Our Mission is to
Connect with people in Jesus;
Build each other up in faith; and to
Become Like Jesus.
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16, The Unity, Diversity and Maturity of the Body of Christ
In today’s text Paul emphasises the importance of the unity of the body of Christ. He gives us the basis of this unity and we can find that it rests upon seven pillars (vs. 4-6). They are ‘one body; one Spirit; one hope; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; one God and Father of all.’
It is true that we are one body but this one body is made up of many parts. As Paul says in verses 11 – 12, God has given to all of his children gifts (“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers”). He gives different gifts to the different people. But he gives us different gifts, not so that we might separate from one another, but that we might be joined to one another.
He also points out that a healthy body is a maturing body which grows into a full body. Because of the unity and diversity of God’s gifts, “His people would learn to serve and His body would grow strong. This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (vs. 12-13).
We, the church as an organism and a living body of Christ, are to be Jesus’ eyes that see a lost and dying world; His ears that hear the cries of the hurting and the hopeless; His hands to help the poor and the weary; His feet to go to the ends of the earth, and His mouth to share the gospel of eternal life. When we do that motivated by love for the Saviour, a love for the saint, and a love for the sinner, that is body building at its best.
Dedication and Commissioning Service will be held this Sunday 28th January 2018 at 10.30am followed by lunch. It is a time to dedicate all of church councillors, ministry leaders and also assistants (servants) who will serve various church ministries and services throughout the year 2018.
Please note that next Sunday (4th February) our morning worship time reverts to 9.30am and Sundays@5 will resume in the afternoon.
DVDs of the Week:
Duck Dynasty. Season Three. The quack pack is back. The Robertsons have quickly become America’s favourite backwoods family. This close-knit Louisiana clan has made a fortune selling duck hunting whistles, turning a backyard business into a multimillion-dollar sporting empire. But for Willie Robertson, the company’s long-suffering CEO, running a family operation can be tough when all your employees are easily distracted, and will find any excuse to walk off the job. In this one-of-a-kind Duck Dynasty, everyday challenges and the most ordinary affairs are met with a special brand of Robertson practicality and Southern-style humour. Season 3 of this hit series features some of the gang’s most hilarious moments, from Willie’s desperate attempts to drop a few pounds ahead of his high school reunion, to Si’s quest to hunt down the legendary black panther, along with a super-sized season finale as the Robertsons embark on a Hawaiian holiday. Day-to-day life in the bayou may be mundane for some, but for this family, every day brings a new adventure.
Love’s Long Journey. In this compelling third instalment from Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly book series, Missie’s (Erin Cottrell) surprise discovery – her pregnancy – sets her on a new course that’s at once thrilling and terrifying. After all the planning and dreaming, she and her husband, Willie (Logan Bartholomew), have headed west in a covered wagon, leaving behind the prairie home of Missie’s parents. Now, caught between the excitement of the new adventure and the pain of not knowing when she’ll see her family again, Missie copes with the challenges, and cherishes the rewards, of her new homestead.