One Church Gloucester: Recent Episodes
One Church Gloucester
"To the degree we mourn our sin both individually and collectively we avail ourselves of heaven's comfort, and to the degree that we don't, we rob ourselves of it"
Poor But Rich
"When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.' " Matthew 5:1-3
The "Poor in Spirit":
- Get in the correct position
- They give all they have
- They stir up their faith
The delay from anointing to appointing
I thought ... by now!
- What delay are you facing at the moment?
- Where are you distant at the moment?
- How can you draw closer?
Explore the ways in which God empowers and uses His people to expand His kingdom on earth
Elijah - 1 Kings 19
Empty Promises - OR Promises about empty things:
The empty cross
The empty tomb
The empty grave clothes
...
I am no longer expecting an absence of problems, but I am expecting the presence of a God who promises to be with me in those problems
...
"The boundary of our personal prayer life isn't to do with God's restrictions but with the limitations we place on it"
Tom Geatches
move from Results-focused prayer to Relationship-focused prayer
Abstaining from something for a duration of time.
- The What
- The Why
- The How
Creating Spiritual Hunger
"... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land... "
Be still and know that I am God
"If we can slow down the pace at which we think and the pace at which we move our bodies through the world—maybe we can slow down our souls to a pace at which they can "taste and seethat the LORD is good."" John Mark Comer
Sabbath - stop, cease, rest
Sabbath - a gift from God
Sabbath - an invitation to stop and delight in who God is
Both sin and busyness have the exact same effect—they cut off your connection to God, to other people, and even to your own soul - John Mark Comer
We are here for a reason - God has called us to it
God allows his people to go through desperate situations even though he loves us. The devil uses these times to sow doubt. The Word of God is powerful regardless of if things are good, or if things are bad.
People who are going to be used strategically will use the language of faith. We need to learn to act on what we believe even though it may be "risky"
A Pattern of Praise
Doxology
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 11:33-12:2
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord
Make the most of every opportunity
It's Christ's love that sets the standard
I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called. v1
"Though we were afar, God chose to adopt us to sonship and gave us His Holy Spirit as a seal"
You have a place in the family of God
You are not an afterthought
you are a "before thought"
Building His Kingdom
Seek first His kingdom, and all these things will be given you as well
Don't Stop Short
Which Jesus are you living with today?
- The human Jesus?
- The crucified Jesus?
- The resurrected Jesus?
- The ascended Jesus?
Internation Sunday
Ephesians 6:15 "...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision - Helen Keller
Look Up! Look In! Look Out!
Generations Part 1
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Psalm 145 v3-7
Leadership...
... is influence - nothing more, and nothing less (John Maxwell)
Use What we have, and
Use All we have
"If I find in myself desires that nothing in this world can satisfy then the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world" C.S.Lewis
"God has set eternity in the hearts of man" Ecclesiastes 3:1
Jesus is saying "It is Me"
Further reading
- Deuteronomy 28 v15 - Disobedience
- James 1 v5-7 - Double mindedness (asking but doubting)
- Matthew 6 v33 - Not seeking his Kingdom first
- Proverbs 21 v13 - No heart for the poor
- Psalms 66 v18 - Cherishing sin in your heart
- Ecclesiastes 5 v4 / Job 22 v27 / Psalm 50 v14 - Broken vow
- 1 Peter 3 v7 - treating your wife with disrespect
- Matthew 5 v21-22 / Mark 7 v11-13 Broken fellowship with brethren
- Malachi 3 v8 - Withholding tithes and offerings
- Mark 7 v13 - Not honouring your father and mother
Hope is never mere, even when it is meager. When all other senses sleep, the eye of hope is first to awaken and last to shut.
(Gil Galad King of the Elves)
Reality + Response = Results
Our Response determines the Result
The Gospel can help our Response
How to thrive in the wait
"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." Ps 5v3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:3-8
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Working and Waiting
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Weird, Wonder & Walk
God wants to do wonders to you,
God wants to do wonders through you
God's Grace
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A fresh wind from Heaven
Wait for it!
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There are everyday moments, and there are once-on-a-lifetime kind of moments.
God has called us to step into the lives of people's everyday moments to give them once-in-a-lifetime encounters.
Servanthood is the course to your calling
Whether you know God or not, whether you're in a good place or a bad place, God has a plan for your life - something for you to experience on earth, that is of heaven, that can impact not only your world, not just your family's world, not just this city but the world as a whole.
A Place of Altaring,
The Price of Altering
What does it mean today to "build an altar" to God?
His Presence is a Promise
And it keeps getting better - along with being with Him, He gives us of all He is.
The Pursuit of His Presence - The Power of Connected Solitude
Connected Solitude is the capacity to be contentedly and constructively alone with Him.
Facing the Storm
You can face any storm if your foundations are strong
Build your life on the Rock - Christ Jesus
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
If your soul had a mirror what would you see reflected in your soul's mirror?
Make Every Effort... Greek: Spoude (swiftness to show zealous diligence, i.e. one's "best" (full effort by making haste)).
"If you only float you will drift in the direction of the strongest current"
Where God is concerned receiving is better than giving
Paul's prayer: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."
Expectation has a Voice
Are you saying "Not Me?", "Not here?" or "Not Now?" - well listen up!
Let's Go - It's All About Missions
"... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5v16
Who is the person you can reach this week?
Let's Go - It's All About Missions
"... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5v16
Don't fall for the trap of a fast pace of life, making lots of effort, to "let your light shine". Jesus invites us into his rest.
Let's Go - It's All About Missions
"... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5v16
Letting People See Your WHY (your reason and motivation for being Jesus's Disciple)
How strong is your WHY?
What can you do to strengthen it?
Let's Go - It's All About Missions
"... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5v16
You are a picture of the Gospel at work
Encounter - Everything can change when you encounter God
Familiarity breeds contempt - but the Antidote to Familiarity is being in Awe of the Lord
Why does everyone need to bring a shovel when they come to church?
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44
There's treasure to be had
Why does no one write EMO worship songs?
"Some worship elevates God beyond our own definition of him"
Take every thought, and every description we have of God, look him in the face and say "God I Know that you are bigger than that"
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6v9)
"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks"
Created for Goodness
No-one wants to be insignificant
Barriers:
- Low Self-worth (sounds like "I could never...")
- Limited Imagination (sounds like "It's not possible")
- Fear of Failure (sounds like "Do you remember the last time you tried that?")
Barrier Breakers:
- Remember - "I am a child of God"
- Remember - "I am created in His image"
- Remember - Jesus says "If you love me keep my commands" - Success IS obedience
The good person produces good things from the store of good in his heart, while the evil person produces evil things from the store of evil in his heart. For his mouth speaks what overflows from his heart. Luke 6:45
Secrets to an Overcoming Life
- Be positioned correctly
- Empower Godly friends
- Celebrate well
The good person produces good things from the store of good in his heart, while the evil person produces evil things from the store of evil in his heart. For his mouth speaks what overflows from his heart. Luke 6:45
The Transfiguration of Christ
To be a disciple of Christ means that we go where he leads and we do what he says.
Are you preferring familiarity over following?
For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart (Matthew 12:34)
Part 2: The Impact our words can have and what they reveal about us
The tongue can bring death or life
Before criticizing someone else 1) pray for that person, and 2) pray for your heart.
For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart (Matthew 12:34)
Part 1: What do you do when you lose perspective, when you are focused too closely on the wrong things?
Two truths to help you "zoom out": God is Powerful AND God is Personal.
What do you need to do to improve your vision of how powerful and of how personal God is?
The Gospel (Part 2) - Every Hello Matters - Part 4
Our tables are places where every hello matters and where the gospel is shared
Focus on what you do have rather than what you don't have
Do Not be Afraid - Stand Firm - And you Will see the deliverance of the Lord
The Gospel - Every Hello Matters - Part 2 - Joy If we are lacking Joy then -
- we are mis-representing the Gospel, and
- we are mis-representing this God that we are following
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
(From The Westminster Shorter Catechism)
Spiritual Parenting - Lessons from the life of Mordecai
"There's a whole world out there that needs to meet the father and we are to be the guide to get them there"
Theology Series: The Gospel
The Good News and why we need to hear it
The Gospel changes our Identity
Have you received the good news - it is of FIRST IMPORTANCE
Theology Series: The Gospel
The Good News and why we need to hear it
The Gospel changes our vocation (What we do and Why we do it)
Theology Series: The Gospel
The Good News and why we need to hear it
The Gospel changes our destination
The Gospel is not just what you are save from, but what you are save to.
The Hope of the Resurrection
Hangry: A Wisdom for Life Series
How to make your best decisions at your lowest moments
Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil
Key Takeaway: Worship Well
Who, or what, we worship becomes an anchor point for our decisions; our behaviours; and our beliefs
Hangry: A Wisdom for Life Series
How to make your best decisions at your lowest moments
Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil
Key Takeaway: Prepare Well
Hangry: A Wisdom for Life Series
How to make your best decisions at your lowest moments
Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil
Key Takeaway: "Eat Well" from the Word of God
Hangry: A Wisdom for Life Series
How to make your best decisions at your lowest moments
Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil
Readings and reflections as we make the long road to Jesus' coronation as king on the cross
The Anger of Jesus
Get angry at the things that get in the way of a relationship with God
Pray: Jesus, Surely you are the Son of God, so please come and clear my life
"Surely this man was the Son of God!"
If we Accept Jesus as the Son of God AND follow his way, then we build the kingdom of Heaven here on earth
Let's be people who choose not to see what's going on around us as situations of disaster but as situations of destiny
Run!
"I wonder, when it comes to our impossible marathons, we perhaps never really get started, not because we couldn't, but maybe because we just haven't?"
A Mountain Moment
From a prayerful position the you can see the promise coming
Apologies for the poor audio quality
When you turn things upside down you may loose things of value.
Christ came to turn our world the right way up
In places the audio drops out but hopefully the full message will still come across - I'm sorry
Are you carrying a dead-weight?
Have you got "seeds" in your hand that need to be planted?
When we leave stuff "dead and buried" with Jesus, it will find new life
Worship is Unstoppable
Worship is a submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of the will to his purpose - and all this gathered up in adoration
William Temple ABoC 1942
The Church - the border-less, boundless, un-containable, Kingdom of God - is unstoppable - because of the Spirit of God
The government's rule of 6 doesn’t overrule God's promise of the 2 or 3
When Jesus is in the room things change
God wants to bless those around us, and He wants to do that through us
LIVE BIG - LIVE for OTHERS
What we can build TOGETHER is FAR GREATER THAN what we can build ALONE
God's promise was given to a PERSON - to be fulfilled by a PEOPLE
He sees us even when we are not looking for Him
He sees us even when we can not see Him
He is with us, He sees us, He is for us, He will never abandon us, He will never leave us, and He want's to pour Himself into our world
Fruit
Only once a tree is established can it experience the joys of bearing fruit
How do we know that we are fully living this Psalm 1 planted life? When we're bearing good fruit.
Roots
Where are your roots?
How deep do they go?
The strength of our faith is determined by the depths of our roots
Who do you want to become?
A "planted" person repeatedly reflects on the word of God
because what we do repeatedly is key in becoming the person we want to be
Positioned
If we are going to discover the "more" that God has for us, then we're going to need the practices of producing fruit.
A Home of Growth
Sown to be Grown
1 Peter 1: 1 "You are not forgotten, you have been chosen and destined by Father God"
A Home of Discovery
You can discover:
- more of God
- more of ourselves
- more about those around us
If you are listening and you have never made the decision to invite Christ into your life, today could be the day where you discover a relationship with God. His love is something that's available to all of us.
Doubt
"When we doubt it's not showing that we have no faith
it's just showing areas where we've got a weak faith..."
Doubt: Define your doubt / Doubt your doubt / Deny your doubt - do it anyway
"... go in the strength you have... because I will be with you..."
"By wisdom *a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures."*
Proverbs 24:3-4
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
"Remember, I have given you authority..."
"In my prayers I keep asking God, the glorious Father, to give light to the eyes of your hearts, so that you will understand how surpassingly great is his power working in us who trust him." (Some phrases removed for emphasis)
Reconciliation - the restoration of friendly relations
"Our God reconciled us to Himself in Christ Jesus"
As followers of Jesus, we are new creations; the old has gone, the new has come.
So how do we deal with our old thinking, habits and attitudes?
"... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do all this through him who gives me strength. "
Philippians 4
Lean Back and Trust
Let the Holy Spirit “fill your sails” and take you where you were designed to go
Part 4 of Living Big - God wants to hang out with you!
Encounter God, Grow Personally, Go Make A Difference
Part 3 of Discipleship Pathway - Go Make A Difference
Encounter God, Grow Personally, Go Make A Difference
Part 2 of Discipleship Pathway - Grow Personally
Encounter God, Grow Personally, Go Make A Difference
Part 1 of Discipleship Pathway - Encounter God
Encounter God, Grow Personally, Go Make A Difference
This message was created, not just to teach you but to give you an encounter with the heart of God. God’s heart is both vast and wonderful, so we could only touch the surface in 40 minutes or so.
The best response you can give to this message is to embark on your own quest to understand the heart of God by developing a close intimate relationship with your Father, Shepherd and Lover. He is besotted with you!
Below are the bible verses I referenced in my message. After you’ve studied them, why not add to them yourself. Feel free to post your thoughts and findings on our Facebook post for this message. We’d love to hear from you
The Fathers Heart
Isaiah 43:1 NIV – I form you, you are MINE
Isaiah 64:8 NIV – A cry of the Prophet to the Father in the midst of mankind’s huge sin.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – My dreams and plans for you
Psalm 17:6-9 NIV – Keep my as the apple of your eye
Psalm 40 NIV – He hears your cry and wants to put a new song in your mouth
Psalm 139: 13-18 – Wonderful picture of your formation and his passion for your future.
Zechariah 2:8 NIV – Whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye
Matthew 7:9-11 NIV – How much more does your Heavenly Father want to give to YOU!
John 1:11-18 NIV – Jesus gave us the ability to be children born of God!
Ephesians 2:10 NLT – We are Gods masterpiece!
The Shepherds Heart
John 10:11-15 NIV – I am the Good shepherd, who lays his life down for you
Amos 3:12 NIV – Rescues you when it seems hopeless. He cries, “There is hope!”
Psalm 23 NIV – A wonderful complete picture of our loving Shepherd.
Luke 15:4-7 NIV – Searches for you when you get lost…
The Lovers Heart
Hosea 2:19–20 NIV – I will betroth you to me…
Isaiah 54:56/Jeremiah 3:14 NIV- I am your husband
2 Timothy 2:13 NIV – I will be faithful even if you are not
Isaiah 62:1-5 – Speaks the truth of our beauty even when we don’t look it or deserve it.
Song of Songs 2:10-13 NIV – Longs for time with me, every morning
Zephaniah 3:15-17 ESV- He sings over us and soothes us with His love.
James 4:8 NIV – Come near to God and He’ll come near to you..
And that beauty passage at the end that speaks for itself….
“For you reach into my heart. With one flash of your eyes I am undone by your love, my beloved, my equal, my bride. You leave me breathless— I am overcome by merely a glance from your worshiping eyes, for you have stolen my heart. I am held hostage by your love and by the graces of righteousness shining upon you.”
Song of Songs 4:9 TPT
Lectio Divina
In Christianity, “Lectio Divina” is a traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word. It does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but asthe living word.
5 Steps of Lectio Divina
Reading. – Read a passage slowly and carefully within the bible.
Prayer. – Having a loving conversation with God.
Meditation. – Thinking deeply or swelling upon a spiritual reality within a text.
Contemplation. – Resting in Gods presence.
Action. – Go and do likewise
Part 6 of Me, Myself & I Am.
Your identity is designed for unity not isolation.
Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God
1 Peter 2 v4-5 (from the Message translation)
Part 3 of Me, Myself & I Am - I’m Going Home
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
“Lord teach me to realise the brevity, the shortness, the briefness of life, so that I may grow in wisdom”
Psalms 90:12
Ever get that feeling that your life is on a journey to rediscover something sacred? Our new series ‘Me, Myself & I Am’ starts tomorrow to explore some reasons why.