Called By His Name
Featured
Jesus calls His Church to be on His mission in the world. This week Mark reminds us of the unique opportunity we and all churches, big and small, have to return to complete dependence on Him and His power to see renewal break out in our cities and nations.
When Jesus invites His followers in Acts 1 to go and be witnesses, we can often heed the call but go about operating out of our own strength. Mark reminds us that in a time when many in our communities are searching for meaning, it is by the power of the Spirit, partnering with God, that we Go with Jesus and be His witnesses.
Sermon Reflection PDF (Includes Huddle Health Check)
Renewal of the individual leads to the renewal of the church. As we continue to look ahead to ‘The New Normal’, Mark challenges the perceptions we hold about how church ‘should be’. Using Watchman Nee’s paradigm of seeing the self as body, soul and spirit and looking at the account of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), Mark reminds us that when in correct alignment with Jesus, worshipping in ‘spirit and truth’ is less about how you’re worshipping and more about who you are worshipping.
Sermon Reflection PDF (Includes Huddle Health Check)
A life abiding with Jesus is marked by continual renewal. Using Rob Reimer’s framework for understanding renewal, Mark reminds us that as we go deeper with Jesus, we become more aware and dependent on Him to lead us out of times of spiritual decline and bondage into renewal.
Sermon Reflection (includes Huddle Health Check)
As Mark explores what it means to Abide with Jesus, we are reminded that abiding begins when we recognise that the ‘old man’ is gone and along with it, a need to strive to be accepted by Him. When Christ claims us as His own, we are made new and wholly welcomed by Him.
Sermon Reflection PDF (Includes Huddle Health Check)
Through the framing of what it could look like to emerge from the pandemic, Mark invites us to see that the practices of abiding with Jesus, being renewed by Jesus & going with Jesus are fundamental to shaping a the New Normal of our lives as a people of God.