Sunday 5 September 2010
Stephanie Hayton | Facing the challenge
Deuteronomy 34:1-12: The death of Moses
Joshua 1:1-9: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go"
As the people of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, they paused to mourn the death of Moses. How would they face up to the challenge ahead? Could they trust God - and can we do the same today? In this All Age service, Stephanie's talk includes a practical demonstration of an adult having to trust someone else - his own daughter. The recording also includes a link from Geoff Lanham and the second of the two readings.
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Sunday 29 August 2010
Bobbie Frere | The last word
Colossians 4.2-18: "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity"
Paul turns his attention to how Christians should live in the wider world to make the gospel message known. Bobbie uses her own experiences to illustrate these ideas. Her talk is followed by a short, challenging prayer led by Geoff Lanham.
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Sunday 22 August 2010
Allan Bartlam | So what?
Colossians 3:1-4:1: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God"
In this chapter Paul explores the practical implications of his main theme -
that Jesus is all you need. Before the sermon, the service leader, Cathie, led an activity
with the children which explained that changing our lifestyle is like putting on new clothes.
Allan picks up on that image and adds some of his own, including submarines and cricket umpires -
a rare combination.
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Sunday 15 August 2010
John Mason | The bottom line
Colossians 2.6-23: "Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness"
In his sermon John encourages us to put this message into practice - to have Christ at the heart of everything we are and do, and to avoid anything that might try to take Christ's place. He explains some of the imagery Paul uses to get this message across.
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Sunday 8 August 2010
David Mole | A labour of love
Colossians 1:24-2:5: "...In order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"
Where can we find the answers to the big questions of life? Paul asserts that only in Christ can we find real treasure - the hope of glory. Paul had a special calling to take this message to the Gentiles and ensure that they experienced it to the full. He did this at great personal cost, but he considered the treasure he gained as far greater.
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Sunday 1 August 2010
Geoff Lanham | First things first
Colossians 1:1-23: "Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will"
Paul begins his letter with some big prayers - for things that will enable his readers to "live lives worthy of the Lord" (Geoff interviews two members of the church to ask what this phrase means). In the second part of the reading (included in the recording) Paul tells us why Jesus should have first place in our lives: because he really is first, holding the universe together and reconciling us to God.
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Sunday 25 July 2010
Graham Romp | When healing doesn't come
2 Samuel 12:7-20: The death of David's infant son
2 Corinthians 12:7-10: "There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
Whatever our intellectual beliefs about suffering may be, the picture can look very different when we are actually experiencing it. Faith helps us to accept that God may have a greater purpose for us, and enables us to derive some benefit from the pain we experience.
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Sunday 18 July 2010
Geoff Lanham | Freedom from oppression and captivity
Mark 5:1-20: A demon-possessed man is healed
In this story Jesus shows his power over evil in a direct and dramatic way, restoring a man who had been driven beyond human society. Outright spiritual oppression is very rare, but there are many other ways in which people can fall into captivity. Jesus has given the church authority over all kinds of evil and we should be prepared to use it.
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Sunday 11 July 2010
Geoff Lanham | Faith for healing
Mark 5:21-43: Jesus heals a woman who had suffered for many years from bleeding, and raises a synagogue ruler's daughter from the dead
Jesus responds in compassion to two people in desperate need - one whose disease had made her a social outcast, and another facing the death of a child. Miraculous healing is not the norm today, but Geoff tells us of some times when it has occurred, and we hear a member of the congregation describe what happened when she joined a team of Christians praying for healing on the streets. We should pray for God to heal, and trust him for the consequences.
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Sunday 4 July 2010
Reloaded youth group | Provision in desperate times
2 Kings 4.1-7: A miraculous supply of oil helps a widow pay off her husband's debts
2 Kings 4.8-36: Elisha restores a woman's only son to life
In the first part of the recording, Jonathan and Joe discuss what these dramatic stories mean for us today. After this, the second reading is brought into the modern world of daytime TV talk shows. We join the programme just after the mother has been introduced by the host. Will a DNA test prove the truth of her story?
The video is an animation made by Oliver, one of the youngest members of the B'Attitude youth group. It illustrates the story in the first reading. MP4 format, file size 9.6MB
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Sunday 27 June 2010
Geoff Lanham | What is the kingdom of God?
Luke 4:14-21: "He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour"
Matthew 10:1-10: "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness"
The Jews of Jesus' day thought of the kingdom of God in terms of future national restoration. Jesus turned these expectations upside down and presented the kingdom as something for here and now, fulfilled in him. Christians are called to share in his ministry - to welcome the excluded and to restore what is broken in the world.
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Sunday 20 June 2010
Geoff Lanham | Praying when life hurts
Numbers 11:4-15: "If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now"
Matthew 27:41-50: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
How can we pray when we are angry with God, or when circumstances make prayer seem meaningless? It is OK to express our anger to God; healing begins when we start being real with him. Geoff offers some practical suggestions for praying when everything seems dark.
The song played at the end (not included in the recording) is Honest Questions by Daniel Bedingfield.
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Sunday 13 June 2010
Stephanie Hayton | Living with unanswered prayer
John 16:20-28: "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete"
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 1:12-2:1: "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?"
The prophet Habakkuk was upset and angry because God seemed to be doing nothing about all the injustice in the nation. We may feel the same way about issues affecting the whole world or our personal lives. Habakkuk made his complaint, and then as he listened to God his perspective changed.
The downloadable notes are from the Breakout discussion held by the Reloaded youth group while the sermon was in progress.
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Sunday 6 June 2010
Helen Franklin | Prayer: Don't give up
Luke 11:1-13: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Why do we need to keep on praying? Speaking in an All Age service, Helen suggests that persisting in prayer helps us to move closer to God's viewpoint and to trust him to know best.
A week earlier, the Young Adults group abseiled down the tower of Aston Parish Church to raise funds for community work in Uganda and Birmingham, and Helen refers to this in her talk. The picture she describes at the beginning is Patrick Hughes' three-dimensional Superduperspective.
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Sunday 30 May 2010
Geoff Lanham | Touching the heart of God
Nehemiah 1:1-11: "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven"
Jeremiah 8:21-22, 9:1-6: "I would weep day and night for the slain of my people"
Nehemiah reacts to the news of the devastated state of Jerusalem, while Jeremiah feels the pain of his exiled people. Weeping and tears can be the result of God speaking to us at an emotional level, driving us to prayer and, often, powerful action.
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Sunday 23 May 2010
Allan Bartlam | Expectancy and prayer
Acts 1:4-8: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you"
Acts 1:12-14: "They all joined together constantly in prayer"
Acts 2:1-21: "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit"
Jesus' disciples trusted in his promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and obeyed his command to stay in Jerusalem when they would probably have preferred to return to their homes in Galilee. Their expectant, united prayer was answered on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered them to proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the crowds gathered in Jerusalem.
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Sunday 16 May 2010
Bobbie Frere | Why pray together
Acts 4:23–31: "After [the apostles] prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken"
1 Timothy 2:1-8: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone"
Why pray together - and why do we find it so difficult? Bobbie reminds us of several examples in the New Testament where Jesus' followers prayed together, with dramatic results. Then there is Jesus' promise to act when Christians unite in prayer. This makes it a spiritual battle in which we face opposition, but praying together provides the foundation of everything that is worth doing as a church.
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Sunday 9 May 2010
Geoff Lanham | Praying like a David
Psalm 13: "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"
Psalm 1: "[The righteous man] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season"
For David, the sights and sounds around him were an inspiration to prayer, and the Psalms are full of imagery derived from his everyday experiences. Some of the thoughts he expressed seem inappropriate to us, but he was honest, not trying to hide his feelings from God. Geoff encourages us to allow God to speak to us and to move us to prayer through the things we see, hear and feel.
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Sunday 2 May 2010
Geoff Lanham | Prayer: Good news for the tongue tied
Matthew 6:5-13: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him"
What would qualify someone for the title of "Pray-er of the Year"? Is it about the quality or quantity of the words we use, or about putting on a good performance? Geoff tells us that it's our inner relationship with God that matters, and that God is pleased with even our most stumbling attempts at honest prayer.
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Sunday 25 April 2010
Geoff Lanham | Prayer: Our deepest longing
Psalm 84: "My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God"
Mark 1:32-39: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus... went off to a solitary place, where he prayed"
Is prayer all about presenting God with a list of our demands - a means of achieving something? Geoff argues that it is more about living our whole life in the presence of God - a daily expression of the fact that he is at centre of our being.
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Sunday 18 April 2010
Geoff Lanham | Re-commissioned for service
John 21.1-19: Jesus reinstates Peter
Peter's denial of Jesus before his crucifixion remained a painful memory. Jesus led him to a place where he could face up to his failure and be forgiven and restored. God knows our weaknesses but sees us as learners, not failures, and still calls us to do his work.
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Sunday 11 April 2010
David Mole | Jesus brings peace and power
John 20.19-31: Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
The peace Jesus brings derives from what he has done, his wounds being the evidence. He empowered his disciples to continue his mission - not repeating it, but putting it into practice, a task that continues to the present day as Christ lives in us by the Holy Spirit.
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Sunday 4 April 2010
Geoff Lanham | Easter Sunday: "Connected" churches evening service
Matthew 28.1-15, Ephesians 1.15-23: "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead"
Easter changes everything. Jesus' resurrection gives individuals the assurance that "I will be alright when I die". But it also brought in a new world in which the earth, society, relationships and structures can be healed and restored. Christians and churches are empowered and called to be agents of transformation and bring a taste of heaven to earth.
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Sunday 4 April 2010
Geoff Lanham | Easter Sunday
Luke 24.1-12: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
If Easter leaves us feeling bewildered rather than joyful, we are in good company. Jesus' resurrection was totally unexpected and left his disciples shocked and fearful. It took time for them to recognise it for the victory it was - a victory over death which is the promise of our own future resurrection. Easter also makes it possible for Jesus to break into our lives here and now and begin a new story. The video clip near the end of Geoff's talk (not included in the recording) showed a desert being transformed by the growth of plants and flowers.
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Sunday 28 March 2010
David Mole | Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-44: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord... If you had only known on this day what would bring you peace!"
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem he forced the authorities and people to make a decision: would they accept his kingdom and its values, or reject him and put him out of the way? Jesus wept over the city because he knew that it was about to make the wrong choice, which would lead to its destruction. We face the same choice - and consequences - today.
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Sunday 21 March 2010
Geoff Lanham | Glimpses of resurrection
Mark 9.2-13: "There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them."
What attracts us most to Jesus? Where is his glory truly seen? In the Transfiguration the veil over Jesus' transcendent glory was briefly lifted, but he was already looking towards the cross and suffering that lay ahead, where a different aspect of his glory would be revealed. As we recognise and hold on to both these sides, God can enable us to reflect his glory.
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Sunday 14 March 2010
Stephanie Hayton | God's glory revealed
2 Chronicles 6.38-7.6: "Fire came down from heaven... and the glory of the LORD filled the temple"
At the dedication of the Temple the presence of God became visible, and the people had to worship from a distance. Since Pentecost, the presence of God is within us, and we become more aware of him as we respond to him in worship - not just in church, but privately and through our everyday actions and attitudes. This may lead to surprises when God breaks in, but his plans are better than ours.
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Sunday 7 March 2010
Bobbie Frere | Embarrassing celebrations
2 Samuel 6.11-23: David's undignified celebrations as the Ark of the Covenant is brought back to Jerusalem
In this All Age service Bobbie begins by explaining the background to the story, then we hear part of the reading (which was acted out by the children as the story was told). True worship - both in church and in everyday life - is concerned with what God wants, not with our status, nor what others think. A sketch during the talk illustrates how foolish it is to look down on other churches whose style of worship is different to our own.
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Sunday 28 February 2010
Geoff Lanham | Worship and the body of believers
1 Corinthians 14.26-33, 1 Peter 2.4-10: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God"
The church at Corinth practised what Geoff calls multi-voiced worship, where members participated rather than being consumers. This created some problems, which the apostle Paul sets out to correct in his letter. Christ Church also has a culture of participation, and Geoff suggests some ways in which we can all use our spiritual gifts and so live out our calling as a royal priesthood both in the church and in everyday life.
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Sunday 21 February 2010
Stephanie Hayton | Making the most of Lent
Hebrews 12.1-6: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith"
Matthew 4.1-11: Jesus is tempted in the desert
In times of weakness we tend to act in accordance with our reflexes. After 40 days of fasting Jesus could resist temptation because obedience was embedded within him. God uses tough times to develop our character and deepen godly reflexes. We can learn from the Bible and draw strength from the community of Christians to co-operate with this process.
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Sunday 7 February 2010
Reloaded youth group | All Age service: Forgiveness
Matthew 18.21-35: The parable of the unforgiving servant
Sorry we have no recording this week. Reloaded acted out the Bible reading, where a servant who had been forgiven a huge debt refused to forgive someone else a much smaller debt, and was thrown into prison as a result. Ellen Eagling had a torch that did not light up, and it was found to be full of rubbish. Only when this was removed and a battery put in did it shine. It can be hard to forgive, but the Holy Spirit inside us makes it possible.
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Sunday 31 January 2010
Geoff Lanham | What makes God tired of worship?
Amos 5.11–24, Romans 12: "Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream"
The recording starts with the last few verses of the reading from Amos, where the prophet denounces a form of worship that has become divorced from morality. This is an empty religion that changes neither us nor the world. True worship is linked to how we treat the world outside and is expressed in acts of service.
At one point in the sermon where Geoff referred to the roar of a crowd, the children meeting in the other hall let out a loud shout. This was not picked up by the microphone but the congregation appreciated the perfect timing.
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Sunday 24 January 2010
Rob Bewley,
Associate Vicar of St John's Church, Harborne | Praise and thanksgiving
Psalm 96, Philippians 4.4-9: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Speaking two days after the death of a much-loved member of Christ Church, Rob draws on his own personal experience of bereavement to echo the apostle Paul's advice: Rejoice in (not for) all circumstances. Giving thanks to God - for what he has done throughout history, and in our own lives - leads to rejoicing, and protects us against worry and bitterness.
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Sunday 17 January 2010
Geoff Lanham | The heart of the worshipper
Habakkuk 3.1-19, John 4.19-26: The true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks
Whatever outward style of worship we use, it's what is in our hearts that counts. The passage from Habakkuk describes the prophet's choice to rejoice in God even in the face of disaster and to affirm that God is in ultimate control. Whether things go well or badly, we need to be thankful to God for all he has given us and to allow the Holy Spirit to light a spark within us.
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Sunday 10 January 2010
Geoff Lanham | The priority of worship
Exodus 20.1-6, Mark 12.28-34: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength"
The call to worship God runs throughout the Bible, and worship is part of our make-up, though it is often directed at the wrong things. Geoff gives three good reasons why we should worship God, and says that Christ Church needs to be passionate about worship if we are to fulfil our mission.
The audio clip played at the end was part of the sermon "That's my King!" by Dr S. M. Lockridge.
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Sunday 3 January 2010
Bobbie Frere | Epiphany
Matthew 2.1-20: The Magi visit the infant Jesus
This service contrasted the attitudes of two different people to Jesus. First Bobbie interviewed King Herod (please note that it is extremely rare for visitors to Christ Church to be booed) and then she spoke to one of the Magi. She challenges us not to imitate Herod's self-serving attitude but rather, at the start of a new year, to offer ourselves in humble worship to Jesus. A picture of Rembrandt's Adoration of the Magi was displayed during the talk.
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Sunday 20 December 2009
Geoff Lanham | Evening Carol service
Christmas can be a stressful time, and for many its only lasting effect is debt. The real good news of Christmas is easily overlooked: God slipped into our world almost unnoticed. He identified with the poor and helpless in their daily struggles. He showed that he is a personal God who can give us a new life of freedom and fulfilment. His story can become our story.
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Sunday 13 December 2009
Graham Romp | The song of Zechariah
Luke 1.57–80: The birth of John the Baptist, and Zechariah's song
Zechariah uttered his prophecy after the birth of John the Baptist. It was rooted in the Old Testament, looking forward to the fulfilment of God's promises. Yet this came about in surprising ways, so much so that even John later had his doubts. Graham reminds us that Jesus assures us of his love when we encounter difficulties. Zechariah recognised that a new kingdom was coming, and we can enter into it today.
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Sunday 6 December 2009
David Mole | Strange happening at Nazareth
Luke 1.26–56: An angel announces the birth of Jesus to Mary
We don't "do" angels in our modern world, but in Bible times it was thought more normal, if not usual, to see angels. Even so, Mary was afraid when an angel appeared to her, and shocked at the news that she would have a child, knowing that this brought the risk of shame and even execution. Mary still said yes to God's decision. The life of faith was not easy for her, and we should not expect it to be easy for us.
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Sunday 29 November 2009
Stephanie Hayton | The second coming... am I bothered?
2 Peter 3.8-13 "The elements will be destroyed by fire... but in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth"
The Bible presents two strands of thinking about Jesus' second coming: one about destruction and judgement, and the other about the growth of God's kingdom. His disciples saw both aspects in Jesus during his time on earth, but far more of the second. Seeing God at work in our present lives gives us confidence to trust him for the future. Material things will be destroyed, but our character and relationships we will take into eternity.
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Sunday 22 November 2009
Bobbie Frere | Who’s in, who’s out?
Matthew 25.31-46: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory... he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats"
Who's going to be in the company of Jesus for all eternity? We should not judge others, because only the King knows where each person belongs, but he wants us to know for ourselves where we stand before him. Jesus commends those who show love and compassion to others because their hearts are aligned with God's values, not out of a desire to impress. The Bible makes it clear in other places that we become right with God through faith, but real faith results in obedience to God.
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Sunday 15 November 2009
Geoff Lanham | Sharing faith (part 2)
1 Peter 2.11-12 and 1 Peter 3.10-17: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
Continuing the talk from 2 weeks ago, Geoff encourages us to share our faith by looking for common ground with those we meet, rather than condemning others. People will want to know more if they see Jesus in us. Geoff suggests some ways in which we can promote discussion with those we know. Stephanie Hayton (who was leading the service) adds some further thoughts at the end.
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Sunday 8 November 2009
Allan Bartlam | Remembrance Sunday: Love your enemies
Isaiah 2.1-5: "They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks"
Matthew 5.43-48: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"
Jesus demonstrates the values of the Kingdom of God by coming to make peace with us who were once his enemies. Allan suggests how we should respond to those who arouse our anger.
No MP3 available due to technical failure
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Sunday 1 November 2009
Geoff Lanham | Sharing faith without making (too many) enemies
1 Thessalonians 2.1-12: "We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us"
In the past the gospel message was often presented by aiming to win arguments, but in today's culture people want to be shown by example rather than told what they should believe. Jesus and Paul both worked by building relationships through which they could speak to others.
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Sunday 25 October 2009
Graham Romp | Mission: Where do we fit in?
John 17.6-19
Our mission is to be the continuation of Jesus' mission, going wherever he is working and following his example. Graham uses a personal illustration to explain what it means to be in the world but not of the world - immersed in it but distinct from it.
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Sunday 18 October 2009
Stephanie Hayton | Start of a new kingdom
Mark 1.14-15, Luke 4.14-21
Jesus presented his manifesto, using a Bible passage proclaiming God's favour to declare the values of a new kingdom. He would build a new community where strangers and outcasts would be welcome. (The "Welcome to the Vatican" image referred to can be viewed here.) Stephanie gives some examples of how living in God's kingdom has changed people's lives, and suggests what this might mean for our mission today. The song played near the end of the talk (not on the recording) was I will change your name.
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Sunday 4 October 2009
Bobbie Frere | Harvest: Make life flow
John 4.4-14: Jesus and the woman at the well
Before the talk we watched a short video from Tearfund showing how the building of rainwater tanks in a village in Uganda had removed the need for the women of the village to make dangerous and tiring trips down the mountain to fetch water. Bobbie compares their experience with that of the woman who met Jesus and had her burdens lifted.
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Sunday 27 September 2009
Geoff Lanham | Back to Church Sunday: Desperately seeking people
Luke 15.1-10: The lost sheep and the lost coin
People are uncomfortably like sheep - prone to wander off - but Jesus the Good Shepherd comes looking for us. God is passionate about recovering and restoring what’s been lost and damaged. We remain empty and isolated until we respond to his call.
No MP3 available due to technical failure
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Sunday 20 September 2009
Bobbie Frere | What exactly is salvation?
Romans 8.12-25
The word means being rescued or got out of trouble. Christians sometimes use it to refer to a conversion experience - a past event - but it also means our being changed (present) and hope for the future. Nor is it just something spiritual, since God is concerned with the whole of creation, and wants us to bring salvation to every part of our world. Bobbie quotes Bishop Tom Wright: "We are saved as wholes, not souls".
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Sunday 12 April 2009
Geoff Lanham | Easter Sunday: Reasons to be hopeful
John 20:1-18
A seed has the potential to be all that a real plant should be, but this will never happen until it is planted in the ground. Jesus' resurrection proves that he is who he says he is, and challenges us to take a step of faith in him and come alive like a planted seed.
The recording begins with the reading. The sermon was followed by a video sequence with background music (not included in the recording).
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Sunday 29 March 2009
Geoff Lanham | Confidence in transformation
2 Corinthians 3.12-18, Colossians 1.3-8
Only God can bring about true transformation - and he is at work within us, even if we don't recognise it. Our part is to live a life that is open to God and so create the conditions that allow this to happen.
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Sunday 22 March 2009
Geoff Lanham | Life you've always wanted
John 10.1-18, Isaiah 61.1-7
God knows and values us as individuals, and we have an intuitive ability to hear God's voice. Jesus the Good Shepherd opens the door to a different way of living.
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Wednesday 18 March 2009
Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston | Geoff Lanham's induction service
Mark 3.13-19
The reading (at the start of the recording) tells how Jesus appointed twelve apostles so that they might spend time with him and be sent out into the world. Bishop Andrew reminds us that we are Christians because Jesus chose us - not because of our achievements, but by his appointment. Churches and individuals have to find the right balance between being (spending time with Jesus) and doing (going out into the world).
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