Build the Kingdom

Today at holiday club we were thinking about the Great Commission. This passage of scripture is in the last chapter of Matthew. Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all men, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I told the children that if the disciples had ignored this command then I wouldn't know about God and so probably wouldn't be a Christian.
This got some of the children thinking; if it wasn't for the obedience of these first disciples of Jesus then there would be no Kidzone, no holiday club, no church, no Christians! 
What an amazing thought. I know its an obvious thing, but its so often the obvious things that we miss!
I praise God for the obedience of these first disciples as without them sharing the gospel and the good news of Jesus, I would not be the person I am today.
So what about us? This wasn't just a command for them at that time, it's a command that we too go and do the same. When we share our faith we make a difference for the Kingdom, we make a difference in the lives of the people that we tell.
My life was changed the day I was told about Jesus, so who's life am I going to help change by telling about Jesus today? What about you? Are you going to tell and make a difference too? I hope so.

Fishing or Faith?

Continuing with the Holiday club theme - today we thought about Peter being forgiven by Jesus at the BBQ on the beach.
This passage is found in John 21, and the part of the story that jumped out at me was at the very start of John 21. In the previous chapter of John, Jesus has appeared to the disciples on more than one occasion, and here we find it about to happen again. Peter has decided to go fishing and after spending the night with no catch, Jesus appears and a miracle catch happens once again. 
Why did Peter go back to fishing? He'd spent the last three years of his life with Jesus. He'd seen Jesus do amazing things including healing people as well as raising them from the dead but yet he chose to go back to fishing.
To be honest I've been wondering about this all day. I've tried to put myself in Peter's shoes and the only reason I can come up with is that Peter was feeling awkward because he'd let Jesus down by saying he didn't know Him. Jesus had already appeared to Peter and the others on more than one occasion. Peter was obviously happy to see Jesus as he is the only one in the story that jumps out of the boat to go and meet Jesus on the shore.
When we do something wrong it's so easy to go back to the old ways, it's so easy to fall back into what we are used to. Peter went back to fishing because it was what he was comfortable with, it was the easy option.
The great thing about this story is that Jesus forgives Peter and before we know it Peter is standing up in front of thousands of people telling them the good news that Jesus is Lord! When we have an encounter with the Creator of the Universe, it changes us completely. Let's make sure that when we mess up we don't go back to the old ways, let's make sure that we don't go back to the comfort zone. We need to come to the cross and move on with Him. Jesus forgives us so we need to forgive ourselves and move into all that He has for us. 
Let's make sure that we don't go back to fishing, but continue to move on in Faith!

Are you a Thomas?

Today we began our Easter holiday club for children and the story today was about Thomas who doubted that Jesus was alive after His crucifixion. It's a famous story and Thomas got the nick name - Doubting Thomas.
Jesus reveals Himself to Thomas and so he believes and then Jesus says these very famous words:
"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29
Before starting the club today as I was reading through this passage, it really struck me how we are all in a different place even though we are all on the same journey.
Thomas, with the other disciples had seen Jesus do many miracles, had spent three years following His every word, but yet he still couldn't believe that Jesus was back from the grave. He'd seen Jesus raise both Jairus' daughter and Lazarus from the grave, but he couldn't quite get his head around Jesus being back from death.
This made me think about us today. There are many kinds of people all in different places. Some people know Jesus as Lord and Saviour; some people know only of Jesus as a swear word; some people think of Him as a story; some think of Him only as a good man that said good things. However, whoever we are, whatever part of our life journey we are on, Jesus loves us and wants to be part of our lives.
Where are you today? Do you believe that Jesus is Lord? Do you know that even if you don't believe in Him that He loves you anyway? Thomas had to see to believe and I guess most people today are of the same mindset. But let's just think of this for a moment - you can't see wind but you can feel it, you can't see air but you can breath it. Thomas only believed because he'd seen Jesus - what are you going to do today? Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you and He will. You've got nothing to loose!

The Winning team!

Well that's it! Death is defeated, the battle is won. It's Resurrection Sunday and what a great day to celebrate! 
Over 2000 years ago, the Saviour of the world conquered death and so bought us all our freedom! He died on the Friday, and by the Sunday morning He was back from the dead.
I love Easter - it always brings back to me how amazing Salvation is. Without the cross there is no Salvation, and so we must never forget what Jesus did on that first Good Friday - but equally, we also need to remember what He accomplished on that first Easter morning.
When Jesus died, he paid the penalty for our sin, when He rose to life, He defeated Satan and death itself.
Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we can live in the assurance that we are saved from sin and that death has lost its sting! We are on the winning team! 
What team are you on this Easter? Are you on the winning team? Are you the kind of person that just celebrates time off work at Easter? Do you know Jesus as your Saviour or as a swear word? Jesus wants to be part of our lives, He invites us all this Resurrection Sunday to be part of His family - do it! It's the best Easter gift you will ever get! Ask Jesus into your heart and know what Easter is all about - the joy of knowing that you're on the winning team!

The cross

We are in the middle of the weekend that changed the world. Easter is the most important celebration of the Christian calender. It's a time when we come together and remember what Jesus did for us over 2000 years ago.

I was thinking this morning though, it's not just a time for remembering although that is right to do, it should be a time of Celebration.

Jesus death wasn't the end, but the beginning. Jesus death wasn't to be mourned, but to be celebrated. People think of the cross as a symbol of death and suffering - which it was. But to me as a Christian it represents my Salvation. Without the cross then my life would be so different. Without the cross of Jesus I would be going to a lost eternity. Without the cross I would be on the path of destruction. Without the cross I would be separate from God.

Let's celebrate this Easter what Christ did for us. Yes it was the cruellest of deaths, but through His death, Jesus paid the price for ALL. We are free because of the cross, we are saved because of the cross, we are forgiven because of the cross, we have a hope and a future because of the cross. 

If you don't know what the cross is all about, and what it means to have a hope and a future, then put your trust in Jesus. He will show you what the cross is all about. Why not pick up the bible today and read about what Jesus did for us ALL. He didn't die only for those who believe in Him, He died for everyone. Make this Easter extra special this year. If you don't know who Jesus is, ask Him to reveal Himself to you and start the greatest adventure of your life. Learn about what the cross really means and make a decision to follow the one who took the punishment that we deserve - choose to follow Jesus.

Sunday's Coming!

It's Good Friday today, and I thought I'd post my thoughts. Today at church we read from Matthew his account of the trial and death of Jesus. It made me once again consider the man that was set free because of Jesus - Barabbas.
This man was all set to be punished for his crimes, and the punishment that he was facing was  death by crucifixion. 
What about us? We are also free because of the cross. Barabbas was set free not because he deserved his freedom but because Jesus took his punishment. This is the same for us all. We don't deserve God's forgiveness or His grace. We have ALL fallen short of the glory of God.
However, Good Friday is a great day for the whole of mankind -it is the day that affects the whole of eternity. Without the cross there is no Salvation. The cross of Christ is celebrated because it was the ultimate sacrifice for the whole of mankind. God taking our punishment and our sin and nailing it to the cross. We are so fortunate to be born this side of the cross. I praise God for the cross of Christ.
Let's remember what He did for us today. Let's praise God for Good Friday and remember -
SUNDAY'S COMING!