Carol Service 20/12/2015

Mr.Paul Jackson read Isaiah 9 vs.6-7, Matthew 1 vs.1 and 2 vs.1-12, Luke 2 vs.6-19, John 1 vs.1-4 and 14, and Mark 1 vs.1 and 14-15.
                                                        "A CHRISTMAS CRACKER"
You get a paper crown in a cracker.
Matthew.
Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
Jesus was born of Mary of the kingly line.

You get a gift in a cracker.
Luke.
Luke 2 vs.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Isaiah 9 vs.6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
He was a gift for us, not just as a baby but He went on to die on the cross for our Salvation.

You get a message in a cracker.
John.
John 1 vs.1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hebrews 1 vs.1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

You get a bang in a cracker.

Mark.

Mark 1 vs.1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Mark doesn't record the birth of Jesus, but starts straight away with His work.

He fulfilled God's will and gave Himself to die in our place so that our sin could be forgiven.

He rose again and ascended. God will judge the world, we need to repent and put our trust in Jesus Christ. 

Gospel Meeting 13/12/2015

Mr. Bruce Clark read 2 Corinthians 12 vs.1-10 and Isaiah 40 vs.27-31.
Men seek power and dominance, but Jesus humbled Himself and died to demonstrate the power and wisdom of God.
God's inherent power in our weakness.
God's ways are higher than our ways.
His Kingdom is not of this world.
1 Corinthians 1 vs. 18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Power unto Salvation.

His death shows the power of God. The victory of the Cross.

The persuasive love of God. He sustains all things.

And yet all the fullness of God dwelt in Jesus.

When I feel powerless, fragile, uncertain, imperfect then when I am weak I am strong through faith in Him.

He loves us as we are with His transforming love.

We have opportunities and potential to advance the Kingdom of God.

Emmanuel - God with us.

To be in the good of this all powerful, all loving God we need to repent and trust in Jesus Christ and His death for us.   

Gospel Meeting 06/12/2015

Mr. William Horsborough read Romans 5 vs.1-11.
"The Benefits of the Gospel."
Justified.
Peace with God.
Access by faith to grace.

1/ Having been Justified - it has happened and is complete.
We have been changed from a sinner to a child of God.
We could never pay our debt, but we have been made right with God because Jesus died as our substitute.
We are a forgiven justified sinner if we repent and believe through the merits of Christ who loved us and died for us.

2/ Peace with God - reconciled.
Romans 5 vs.8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (or enemies).
We are joint heirs with Christ, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
God is a just God and is angry with sin every day, but He so loved the world. (John 3 vs.16).

vs.3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

God is not our enemy, He is no longer pursuing us for judgement, there is now no condemnation.
Christ is our rock.
Repentance, faith, and obedience.

3/ Access by faith to grace into the very presence of the King.
Allowed to be in and to rest and enjoy God's presence.
We come boldly not fearfully.
We are children of God. Rejoice in hope.

Justified - past

Peace - present

Hope  - future.

1 peter 1 vs.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 ¶  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: