Tag: Grace

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#spiritualintelligence

Today @ Healingsprings fellowship

For the Jewish authorities, the embarrassment, excruciating pain, and suffering that hallmark’s crucifixion was meant to bring the activities of a fringe group, following a little known Rabbi called Jesus to an end.

For the followers of Jesus, his arrest and subsequent death would have meant that their messianic hopes had been dashed. God had not shown up to vindicate their leader, and only hope against the scourge of the Roman authorities, and the oppression of their corrupt and short sighted religious leaders.

Jesus had died only because he was “a friend of sinners”. For the Jewish leaders, he was messing up their religious and philosophical foundations. Sinners should be Exiled from the community, in other instances, killed.

But who were these sinners? Those within their community that didn’t measure up to their incredibly high standards. The lepers, widows, orphans, poor, Samaritans, divorced, and those in debt. Even amongst these people, not all believed in Jesus. A lot had given up all hopes, hence the reason why they chose Barabbas instead of Jesus. The wealthy and those from nobility were righteous. To a very large extent this is still the case. The time and setting might have changed, but the mind set is still the same.

His followers were lost completely unsure of their future until his appearance at various locations, following his resurrection.

To this end, I will be exploring Jesus’ Crucifixion with a view to recapture it’s essence, and strengthen us as we anticipate his Second Coming.

Join us for the series: God was in Christ.

3pm – 4:30pm

The Parish Hall

St John’s Sidcup,

Church Road,

Sidcup,

Kent DA14 6BX

Reachout | Revive | Recover

http://www.healingsprings.org.uk

Categories
#spiritualintelligence

Today @ Healingsprings fellowship

There is no dispute that Jesus was a figure in history. In fact, apart from the New Testament accounts, we also have sources from non-Christians like Pliny and Josephus.

Within Christianity some have challenged his divinity. But even if we do not agree on the Trinity, the traditional formula for Salvation (The Fall, Incarnation, Atonement and Redemption); and we fail to agree on the virgin birth, miracles, death, and resurrection; I believe that the teachings of Jesus still attests to his uniqueness.

Interestingly, while people might have issues with the church or Christianity as a religion, most people still have varying degrees of reverence for Jesus. They see him as a social reformer, political activist, kind man, community organiser, humanist, philosopher, thinker, or teacher. His life has inspired many to greater works.

For me Jesus is all of these and even more. His non-violent position against the oppression from the Roman authorities and Jewish rulers of his era, his position as the spokesperson for sinners, his outreach to the ostracised and those at the fringes of society, his vision for equality and World Unity, and his selfless nature; are things to be greatly admired.

I say this to illustrate that we do not need the formula for salvation, understanding of the Trinity and even the resurrection to believe in his saving power. His ideas and philosophy are divine enough to bring about lasting peace, harmony and prosperity for humanity.

Dear friends, even that is sufficient reason for me to believe in him, and attest him as The Son of God.

Join us as we continue with: God was in Christ. Today, we focus on Jesus' ministry.

3pm – 4:30pm
The Parish Hall
St John's Sidcup,
Church Road,
Sidcup,
Kent DA14 6BX

Reachout | Revive | Recover
http://www.healingsprings.org.uk

Categories
#spiritualintelligence

Today @ Healingsprings fellowship

As we close the curtains on the Book of Ruth, my focus will be on the kinsman’s decision not to marry Ruth, which by default meant he was interested in marrying Naomi. 

As well as Deuteronomy 23 which explicitly forbids relationship with Moabites, chances are that the Kinsman also saw through the lenses of retributive justice (Ex.20:6). 

This doctrine was challenged by Ezekiel (18:2), and Jeremiah (31:29), but it still persevered, raising its ugly head in John 9:2, in the incident of the man born blind, where Jesus dealt with it squarely.
Sadly, it still persists today in the shape of ‘generational curses’ which requires further ‘deliverance’, apart from repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord of all.

So, the fate of Elimelek’s family would have hinged on the fact that he left for Moab, and that he allowed his sons to marry Moabite women. This being the case, Ruth was bad news. 

But in the spirit of love “which does not seek her own” (1 Cor 13), Boaz stepped-up to the challenge. And in typical fashion, the God who carefully orchestrates everything to “work together for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28) backed him, raising his seed to sit on the throne of Israel, in the persons of David, and ultimately – our lord Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!!!

So join us this Sunday at our new venue as I crystallise this epic Book.

3pm (light refreshment afterwards)

Church Hall

St John’s Sidcup,

Church Road, 

Sidcup, Kent DA14 6BX

(Just behind the Morrisons in Sidcup)