And all this in a garden of love, the Paradise of God, where everything has a cast of holy love, and everything conspires to promote and stir up love and nothing to interrupt its exercises; everything is fitted by an all-wise God for the enjoyment of love under the greatest advantages. And all this shall be without any fading of the beauty of the objects believed, or any decaying of love in the lover, and any satiety in the faculty which enjoys love.
O! what tranquillity may we conclude there is in such a world as this! Who can express the sweetness of this peace? What a calm is this, what a heaven of rest is here to arrive at after persons have gone through a world of storms and tempests, a world of pride and selfishness and envy, and malice, and scorn, and contempt and contention and war?… What joy may we conclude springs up in the hearts of the saints after they have passed wearisome pilgrimage to be brought to such a paradise?
Here is joy unspeakable indeed; here is humble, holy, divine joy in its perfection.
- Jonathan Edwards
Thought of the week… Joy Unspeakable
March 6, 2011
0 Comments
Evangelistic Talk for 3 year olds…
February 23, 2011
1 Comment
I am on the story today at Playtime and it happens to be one of my favourite parables: The Prodigal Son. It is a great story displaying the lavish heart of our great God to welcome us in.
The material I was given to tell our 0-5 year olds about Our God’s Big Welcome was a little long and hard to follow… So I thought I’d put the story into some rhyme*. I also printed off these brilliant story board pictures from EBibleTeacher to show the children as I read the rhyme.
Feel free to use this for your Playgroup. All I ask is that while I have you here, please pray for Playtime at Church by the Bridge, that many children and their families would come to know God’s extravagant and lavish welcome for them.
Once there was a father who had two sons
Then one left home to go have some fun!!!The dad gave his son some money in a bag
and the look on the sons face showed he was gladThe son then wasted all he had.
And was living far away from his Dad.So things began to turn real bad
The young son was now really sad.He had nothing to eat.
No shoes on his feet.So He began to feed pigs for some work
and even slept with them in their dirt.The poor young son was filled with dread
“For me theres got to be a better bed”I know! I’ll go back to my Dads home
And say sorry for running away on my own”So the son left the dirty smelly pigs trough
And while he was still a long long way offThe Dad saw him, stretched his arms wide out
Began running and with a great BIG shout“Welcome! Welcome! my dear young son
I don’t care what you have done.Come on home, come on in
Please don’t ever leave again”The Dad was so very excited
that he ran around telling everyone about it:“My son was lost but now he’s found
He’s come back home safe and sound!”The Dad then only wanted to celebrate
So the town gathered and party food they ate.And with another BIG hug the Dad continued to say
“Welcome Welcome” - Oh its been such a happy day!
*Inspired by this song
Thought of the week
February 21, 2011
0 Comments
Thus it is that we may patiently pass through this life with its misery, hunger, cold, contempt, reproaches, and other troubles – content with this one thing: that our King will never leave us destitute, but will provide for our needs until, our warfare ended, we are called to triumph. Such is the nature of his rule, that he shares with us all that he has received from the Father. Now he arms and equips us with his power, adorns us with his beauty and magnificence, enriches us with his wealth.
These benefits, then, give us the most fruitful occasion to glory, and also provide us with confidence to struggle fearlessly against the devil, sin, and death. Finally, clothed with his righteousness, we can valiantly rise above all the world’s reproaches; and just as he himself freely lavishes his gifts upon us, so may we, in return, bring forth fruit to his glory.
Brought to you by John Calvin
The harvest in your suburb
February 12, 2011
0 Comments
Do you see the potential in your suburb?
Where there is a lost son or daughter, there is an abundance of the Father’s mercy. No matter how good or how bad your neighbours and locals are – there is an opportunity for change, an opportunity for an encounter with the goodness and grace of God. There is potential and there is hope for salvation and eternal life.
Jesus when he looks out on the crowds he doesn’t see them as a burden. Rather He is burdened for them. He looks on them with hope. Hope of changed lives as they encounter Him and his word.
Do you look on your suburb with expectancy, hope, compassion and anticipation – knowing they are the LORD’s harvest?
I’d love to know…
February 11, 2011
2 Comments
18 Confessions of a new believer…
February 7, 2011
3 Comments
The quotes have been taken directly from my journal and emails during the early days of becoming a Christian. I’ve tried to keep them as true as possible to the stream of conscience that wrote it - so sorry in advance for the grammar! Some things are just funny and some are insightful.
My hope is that this series of posts “18 Confessions” would deepen the believers empathy for those seeking out the faith and bring insight into the internal wrestles of a new Christian or perhaps if you relate to the thoughts or struggles in these posts that you would consider the lasting satisfaction and joy that is found only in Jesus.
7. Need Friends
10. Hand of the Lord
11. Singleness as a disability
12. Heavenly Wonder
14. Lavish Love
16. I am a Christian
18. Power of God
Reaching Those We Know
January 30, 2011
1 Comment
Each year we have a goal at Church by the Bridge and in 2011 the goal is this: “Reaching Those We Know”
Challenge: Choose 3 people that you do know, and think how can you can reach them with the good news of Jesus “
Q How will you pray?
Q How will you love as Jesus loves?
Q How will you take every opportunity to speak about Jesus?
…all for the glory of God
What is your missional legacy?
January 23, 2011
0 Comments
“When I think about not wasting my life, this is what I think about as often as anything: study and pray and write and speak and lead in a way that results in more and more visionary young people and restless mid-career people and wise, mature retired people who pull up their stakes, pack their tent and go with Jesus and the gospel to unreached peoples of the world, no matter where they are—far or near.”
John Piper in his sermon The Line of Prayer
- Jesus All About Life :: How to Respond to Cheap Shots
- Jesus All About Life :: It’s a Clever Campaign
- If I was a Community Pastor…
- Internal Churning
- Review :: Gospel Websites & Applications
- Socially-Driven Church – a Model for Arts Organisations.
-
Connections & partnerships with local businesses (3 of 3)
- Connections & Partnerships with local businesses (2 of 3)
- Connections & partnerships with local businesses (part 1 of 3)
-
If you thought the @ChristExplored website was good…
-
Connections & Partnerships with local businesses (2 of 3) | without a shepherd: [...] the first post in this series Share this:Sha...
-
Ezekiel 29 | This Day With God: [...] How to invite a friend to church (or church-...
-
Dan Godde: Lots of prayer for the rich soil! Simone Godde...
-
nickfranks: This is awesome! Really focused and fresh! I like ...
-
THE ART OF CONVERSATION. | Self Improvement, Faith, & Confidence.: [...] The Art of Conversation – at church [....
