(by pastor Norman)
After Jesus’ ascension into heaven there were 120 disciples who made up the early church (Acts 1:15). Jesus had instructed them to teach and preach the gospel of salvation and make disciples (Mark 16:15-18, Matt 28:18-20, Luke 24:47). He promised that their ministry would be accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:17-18). The gospel is the good news of the life God has for us and how Jesus sacrificed His life so we could be forgiven of sin. As we repent of sin, ask God’s forgiveness and believe in Jesus, He comes and lives in us as the Holy Spirit, bringing the new God kind of life. This is salvation. In the early church they were all filled with the Holy Spirit which was an empowerment, particularly for witnessing (Acts 1:8, 2:3-4). The apostles taught the gospel with boldness (Acts 4:31-33, 5:41-42) and the disciples studied the apostles’ teachings constantly (Acts 2:42) but there were no bibles back then. In the early church there was ongoing fellowship, prayer and praise of God, observance of holy communion, (Acts 2:41,47), a great sense of unity (Acts 2:46, 4:32, 5:12) and a communal sharing of resources and finances such that no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45,4:32,34). Signs, wonders and miracles were experienced (Acts 2:43; 5:12) and people were saved and added to the church daily (Acts 2:47) such that numbers reached 5000 very quickly (Acts 4:4). God never changes (Mal 3:6) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb 13:8; NKJV). As Christians we are a continuance of the early church, let’s follow their example.
(by pastor Jean)
“I am the good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus is our good shepherd. Naturally speaking a shepherd is someone who cares for, protects, guides and sacrifices for his sheep, which is exactly what Jesus does for us. In the beloved parable of John 10:1-10 Jesus says the shepherd enters by the door and then in verse 7 He states that He is also the door and that as such He is the way to salvation (the only way!) (John 10:9, 14:6). He further states that if we enter the sheepfold through the door (Jesus) then we can “go in and out and find pasture” (John10:9; MEV). Pasture symbolizes food, nourishment and provision. In other words, we can freely go in (into the presence of God) and out (into the world) knowing that we are secure, protected and provided for, physically and spiritually. This lines up with Psalm 121:8, “The Lord will preserve your going out and coming in” (MEV) and also Deuteronomy 28:6, “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out” (MEV). Remember too that Jesus is the Shepherd that goes after the lost sheep that strays from the flock, showing His great love for us (Luke 15:3-7, Matt 18:12-14), not wanting anyone to be lost (John 10:28-29, 2 Peter 3:9). We understand that continuing this comparison of Jesus being the Shepherd and we the sheep that in John 10:3,4, and 27 we are told that the sheep hear and know His voice and follow Him. Our job is to listen and obey and then we will enjoy His abundant life (John 10:10).
(by pastor Norman)
We are told in scripture that God has a plan for each of our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11; NLT). In the apostle Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, he says we are God’s workmanship, His work of art, His masterpiece recreated spiritually in Christ to do the works God has planned for us and live the abundant, fulfilling life He prepared for us (Eph 2:10, John 10:10b). We are the salt and light in this world around us (Matt 5:13-14) and Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16; NKJV). This all sounds very exciting but how do we get to walk in all of this? Jesus said that not everyone who called Him Lord would become part of His kingdom but only those that truly do God’s will and life God’s way (Matt 7:21). In the book of Proverbs, we are exhorted not to rely on our own understanding but to trust God with all our heart, get His will for everything we do and then He can direct every aspect of our lives (Prov 3:5-6). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105; NKJV). In school, college and university we spend hours getting an education to make us successful in life. How much more should we spend time in God’s word to get God’s will, purpose and way for our life.
(by pastor Jean)
“If you know these things blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17; MEV). What things was Jesus referring to in this verse? He had just finished washing the disciples’ feet and had encouraged them to follow His example (John 13:15). He had been teaching them humility and servanthood. Jesus said that He came to serve (Matt 20:28, Mark 10:45) and also said that, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43; MEV). Everywhere we go we should be looking for opportunities to humble ourselves and serve others (whether it be in our marriages, families, at work, school, the marketplace or wherever we find ourselves each day). Jesus further said that when we serve others, we are actually doing it for Him, “Truly I say to you, as you have done it for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you have done it for Me” (Matt 25:40; MEV). In all of the above passages Jesus is showing that we serve through acts of kindness and of course this is how we show love to others. There are many examples of servants in the Bible but John the Baptist stands out to me. He spent His ministry preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus saying, “He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Going back to our very first verse above Jesus said if we show humility and serve, we will be blessed. The word used for “blessed” means having a joy that nothing can remove. Be blessed today!
(by pastor Norman)
The disciples, James and John, asked Jesus if they could sit on either side of Him when He came to sit on His glorious throne (Mark 10:35-37). The other disciples were not impressed with these two disciples’ pride-filled assessment of their status (Mark 10:41-42). Jesus responded that Gentile rulers may lord it over their people but this was not to be the case amongst His followers (Mark 10:42-43). He said, “Whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43; NKJV). Jesus punctuated the discussion with this statement, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45; NKJV). As recorded in the gospel of Luke everyone who leads in Christ’s church should lead as a servant (Luke 22:26b). We are all called to serve in God’s church, but to serve discreetly not in a manner to earn public recognition (Matt 6:1-21). God knows our heart, our mind, our motivation and desire to serve and he will reward our works (Jer 17:10). As we serve and follow Jesus, the Father honours us (John 12:26). We are to be living sacrifices, emptied of self and filled with God (Rom 12:1). For me, one of the greatest examples of humility and serving is that of Jesus after the last supper with His disciples (John 13:2-17). Jesus washed the feet of each disciple. He did this as an example for us that we should have the humility and heart desire to serve one another in love. Amen!