Keep your love on!

Glory to God!

In response to God's word to us for this year, we are looking at ways to put reconciliation into practice and are studying Danny Silk's book entitled, Keep your love on!" together as a church. Last week we began our 6-week study by preaching on key themes from the book, meeting together in small groups to discuss the book and encouraging one another to strengthen our relationships, improve our communication and learn to set healthy boundaries. We are excited about the enthusiasm and involvement of almost the entire church and we are confident that these 6 weeks will be extremely helpful for every one of us to learn to connect and love better.

Three Sundays ago, Alexander shared a message entitled, "The power of choice" in which he compared the lives of Jesus and Judas to identify what makes people live powerful and victorious lives or powerless lives as victims. Looking at how Jesus was intentional about His choices and how He took responsibility for every choice He made, we noted how powerful people live and serve others in humility to empower others. Conversely we saw how Judas lived a powerless life as a consumer that led to his turning his back on his Master because he himself became mastered by selfishness, disillusionment, disappointment and greed. Alexander explored the glorious truth that just as the believer is chosen by God, so every person has the power to choose God and others to be reconciled, connected and to keep one's love on.

Two Sundays ago, Richard encouraged us to make sure that we not only go through the book but that we use the 6 weeks to learn the principles in Danny Silk's book in such a way as to understand, relate to and apply the principles to our lives. In his message entitled, "The evidence of love" Richard showed us in John's first letter how John describes those who have received eternal life and what the evidence that accompanies salvation should be. In particular, Richard pointed out the difference between knowing about the Father's love and actually receiving His love in such a way that it influences one's life (see 1 Jn 2:15,16). Just as the apostle Paul rejoiced in seeing the fruit of the Gospel, so John's concern was that the Gospel was bearing fruit in the lives of the believers (see 1 Thess 1:2-10; 1 Jn 5:13). Richard then spoke to us about how love must replace fear in our relationships since perfect love drives out the fear of punishment (1 Jn 4:16-19; Lk 7:36-50).

Last Sunday, Frances spoke to us about the "Foundation of Healthy Relationships" as we looked at our core needs that can only be met in relationship. Frances showed us that the core needs of love and acceptance, security and significance that make up our identity were affected through the Fall leaving mankind with a void that can only be filled with God. We saw how God as a relational Being, created mankind for relationship and how we need God and one another to live godly lives in His image. Frances showed us how God satisfies our core needs and how we need to develop relational core values that help us strengthen our relationships.

We praise God for teaching us how to strengthen our relationships, improve our communication and build healthy boundaries as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and learn new tools to keep our love on. Hallelujah!

Upcoming Events

24.02 - 05.04: 6-week "Keep your love on" project

25.04: Seminar with Alexander Blair at Alt-Hausen 34

07.06: Baptismal service at 11:00 (location to be decided)

21.06: Joint summer celebration with CZF and Quelle des Lebens

The Glory of Christ!

Glory to God!

As a church, we are on a journey of repentance - 180 days of prayer for 180° reversal! During these days of prayer and reflection, God has recently been speaking to us about the nature and glory of the Church. With the daily devotionals that Richard is writing and what is being shared on a Sunday, the Lord is bringing reversal in our thinking as we align ourselves to God's Word and revelation. We are being encouraged, challenged and stretched as God transforms us with His presence, truth and power! Hallelujah!

A couple of Sundays ago, Richard shared a message entitled, "Is your church on TripAdvisor?" In his sermon, Richard challenged us to see whether we approach Church like a restaurant or whether we understand God's view of the Church. As he compared "McChurch" to the true Church, Richard showed us that the Church should not be treated like a restaurant but as God has birthed her and purposed her in Christ. Looking at the analogies used in the Bible to describe the Church, such as branches in the Vine (John 15), a building whose architect is God (1 Cor 3; Eph 2:21,22; Heb 3:1-6; 1 Pet 2:4,5), the human body (1 Cor 12:12-27) and a nation that belongs to God (1 Pet 2:9,10), we learned that each have the following in common: Dependance on Christ, connection, equality, significant members, and purpose. The answer to the question whether our church is on TripAdvisor was therefore answered with a clear, "No!" as we are not a McChurch that is evaluated according to what customers think but we are the glory of Christ, the revelation of Jesus to the world!

On Saturday we had a brilliant time together at the Naturfreundehaus in Niederrad. We got together for a fun afternoon and evening of games, coffee and cake, fellowship, grilling, open stage, face painting, praise and worship and more; simply enjoying each other and getting to know each other better. We were even joined by local refugee kids who felt quite at home with us and played with the other children and even joined us during praise and worship. We loved the location and are sure to meet there again in the Summer next year! Thanks to all who organised and contributed toward the wonderful time we had together!

Having celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary last week, Richard spoke to us on Sunday about the relationship and profound connection between marriage and the Church. In his sermon entitled, "Strong marriage, strong church!" Richard gave us four keys to a strong marriage and thus to a strong church as we looked at Ephesians 5:21-33. Based on their own experience as a couple, Richard shared what he and Frances have learned over the years that has helped them to have a good marriage. The four keys are Commitment, that is rooted in living in covenant, Consideration, Communication and Compassion. All four are essential for a strong marriage and a strong church! We had a lot of fun exploring each key and learning how important each key is for marriage and for the Church to reflect Christ.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Upcoming events

Tuesdays from 19:00 - 21:00: Bible Study at Alt-Hausen 34

30.10 at 19:30: KLF Prayer at Alt-Hausen 34

Meeting with God

 image courtesy of stockimages at freedigitalphotos.net

Glory to God!

Today's meeting was awesome. During our time of worship in song, the Lord began to manifest His presence in a wonderfully tangible way. The Holy Spirit ushered us into the throne room of God and many received words of knowledge and Scriptures from the Lord for our people. It was very powerful indeed!

Richard then spoke to us about our responsibility to commune with God if we are to communicate His glory. You can listen to the message entitled, "The Tent of Meeting" here. This is what Richard shared with us:

•  The Church is called to communicate God's glory. Isaiah 60:1-3
• God's glory is the manifesation of His holiness.
• God's holiness is the divine otherness of God - His goodness, love, compassion, mercy, etc. Exodus 33:22-34:7
• Jesus came to communicate God's glory. Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6
• Likewise, the Church is called to communicate God's glory! Ephesians 4:24
• The key to communicating God's glory is communion with God.
• Moses communicated the glory of God because he met with God. Exodus 33:7-11
• In order for the believer to meet with God, s/he must position himself or herself with the assurance and conviction that s/he will meet with the Lord.
• In order for the believer to meet with God, s/he must be resolute in waiting on God until s/he meets with Him.
• The believer has met with God when there is evidence in his or her life of the manifestation of God's holiness.
• The Church will only communicate God's glory when she is truly meeting with Him on a regular basis.

We praise God for the gift of His manifest presence, for His invitation to us to meet with Him face to face and for the amazing responsibility of communicating His glory!

Upcoming events

03.02. KLF Prayer Meeting at Leipziger Str.60