I get more aware of the fact that a lot of Christians read their bible but don’t really study it or apply it to their lives in the right way. As part of our values as a church we state that we want to be biblically balanced and that ‘one truth without the whole truth can be a lie.’ So many Christians seem to read one verse in the Bible totally out of context of the passage and apply it to their lives in totally the wrong way. This is a very dangerous path to walk. If we have an issue in our lives that we want to find God’s guidance on we should look at the whole picture, study every part of the bible that mentions that particular issue and get a balanced view. Read a few Christian books on the subject, seek wise counsel from wise people who are not just going to tell you what you want to hear. We also need to be aware that there is an awful lot of weird teaching out there that distracts us from the main truths of the Christian faith and message, which is Christ died for us, so that we might live and follow HIM with our lives in every part. ‘Christ in us the Hope of Glory’ He came to redeem us and restore us and wants us to serve Him. He is doing a transforming work with us and in us when we have the Holy Spirit, which is given to each one us when we accept the Son. When we accept the Son the Father accepts us and gives us the Holy Spirit which comforts, convicts, guides, instructs, admonishes etc etc. These are the basics of the Christian faith and we can all be unified in that as Christians. We don’t have to concentrate on secondary issues when we are balanced, growing, devoted followers of Christ, because that is enough, it’s amazing, it’s wonderful, more than words can express. We don’t have to go out looking for the added extras like how many times we speak in tongues each day, or worry about silly issue like wether women should lead or not, or if we milleniumist or post-milleniumist, or calvanists, or predestined, etc etc. These are things that Christians get so hung up on and they spend all there time and energy on when they should just be living for and serving God, and making a difference in this world. We have everything we need to walk the walk, and live the life when we accept Jesus to be true and decide to take up our cross and follow him dailly, we don’t have to get hung up on things like who is demon possesed and wether rooms can be demon posses (there is nowhere in the Bible that says a room is demon possed). God will show us by his Holy Spirit we can walk in wisdom and truth. So here endeth the sermon for today. Sorry to get on my high horse but these things really bug me because I see so many Christians are not living in the true freedom of the Christian faith, they are all bound up with all kinds of unneccessary issues. So basically just get a life and make sure its a life in Christ Jesus.
November 2008
Fri 28 Nov 2008
Why do Christians read the Bible but not study or apply it???
Posted by tracy under bible blog , cutting edge thoughts[2] Comments
Wed 26 Nov 2008
Just to announce the start of our new Rock Solid program at Impact Youth. These resources are produced by Youth For Christ and I’m really excited to see how our young people respond to what we have planned for the next few weeks.
We’ll be enjoying mix of games, activities, life skills and exploring our faith together. As well as the chance to let your talent shine on sing star or beat the leaders at table tennis. Come along if you or anyone you know is aged 11-16, you will be most welcome.
Wednesday’s 6.30-8pm at West End Impact. Hope to see you there!
Mon 24 Nov 2008
well, it’s been a difficult and thrilling few weeks as we’ve examined character and living beyond myself. Michl’s message on Sunday - the living bit of living beyond myself - was thought provoking but in a practical way which I hope will have given everyone the incentive and the means by which to apply it to our lives. To actually develop the mindset, perfect their aim and actually start running - watch the message if you’re wondering what I’m talking about. I want to commit along with you others to let go of my life, myself and start living beyond myself - allowing Jesus to live my life holding nothing back.
I really want to thank God for speaking to us so clearly and powerfully over the past few weeks and to the whole of MCC for being a place where we can tackle the big stuff and the ugly stuff and really face up to what is going on.
Thanks to all of you and to Michl and Emma for preaching, but most of all thank you God.
Tue 18 Nov 2008
What is happening when baby p and a man who is in strictly come dancing both share the front page?
Mon 17 Nov 2008
Meeting with the Winning Back Morecambe West End Resettlement Team
Posted by tracy under cutting edge thoughts , news1 Comment
At last I managed to secure a meeting with the Manager of the Resettlement Team at Winning Back Morecambes West End. We managed to get a date when both of us can make it. WBMWE is a government initiative which was set up almost 3 years ago working towards the regeneration of Morecambe, and we have been contact with them a few times in that period. They have a team that are helping, and have been helping some of the same clients that we have on a regular basis at West End Impact. We have referred certain clients to them but up until recently the help didn’t seem to be there for them. Obviously they expect the clients to engage in a rehabilitation programme and if they comply they will be helped into a rehousing programme, which I think is monitored. It will be good to meet with Sharon Parkinson the manager there to let her know from our point of view where we see there are gaps and also to be working together towards the same ends. Obviously we can offer the clients a meal and hospitality, and we would still do that even if the clients don’t engage in a rehabilitation programme. Our faith, in our opinion, obviously plays a big part in that rehabilitation process. We offer prayer to our clients and a family as a church to belong to, and as we pray we expect God to work in their lives. I want to be able to stand up and say that, as I meet with the local authorities, as I know that without God the IMPACT sessions that we run wouldn’t be as successful. The amount of protection that God gives us in the work we do is tremendous. If I had to tell you some of the situations we have had to deal with at West End Impact it would make you fearful just listening to it
but we have seen God’s protection week after week. We are like Gideons army down there, although we are only few God always seem to win through for on so many fronts.
Please keep praying for us in this cutting edge ministry - we need your prayers and as much help as we can get.
Sun 16 Nov 2008
Wow what a service this morning!! Michl had a battle on his hands preparing that message this week, but it was well worth the fight. It really takes it out of you preaching and leading from the front, people expect to be able to follow you if you are a leader so its a massive responsibility.
What a message though. Living beyond ourselves, which means taking up our cross and surrendering our lives to Jesus in every part. Not just ok Lord you have this bit, but please don’t interfer in that bit because that’s my business. No please Lord I’m not ready to deal with that bit its too difficult I want to work on that bit at a later date. No not that one Lord I have been trying to avoid that issue in my life for years its too painful Lord. No Jesus wants every part no matter how hard or painful or sacrificial it may be. He sacrificed everything for us and we need to give our all, to HIM. He deserves it!!! We can not experience the HOPE of GLORY if we are not prepared first to take up the cross. Christ in us in constantly at work in us, battling against the old self and transforming us into his Christlikeness. It’s called sanctification and its a process that we must all go through until we get to heaven. Its a tall order but the rewards and the fruit we reap are great!!
Tracy
Why don’t you listen to the message online www.mcc.uk.com and even if you were there this morning listen again.
Tue 11 Nov 2008
Zofia’s excellent message about Sacficial Love is now online for your viewing and listening pleasure! Despite Zofia’s insistance that it wasn’t very good, I thought it was fantastic, really thought provoking, definately from God, and if I’m honest it made be feel uncomfortable, which is exactly how it should be if you ask me
Mon 10 Nov 2008
Barak Ohbama says yes we can
Bob the Builder says yes we can
So at MCC we launch our own yes we can BOB- Building on Basics
Is an exciting course exploring the basics of christianity in a fun and exciting way.
Over the six weeks we will be exploring the what faith is all about through singing, dancing, stories, crafts, puzzles,quizzes and much more.
At MCC we really love music and dancing
Terry and Amy are working on our special BOB song because we like to add new things and watch out X factor amy is mcc’s Leona
It will be a very special time and i really look forward to it
We start Sunday 11th January @10.30am
If you would like your Kid’s to take part you can book a place or find out any other details by emailing emma@mcc.uk.com.
It is so exciting to be able to lead young people through this course which has taught me so much personally i wish kid’s church was this exciting when i was young
Fri 7 Nov 2008
Thank you God for your idea of church
For people who care enough to spend time and fellowship
For bieng able to worship together and the power that has
For giving people insights
For bieng able to teach young children about you
For something that has no dress code no age limit no social class
That you meet us there and we meet you there
That because of your Church we are free
Mon 3 Nov 2008
Could anyone tell me where Church is? Some say it’s in Grosvenor Park, some say it’s at West End Impact, others say it’s everywhere, some say it’s at work, in a school playground, in my local neighbourhood, at ASDA and so on.
Could anyone please provide me with a Postcode answer to a simple question?
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostels….Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2.42+43,46+47