Why plant a church? Because Jesus is still at work saving lost souls and we are called to be part of that work.
Author: Geoff Murray
Personal evangelism
Friends, the Holy Spirit has come to give you power to go and to be his witnesses, let us go in his power and in his strength to tell the good news of the gospel that many may come to know, love and enjoy God themselves.
Tension: Present sufferings & future glory
Friends, know this, what God starts, he finishes. He isn’t giving up on you, he who began a good work in you will see it through to completion on the day of Christ. And on that day, we will be changed for we will be like him. For he who promised is faithful, he will surely do it.
Free at last
True freedom is not what we may think; it’s not found in doing what we want to do. True freedom is better than we think because the Spirit of God enables new life and eternal hope, he enables great change in our life and, though at times we fail, he walks with us.
The way of faith
Friends, the way of faith is the only way. And in that it does a number of key things:
• It leads to our boasting and pride being squashed.
• It leads us to radically God-centred lives
• It leads us to the path of great blessing, of sins forgiven, of conscience cleansed, of restored fellowship with our God.
The power of the Gospel
What makes the gospel powerful for all who believe? It drives us to the lowest place as it reveals a righteousness we don’t have and then it lifts us to the glorious heights of God providing it for us on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. Place your faith in him and in him receive the righteousness that is by faith.
Living hope in the face of death
Jesus will come like a thief in the night; we don’t know when it’s going to happen. Put your hope in him now, seek him now, and be found in him so that when he comes again, you will not be separated from him in eternal darkness but you will be with him in eternal light.
Spiritual gifts (3)
Is God at the centre of your serving? Is he at the heart of your hospitality? Is he at the heart of administration? Is he at the heart of anything you do in the church? Serve in the strength he provides so that he may get the glory through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Church planting 101
Friends, whether you’ve been a Christian 5 minutes or 50 years, keep going, keep pressing on toward Christ, stay true to the Lord. When the temptation to give in is there, keep going. Keep persevering. Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Follow him, live for him, pursue him, stay true to him and his calling on your life to love and serve him with all your heart.
Doing good to all
So, as we do good to the glory of God, always be ready to give a reason for the hope you have that many might not simply have their lives improved, but their eternity secure.