We've just started a new series looking at Jesus' teaching and invitation to follow his narrow way. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
A few years back I was talking to a friend about a particular city in the UK. We both knew undergraduate students in this city, and we were lamenting the lack of churches who were willing to nurture, train and disciple students. While churches in the city were happy for students to serve on rotas, there was a 'glass ceiling' in terms of their development as disciples and as leader.
So, we're 3 weeks into our 9 weeks Sunday series on IDENTITY! How's it going for you?
The series comes in 3 parts, each of 3 weeks:
We've concluded 3 weeks looking at God the Father, and how we find our identity as His children, in relation to Him. He has adopted us and wants us to see ourselves as He sees us.
We're about to start 3 weeks looking at God the Son, and how His momentous death and resurrection was a pivot-point in world history, changing how we relate to God. We're going to see how to walk in forgiveness and the dignity of who we are in Christ.
We're very excited about our new series - IDENTITY - starting this Sunday 4 October. This series was planned for the Summer 2020 term and then postponed due to COVID, so it's been in the pipeline for ages and we're delighted to finally get to it. IDENTITY will ask who God is, and how we get to be in relation to him! In other words, how our true identity as humans is found in relationship with our loving heavenly Father.
During the early days of lockdown, many of us who lead churches were frantically looking for advice and learnings from others as we sought to navigate a confusing season. We were asking what was the church supposed to be, and to be doing, and to be praying in this "unprecedented" season?
Whenever someone asks me why I keep going on about OCC all the time my first response is almost always, “OCC does discipleship really well.” To which the natural response is of course, “What on earth does that mean?” So, having answered this question many times to various people, it seemed a decent topic to write a blog about.
Part 1 of a 3 part blog. Part 2.
What is our problem!? Why do we dislike talking about money so much? Of all the talks we do in church, the one on money is one that most regularly touches a nerve! It has been said, 'If you want to start an argument in Christian circles, bring up tithing!'
In Mark 3, we read about Jesus calling the twelve disciples. Verse 14 reads (emphasis added): He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
In our understanding, that's the heart of discipleship: we want to be 'with Jesus' and we want to be sent by Him.