnation. They see in their own journey of mercy as a story that can be shared by anyone!
RESPONSE – What particular sins, lifestyles or opinions tempt you to rage? Do you see that you, in your life before Christ, were equally under God’s wrath? Ask God to fill you with love and hope for all people. Let’ learn to judge correctly - Let’s judge Jesus as able to redeem all!
2. Christian become more salty and their light brighter through persistent prayer (7:7-11)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 7:7-11
Some people pray persistently because they are not sure if God likes and hears them and so they feel they have to earn His ear by persistence - a form of works. Some people don’t persist in prayer because the know that God, their Father hears them with perfect love, so why, they reason (wrongly!) would I need to persist? Jesus, however, teaches us that God is our loving Father, and, that we need to persist in prayer. If we desire God’s kingdom to come personally, in the church, in the nation… confident and persistent prayer are required.
RESPONSE – Are you confident that God is your Father? Are you confident He hears you? Are you confident in His power to change anything? Prove this by your persistence in prayer!
3. We are the salt and light of the world as we love people (7:12)
Please read and meditate on Matthew 7:12
In this verse, we have a summary of all that we have been looking at in The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1-7:29); Whether it’s about how we act in marriage, our sexual purity, keeping our word, forgiving, loving enemies, being generous… much of Jesus’ teaching here is about loving people and treating them as we would like to be treated. It’s this life of love that ‘sums up the Law and the Prophets’ (see Matt. 5:17), and, as Paul says, ‘…love is the fulfilment of the law.’ (See Romans 13:8-10)
RESPONSE – Many of us feel let down by people. They have not met our expectations in some way. You will only be salt and light if you choose, like Christ, to always be the initiator of grace.
Think of a particular relationship that you have at home, work, your friends, someone you are tempted to dislike… What could you do for someone that would be the kind of thing that you would like someone to do for you?
Another important application from today’s text is taken from 7:6. Whilst seeking to love people, we are also to discern and exclude evil, damaging people from our lives (and churches) – those who will ‘tear you to pieces’. Following Jesus also involves excluding wicked people from wrecking your life (whilst always hoping and praying for their salvation).
SATURDAY – WE ARE SALT AND LIGHT IF WE BUILD ON JESUS’ TEACHING
Today we will complete our very brief consideration of Jesus’ great discipleship course - The Sermon on the Mount. Let’s remember, I’m making reference to becoming ‘salt and light’ because, as Jesus says in 5:13-16, we become a great influence for God’s glory as we understand and do what is taught in the whole of the Sermon on the Mount.
Please read and meditate on Matthew 7:13-29
The Sermon on the Mount ends with four illustrations designed to warn us: two ways, two trees, two claims and two builders (with 2 foundations).
1. Two ways (7:13-14)
There are only 2 ways and only one of them - the narrow way - leads to life. In a world that often presents multiple roads to the spiritual life, Jesus says that there is only one narrow, often missed, road to Life - eternal life with God. What is is the ‘broad way that leads to destruction’? This is all approaches to life and God that are not the narrow way!
What is the narrow way? This is following Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
RESPONSE – Do you confess Jesus as the only Lord and Saviour? If you add anyone or anything to Jesus, you are on the broad road to destruction!
2. Two trees (7:15-20)
This is a warning to be vigilant of ‘false prophets’. These are people who would seek to draw us away from the ‘narrow way’ (Only Jesus is Saviour and Lord) and onto the broad way (living outside of the salvation and Lordship of Christ).
Jesus warns us that these people don’t look evil, they look like sheep (they can look attractive), but we are to be objective by looking at their ‘fruit’ - whether it is good or bad. The kind of fruit that we are to see in a trustworthy teacher or prophet is the things in this Sermon on the Mount: trust in Jesus alone for salvation, meekness, peacemaking, generosity, storing up treasure in heaven, love, sexual purity, a good marriage, prayerfulness…
RESPONSE – Jesus, firstly, searches you and me, are we ‘false prophets’? Do we claim to be Christians whilst wallowing in destructive sin?
Secondly, when choosing a church or who you listen to, do you consider their their lives - are they bearing good fruit - as outlined in this Sermon on the Mount for example?
3. Two clams (7:21-23)
Next, Jesus uses the illustration of those who mistakingly believe that they are Christians but are not. Jesus warns us that it’s not enough to say the right things; true faith in Christ will always result in obedience to Christ. This is very much in keeping with what we read in James,
‘Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:16-18)
RESPONSE – who is Jesus confronting with these words? Firstly, His words should search you and me! Are you and I confessing Christ and seeking to obey Him in our lives?
4. Two builders with 2 foundations (7:24-29)
Jesus finishes this section of teaching by using this very powerful and searching illustration of two builders. The foolish builder, built his house on sand, which ends in destruction. This is the person that does not come to Jesus, does not learn from Him. The wise builder, however, built his house on rock, which leads to life. This is the person that comes to Jesus and learns from Him.
RESPONSE - All three of these illustrations tell the same story: only those who come to Jesus as Lord and Saviour will have life.
I think that we can also apply this teaching to Christians. Christians will never face condemnation and destruction as we see here. However, if we fail to learn from Jesus - fail to 'bring myself to Jesus’ - your life will be less fruitful, less joyful, more chaotic… So, let’s come to Jesus, remembering His words,
Matt.11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
3. COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY
COME TO ME…AND KEEP COMING
Let’s begin by reminding ourselves of our vision - The kind of church that we are building together. Our vision is of…
BRINGING PEOPLE TO JESUS
Bringing people to Jesus is to share in God’s greatest ambition. This is a vision with eternal worth that invites us to give our lives for the worlds’ greatest need. We do this in three different relationships:
1. Myself – Goal to help me to bring myself to Jesus: I 'come to Jesus daily' by setting aside quality time each day in prayer and worship out of the bible, asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit (20 minutes, using the ‘coming to Jesus daily’ blog is a good start)
2. One-another – Goal to help bring one another to Jesus: Every member is devoted to building an amazing Community Group. (Meeting weekly is a good start)
3. Non-believers – Goal to help us to bring our non-believing friends to Jesus: We invest and invite in those around us (Using our monthly 'Hospitality Week' is a good start)
This week (as last), we have been focussing on bringing myself to Jesus - have a living daily relationship with Him. A crucial aspect of coming to Jesus is learning from Jesus. Sitting at His feet, Like Mary (Luke 10:38-42).
Please read Luke 10:38-42 and Discuss together:
- Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. How should having access into Jesus’ presence effect us?
- How do you currently come to Jesus to learn from Him?
- What are the sorts of things that we can prioritise over ‘bringing myself to Jesus’?
- Do you come to Jesus each day, are you more like Mary or Martha?
- Look at Martha’s rant at Jesus. What can happen if we become busy serving Jesus at the cost of your relationship with Jesus?
- How does Jesus respond to Mary, and what does this say about the importance of daily ‘prayer and worship out of the bible)?
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