Christ In You
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CHURCH NEWS - January 2017
Christ In You
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27
The gospel is good news. Part of the reason is that in it God changes us at a core level- at the deepest level of our humanity. If you are in Christ; do you realise the resources that you carry around in you? Do you realise that you never again will be left alone to face what you are facing? The Gospel is good news because it means that Christ is in you- and he is at work within you bringing about his good purpose in your life through all things (Rom 8:28).
Jesus was the perfect human. He was fully human. Subject to all the temptations and trials we are and yet he lived the perfect life. He is what humans are supposed to look like. We often think that to be human is to be flawed. But if Jesus is the perfect human and he is more human not less, than us, then perhaps we need to change our definition of what humanity truly is. So what is true humanity?
Well Jesus was perfectly dependant on the Father, perfectly humble, perfectly obedient, strong and kind. That being the case- Christ is in us means we now have one who labours within us to change us, making us more and more human. This is profoundly good news.
One way of understanding this is by comparing two super heroes. Batman is of course a superhero- his powers come from outside him. He is rich and has cool gadgets that give him “superpowers.” However Spiderman, he has been changed at a core level- by being bitten by a radio-active spider. His nature has been changed from within- he has new power accessible to him within him. All that to say- in Christ we are more like Spiderman than Batman, in that something (or rather someone) from outside of you has entered you and changed you. Namely Christ in you is the hope of glory. Now that is good news indeed.
Grace and peace from Marcus
(Ideas sourced from Rankin Wilbourne’s Union with Christ; a wonderful book)
Visiting Speaker: 8th Jan
Dr Anton Van Deventer, the Moderator of the Full Gospel Church of South Africa, will be preaching. Speak to Jacques for more information about his father-in-law.
Resting in Eager Anticipation
Please pray for our Scripture Teachers, Playdate and StoneFish Leaders as they rest in January.
Prayer Meeting
Please join us before each Sunday morning service at 9:15 am near the kitchen to pray for our service and kids ministries, our home groups, Bridge Café, church growth and the Riverstone community.
Leaders and Elders Meeting: 31st January
Please pray for our Leaders and Elders who will be discussing the new year at the Reid’s abode from 7:30 pm.
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:1-2, 4
Sermon Series in January and February
Marcus will be focussing on “Such a Great Salvation” and the magnificent wonder of Christians being a New Creation, Justified, Chosen and Adopted.
Upcoming Events
January
29th Leadership & Elders
February
5th Small Group Leaders Meeting
12th Vision Sunday
Regular Ministries of our Church
Bible Study and Prayer Groups - If you are looking to join a group please contact Marcus
Children's Ministries - Play Date, The Ark, WAVES, JAM Time
Stone Fish Youth - Years 6-12, Friday nights, 7-9pm at the church
Sermon Recordings - missed a service? download them for free from our website.
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Stand Firm
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58
This verse begins with the word therefore, and whenever we see this word in scripture we must, according to Rick Warren ask- what is it there for? Well; Paul has just finished arguing for the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is on the one hand, and then the hope of resurrection for those in Christ, on the other. Paul says; because of the resurrection of Jesus and our hope in him and indeed because of his victory over death itself everything is different and because everything is different Paul says; “stand firm”. Don’t get distracted. Don’t lose heart. Don’t let your faith give way- stand firm on the fact that Jesus is raised, making him King of all, and giving us an invisible hope in Him. Don’t let anything shake you Paul says. Instead give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.
This is a wonderful encouragement. If Jesus is raised from the dead, then any other task, any other god (lower case “g”), is not worthy of our time or energy what matters most is the “work of the Lord”. What is this work- anything we might do to the glory of God of course; but surely right at the guts of that work is the work of making disciples of the King. The death conquering King. We are to give ourselves fully to that work- why because such work is of eternal value- it is not in vain. Jesus was raised from the dead. So let’s be a people who give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord.
Grace and peace from Marcus
