Notes on Sermons
Alan Tostevin
Alan Tostevin has the gift of making god’s word real and personal. Last Valley Worship he spoke on Colossians 3: 1-7. This was a more in depth look at a passage than perhaps most of us were used to in a public meeting but the impact of God’s word just held us.
Alan began by introducing us to the context of this letter. The Colossians were a people caught between myth and truth. How easy is it for us to become bewildered by the world around us. We were reminded that Christ is all we need and we need to live a Christ like life.
As we passed through the letter we were challenged to set our hearts and set our minds to the continuous process of being transformed to Christ likeness, while Satan tries to drag us back to our old ways. The more we try the more we concentrate on ourselves and not on Christ. We do tend to enjoy the build up to sin, when we begin to err, we need to deal with it right away . We can pray: I like the sin, I enjoy the temptation, please God deal with this.
We were reminded that we have been chosen. We all knew the feeling of rejection at not being chosen but God chose us . We are holy in Christ and God loves us. Wonderful!
We were reminded to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and the word of God dwell in us richly. We know when we are secure in the peace. The word of God dwelling richly requires us to read it. If we don’t read it we can’t bring it to mind, we can’t meditate, reflect and obey. Through His word Christ gives us the principles to be more Christ like.
Doug Barnett
How lovely that some people who came to this evening, came because they had become Christians through the ministry of Doug. What an inspiration and we hadn?t even heard him speak!
Doug began with some stories (filled with love and humour) about his ministry to children in the Lebanon, Beirut and the Ukraine.
Joshua seems to be a key theme this year and maybe we should all go back and prayerfully read the book over again. There is a lot to learn.
We were reminded with Joshua that the Lord will be with us wherever we go. Information brings illumination and dispels doubt and anxiety. It is easy to loose confidence in God when we are discouraged but our moments of greatest triumph can be when we are most vulnerable. The book of Joshua reminds us our God is a God of victory.
We were reminded of the need to be like Joshua and live with our backs to the past. The Moses period was ended now it was time for Joshua, God gives us inspiration and motivation for now. If we want to walk with God we need to move forward. There is a sign on the door to the past please close the gate behind you.
How many of us live with past failures dogging our steps? Then finally we are reminded to keep moving. Doug is a Marathon runner he told us of the need to keep moving. He told of the pain and prayer 'Please God help me finish'. What has God called you to do? Work, pray, love and don?t give up.
Doug also reminded us of the need to encourage ourselves and each other. Making a lot of noise is a ministry everyone can have. If you want to be encouraged encourage someone else. Remember God said 'As I was with Moses so I am with you'.