Family Business

On Sunday 23rd October Graham Swift from the Grace Fellowship spoke on "Family Business"  from  Luke 10 v38 -42 and John 11 regarding Mary and Martha. 

1. Family Hospitality.  "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house." He stressed the need to make people feel welcomed to the fellowship

2. Family differences - There was disagreement between Martha and Mary  but "...Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

3. Family loss  -Mary & Martha lost their brother Lazarus and we were reminded of the hope of the Resurrection "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11v 25 and the need to trust in Jesus Christ.

The woman who came face to face with the man who made the universe

Erroll Hulse from Leeds Reformed Baptist Church spoke on John 4 - The Samaritan Woman who came face to face with the man who made the universe.
Lord immediately talked to her about living water
"Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water"
Erroll reminded us of the uniqueness of Jesus' position as prophet.   He knew that the woman was cohabiting, which the Bible says is sinful.   Unless we deal with the subject of sin we are not dealing with the Good News.  Good News is for sinners.
This woman had a one to one experience with Jesus.   If we become a christians we need to see Jesus face to face and believe in him.  This Samaritan woman leaves her water pot behind (which was very valuable) and went to tell others about Jesus.
God brought about a revival through one woman.

Watch and Pray

Frederick Hodgson from Whitby Evangelical Church took the service on 8th October and spoke on "watch and pray" from the sermon of the mount in Matthew 7

We are to watch ourselves:
v1 & 2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged;
We are to watch we are not naive

v6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

Watch out for false teachers:

v15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
We do this by recognizing their fruit

We were challenged about what we are going to do with God's words, whether we are going to do them like the wise man that built his house on the rock or not obey them like foolish man.

Are you blessed?

Frederick Hodgson from Whitby Evangelical Church spoke on the beatitudes from Matthew chapter 5
3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
       4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
       5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
       6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
       7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
       8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
       9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
       10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

The word "blessed" is used nine times.  Are you blessed? Are you part of that Kingdom?   There is a kingdom and therefore there must be a king.  Jesus is the king,  is he your king?  The beatitudes are a manifesto of the kingdom.
If Jesus Christ announces you blessed you are blessed indeed,  as he died for us, intercedes for us, is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He came to rescue us and make us part of the kingdom.