The Joy Of Church

Really good to be back at my home church this morning (i call it my home church, although i've only been there a handful of times since easter 2004!). For me, I suppose it will always be like visiting 2002/03 for me, and i mean that in no bad way at all. But those were my first years as a Christian, and in a lot of ways the church hasn't chnaged much since then. The same people singing the same songs, with the same guitar/claranet arrangement, i close my eyes during the worship and i'm back two, three years ago. Its great in a lot of ways. Also really encouraged by the number of people at church that i didn't recognise, and that very few people (allowing for summer holidays) seemed to be missing.

Alan Price was preaching on Ephesians 2:10, which was cool because it's a verse God has been talking to me a lot about recently. I just want to try and share some of what he bought.

We are God's workmanship: We are God's poem. Psalm 19 asks us to consider the wonder of creation, the complexities of nature and of our being. The masterpiece of God is someone who has been made alive in Christ.

Created in Christ Jesus: We are his creation now. Its a radical metamorphosis. Our very inward being has been changed, we are not turning over a new leaf when we turn to Christ, but living a new life...

To do good works: Matthew 5:16 says 'Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.

Which God prepared in advance for us to do: We don't need to worry about what we should do for God, He's already got it sorted. The works we are to perform are the works He has created in us the ability to do. Jesus said what He heard the father say, did what He saw His father doing. Seek first the Kingdom and everything will follow!

For us to do: God wants us to be available. We need to be thankful to Him for what He hads done already (1 Timothy 1:12). We must be faithful, not just givign up when the going gets tough, but relying on God to complete His work through us.

Sober Judgement: Do not think too highly or lowly of yourself. God will give you work to do in accordance of your faith and gifiting. He will never ask you to do something that you can not do. The faith you have today will grow as you wrok. There is no point in waiting for a perfect day to come along, start with the abilities you've got. The simple of skills of life are so much more poweful when used by God.