SL.I.M

Rev David Beales explained what SLIM is from the story in John 21:1-14.

1. Jesus guides and directs the disciples in the process of fishing. After Jesus resurrection the Holy Spirit leads and guides us. Our Heart needs to be right with God to have the leading of God's Spirit. We have to be Spirit Led.


2. Fishing is a metaphor of Mission. Jesus gave clear instructions to his disciples and to us in Matthew 28 (make disciples). The message of Jesus in communicated to the world we live in through us. We are to be Incarnational (put flesh) in our mission.
   
3. Multiplication of fish. The catch was many more than that was expected. We are called to go and Multiply in the Kingdom of God

SPIRIT
LED
INCARNATIONAL
MULTIPLY

Risen from the dead

Sunday, 19th April - Talk by Rev David Beales from Matthew 28

David's question to the church: What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?
Some of the answers:
Sin would increase/ people will not know the love of God/ there would be no Christian faith/ No Holy Spirit/ Wouldn't know the real God/ Islam may be the dominant world religion

What happened within 53 days in Peter's life from denying Jesus to boldly proclaiming in the center of Jerusalem? How did this transformation take place?

• Encounter - Peter and the other disciples ENCOUNTERED Jesus.
  When Jesus is revealed in our lives he stops us on our tracks!
  
• Encourage - Jesus ENCOURAGED the women and told them 'Do not be afraid'
  Courage that Jesus supplies to replace fear is POWER, LOVE, SELF DISCIPLINE
  
• Enlist- Jesus ENLISTED people to become followers of God.
  He asks us to train other people to become disciples of Jesus. We are asked to train everyone from all cultures.

David also spoke on Baptism and Affirmation of ones faith if they have had a child baptism. There was an invitation to anyone to....
be Baptised/Affirmed
be part of the gospel and the gospel mission
build and multiply church plants
organise our lives best we can

Question: What if we hear God's voice and not respond?

(note: Do ask David Beales what SLIM is?)

Sunday Worship - April 13th

Chrissy Campos spoke on Hope and Hope Lost from Luke 24:36-49

What if life experience contradicts with what we hope and believe? Just as Jesus appeared to his disciples when they were in despair, in the middle of uncertainty in our lives he comes!

HOPE makes the assumption that the future is going to be better than the present.

HOPE LOST is despair

How do we have HOPE?

• Read and study the Bible - Psalm 119:114 'You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.'
• Pray - Philippians 4:6-7 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'
• Encourage - Hebrews 10:23-25 'Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.'
  Romans 12:8 'if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.'
  

Questions to ponder
1. What are the things in your life you feel are uncertain or hopeless?
2. How might Jesus renew these?
3. What area in your life do you hope for change?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us - Ephesians 3:20

With Luton DNA