Family Values: Part 2 - 'Communication'

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
The Baptist Union Declaration of Principle
The Basis of the Baptist Union is:
1. That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws.
2. That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of those who have professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who 'died for our sins according to the Scriptures; was buried, and rose again the third day'.
3. That it is the duty of every disciple to bear personal witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part in the evangelisation of the world.

Here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

Acts chapter 3 verses 12 - 16

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.”


Acts chapter 4 verses 4 - 12

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.’
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”


Acts chapter 2 verses 42 - 47

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.



Prayer and Reflection:

Loving God, thank you that because of Jesus we are saved and our lives and our eternal destiny are transformed. Forgive us when we take this amazing good news lightly, or for granted. Help us to take seriously our duty to bear personal witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part in the evangelisation of the world. Equip us and embolden us to communicate well, to bear witness well, in how we listen, how we speak and how we live. Build us up as a people of Good News, that we might be known as such a community, and that people would give you the glory for the transformation that comes through this your church. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.



Questions to Consider

1. Can you think of a story of sin, struggle and transformation? What happened and where was God in it all?
2. Have you personally experienced such a transformation? Have you told anyone about it and been able to speak about your faith?
3. What do you consider to be the best ways that you personally might be able to communicate about your faith and what Jesus means to you?
4. How might you use your spiritual gifts to bear witness to the good news of Jesus?
5. Are there any specific people you want to pray for, that they would come to Christ? How might you help them?
6. Are there any sins and struggles that you are currently wrestling with? Are you talking these through and praying about them with a trusted friend?
7. Are there any areas in your life that you want to turn around? Are you asking God, persistently, to help you?