1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 We are one church. We love God, love people, love 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,000 His mission, and love His church. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:09,440 Welcome to the One Church podcast. 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:17,480 Do you? Feel like you belong in 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:18,640 Leicester. It's where you're supposed to 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:19,240 be. I do. 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,440 This is where we're called to be, and we belong in one church. 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,800 And I hope that you're going to feel by the end of today that 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,920 you belong even more in this church because we're thinking 10 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:30,880 about the value of belonging today. 11 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,920 Belonging and commitment was a part of my life all through my 12 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,040 childhood and my teenage years because I was always one of 13 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,360 those children who liked to try lots of new things. 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,200 You know, I'd like to do horse riding, I'd like to do ice 15 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,040 skating, I'd like to do dancing and so on. 16 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,120 And it was drilled into me by my parents, you know, if you start 17 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,440 to go to Brownies or Guide, you keep going. 18 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,720 If you join the choir, you join the orchestra, you keep going. 19 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,280 And then it sort of came back to them because as a teenager I 20 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,960 then found this great group of people which was the Christian 21 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,480 Union at my secondary school. My family weren't practising 22 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,720 Christians at that point, but I went to this CU and because my 23 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,680 parents always drilled into me, you keep going. 24 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:16,400 I kept going every week and one day I lied and told that group 25 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,200 isn't this terrible because I wasn't yet a Christian. 26 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,760 I said I go to my local church and because I felt so guilty at 27 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,480 lying about that to those lovely Christian people, I got up on 28 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,600 the Sunday and went to church and found a relationship with 29 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,320 Jesus over the next few months through various means and I kept 30 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:36,240 on going to church. I never stopped. 31 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,920 It became a weekly commitment. It became a daily commitment for 32 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:44,120 me to spend time with Jesus. I love Jesus and I love the 33 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,760 church and you know, in the whole of one church. 34 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,800 Today we're continuing a series on our new welcome course, and 35 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,480 this four week course is going to in the future take the place 36 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,640 of our newcomers evenings. It's going to be run multiple 37 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,120 times through each year. But before we launch it for 38 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,160 everybody who's new in one church, we wanted to make sure 39 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,000 everybody gets to go through it and we didn't want you to miss 40 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,440 out. So we're taking everybody 41 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,720 through this process on Sundays. But if you missed either the 42 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:14,240 first two weeks of the welcome course messages, which was 43 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,240 walking with Jesus, and after that was Freedom, then they're 44 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,520 available through our podcast and the Freedom messages also on 45 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,360 YouTube. So do subscribe to those things. 46 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,080 By the way, subscribe to our YouTube channel. 47 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,200 If you can subscribe to the podcast and you get to hear 48 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,560 these amazing messages from around the church. 49 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,880 But each week as well, we're also showing short videos which 50 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,000 share a little bit of our heart and our vision, who we are as a 51 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,640 church and our key values. And today we're going to show 52 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:45,520 you a short video to start with, which is all about our strategy. 53 00:02:45,520 --> 00:03:03,600 So just watch the screen. We are one church. 54 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:08,280 We love God, love people, love His mission, and love His 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,280 church. We are a multi site Assemblies 56 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,920 of God church made-up of hundreds of people of all ages 57 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,840 and many nationalities. We are one church with one 58 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,960 vision, 1 mission, one leadership and one heart who 59 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,200 meet in a number of different sites around Leicester and 60 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:33,680 Loughborough. We began to plant sites in 2013, 61 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,200 inspired by the Father's call from Isaiah 54. 62 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,320 Enlarge the place of your tent. Stretch your tent curtains wide. 63 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,400 Do not hold back. Lengthen your cords, strengthen 64 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,480 your stakes, for you will spread out to the right and to the 65 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,680 left. When you enter any one church 66 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,360 site, you will find the same heart, the same passion and the 67 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,720 same vision for the whole. We truly are one church who meet 68 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,040 in many different locations. Currently we have 51 church 69 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,600 sites. The journey of planting them has 70 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,480 helped us to reach out to impact local communities, to develop 71 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,400 leaders and strengthen the church, and to create 72 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,480 opportunities for everybody to serve and grow. 73 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,760 It has enabled the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be released in 74 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,920 smaller contexts, and it allows us to care well for the people 75 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,080 who call one church home and provide places where everyone 76 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,680 can be both needed and known. Our five sites are One Church 77 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,760 North led by Daljindra and Hannah meeting at Beaumont 78 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,560 Leigh's school. One Church Oadby led by Tom and 79 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,880 Philippa meeting at Manor High School. 80 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,520 One Church, Braunstone, led by Wess and Laura meeting at the 81 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,640 Oak Centre, which is a community centre. 82 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,440 We run in the heart of Braunstone. 83 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,640 One Church, Loughborough, led by Hazel and Lawrence meeting at 84 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,000 Charnwood School of Dance. One Church Central led by James, 85 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,640 Claire, Josh and Alice meeting in the One Centre, our church 86 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,440 building near Leicester City centre. 87 00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:11,840 We'll announce our sixth site later this year, aiming to 88 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:14,480 launch this at the beginning of 2027. 89 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:18,480 We love gathering insights, but we also know we are stronger 90 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,800 together. Around 9 * a year we celebrate 91 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,680 this as we all gather at the One Centre for One Church together. 92 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,480 These gatherings are wonderful and important times of 93 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,640 celebration, outreach, infilling and sending out for the whole 94 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,000 One Church family. The One Centre is also our hub 95 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,400 of administration and midweek ministry. 96 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,280 Renovation of this building was completed in 2023. 97 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,600 It's the home of our church office, Way Coffee, and many of 98 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,240 our midweek groups for children, young people, young adults and 99 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,000 our seniors, alongside lots more activity and life. 100 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,520 We believe that being a multi site church is a strategy from 101 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,280 God where the strength of being 1 combines with the power of 102 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:07,160 being in many places. We're excited by the future and 103 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,040 to plant again seeing Leicestershire impacted for 104 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,160 Jesus. This is just a part of our 105 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:18,560 strategy and if you want to know a little bit more about where 106 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,560 we're going next and what we're going to do with the building 107 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,400 next door, make sure you're with us at the together, the next 108 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:24,880 Together, which is at the end of May. 109 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,520 So thirty of us that may put that in your Diaries. 110 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,240 So belonging is important. So we were not intended to live 111 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:35,200 the Christian life on our own. And God even uses in the Bible 112 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,960 the illustration of marriage to describe the way that Christ 113 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,480 loves the church. He loves his bride, and so 114 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,360 should we love the bride of Christ. 115 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,800 And you know, as David and I re engage from our holiday into all 116 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,760 of church life, reading our emails, looking at reports of 117 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,920 what had been happening and so on, I think our hearts were 118 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,840 filled with joy that we love Jesus, but also that we love the 119 00:06:56,840 --> 00:07:00,160 church, that we're part of church's people. 120 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,040 The church, therefore, is flawed. 121 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,640 The church is also glorious, and the church is the means of Jesus 122 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,200 reaching the world with his message of love and with his 123 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,640 love as well. And we're each called to commit 124 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,040 to the church even though it's not perfect. 125 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,240 You know, we cannot, I believe, live an effective Christian life 126 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,080 without being part of the body of Christ. 127 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,360 I remember reading a story about a Scottish minister who went to 128 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,800 visit a member his of his flock who'd got out of the habit of 129 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,360 connecting into church. And he'd become very isolated 130 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,440 and very alone. And he went and sat with him in 131 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,960 his little cottage and there was a log fire or a coal fire 132 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,640 burning, and he just took, he didn't say a word. 133 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,480 He just took the tongues. And he picked out one of the 134 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,040 coals from the fire and put it on the hearth. 135 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,080 And he sat with this man, without saying a word, watching 136 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:55,720 the coal lose its warmth, turn from orange back to black. 137 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,320 And without a word, he looked at the man, just prayed a little 138 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,320 prayer and left. Point taken. 139 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,240 We can only thrive as we're part of the whole. 140 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,360 Let's make sure that our coals, if, as it were, are in the fire, 141 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,520 right in the heart of the fire of the people of God. 142 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,600 And you know that only you can play the part that you can play 143 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,720 and that you're meant to play because you are unique and you 144 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,640 have a specific place in the body of Christ. 145 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,680 And we're here to help you find it and to find joy. 146 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,640 As we serve together at one church, we believe in the power 147 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,400 of community. Our heart is for us to be a 148 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:36,760 place where each person is known and needed, known by us as well 149 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,039 as being known by God. This is part of why we've been 150 00:08:40,039 --> 00:08:42,559 wearing our badges for the last few weeks, just so that we can 151 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,160 know even more people's names together. 152 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,240 So we all feel that we are known that we're needed as well, 153 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,600 because we're all needed to help one another to establish the 154 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,680 Kingdom of Jesus here with us. God's Word is clear. 155 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:59,200 It says this in Colossians 2. The whole body, supported and 156 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:03,240 held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes 157 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,120 it to grow. The body needs each other. 158 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,760 I can't be me without you fully, and you can't be you without me 159 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,760 and the others around you. We all need one another, and 160 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,720 it's all for the glory of Jesus. In Ephesians it says, 161 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,440 consequently you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but 162 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:23,040 fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his 163 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,520 household. There's another picture. 164 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,560 We're a part of a household built on the foundation of the 165 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:31,120 apostles and the prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the 166 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,640 chief cornerstone, and in him the whole building is being 167 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,280 built together to become a holy temple in the Lord. 168 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,920 So we're being built together, as it were, into this house 169 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,320 where God will live by his Spirit. 170 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:45,320 In him. You are being built together to 171 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,200 become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. 172 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:52,320 So together we are amazing and God has promised that He will 173 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,640 come and live within us as a body. 174 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,640 Now this morning we're going to practically look at how we can 175 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:02,320 be part of one church and in the family through small groups, 176 00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:05,760 through financial giving and through playing our part. 177 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,280 So firstly, small groups. Now, as we all know, one church 178 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,760 is growing with more and more people finding Jesus, which is 179 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:15,480 wonderful, and finding home here. 180 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,160 And the Lord is breathing on us now, ensuring that people are 181 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:23,000 known and are needed and know that they're needed in a growing 182 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,280 body. It can be challenging. 183 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,720 So as we continue to grow, it's important also that we break out 184 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,720 into smaller family communities to help people to cultivate 185 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,080 friendship and to grow in Jesus together. 186 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,000 So This is why we believe so strongly in small groups in Acts 187 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,960 2, right at the very beginning of the early church, when the 188 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,040 Holy Spirit just been poured out on the the early church, we read 189 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,800 this. They, the believers, devoted 190 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,000 themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to 191 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,960 the breaking of bread and to prayer. 192 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,800 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 193 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,920 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and 194 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,480 sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the 195 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,720 people. And the Lord added to their 196 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,960 number daily those who are being saved. 197 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,800 In the early church, the believers met in larger 198 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,240 gatherings, meeting together in the temple courts, as it were, 199 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,640 and in smaller, more personal meetings in people's homes. 200 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,080 And these small groups were places where the believers would 201 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:25,240 break bread together, where they would praise, where they would 202 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,160 pray, and they would learn together. 203 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,520 It was a space as well for people to be daily added into 204 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,400 the people of God. Now, we want our growing number 205 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,440 of small groups to be like that. We want to ensure there is a 206 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,560 place for every person who's finding Christ and being added 207 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,560 to the church. So what are one church small 208 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:47,080 groups like? Well, I can't tell you that 209 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,440 every single group is just like this because every group is a 210 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,200 little bit different to each other. 211 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,960 But there's a few things that are features of all of them. 212 00:11:55,560 --> 00:11:59,160 There are regular gatherings of small groups all over the life 213 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,880 of our church, most of them in geographical locations, but some 214 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,040 of them age specific. For example, we have young 215 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,120 adults, small groups, and we have our youth have crews, what 216 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,120 they call crews, which are small groups that meet and they meet 217 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,920 as part of their gatherings on Fridays and Mondays. 218 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,920 But no two groups are exactly the same. 219 00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:20,040 They meet in homes, they meet in different locations. 220 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,640 They're led by a wide variety of people who are trained and 221 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,360 committed to lead these groups and who are ready to welcome 222 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,800 each one of you. So what can we expect in a small 223 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,840 group? Well, in small groups, we dig 224 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,440 deeper into the Bible. This isn't a place where you 225 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,960 specifically teach the Bible. It's more a community where we 226 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,080 can learn to dig deep into the Bible together, learn from one 227 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,680 another, ask questions, grapple with the Scriptures, spur one 228 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:48,560 another on to go further In small groups as well. 229 00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:51,360 We build relationships. We love each other. 230 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,480 We pray for one another and for the church and for the world, 231 00:12:55,680 --> 00:13:00,040 just like in Acts 2. And care and support goes on in 232 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,600 small groups. In fact, much I would say, of 233 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:07,920 the lower level pastoral support in one church goes on within our 234 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,880 small groups. And it's always great for us to 235 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:11,840 hear if somebody's in a small group, we think, well, yes, 236 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,480 they've got a group of people who are caring for them, who are 237 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,880 loving them. Small groups are also places to 238 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,280 grow closer together, maybe to eat a meal together. 239 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,800 Most groups also organise occasional social events or 240 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,920 outreach events which they all take part in together and invite 241 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,240 others in. So why should we be in small 242 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,920 groups? Well, people in small groups in 243 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,960 Acts 2 as we heard and they were praising God and enjoying the 244 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,040 favour of all the people and the Lord added to them daily. 245 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,840 So here we can see that it's all about relationship. 246 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,760 It goes beyond what we can expect just from a Sunday 247 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,240 gathering. We can talk to a number of 248 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,480 people on a Sunday. We can get to know people 249 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,040 gradually. But as we get to meet with one 250 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,680 another regularly as part of small group, we get to know that 251 00:13:56,680 --> 00:14:00,320 small group much, much more. And we can open ourselves up 252 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,120 hopefully to one another and experience deeper relationships. 253 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,880 Also care. As we've said, small groups, we 254 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,680 can be cared and supported and know that there are people who 255 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:14,360 love us, who walk with us, that maybe when we're poorly somebody 256 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,560 will bring us a meal, or when it's somebody's birthday, it 257 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:19,640 gets celebrated, all those sort of things. 258 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,400 What about growth? Small groups are places where we 259 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,600 grow, where we learn. Because of this shared wisdom, 260 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,640 because of coming around the Word of God and learning 261 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,600 together, we grow. People grow in small groups. 262 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,680 They get stronger in small groups. 263 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,320 We worship together, we reach out together and strength, it 264 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,040 strengthens our faith, it builds up the community, and it 265 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,560 encourages care among the body of Christ. 266 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,280 So it strengthens the whole church having people in small 267 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,120 groups. Now one church has many groups 268 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:53,120 and there will be one near you. So our encouragement to you 269 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,560 today is that if you've not yet committed to a small group 270 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,840 already, why wait? If you are in a small group, why 271 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,480 not just say thank you for the small group you're part of and 272 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,640 determine even more that you're going to be committed to that 273 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,280 group. You're going to give to that 274 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:07,920 group. You know, it's no good as 275 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:09,720 sometimes complaining about a group. 276 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,000 We are the change. We can we go and we make it what 277 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,000 we want it to be. So let's be committed to our 278 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,800 group. And in time, some of us may also 279 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,560 become a host, opening our home or even become a leader of a 280 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,040 small group as we can offer to be trained to lead one. 281 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,800 Let's just say thank you to our small group leaders. 282 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,960 They do an amazing job, often unseen. 283 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:31,560 Fantastic. Thank you. 284 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,720 So now we're going to watch another short video and this is 285 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,840 all about another really important way that we show our 286 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,600 commitment, our belonging to the family here at one church and 287 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,960 that is through our financial giving. 288 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,840 Hello. My name is Chris and I'm part of 289 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,640 the finance team at one church. This short video is all about 290 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:57,040 financial giving. In the Bible there are over 2000 291 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,640 references to wealth, money, and possessions. 292 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,360 Following Jesus leads us to give in many ways, whether that be of 293 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,800 our time, our talents, or our treasures. 294 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,480 Giving is an act of obedience. It demonstrates trust in God's 295 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,600 provision and submission to His Lordship. 296 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,320 Generous giving is one of the clearest ways that our faith 297 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,880 becomes visible and it shows where our heart lies. 298 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:25,440 As Jesus said in Matthew 6 verse 21, For where your treasure is, 299 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:31,440 there your heart will be also. James 117 tells us that every 300 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,960 good and perfect gift is from the Father. 301 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:39,240 That includes our health, money, family gifts, and possessions. 302 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,840 In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, Jesus highlights the 303 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,480 importance of stewarding all that we have been given with 304 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,520 great care, whether a small or a large amount. 305 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:54,400 The question that each of us must consider is this, do I see 306 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,240 what I have as my money or God's? 307 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,720 Our answer to this will determine how we behave with 308 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,280 money, just as our behaviour with money will reflect our 309 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,079 heart. We believe that anything we give 310 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:11,200 to God and His church is simply offering back to Him what is 311 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,359 already His. Firstly, we give because God 312 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,760 invites us to. Giving financially is a part of 313 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,960 our Christian walk and our loving relationship with God. 314 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,640 Secondly, we give to bless the church we are part of. 315 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,880 As we give to God through one church, resources are released 316 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,600 to run ministries, bless communities, cover staff costs, 317 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,480 and enable our vision to reach the lost, serve the poor, and 318 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,560 change the world. We do this together. 319 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,720 Thirdly, as we give, we are blessed. 320 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,960 Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. 321 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,080 As we give out of obedience, we receive blessing into our lives 322 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:59,600 from the Father who loves us. In Luke 638 we even have Jesus. 323 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,880 Words of assurance. Give and it will be given to 324 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,920 you. We don't give so that we are 325 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,280 blessed, but we know we will be blessed when we give. 326 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,480 As a church we teach generous giving as modelled and taught in 327 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,720 the New Testament. There are many great causes to 328 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,800 support and invest into. We also believe that Christian 329 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,000 giving should be primarily toward and through the local 330 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,560 church. We belong to the community where 331 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,120 we worship and are pastored and cared for as an expression of 332 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:35,720 commitment and belonging. This is outlined in Galatians 6. 333 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:40,720 Many of us bring a tithe, which is 10% of our income. 334 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,120 The tithe is a significant biblical principle that 335 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:47,600 establishes the foundation for generous giving, but we do not 336 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,800 teach it as a mandate. Our standard is the New 337 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,800 Testament pattern giving that is regular, abortional, generous, 338 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,040 sacrificial, and cheerfully given. 339 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,360 There are many ways to give at one church. 340 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,480 Setting up a standing order so that a regular amount goes out 341 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,200 of our account is an efficient and faithful way to give. 342 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,600 This can be done quickly and easily today and only takes a 343 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,760 few minutes. We can also make regular or one 344 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,720 off gifts using cash, cheques, bank transfer or through the 345 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,320 website. Details can be found online or 346 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,240 on an envelope which is available today. 347 00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:29,720 We can give on a Sunday in our sights or throughout the week 348 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:35,320 online or at the church office. We also ask you to consider 349 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,120 completing a Gift Aid declaration. 350 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,960 This allows UK taxpayers to boost every gift they bring by 351 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,480 25%. Thanks to this government's 352 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,280 support for charities and churches. 353 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,560 It is simple to set up online or using an envelope and makes a 354 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:54,960 massive difference. Giving to God is a decision, not 355 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,960 a compulsion. It is a privilege, not a 356 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,080 pressure. We express our heart towards God 357 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,560 by choosing to give back to the One who so loved that He gave 358 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,720 and in doing so we are both blessed and changed. 359 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,960 We love because He first loved us. 360 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:17,280 Make a choice, start today and go on a journey that will change 361 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,440 your life. This. 362 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:23,840 Is our giving. Amen. 363 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,520 Wonderful, wonderful video and how wonderful to play our part 364 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,840 by giving our resources to God. Why don't you just stop for a 365 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,120 moment, Just say thank you to God for what he has given to you 366 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,520 and just ask for the grace to to give back to Him proportionally. 367 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,920 You know, that's been life changing for David and for me 368 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,840 and we've constantly seen the blessing of God as we've given 369 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,120 to him. You can never out give God. 370 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:48,800 You know that you can never out give him. 371 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,720 So we've looked at small groups, financial giving and finally 372 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,120 we're going to talk about playing our part. 373 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,720 So I've had a bit of a habit recently. 374 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,200 I have an E bike. I've had a little bit of a habit 375 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:07,040 of occasionally falling off my bike recently when a dog ran at 376 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,880 the wheels on my way back from the Oak Centre in Braunstone on 377 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,080 a Sunday morning and I toppled off onto the path. 378 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,600 Even a small injury in a part of your body, have you noticed 379 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,720 this? If you've had any injury, it can 380 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,360 take time and exercise and management to get it back to 381 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,280 where it was before. And I by the way, I renounced 382 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,320 that habit in the light of the Freedom Manager. 383 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,960 I reliance the habit of falling off my bike in Jesus name. 384 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,200 But most of us may have may have had an injury in a part of our 385 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,440 body at some point. And if so, we'll know from 386 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,680 experience that every single part of our body is important, 387 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,240 even our little toe. If you stubbed your little toe, 388 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,880 you'll know it's an important part of the body. 389 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,640 And the human picture is a great picture in the Bible of the body 390 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,200 of Christ and how the church is meant to function together, 391 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,880 everyone playing their part. Just read this with me from 1 392 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,680 Corinthians 12. The body has many different 393 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,920 parts, not just one. If the foot says I'm not part of 394 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,120 the body because I'm not a hand, that does not make it any less a 395 00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:07,640 part of the body. And if the ear says I'm not a 396 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,680 part of the body because I'm not an eye, would that make it any 397 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,640 less a part of the body? And if the whole body were an 398 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,960 eye, what? How would you hear if your whole 399 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,400 body was an ear? How would you smell anything? 400 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,440 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just 401 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,320 where He wants it. How strange a body would be if 402 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,680 it only had one part. Yes, there are many parts, but 403 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,800 only one body. The eye can never say to the 404 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,840 hand I don't need you, and the head can't say to the feet I 405 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,440 don't need you. All of you together. 406 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,520 This is an amazing verse. All of you together are Christ's 407 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:44,320 body. Just think of that. 408 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,640 We're all together making up the body of Christ and each one of 409 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,520 you is a part of it. We are all called to purpose. 410 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:55,800 I often say to people, you're called on purpose for purpose. 411 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,640 You are God's masterpiece. It says in Ephesians 2 verse 10, 412 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,760 created anew in Christ Jesus to do the good things He prepared 413 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:08,240 for you long ago. He's planned good things for you 414 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:11,920 to do, and he's called you and made you for a reason. 415 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,120 As soon as we come to Christ, we're called on purpose. 416 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,040 We also become part of His body here on the earth. 417 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,080 It is however, possible to live as a believer and because of 418 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,160 hurt or because of lack of understanding or priority, to 419 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:30,080 never fully play our part. Now, hopefully the talk on 420 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:34,160 freedom a couple of weeks ago will have helped us to be set 421 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:37,480 free from anything that might hold us back from trusting Him 422 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,880 or from launching into serving. But to take an active part in 423 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,760 serving Jesus in and through the local church is part of His plan 424 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,720 for you, and together we fulfil His purposes on the earth. 425 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,440 So here's a few facts. We all have gifts. 426 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,600 Just say, say to yourself, I've got gifts. 427 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:57,600 Some of us find that hard to say. 428 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,320 We'll say, well, we'll look at this person, they've got an 429 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,200 amazing gift in this. We look at this person, wow, 430 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:04,160 they're so gifted. What about me? 431 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,400 We all have gifts. We're all incredible people who 432 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,800 are deeply loved and created by the one who loves us most. 433 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,520 However, some of us might buy into that lie of I'm not gifted. 434 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,080 It's simply not true because all of us have what we might call 435 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,440 the shape in God, and every aspect of us can be used by Him 436 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,000 as we simply give it to Him. So we're going to very briefly, 437 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,320 before we outline ways that we can serve, we're going to very 438 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,560 briefly look at the letters of the word shape and different 439 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:38,080 ways that we can be shaped personally for what God has for 440 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:39,480 us. This gives us just a little 441 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,440 snapshot of how He's made us spiritual gifts. 442 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:48,200 S follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts. 443 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,920 It says in one Corinthians 14 it's right to desire spiritual 444 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,400 gifts. We're not going to go into the 445 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,400 list of spiritual gifts in the Bible today, but I wonder, do 446 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,440 you have an awareness of where you might be especially gifted 447 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:01,840 by God? Have a look at the lists that 448 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:05,720 are in the Bible of the ways that God can gift us and build 449 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,960 those gifts. Recognise where He's gifted you. 450 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:11,760 Build those gifts and use them for Him in and through the body. 451 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:16,800 What about H heart? What really motivates you? 452 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,360 You know, you often get to hear people's heart not very long 453 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:20,800 after you start talking to them, don't you? 454 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,080 Because what is in your heart comes out of your mouth. 455 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,880 So some people, they've just got a passion for certain things, 456 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:28,240 haven't they? What some things that really 457 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,880 really care about that really motivate them that really get 458 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,320 them up in the morning that they love, they love music or they 459 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,440 love to be creative, or they have a real heart for the poor, 460 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,360 or they have a real heart for a particular people group, or they 461 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:44,280 just love what they do in their job. 462 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:47,520 God can take your heart and he can use those desires to 463 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:52,600 motivate your serving. What about a your abilities? 464 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,680 This is quite simple one. What are the things that you can 465 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:56,360 simply do? What training have you had? 466 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,800 What are you simply good at? Are you a practical person? 467 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,840 Believe me, there are practical jobs that can be done in and 468 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,800 around the body of Christ that can really help the Kingdom. 469 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,520 But whatever our abilities are, then they can be used by God. 470 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,640 What about P personality? What sort of person are you? 471 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,520 What energises you? Are you more energised by 472 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,440 creating or constructing, caring, encouraging, planning, 473 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:23,280 writing, thinking, ordering? God can use your specific 474 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,760 personality the way that you're wired. 475 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:28,800 Are you a more outgoing person who loves to talk to people? 476 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,320 Are you a more introverted person who loves to read and to 477 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,720 study? God can use your specific 478 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,520 personality as you yield it to Him. 479 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,600 And fifthly, experiences. What have you learnt from your 480 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:43,520 life so far? Even the hardest experiences 481 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,720 that you've had in your life, the Bible tells us, can be used 482 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,800 to bless others. If you just look at 2 483 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,520 Corinthians 1, we can comfort others with the comfort we have 484 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,720 ourselves received from God. So whatever you've been through, 485 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,360 it can be used to help and encourage someone else. 486 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,520 Nothing in your life is wasted. We are all called to purpose. 487 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,120 We're all uniquely shaped and call to play our part. 488 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:09,640 So today just simply acknowledge your gifts matter. 489 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:13,640 They're important. You are uniquely designed. 490 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,280 Don't ever say I'm only this or I'm only that. 491 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,080 Celebrate the way that God has made you and the gifts that he 492 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,440 has given you and the difference you can make. 493 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:27,080 So we're going to think of a few ways that you can find your 494 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,760 place. So it may be that you already 495 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:33,120 are thriving in serving in and through the local church here in 496 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:35,480 one church. It may be you've not yet found 497 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,440 your place, or it may be that there's something else that God 498 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:42,880 is calling you to be a part of. So firstly, on a Sunday, here's 499 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:44,600 a few ideas of ways you can get involved. 500 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:47,760 Of course, our lives are far more than what happens on a 501 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:50,760 Sunday. But Sunday morning is very 502 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,240 important in building church because it's the way we open the 503 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,560 door to others coming in. It's where we come and we 504 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,920 worship together and we learn together and we grow together as 505 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,080 family. So will you play your part in 506 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:02,560 that? So here's some ways you can. 507 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:06,240 What about hospitality teams? What about welcoming people into 508 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,040 the car park, just indicating where they can park their cars? 509 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:10,600 It makes a difference. What if somebody's new to 510 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,920 church, they'd never been before to see a smiling face on the car 511 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,880 park. What an amazing thing for them 512 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,080 to have. What about the connect point 513 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:21,600 where you're just helping people getting connected into church 514 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,800 life or being part of the welcoming team, just helping 515 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,280 people find their seats? What about the refreshments team 516 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,000 putting people at ease by giving them a drink before the service 517 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,040 or after the service? These teams are all vital in 518 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:36,080 just setting the culture. It might seem a very small 519 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,040 thing, but if we can just sign up to be part of refreshments 520 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,480 once every few weeks, that makes a massive difference. 521 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:45,760 And what about other teams like the production team? 522 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,440 The sound, the lighting, the media, everything you see on the 523 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,320 screen, you know, Would you like to help to create an atmosphere 524 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,080 for everyone to encounter the presence of God? 525 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,920 Because this is what it's about. What about the worship team? 526 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,320 People who musically lead people into the presence of God through 527 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,480 song or through playing instruments and a worshipping 528 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,680 heart? If that's you, then why not step 529 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,440 out of the shadows and sign up for an audition? 530 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,720 We do need to audition people because, you know, we want to 531 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,720 make sure that people have that level of gift that is needed. 532 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,360 But why not step out to have an audition, have a chat? 533 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:23,520 What about children? Our children are out at the 534 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,640 moment in their groups and it's lovely to hear new people 535 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:30,000 serving even today. There's a variety of roles 536 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,320 available in our Sunday groups. You don't have to be doing the 537 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:34,920 upfront teaching. We need people who will sit with 538 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:36,840 children with special needs and just help them. 539 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,920 We need people who will be a helper, who will pour the 540 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,160 drinks, who will sit with the children, help them to listen, 541 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:47,280 help them to learn. What a wonderful privilege to be 542 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,840 part of children experiencing encountering God and learning 543 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,040 about His Word. What about youth? 544 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:55,760 Do you have a heart for young people? 545 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:00,040 We have many amazing teenagers in one church and we run groups 546 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,960 on the Sunday as well. Why don't you sign up and 547 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:03,720 register your interest to be part of that? 548 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,840 And it's not just younger people who can do that, it's any age. 549 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:11,240 Again, so vital, so rewarding. And then in the midweek we have 550 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,760 all sorts of stuff going on in and through the life of one 551 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:16,280 church. You see them highlighted on a 552 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,240 Sunday when we have family news. Today we heard a bit about Open 553 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,960 Hands Appeal for food. That's a way you can contribute, 554 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:25,480 but Open Hands is our compassion charity. 555 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,120 There are numerous opportunities to get involved. 556 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:31,320 Serving guests face to face in our weekly sessions. 557 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,800 If you have freedom in the week is a wonderful way. 558 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,480 We need to build up our teams again on a Tuesday and a 559 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,520 Thursday morning, serving guests with food and clothing and 560 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:44,760 furniture, praying with people. What about serving a meal on our 561 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,480 pie night once every three weeks on a Tuesday evening? 562 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:51,440 What an amazing opportunity to meet the needs of some of the 563 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,200 most vulnerable people in our city, get to talk to them about 564 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:55,840 Jesus, get to pray with some of them. 565 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,880 What about teaching our English classes or supporting roles like 566 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,560 sorting, delivering, collection, administration? 567 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,040 There are all sorts of things to be done in open hands behind the 568 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,000 scenes. What about Wake coffee, open to 569 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,600 the public all week? The vision of it is that we 570 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,120 serve excellent food, excellent drinks, but also that we are 571 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,760 able to share Jesus with hundreds of people who walk in 572 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,200 through the doors. What a ministry. 573 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,920 And we limit, you know, the people who come and serve in in 574 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:27,040 way to those people who really are dedicated believers because 575 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,480 we want to keep that culture of sharing Jesus. 576 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:35,080 We've seen many people find Jesus through Wave coffee or 577 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,640 Wave coffee has been part of their journey already. 578 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:40,960 What about little ones, our groups connecting with parents, 579 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:44,000 carers and under fives. Would you like to help Philippa 580 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:45,320 and the team? We'd love to have your help, 581 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,200 even if it's serving drinks, even if you're older and all you 582 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,320 do is sit and talk to somebody. It's an amazing ministry. 583 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:55,920 We've even got some young mums and carers who are ready now to 584 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,440 do the alpha that we're going to run in a few weeks time. 585 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,480 What about Rise and Reach, our groups for children aged 7 to 11 586 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,440 on a Tuesday and five to sevens. Every month we have a group 587 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:11,120 called Rise alongside our OC Kids team. 588 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,760 We need a group of energetic, encouraging, passionate 589 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,680 volunteers to come alongside them and to reach out to these 590 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:21,920 children and to the friends that they bring who can come to find 591 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:23,160 Jesus. Would you like to join that 592 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:25,280 team? And then there are groups 593 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,000 serving children and young people through our Bronston Oaks 594 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,560 Centre Community Centre. Wonder if you'd like to be part 595 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:35,000 of that impact? The Hub providing a fun, safe 596 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,600 and nourishing environment for young people, for children from 597 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:43,720 that specific area of our city. An OC youth on a Friday night, 598 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:46,520 you know, alongside an amazing younger youth team. 599 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,320 It would be great to have some mum and dad figures who will 600 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:53,880 come alongside our young people to help to disciple them, just 601 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,000 to be someone for them to talk to, to help them grow in their 602 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:01,720 faith in Jesus. What about young adults on a 603 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:03,600 Monday night? We have a group for our 604 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,960 eighteens to 25 thirties. They're looking for community 605 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:11,080 with other believers and wanting to go deeper with God personally 606 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,120 and reach out to those who are not yet believers. 607 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:16,520 You know, if you have those gifts and you feel you would 608 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:19,080 like to be involved with working with young adults, then there's 609 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,640 a place for you. And there's a place for you if 610 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,520 you want to be part of reaching out to our amazing seniors 611 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,960 through loving later life. On a Thursday during term time, 612 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,560 we provide every other week a coffee morning or a meal. 613 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:34,640 But our heart is for every senior to keep growing in faith, 614 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:38,440 to witness, to worship through to the very end of their life. 615 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,600 Would you like to join a group to be part of that, or would you 616 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:46,040 like to join a team to visit senior people in their homes? 617 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,520 We wanted to build a A-Team through one church, and it's a 618 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:53,120 great need in every site to visit a senior person maybe once 619 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:56,480 a month. And finally, what about prayer? 620 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,480 Because all those areas need prayer. 621 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:02,520 But on a Friday morning, 7:00 to 7:30 AM, there's a door open for 622 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,560 everybody on Zoom. David and I host a church prayer 623 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,480 meeting. It's called the Prayer Army. 624 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:11,080 And we have all precious, powerful time as we pray over a 625 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:13,400 wide variety of people, issues and stuff. 626 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:14,960 It's fun, isn't it, David? We love it. 627 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,560 We love Friday morning. We get there, put on our 628 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:21,840 computer, and off we go. And some people join them on the 629 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,639 bus on their way to work. Some people put their screens 630 00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:28,560 on, some people don't, and it's a joy to pray together just for 631 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,639 half an hour, but it makes a difference. 632 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:34,960 And any other gifts you have, just think about, well, how 633 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,600 Lord, am I going to use these gifts to serve in the life of 634 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:41,400 your church? I'm just going to share a quote 635 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,600 with you from John Stott, who was a very influential Anglican 636 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:47,360 theologian. He was taken by his mother to 637 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:51,560 church as a boy, and he later pastored the church, the very 638 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:54,639 same church that he was taken to as a boy for most of his life. 639 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,360 And he said this. The church lies at the very 640 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:01,040 centre of the eternal purpose of God. 641 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,720 Do you believe that the church is at the heart of God's 642 00:35:04,720 --> 00:35:08,480 purposes for this world? He's not created another plan. 643 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,120 The church is his plan. It's not a divine afterthought. 644 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,480 It's not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is 645 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,680 God's new community. For God's purpose is not just to 646 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:23,600 save isolated individuals, but to build His church, that is, to 647 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,800 call out of the world a people for his own glory. 648 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,080 Because the church actually, the ecclesia, the word that means 649 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:31,120 church actually means called out ones. 650 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,200 It's the ones called out of the world for his glory. 651 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:37,680 We may all get dissatisfied, even disillusioned at times with 652 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,840 some aspects of the church, but we must be committed to it 653 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:44,440 because God is. Jesus said I will build my 654 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:46,520 church. So what a wonderful purpose. 655 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:49,560 We all have a part to play. Do you believe that you all have 656 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,640 a part to play within the body of Christ, the family of God? 657 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:56,680 And we celebrate each of you. So I wonder what's your part And 658 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,400 think about today. We've thought about small 659 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,520 groups. Are you part of one? 660 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,320 Well, be even more committed to it. 661 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:08,360 Pray for your leaders, be part of it. 662 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:11,480 Go regularly. Are you not yet part of one? 663 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:14,720 We'll Sign up today to express your interest to be part of 1. 664 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:18,600 What about financial giving? Where do you think you're at? 665 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:21,960 Is your giving expressing your heart for God? 666 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,400 Do you need to readjust it? Do you need to start that 667 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:30,720 journey today? And what about serving? 668 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:35,040 Next week we're going to talk about being out there in the 669 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:37,560 world. But today is all about serving 670 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:39,760 God in and through the local church. 671 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:44,120 Here at One Church. Just think, well, where am I 672 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:50,000 gifted, where am I gifted and how am I being challenged to 673 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:53,000 take that next step to go that little bit further and use my 674 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:57,920 gifts? The Lord bless you and keep you 675 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:00,720 the Lord. Make His face shine upon you and 676 00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:04,720 be gracious to you, the Lord. Turn his face towards you and 677 00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:05,640 give you peace.