Dan Redman
(Television Production)

“Mobilise 2012 may well prove to be one of the most influential moments for my faith. I really felt like God was giving me, along with all of the delegates, a new sense of vision and challenging me to step out in sharing the good news of Jesus with those around me.

On the last night, I was one of hundreds and hundreds who left excited. Excited for all that God has done through Jesus; all he is doing; and all that He is yet to do through us.”

Basil Mussad
(Biomedical Science)

“Booking into Mobilise seemed like one of those ridiculous, spontaneous things that I tend to do every once in a while. As soon as I booked, my thoughts were ‘Oh man, I’m going to regret this: what about my exams?!’ I could not have been more wrong.  My expectations for the week were completely blown out of the water. It was a character-changing, challenging time. God was speaking to me about my passions, my leadership and my future, and the prayer times were amazing.

Since that week I have had more boldness in praying for God to do remarkable things. I have managed to witness three incredible healings, see my cousin come to faith in Jesus, pray with a housemate who is not a Christian and receive a much-needed gift equal to the cost for Mobilise.

But there is still so much more to be done. As well as positively influencing those around me, I have felt challenged to step up and take responsibility for my own life. In this way, I can help others to be better leaders than myself. We cannot be half-hearted in doing what God has called us to do. The week at Mobilise helped me think of some practical ways in which I can do this.”

Joseph Landreth-Smith
(Media Creative)

“How do I summarise the week? ‘Equipping’ is an understatement. ‘Inspiring’ is just being polite. Looking back, I cannot believe I considered not going. I felt the week was a reflection of what the Holy Spirit is doing more broadly in my generation. As we heard, the church doesn’t have a mission, the mission has a church.

The conference was full on from the moment we arrived: and it was unlike other years.  Not only did we have round-the-clock community but also a series of challenging talks from passionate preachers from across the globe.

I now feel more a part of the mission than ever before. I have a mountain of notes and memories on how to change my lifestyle, and work towards being a pioneer and ‘game-changer’ in my generation.”

If you did not make it this year, do not worry! Have a listen to the talks at mobilise.org.uk

Now, I must confess that I was a little dubious when I was first approached about running Student Alpha. In my mind the idea was exciting and terrifying in equal measure; on one hand, the prospect of using hospitality and explaining the hope I have in Jesus to my friends was exhilarating. But on the other hand, I could imagine endless situations where things could go wrong and I’d look a fool. Ignoring the fear, we launched, having no idea how many people were going to show up.

I was thrilled that we had the chance to present the Gospel in such a logical way. After living with people for a number of months, I had grown aware that they had little understanding of what Christianity is truly about, and it was exciting to realise that we’d been given an opening to explain it. This proved to be one of the most encouraging things about running Alpha because it allows Christians to be able to show our faith in an open, honest and authentic way. One consequence of this was that it seemed to give my friends a greater freedom to probe me with questions throughout the week. It gave me a glimpse into where they were at, and how much they’d been thinking about all we’d discussed. One week we’d been speaking on prayer and a few days later whilst chatting with a friend who was a guest on Alpha, I felt prompted to suggest to her that she pray about her situation. Our Wednesday evening had been the perfect foundation for that comment.

A few weeks on and we’ve finished, but my hope is that all our conversations and cooking will in time, help those who were present to find answers to their questions. I know that most of our guests would have found it harder to attend something run centrally but the fact that Alpha was in their kitchen made it unavoidable.

Running the course was a challenge but taught me tons about trusting in God and not in my own strength. When you’re aware that no one will turn up, or listen, or respond without God intervening, it really throws your prayer life into new depths. Perhaps most importantly though, it made me fall more in love with the completeness of the Gospel and delight more fully in how much Jesus accomplished. Each week it blew me away to realise that Jesus wanted to show up in the back corner of university accommodation, with a bunch of people that Queen Mary had allocated to me as flatmates. God’s grace in the whole situation has been utterly remarkable and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I remember going out onto the rugby pitch on one occasion, looking forward to the match. However, it wasn’t very long before that all changed. The opposition were a ferocious bunch who intimidated us with their extraordinary levels of energy and bewildered us with their skill. We quickly realised that we were in for a long and humiliating game, as the future England Under 18 Captain and his mates utterly took us to pieces!

Getting out on the playing field is one thing, but if we are to stand a chance of winning, we need to be properly equipped.

At the end of the gospels Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his mission across the world. To even the most ambitious of us, that is an enormous task, and Jesus’ own example set the bar high!

When he returned to Galilee, there was something about him made news spread quickly (Luke 4:14). People were amazed at the authority with which he spoke. He had such insight and wisdom. He prayed for the sick to be healed, and performed countless miracles. Perhaps most remarkably, he seemed to know with startling clarity exactly what to do in any given moment. Time and again he would say things like, ‘the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing’ (John 5:19).

The remarkable thing is that God made it possible for us all to live this way. Focussed. Energised. Empowered. He promises us power to achieve the mission through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

What would it look like for you to live like that in twenty-first century London? What difference would it make in your street, workplace, or place of study if you knew more of the empowering of the Spirit?

When we are empowered by God, our lives should look different. Individuals will have a greater awareness of what God is calling them to do, and the impetus to obey Him. We will find ourselves with newfound boldness to share the good news about Jesus in compelling ways. We will see people come to a new experience of physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing as we pray with and care for them.

We are already enjoying some of these things at ChristChurch London, but are aware that we still have a way to go. So in various ways over the next few months, we will be focussing on learning to be empowered by the Spirit.

In May and June we are running a five-week sermon series entitled Empowered. This will look at subjects like hearing God’s voice, growing in character and praying for the sick. Accompanying this series, we will be holding a prayer meeting on 29 May, during which we will have an opportunity to ask God to empower us as individuals and as a church.

We have also been training a new team to pray for people at every service. This team will help people apply the content of the message, pray for healing, or give an opportunity to enter into a relationship with God.

A little further off, we are excited to be holding our first Empowered conference on 9-10 November, with guest speakers Mike Pilavachi from Soul Survivor and Eleanor Mumford from the Vineyard. Both speakers have been extremely well-received at ChristChurch in the past, and will really help us to grow in this area. Tickets will be available soon.

These promise to be an exciting few months. I am looking forward to the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead of us as we learn to hear God’s voice, obey His leading and trust in His power to achieve what He has called us to do.

Surely that can’t be right. I mean… I understand the feeling – I too find it baffling! But if God decided to put it in the Bible, and if all Scripture is breathed by God and is useful for training believers (2 Tim 3:16) then there has to be a reason for it being there, and we must be able to make some practical sense of it. 

What is the purpose of the book? Let’s be honest; bits of it read like the script of a disaster movie! Is it all a prophecy of a distant future? And if so how does it have any relevance today? Or should we be expecting this kind of thing any day now? Who are the various characters, what do the numbers and names represent, and how is this bleak picture of the future meant to give us a sense of hope?

Behind all of the complexities and big questions, I think the core message of Revelation is simple. It’s a book about power-struggles, hope in difficult times, and the trajectory of history. And the conclusion is this: Jesus Wins!

This Summer we want to provide an opportunity to get our heads round this important book in more depth than we would be able to in a regular Sunday sermon. In a recent poll on The City, an overwhelming number of people said they would like some teaching on the book of Revelation. So in June and July, in between the Sunday meetings, that’s exactly what you’ll get…

Over six interactive sessions, we’ll look at some of the key themes and tricky passages, with plenty of opportunity for questions. We won’t cover every verse, but my hope is that we’ll be able to get a good grasp of how to interpret the book, which will leave you feeling more confident about reading and understanding it for yourself.

The series will run from 17 June – 29 July, with one week out on 22 July. It will take place in the Queenhithe Room at the Mermaid from 13.30-15.00, and places are limited, so you’ll need to book in here.

Whether you feel you know a lot, a little, or none at all, I hope that this series will help you to begin to get to grips with this challenging and exciting book.

‘Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither [...] Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes […] Those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.’ (Psalm 37:1-2a, 7, 9b)

I can hardly begin to imagine what must have been going through the disciples’ minds on Easter Saturday. The man with whom they had shared their lives for three years, who had claimed to be the Messiah for whom they’d been waiting, upon whom they have placed their dreams and expectations, had suffered an excruciating death and now lay in a tomb. And with him lay their hope.

The question of why bad things happen to good people is immense and difficult. Still, across the centuries, God’s people have drawn a sense of comfort from knowing that God is with them, even in the pain.

Easter Saturday is a painful day full of questions and disappointments. It stands in the silence between the despair of Friday and the hope of Sunday. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were forced to re-evaluate their whole worldview and their faith in God’s purposes. ‘They stood still, their faces downcast’ and said, “Jesus was handed over to death and crucified, but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:17, 20-21)

It is incredibly important that we learn how to handle times of silence.

Even the great King David, who wrote Psalm 37 above also wrote ‘You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay’ (Psalm 16:10), but as Peter reminds us David most definitely did die, was buried and has decayed! In this we learn a valuable lesson, that David’s hope was not in vain, and that God works through even the most hopeless situations. Peter continues, ‘David was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay’ (Acts 2:29-31)

It’s easy to see it now, with the gift of hindsight, but even as Jesus’ body lay in a grave, having cried out only a day earlier ‘My God, why have you forsaken me!’ (Matt 27:26) God had not abandoned him. It was all part of his plan for the healing of the world and the rescue of mankind.

God doesn’t work in predictable ways. The Apostle Paul marvels at the apparent illogic of the cross, saying, ‘We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for it they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory’ (1 Corinthians 2:8).

When wisdom seems hidden, God is at work. In the darkness and gloom of Easter Saturday, trust in God. Sunday is coming.

Questions for Reflection

• How must the disciples have felt on Easter Saturday? Can you identify with their experience and their questions?
• How can you learn to see God at work in your world, even when He appears to be absent?

Prayer

Why not use the following to help you to pray today:

Lord Jesus, I thank you that you do not abandon your people, but are always in control. Even as you lay in a grave on Easter Saturday, God’s purposes were not defeated. Please help me to see you at work in my life, even when it seems like you are absent. I choose to trust in you, and I look forward to Easter Sunday and the promise of hope and new life. Amen

Going Deeper

If you find yourself with some extra time today, why not listen to David Stroud’s talk from the Teach us to Pray series on how to pray when God seems silent, and for further reading on this subject check out Pete Greig’s excellent book God on Mute.

Join us tomorrow for our Easter Sunday service, where we will think about the resurrection of Jesus and celebrate the promise of new life. We will only hold one meeting on that day, so join us at The Mermaid Centre, from 11.00-12.30.

‘The soldiers stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him […]Above his head they placed the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” […] About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) […] And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.’ (Matt 27:28-31, 37, 50)

As if an unwarranted death sentence was not enough, Jesus is beaten, mocked, and abused by his captors. The whole battalion – around 600 Roman soldiers – gathered to watch Jesus be dressed like a king, and then beaten with the staff that was meant to symbolise power and authority. The God who spoke Creation into existence, reduced to nothing at the hands of cruel men.

The mockery didn’t stop with the torturing. People cried out “If you are the Son of God, come down!” (v40) and “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” (v42) Even the rebels who were crucified next to him heaped insults upon him (v44).

But little did they know that beneath all of their mockery and scorn was a prophetic reality. Jesus was the King, though they couldn’t perceive it. He was the Son of God, and the resurrection would soon prove it (cf. Rom 1:4). And although Jesus could have saved himself, the fact that he didn’t was the way by which all mankind could be saved!

Then the most agonising moment of all, when Jesus cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”(v46). This is a direct quote from Psalm 22, an incredibly prophetic Psalm which predicted not only the manner of Jesus’ death, but also the reaction of the crowds, and something of the anguish that Jesus must have experienced. Thirsty, mocked by all, bones out of joint, clothes divided amongst his killers, hands and feet pierced by nails, and ultimately separated from God.

Even within Psalm 22 there is a glimmer of hope. God has always been faithful to His people (v3-5), he hears the cry of the suffering (v24) and He promises that His name will be made known in all the Earth (v27-31). This combination of deep anguish and yet surprising hope is remarkable. As we reflect upon the cross, we cannot help but be amazed at the exchange that took place. Jesus, the only sinless being ever to have lived, died in our place, taking our pain and brokenness upon himself, so that we could be set free. ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Cor 5:21).

This Good Friday, take a moment to reflect on the wonderful exchange of the cross:

• He was lead outside the city, so that we could be brought into the city of God.
• He was stripped naked, so that we could be clothed in righteousness.
• His body was broken, so that we could be made whole.
• He was forsaken by God, so that we could be accepted.
• He was put to death, so that we could be made alive.

Questions for Reflection

• It is so easy to become familiar with the cross and to forget the reality of how Jesus must have felt physically, emotionally and spiritually. How have you seen this passage in a new light today?
• How can we learn to see hope in dark places, in your own life and in the lives of those you love? How can we learn to trust in God as Jesus and the Psalmist did, even at the points of greatest agony?

Prayer

Why not use the following to help you to pray today:

Lord Jesus, thank you that you allowed yourself to be humiliated, tortured and killed so that I could receive dignity, forgiveness and life. Help me never to take your sacrifice for granted, but to recognise and worship you as the true King who gave himself for me. Help me to find hope in dark places, and to trust that you are in control, even when life is at its most difficult. Amen

Going Deeper

If you find yourself with some extra time today, read and reflect on Psalms 22 and 69 and Isaiah 53, and consider how they pre-empt and predict Jesus’ experience at the cross.

You may also want to read this article by Liam Thatcher on The Darkness.

Don’t forget to join us for our Good Friday meeting today, as we worship, share communion and reflect on the significance of the cross.

Time: 11.00-12.30
Venue: 79 Endell Street, WC2H 9DY

‘Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” […] While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.’ (Matt 26:36-39, 47-50)

Gethsemane was a garden among the olive trees on the Mount of Olives. It was here that Jesus spent his final hours of freedom, praying and weeping as he anticipated the suffering and death that was about to come. For years, Jesus had prepared himself for this, knowing that he was to die a death on behalf of others as their Passover Lamb. Until this point, he had experienced close, intimate relationship with his Father, but now in a moment of real vulnerability and intense sorrow, Jesus pleads with Him for another way.

‘The Cup’ was a regular biblical picture, not only for suffering, but the punishment of God (e.g. Psalm 75:7-8; Jeremiah 25:15; Habakkuk 2:16). Jesus understood that going to the cross would mean taking upon himself the full punishment of God for all the wrongdoing of mankind, and even though he longed for another way, he ultimately trusted in his Father and submitted to His will (v39, 42).

When Judas arrived, he brought with him a large crowd of priests, elders, and Roman Soldiers (cf. Luke 22:52; John 18:3, 12) armed with clubs and swords, to arrest Jesus. This was an unnecessarily large show of force to arrest a man who had consistently resisted violence and taught peace. But Jesus’ response is astonishing. He said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (v53).

In 2 Kings 19:35, we see that one angel is capable of killing 185,000 Assyrians, so twelve legions would amount to 72,000 angels, capable of defeating over 13 billion soldiers! In other words, if he had wanted, in an instant Jesus could have summoned heaven’s armies who would have infinitely more power than was ever needed to defeat this small band of armed men. The fact that Jesus resisted and willingly allowed himself to be arrested is mind-blowing! Tempted though he was, Jesus was so submitted to the will of God, that even in his moment of need, he refused to find another way out.

Judas approached Jesus, kissing him as a sign that he was the one who the guards should arrest and calling him Rabbi, which means ‘Teacher’. For a disciple to kiss their Rabbi, usually on the hand, was a sign of special honour. A disciple should never have done it without first being invited. So as Judas kisses Jesus, it is an act of mockery and an insult. Still, Jesus responds with grace.

Judas called Jesus ‘Rabbi’; Jesus called Judas ‘friend.’

This is remarkable; that Jesus would still call ‘friend’ the one who sold him for thirty pieces, betrayed him and gave him over to his killers. Nobody is beyond the grace of God. Whoever you are, whatever you have done, and however far you are from Him, you can still be welcomed and forgiven. Judas showed no signs of remorse of repentance, but the offer still remained, as it does for us: if we trust in Jesus’ sacrifice, as our Passover Lamb, the one who has drunk the cup on our behalf, we can be called friends of God.

Questions for Reflection

• Jesus’ example teaches us about the importance of obedience to God’s call, even when you may prefer easier or less painful solutions. In what areas of your life do you need to submit to God and say “not my will, but yours”?
• Luke tells us that even in the midst of his suffering, Jesus was supernaturally strengthened (Luke 22:43). What are the areas in your life where you feel tempted or tested, and how can you learn to rely on God for strengthening as Jesus did?
• Paul writes that ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1). What difference does it make for you to know that Jesus has drunk the cup of God’s punishment on your behalf?

Prayer

Why not use the following to help you pray today:

Lord Jesus, thank you for your unwavering commitment to God’s plan; that you put His will before your own desire for comfort, and that you drank the cup of God’s punishment on my behalf. I am so grateful that there is now no condemnation for me because of your faithfulness. Help me to be fully submitted to you, and strengthen me in my times of weakness. Amen

Going Deeper

If you find yourself with some extra time today, why not listen to one of the following talks on the Garden of Gethsemane:

• Kingdom Come: Suffering by David Stroud
• The Cup by C.J. Mahaney

‘Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed […] When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”’ (Luke 22:7, 14-20)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a seven-day event that the Jewish people celebrated every year, and it began with the Passover (Lev 23:5-6). This was a time to reflect on one of the greatest stories in Israel’s history: God leading them out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-51). God instructed the people to kill a perfect lamb, and smear the blood on the doorposts of their houses. Then when God came to judge Egypt, He would see the blood and pass over the house. The people were saved because of the blood of the Passover Lamb.

Jesus and his Disciples gathered to celebrate the Passover, as they would have done each year, only this year it took on a deeper significance. As they ate, they would typically reflect on God’s mercy in leading their forefathers out of Egypt, and long for Him to do the same for them in their day.

As they began the meal, Jesus declared that he had eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with the disciples before he suffered (v15). Knowing, as he did, that his suffering and death were only a few hours away, his eagerness to share his final meal with his friends demonstrates both how much he cared for them, and how significant the symbolism of the Passover was. Jesus knew that in the events that were about to unfold, he was to play the part of the Passover Lamb, sacrificed so that others could be saved by his blood.

‘This is my body,’ said Jesus, ‘given for you’ (v19). It is hard to imagine what must have been going through the minds of the disciples at this point, but the word translated ‘given’ was the same word Luke used in 2:24 to speak of a sacrifice being offered. Whether the disciples realised it at the time or not, Jesus was saying that he was offering himself as a sacrifice to deliver people from their sins (cf. Gal 1:4). And if they didn’t perceive that, his next phrase ‘this is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’ (v20) was unmistakably reminiscent of Moses’ action in Exodus 24:8, ‘Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”’

This was a dinner tinged with mixed emotions: on the one hand the agony, fear and sadness of knowing that immense suffering and death was imminent, on the other the hope of sins forgiven and freedom for many. And in the midst of it, Jesus looks forward to the day when he will eat and drink in the New Creation (v16, 18). When God puts the world to rights, ridding it of all sickness, suffering and death, there will be an incredible celebration, like an extravagant wedding feast (Rev 19:6-9), with the best of meats and the finest of wines (Isaiah 25:6-8), and Jesus, the Passover Lamb who was slain, will receive glory and honour forever more (Rev 5:12-13; 22:3-5). The Last Supper, sitting between the Passover and the Wedding Feast is one of three meals to change the world; and the Lord invites us to eat and drink, proclaiming his death until he comes again to make all things new (1 Cor 11:23-26).

Questions for Reflection

• What does it mean for you that Jesus is the Passover Lamb? How does his sacrifice set you free?
• How does the knowledge that you will feast with God in the New Creation excite and encourage you?

Prayer

Why not use the following to help you to pray today:

Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the Passover Lamb. I recognise my brokenness, and I thank you that you allowed your body to be broken and your blood to be shed so that I could be set free and made whole. I look forward to the day when I will eat and drink with you in the New Creation. Fill me with your Spirit and give me boldness to proclaim your death and resurrection today. Amen

Going Deeper

If you find yourself with some extra time today, why not listen to one of the following talks:

• Kingdom Come: Communion by Andy Tilsley,
• Jesus Sets Me Free by David Stroud
• Getting Out by Timothy Keller

If you’re meeting as a Life Group or Mid Size Group this week, why not consider sharing communion together, reflecting on the death of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, and the hope of New Creation.

‘Then one of the twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.’ (Matthew 26:14-16) 

This is a real turning point in the story of Jesus’ life. Judas had been with him from the beginning, one of the core twelve; yet beneath the surface his doubts, frustrations and personal ambition had been bubbling away. In Matthew 26 Judas’ true colours come to the surface, as he trades in the life of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

I don’t know if that sounds a lot to you; thirty pieces of silver? In Jesus’ day it was probably worth about four months’ wages for a labourer. Not an amount to be sniffed at; but also an incredibly small price for a human life. Exodus 25:32 tells us that thirty pieces of silver was the price that must be paid to a master if their slave was gored to death by an ox. On one level, Jesus’ life was valued the same as that of a slave, accidentally impaled by an animal.

But there is also something symbolic going on here. Matthew is deliberately evoking the language of Zechariah 11, a chapter which he draws from a good deal in the Easter story. Zechariah 11 is packed with evocative imagery of a shepherd who is tasked with caring for a flock doomed to death. He rescues them, only to then be rejected by the sheep. He breaks two staffs of ‘favour’ and ‘union’ and the sheep are left to the leadership of a worthless shepherd.

Having been rejected, the shepherd declares ‘“If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver […] the handsome price at which they valued me!’ (Zech 11:12-13) Zechariah’s words are dripping with irony: ‘the handsome price!’ Thirty pieces of silver is an insultingly low wage for someone whose job is to risk his life to protect sheep. And such was the minute cost for which Judas was willing to sacrfice his master.

The symbolism is striking: a shepherd, giving his life to protect sheep doomed to death, only to then be betrayed by them. But notice the key difference between Jesus and Zechariah. Zechariah grew weary and resigned his position, leaving the sheep to their fate (Zech 11:9). Jesus refused to desert his sheep, but paid the ultimate price, giving up his life for them.

How much is Jesus worth to you? The thirty pieces paid for the life of Jesus tell us that both Judas and the Priests esteemed him so little that they treated him like a common slave and a worthless shepherd. They were so blind to the truth of who Jesus was. The most rich and valuable being to ever have existed made himself nothing, taking on the form of a slave, and being obedient to the point of death (Phil 2:4-8). The good shepherd laid down his life for the sheep (John 10:11-13, 17-18).

Questions for Reflection

• Read Philippians 2:5-8. How must it have felt for Jesus, who was God himself, to become nothing? What would it look like for you, who are not God, to live with the same mindset?
• What does it mean to you to think of Jesus as a faithful shepherd? How does this affect your day to day life?

Prayer

Why not use the following to help you to pray today:

Lord Jesus, Thank you that you humbled yourself, taking on flesh and coming to Earth in order to rescue me. I recognise that you are the Good Shepherd who gave your life for me. Help me to hear and recognise your voice, and to be obedient in following you wherever you lead. Forgive me for times when I have failed to value you highly enough, and help me to honour, worship and follow you today. Amen

Going Deeper

If you find yourself with some extra time today, why not download Tim Frisby’s recent talk from the I AM series, and reflect on what it means to know Jesus as The Good Shepherd.

^‘As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”’ (Mark 11:1-10)

I wonder how you imagine this scene? It was the time of the Passover, when thousands of Jews would have travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate the time in Israel’s history when God set them free from captivity in Egypt (Exodus 12). It was no easy journey. The climb from Jericho to Jerusalem was around 18 miles (the length of the Circle line) and almost entirely up hill. Jericho was the lowest city on earth, around 800 feet below sea level, and Jerusalem was 3,000 feet above sea level. The journey would have been long and hard, travelling through desert and over rocky terrain. Walking it would have been tough enough, but Jesus chose an even less convenient mode of transport: a donkey!

In fact, Jesus didn’t simply request any old donkey, he asked for ‘a colt, which no one has ever ridden’ (v2). This was not pickiness on his part, but a powerful prophetic statement. In the Jewish writings it was decreed that nobody should ride on an animal that is set aside for the king. And the prophet Zechariah wrote, ‘Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey’ (Zechariah 9:9).

By entering Jerusalem on a colt that had never been ridden, Jesus was making the bold claim: “I am the King you have been waiting for.”

Many people got the hint! They lay down their coats on the ground, like their forefathers had when they recognised Jehu as King (2 Kings 9:13), and they raised their voices in song. And not just any song! As the people journeyed at the Passover, they would sing Psalms which had been set for the occasion; in particular Psalms 113-118. These were the same Psalms they sang every single year, Psalms which told of the goodness of God in rescuing His people from slavery. But this year they took on a new sense of poigniancy, as the people sang ‘Hosanna’ which means ‘God save us!’ and ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’, whilst Jesus rode in their midst (Psalm 118:25-26).

Whether or not they realised the full implications of their prayers, songs and actions, we, with the gift of hindsight can see what Jesus was doing. This was a declaration of intent: The King had returned to the city, to lay claim to what was rightfully his and to set his people free.

Questions for Reflection

• Jesus challenged the expectations of the crowd by coming, not as a victorious warrior, but as a humble man on a donkey. In what ways does Jesus’ humility challenge you? In what, perhaps unexpected, ways is he currently working in your life?
• Upon recognising Jesus as King, the people lay down their branches and cloaks at his feet. Are there things that you currently need to lay down in recognition of Jesus’ rule over your life?

Prayer

Why not use the following to help you to pray today:

Lord Jesus, I recognise you as King, and I lay down my life before you. I thank you that you came to rescue mankind, through your life, death and resurrection. Would you be enthroned as King in my life today, ruling over my thoughts, my plans, my decisions and my ambitions and may I glorify you in all that I do. Amen

Going Deeper

If you find yourself with some extra time today, why not use this question to go a little deeper.

• Read and reflect on Psalms 113-118. How has God intervened in your life and what reasons do you have to give Him thanks and praise today?

Whether it’s volunteering on one of the projects we’re already running, or starting something yourself, we would love everyone to do something that makes the most of this great opportunity.

Here are a few details about what we are already doing, and some ideas for how you can get involved:

Stop the Traffik

Large sporting events are known to lead to an increase in people trafficking for the sex industry. To raise awareness of this, Stop the Traffik is running a campaign around London, and we are looking to man a stand. To do this, we will need people like you! For more information join the Olympics group on The City or visit ungiftbox.org

Football in the Community

The Vauxhall football project connects with around 80 children and their families every week. The summer will be a great time to make this more of an event to impact young people and the local area. Find out more on The City.

Basketball at Ducketts Common

ChristChurch London has been running a gardening project here for a little while and the local community is holding a basketball competition to mark the Olympics. We have offered volunteers to help out through the event…one of those volunteers could be you! Sign up via The City

As well as these projects, there are plenty of opportunities for you to run your own events. Why not team up with other people in your area, or do something with your Life Group? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

There are all sorts of cleanup initiatives taking place across London. Keep an ear to the ground and find out what’s happening in your area, or why not try to organize something with neighbours and friends like cleaning graffiti, tidying a local park, or shifting rubbish.

Over the Olympics London will host countless street parties. Why not find one nearby, and connect with your neighbours? Perhaps offer your services to the organisers to see if you can help beforehand or on the day. Or if there isn’t one already happening near you, why not plan your own? There are plenty of tips to help you on your way at streetparty.org.uk

Visit london2012.com to find out when the Olympic Torch Relay will be near you and what events are happening around it. Why not gather a group of people and go along together? There will also be a group of people following the torch on a huge prayer marathon. Find out more information at morethangold.org.uk

Have a spare room? Then why not consider hosting an Olympian? More Than Gold are organising people to host Olympians and their families who may not otherwise be able to afford to come. Check out their website for details, but check with your housemates first!

Perhaps you might want to host an Olympics party, with fancy dress and sporting competitions of course. Or how about a BBQ, or a local pub quiz – questions are already written for you at More Than Gold. There are plenty more ideas available at the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

The options are as endless as your imagination. Get planning, share ideas and let us know what you’re up to. If you would like support, manpower, resources or help publicising your event, let us know by the end of April and we’ll see what we can do. By the end of June we want to produce a directory of everything we’re doing as a church so that everyone will be able to get involved and enjoy this once in a lifetime event. So either get in touch with Stephen Humphreys or Catherine Warren

Easter, the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the central event of the Christian calendar, and yet we can so easily become familiar with the story and forget to reflect deeply on its significance. This year we want to make a feature of Easter, providing a number of ways for you to think about, respond to and celebrate its inspiring message.

Since February we have been preaching a series called I Am: Jesus on Trial, looking at Jesus’ claims in the gospel of John. This series will come to a conclusion on Easter Sunday morning, when we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of new life. In addition, we will hold our first ever Good Friday meeting, on which see Andy Tilsley’s quip-laden blog post!

In the week running up to Easter, we will be producing a daily Bible Study, to help us reflect on different aspects of the Easter story. Each morning, beginning on Monday 2^nd April, an email will arrive in your inbox bright and early (around 5am… rest assured, I won’t be the one getting up to hit ‘send’!) containing a short Bible Study.

Each email will contain:

• A short passage of Scripture for you to read and consider
• A few thoughts to help you understand the passage and see the story in a new light.
• Two or three questions for reflection. These will help you to consider how the passage applies directly into your life.
• A short prayer, which may help you to respond to the theme of the study.
• And finally, for those who want it there is a Going Deeper section, which will recommend some talks, articles, books, and further study questions.

We don’t anticipate that it will take you long to read through and think about each of these elements, but hopefully it will give you something to chew on for the rest of the day. So why not set aside a short time during your day, whenever suits you – morning, lunchtime, evening – to read through the email, and think about some of the questions. If you don’t have time for the Going Deeper section, no problem – it’s there to help you if and when you have time.

All of us are different, and we engage with God in different ways. So think about what will best help you this Easter week. For some, first thing in the morning is the perfect time: with a cup of coffee, or whilst riding on the tube. For others, taking time out during a lunch break is far more convenient. Some may find it helpful to write down answers to the questions, others might want to do the Bible studies with friends, housemates, work colleagues, or your Life Group. If something particularly makes you think, why not journal about it on The City and publish it for others to see. We will also put the studies up on Broadcast each day, and it’s easy to click the icons on the bottom to share them with friends via Facebook or Twitter.

If you’re signed up to receive our email newsletter, you will get the Bible Studies automatically each day, starting on Monday 2^nd April. If you’re not already subscribed, sign up today. We hope you will benefit from these resources, and we look forward to learning, praying, reflecting and celebrating together this Easter.

First Time Dads

Jonny Elwyn pitched his idea for his baby clothing company First Time Dads at the Everything Conference 2012. First Time Dads is the UK’s first and only range of baby clothes and accessories designed to help fatherhood a little bit easier and a lot more fun.

If you would like to get involved with First Time Dads, either by investing or offering your experience and expertise, contact Jonny at jonnyelwyn@gmail.com

Online Computer Vision Platform

David Akinluyi pitched his idea for his Online Computer Vision Platform at the Everything Conference 2012. Computer vision enables networked machines to see and hear so that they can be more helpful.

If you would like to get involved with this computer vision platform, either by investing or offering your experience and expertise, contact David at david.akinluyi@googlemail.com

YELP Students

Sharla Duncan pitched her idea for YELP Students at the Everything Conference 2012. YELP Students significantly increases access to leading universities, by harnessing the power of their most outstanding students to work with local disadvantaged secondary school pupils.

If you would like to get involved with YELP Students, either by investing or offering your experience and expertise, contact Sharla at sharla.duncan@yelpstudents.org

Magnify

Ruth Awogbade pitched her idea for Magnify at the Everything Conference 2012. Magnify is about creatively presenting the message of Christianity in a refreshing and accesible way, to the disillusioned and lost women in our world, through engaging in various media platforms.

If you would like to get involved with Magnify, either by investing or offering your experience and expertise, contact Ruth atruthamagnify@gmail.com

This short film, originally shown at the conference, tells the story of the Guinness family and the impact they made, not only in Dublin, but across the world. It’s the story of many different people working to glorify God in many different, and perhaps unexpected ways.

The secret of success in life is to be ready when a man’s time has come – Benjamin Disraeli

Dr Os Guinness tackles these and several other big questions in the first of his messages from the conference.

In his second talk at the Everything Conference 2012, Dr Os Guinness challenges us not to sit around waiting for a ‘special calling’, or to think that those who are employed full time by churches or missions organisations are more involved in God’s work than those in so-called ‘secular’ employment. “Jesus,” he explained, “never had part-time disciples. It’s everyone, everywhere in everything.”

The definition is self-explanatory. And yet, I would argue, it is the most challenging part of the Everything Matters mandate. It is also the most vital, particularly for students and recent graduates.

To those who are young, idealistic and full of passion; so often the two other tag-words of the Everything Conference (create and cultivate) sound far more appealing.

Perhaps this is because, if we are truthful, they also sound the most rewarding; particularly in terms of recognition that would be received if, and when, we are successful. This certainly fits with the culture of University. After all, it is marketed as the period in our lives during which we are to build our own platform of views; ideas that will propel us forward in our attempts to leave a mark on the world. Like the people, practices and products that we study; we all want to do something that is remembered.

But at the same time, maybe our distance from collaboration is just that; a realistic gap between desire and opportunity. We are sent different messages. Whilst being told that we are studying, exploring and discovering the most up-to-date ideas that could change both our world and our perception of it we are also (upon graduation) confronted with a market-place that tells us we are to wait at least a decade before we can really begin to put any of our ideas into some sort of influential practice. No wonder the passion to collaborate dies so young!

Do not worry, this blog-post is not a message of despair; but it is a provocation: a challenge for all of us to pursue and, if needs be, to create more opportunities for us to collaborate.

I happen to be writing whilst living and serving amongst a rural community in a mountainous jungle terrain. The other day, I saw the power of collaboration displaying its most creative and cultivating potential.

The villager elders wanted to build a new reservoir. This requires a lot of hard labour and manpower. It requires clearing away dense jungle and excavating a huge hole into the rocky mountain side. It is a near-impossible task.

Yet, the work is more than essential. It would mean cleaner, more accessible water for drinking, cooking and washing. It would mean healthier families: healthier parents who can work and healthier children who will miss less of their education. As for the wider community, water accessibility would be the first step towards developing other aspects of the village. Maintaining hygiene and sanitation would become easier. It would also be easier to begin other projects; better housing, better pathways and better, shared crops. Even generating local energy for basic lighting would become possible. The reservoir would change the entire community, creating and cultivating an entirely new village-culture. Sadly, the benefits do not make the task any less difficult.

Unexpectedly, the reservoir is taking shape before my eyes with astonishing speed, all thanks to collaboration between the elders and the village youth.

And here is the interesting thing: the village youth did not have to help, nor were they asked to. They showed up and asked to join in.

They arrived at day-break. Within thirty-minutes they had developed, and put into motion, several task-speeding processes, the result of which is seeing clearing, extraction and removal of the site. In only a few days, working in collaboration with all ages of the village they have directed their ideas, strength and enthusiasm towards making a seven foot high crater; and it is getting higher every day. Intentionally or not, they are now part of bringing the change to their community faster than originally hoped for.

In London (and in our nation), the needs of our community are different to those above and those of us who want to begin creating and cultivating sooner rather than later live in a fortunate time.  The Everything Conference. Transform Groups. Everything Matters training. Social Action. They are all at our finger-tips. By being the Church we are connected with hundreds of others from a variety of backgrounds, professions, skills and ambitions, all of whom are seeking to engage transform the culture around us. Age and experience are not limiting factors!

Together, let us begin to create the opportunities to collaborate, both for ourselves and the generation of students that will quickly follow us. Let us be at the Everything Conference this Saturday; let us own its mandate; and let us seek to collaborate in uncovering more of the colours and flavours in our culture, and nation, that best reflect the Kingdom of which, whatever our age and whatever our interests and skills, we are all ambassadors of.

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The Everything Conference is taking place on Saturday 17 March, 10.00-17.00 at The Mermaid Conference Centre, EC4V 3DB. For more information and to book a ticket, visit everythingconference.org

]]> http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/articles/collaborate/feed 0 http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/sermons/1-i-am/the-resurrection-and-the-life?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-resurrection-and-the-life http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/sermons/1-i-am/the-resurrection-and-the-life#comments Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:00:50 +0000 David Stroud http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/?p=3906 ]]> We live in a broken world, full of sickness, suffering and death; and where is God? Is He indifferent, or simply impotent to do anything about it? In this talk, David will explore Jesus’ claim to be the resurrection and the life, and what it tells us about the compassion of God, and His plan to put the world to rights.

So a part of me – the deeply selfish part, which prioritises my own culinary escapades above those of my fellow man – wishes he’d not review them. Or maybe he could, but just tell me. Or perhaps just give me a fortnight’s head start on the rest of the nation…

Very occasionally I feel the same way about books. I recognise that they deserve to be widely known about; everyone should have a copy. But the selfish part just wants to keep them as my little secret, so I can devour, apply (and re-use!?) the material before the rest of the world gets a chance. Some books are just too good to review.

Andrew Wilson’s latest offering falls into that category.

If God, Then What?: Wondering aloud about truth, origins and redemption is a witty, creative, compelling and provocative book in which Andrew ‘wonders aloud’ about ten key questions, addressing issues like fundamentalism, the nature of knowledge, the origins of the universe, the possibility of the miraculous and suffering. His answers are never heavy-handed or dogmatic, but rather he leads you on a journey with each chapter; weaving together insights from personal experience (and it appears he’s had some pretty odd experiences!), popular culture, history and philosophy.

Stylistically, think Tim Keller’s The Reason for God written by a British version of Donald Miller. (Incidentally, both Keller and Miller also make my ‘too good to review’ category). Too often apologetics books produce stock answers to questions that nobody’s really asking! Not so here. Andrew tackles ten hugely important questions, which anyone and everyone regardless of their faith-position could and should be asking. His narrative style means that rather than being presented with a honed, well-packaged, but slightly soulless, off-pat selection of answers, you genuinely feel like you’re somehow eavesdropping on the inner workings of his brain, following a logical train of thought from beginning to end. As such, it feels very authentic and engages both the heart and the mind.

If you’ve read any of Andrew’s previous books, Incomparable, or GodStories, or heard him speak at ChristChurch I’m sure you won’t need me to describe Andrew’s ability to break down complex arguments into bite-sized, accessible chunks. Suffice it to say, he does this expertly in If God, Then What?

I shan’t give too much away about the content, but a personal highlight was the seventh chapter, in which Andrew paints a beautiful picture of what a snippet of the world, and London in particular, might look like in the New Creation.

If you are a Christian looking for a more robust understanding of the reasonableness of your faith, or a fresh way of articulating big and difficult concepts, or a book you can give to friends without cringing, then this is for you. And if you are not a believer but would like to read a book that will give you cause to think about life, the universe and everything perhaps for the first time, I would highly recommend this as a great place to start.

Okay, I’m sorry. There must be another Easter holiday coming up, because I’ve wandered into egg-pun territory, so please forgive my awful yolks. I shell do my best not to crack another.

That said though, if there’s ever a Christian festival that’s worth celebrating with joy, laughter and loads of fun, it’s this one. It’s where we remember that even death has been conquered, that sin itself is nailed to the cross, and that out of the most humiliating and excruciating suffering comes the most wonderful hope and expectation for the future. Eggstroadinary. You couldn’t fry it up.

I realise life is often complicated, and can be fraught with frustration, disappointment and pain, but Easter is the opportunity to remember that after night comes morning, after Winter comes Spring, after death comes resurrection – it’s just wonderful, wonderful news.

I love the way CS Lewis puts it in his book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. To set the scene, the children have just been pursued by the wolves who are seeking their very lives. The witch’s power seems unstoppable. There is terror on every side; danger all around. But then the children hear the name of the Great Lion, the Christ figure, and it’s like a ray of sunshine through the clouds.

‘And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken his name everyone felt quite different… At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realise that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.’

The children don’t know all the details. They don’t even fully know who Aslan is, but they hear his name and somehow, instinctively, perceive that there is hope.

So it is with Easter.

We don’t have to understand all the ins and outs of the theological significance of the crucifixion and resurrection (though of course it’s good to explore more of the Bible!) But if nothing else, Easter should at least remind us that the greatest enemies of humankind have been overcome by Jesus.

So we rightly want to make a big deal of Easter this year. For anyone who wants to, we’ll be gathering on Good Friday to worship, share communion and hear about the cross. Then on Easter Sunday we’ll have a celebration of the resurrection – with just the one meeting at 11am, so you can spend the rest of this amazing day with friends and family. In our Sunday meetings in the build up to Easter, we’re looking at different aspects of the person of Jesus through John’s gospel, and in the week running up to Easter Sunday we’ll produce a daily Bible Study to help reflect on the Easter message. This will include a reading for each day, as well as questions and prayer points to help you focus on the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible studies will be emailed out first thing every morning, so why not set aside time each day to read, reflect and pray

The practical bits and opportunities to sign up to the Bible readings are all below, but don’t let this incredible festival pass you by without reflecting on what it’s all about, the implications for us today, and, perhaps most significantly, just how amazing Jesus Christ really is.

That’s what the egg-stuff is all about – for centuries eggs were seen as the ultimate sign of new life, which is why they’re worth talking about at this time of year… in some curious way, they’re a reminder of what Jesus has done, and what he offers for me and you.

With that said, I’m oeuf to find some more egg puns. Feel free to poach any of the ones I’ve used in this blog.

• To receive the Bible Studies before Easter, you need to be signed up to our email newsletter. If you’re not already subscribed, sign up today.
• Good Friday Service: Friday 6^th April, 11-12.30pm. 79 Endell Street, WC2H 9DY
• Easter Sunday Service: Sunday 8^th April, 11-12.30pm, The Mermaid Theatre.

What about joining a team to serve a new church plant this Summer?  

Not what might first come to mind! If you’re a worker, for something to be part of your twenty-something days of holiday it really does have to make the cut. If you’re a student you may have the opposite problem – what do you do with all this holiday! When doing my undergrad I worked out that if you add all my holidays together I only actually spent six months in term time… that’s a lot of free time. You really do have to grab hold of it and make it count.

This trip will make the cut and make it count!

Do you want to…

• Help a young church reach out to one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and influential cities?
• Taste what cross-cultural church planting is like?
• Share the Gospel with people, pray for the sick and see what God does?

This Summer my wife, Lynne, and I are leading a team to go and serve Redeemer International Church in the centre of The Hague. We’ll be teaming up with ex-ChristChurchers, Jeff and Becky Stamps and Naomi Bedford, who moved to the Netherlands to help this church begin, and helping them be a blessing to the people living and studying in the city.

We’ll be doing prayer and evangelism in the streets and universities – a great way to step out of your comfort zone and see what God does as we trust Him. We’ll be staying with members of the church, so you’ll get an insider’s view of what church planting is really like and we’ll also make sure there’s time to have fun and enjoy the sights of the city.

When: 18-27 August
Cost: £295 plus euros for your evening meals
Who: Workers, graduates and students who are up for serving and seeing God working

Interested? If so, contact Martin on martin@christchurchlondon.org for more information.

__________

For further opportunities to take part in overseas trips visit

mobilise.org.uk/worldwide
nations.newfrontierstogether.org

Or to be a leader on a Newday Global Team, visit:

newdaygeneration.org/global

The inspiration for the event came from seeing many great ideas that have been brought to life by members of ChristChuch over the last few years. A common pattern emerged; someone with a good idea connected with others with the resources and skills to help turn the idea into a reality. Why not catalyse this process, by giving people a platform to pitch their ideas and what they need to take it to the next stage?

We decided on simple criteria; the ideas had to be ‘good’ – reflecting Kingdom values, with a clear aim to serve society. As soon as word got out about the event, an amazing deluge of good ideas began.

So, on a mild Friday evening in January, 12 pitchers were given five minutes each to pitch their idea. The pitches were as brilliant as they were diverse – from dad-oriented baby-wear, through decor-friendly fire blankets, to franchises for ex-offenders and food vouchers for the homeless. The venue – the crypt of St James’ Clerkenwell – could have been straight out of Dragon’s Den itself. Around 80 people came to hear the pitches and to offer their advice and support over a glass of wine afterwards.

Thanks to great pitchers and a great audience, the feedback has been really encouraging. The pitchers are now pursuing multiple offers of help, contacts and even funding. We hope to run a similar event in a few months time – and we’re also thinking about other ways to support those who are already pursuing their good ideas.

For more information, join the Transform Business group on The City

Each week we focused on a different topic such as communication, resolving conflict, and yes, even sex! The style of the course meant there was lots of time to discuss our ideas and thoughts together in an informal environment.

I don’t know what you may think, but for me so much of being engaged was focused on planning a wedding, so it was really useful to take time out to discuss deeper issues such as our views about marriage, and to chat about our expectations post-wedding day. We talked about things we probably wouldn’t have thought to discuss in advance, and it helped us to prepare for marriage rather than just get ready for a wedding (although that was really fun too!)

It was hugely beneficial to chat with Dan about our preconceptions. For example, before doing the course I had never considered how much our upbringings could influence our views towards marriage, but the course enabled us to talk this through together in an open and friendly environment. It meant that once we were married, some of the challenges that arose weren’t such a big deal because we had discussed them beforehand (like how we were going to manage the in-laws!)

I’d definitely recommend the course: it’s informal, fun and I bet each time you go you will learn something new about your partner.

_____

The Marriage Preparation course is for any couple in a committed relationship, and over five weeks looks at subjects like communication, commitment, resolving conflict, keeping love alive and having shared goals and values.

The next course begins on Sunday 4 March and runs from 13.30-15.30 in the Queenhithe Room at the Mermaid Theatre. For more information visit the calendar and to register for a place, email tamryn@christchurchlondon.org

There’s Mel, who was one of the first girls I met when I moved to London. I can completely be myself with her although we can be like chalk and cheese (salads over steak, no way!). She challenges me and calls me on things I need to be accountable for, but always encourages me to grow in my faith and to enjoy life as an adventure with God.

Then there’s Kelly, who lived with my family at home for a while a few years ago. She is the person who encouraged me to stick with my writing and the only one I am willing to send drafts to, knowing that she will critique with encouragement and praise. She is the big sister I never had, able to offer wisdom and advice whenever I need it.

There’s Sal, mother of three of my beautiful godchildren, who is an inspiration to me in so many ways. She welcomed me into her home many years ago when I needed role models to look up to, and has taught me so much about having a dream and refusing to let anything hold you back. I have been humbled and amazed watching her cope with raising three children when her husband walked out just after their youngest daughter was born. Her faith is breathtaking.

Then there’s Anna, who I don’t see very often but who brings out my crazy side. I have such fantastic memories of dancing down the road, skipping through shops and playing charades on the tube with her. She taught me that we should never become so grown up so much that we stop having fun.

There’s also Milly, who lived round the corner from my parents. She’s the person I told my first secrets to, and there is almost nothing she doesn’t know about me. We are so different that I’m not sure if we met now we’d become friends, and yet I can tell her anything. She has dropped everything for me in the past when I’ve needed her to carry burdens I wasn’t strong enough to carry, and I know that she will always be there for me.

These women are just the start. There’s also Tammy, who is one of the most intelligent people I know and can be scary when passionate about something; Benji, who gives the best hugs ever and who I can chat to for literally hours on end without ever running out of things to say; Laura, who survives on coffee and almost no sleep but is always upbeat and ready for fun; Megan, who doesn’t mind getting texts from me at all hours of the day and night and always knows the right thing to say; and Sarah, who has taught me so much about being comfortable with who I am.

All of these women have helped me to grow in my faith; they have encouraged and inspired me. They have never judged me, but have inspired me to change when I’ve needed to and picked me up when I’ve fallen. I’ve shared laughs, tears, cocktails, chocolate, fears and dreams with these women, and I thank God for each of them.

I feel blessed to know these women, and to be in a church so full of women like them. When I look around ChristChurch London I see godly woman after godly woman, and I am learning so much from each of them. I love getting to know new women and seeing them grow in faith and become part of the church – each one is a new sister in the family.

I am convinced that God is going to use us as women together to fulfil His plans for our church, for London and for the nations. That is why I love the women’s mornings we run a few times a year. It’s a chance to gather together and worship, hear His word preached, find out about what God is doing in and through the amazing women in ChristChurch, and get to know my sisters a little better. Come join us!

ChristChurch London Women’s Morning:

Sat Feb 25
10.00 – 13.00
Whetherby Prep School,
48 Bryanston Square,
London W1H 2EA

For more information, visit the women’s group on The City

* The names of the women mentioned in this blog have been changed.

Our next church-wide prayer meeting is on Tuesday 28 February. This is right at the beginning of the season of the church calendar known as Lent; a period when Christians all around the world will be praying and fasting in the run up to Easter. So this term, we have decided to accompany our prayer with our first ever church-wide day of fasting.

I don’t know how familiar you are with fasting? You may have tried it once or twice; you may never have heard of it before. Many Christians have found fasting to be a powerful way of connecting with God at a deeper level. That has certainly been my experience. And when churches take time out to pray and fast together, they typically find that their physical hunger spills over into a deeper spiritual hunger for more of God and His blessing on their lives.

So here are a few thoughts on what fasting is, why we do it, and how we should do it.

Fasting means to voluntarily go without something – typically food – for the purpose of spending time praying and drawing closer to God. In the Bible, fasting was an assumed part of people’s regular lifestyle, so Jesus said to his disciples ‘when you fast…’ not ‘if you fast…’ (Matt 6:16). Some people seem to have fasted twice a week (Luke 18:11-12) and there were regular festivals during which God called all His people to fast together (Zech 8:19). Individuals would choose to fast at particular moments when they faced challenges (Daniel 1:8-21), or wanted to get closer to God (Luke 4:1-2) and sometimes a nation’s leaders would call  people to fast either in repentance (Jonah 3:5-10) or to request God’s help (Ezra 8:21-23; 2 Chron 20:1-4).

We want to invite you, if you feel able, to join us in fasting and spending time drawing closer to God in advance of our prayer time. This is an opportunity for us as a church to seek God and ask for Him to speak to us, and as we do this, we believe God will strengthen and guide us for the way ahead.

Here are a few spiritual and practical guidelines to help you as you think about fasting on February 28:

• Fasting is not primarily about testing yourself, or seeing what you can achieve, and it’s certainly not a hunger strike to try to force God into giving you something! It is designed to help you meet with God as you recognise your dependence upon Him. As you fast, ensure that your motives are appropriate and that you are genuinely desiring to meet with God and for His holiness to become more evident in your life.
• Whilst fasting is typically related to food, some people may find it helpful to fast other things such as television, music or technology. The important thing is that when you fast, you shouldn’t simply ‘go without’. Aim to replace time spent eating, watching television, or whatever, with time spent praying and reading God’s word. This may mean needing to schedule times into your day for prayer or arranging to go somewhere different during your lunch break.
• As you fast, be particularly open to hearing God speak to you for yourself and for the church. Expect that He will speak to you through His word and give you guidance from the Holy Spirit.
• Be sensible with fasting. If you are of ill health, please do not go against medical advice, and consider carefully whether a full day’s fast will be a viable option for you. You may find that fasting a particular item or meal would suit you better.
• Decide the length of your fast and plan it into your schedule. You may decide to fast for the whole day on the 28^th, or just skip one meal. If you do decide that you want to fast for longer than 24 hours, you are welcome to, but plan carefully and be willing to review the duration if your health or circumstances change.
• Ensure that you don’t over-exert yourself whilst fasting. Make sure that you rest where possible and only exercise lightly.
• Remember, we are not doing this to gain God’s favour; fasting is designed to help us meet with God, not to damage our bodies. So if at any point you feel the need to break your fast, feel free to do so.

We are really excited at the opportunity to do something like this together. I think it is going to be a great experience for us as individuals and as a church. But whether you are able to fast on the 28^th or not, do join us at the prayer meeting, 19.00 for a 19.30 start at:

70 Endell Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9DY

If you would like to learn more about fasting we would recommend the following resources:

Adrian Holloway – A Hunger for God (MP3)
Arthur Wallis – God’s Chosen Fast
John Piper – A Hunger for God

Download Sermon Slides (pdf 8.6mb)

“You have been handed a heritage but you will leave a legacy.” Anonymous

Have you ever had the chance to stop and reflect on how the past affects the present, and how combined the two affect the future? Do the three ever correlate? Where do you draw the line between the past and the present, reality and fiction, the seen and unseen, real emotions and those of an invented character?

These were not questions I had given much thought to until a bunch of us from the ChristChurch London Transform: Creative Industries group, mostly ladies, decided to explore the topology of the future. We visited Future Map 11, an annual art exhibition that is held at the Zabludowicz Collection in North London. The annual event provided a stage for some quirky, clever and really impressive works from a group of the finest emerging talents. They were selected from thousands of art students to represent the next generation of artists and designers who are seen as no less than those who ‘will define our visual landscape’. No pressure. This exhibition was especially appealing as our own Martha Lewis was selected from among the whole array of talented student artists.

As we approached the imposing and beautiful architecture of the Zabludowitcz building, the art novice in me felt a bit intimidated. But when we walked through the glass and… plain doors, the modern foyer gave me a false sense of security and almost familiarity. After a brief chat we stepped into the ‘future’, and that feeling of security dissipated. There before me stood a wide variety of art and material in all possible shapes and forms. Some exhibits were incredibly witty, bold, original and very much ‘outside the box’, and some, unfortunately, lacked life experience and maturity, or stuck to conventions and expectations, which gave a déjà-vu effect.

It was fascinating to see the desire and zeal of the young artists to explore their ideas. We were greeted with a set of portraits that, on the one hand, looked so artificial and posed (postures, lighting, entourage) and, on the other hand, so real and ‘usual’ (people, day-to-day elements, places familiar to the average Brit); a video with a soundtrack that rhythmically measured the daily objects, activities and situations that were presented from a new perspective; a pair of eccentric leather umbrellas with studs and long, horse-like tails the artistic merit of which lost me as I heard that they were available for purchase starting from £4,800(!).

There was also an antique style mirror decorated with traces of beautiful lace that created an effect of fake parchment paper, or rather of a photo booth covered from top to bottom with one-dollar notes. Ok, so my comparison was only a joke, but the piece was a great example of the vanity and superficiality of the human heart as well as frustration from unfulfilled dreams, aspirations and desires.

The highlight of the exhibition for me was a pair of incredibly precise and detailed drawings from Martha, who thankfully was there and happy to field a wave of questions from me. She drew inspiration from old Hollywood films and various characters in them, and combined them with some imaginary elements, like seahorses or little birds, that are juxtaposed against the frailty and tension of the scene. This very bold and, in a sense, unique manner of drawing requires a high level of skill, concentration, eye for detail and, no doubt, true talent.

I have always dreaded talking about art, partly because I have never done any myself and partly because it can be so elusive and personal. However, I realised that the more you know of it, the more you understand the human thought process and its deviations. I don’t know what everyone expected, but the more I stared at some pieces of art, trying to understand where the artist was coming from, the more it was becoming obvious to me how much the previous generations’ achievements, aspirations and lives affected the way we perceive our future.

As I was walking past the works I was trying to speak out my understanding, or desire of such, thanking Lee Ufan, a Korean sculptor and artist exhibited in the Guggenheim in New York, and the useful audio guide that brought home every single piece and dot on the canvas when we were there last September.

The last item I saw at Future Map was an interesting 5-metre scroll exhibit with an ambiguous title: ‘Swiss Roll’. As I was analyzing the ever-growing size of the pictures of Swiss watches, and the rhythmic perforations of the pianola and their relationship on paper, I was reminded of the tension between human futility and finiteness and the fact that we would never be able to measure time, or the effect it will have on us, but we can be reassured of the power, might and wisdom of the One who holds it all together.

Let me just conclude with a verse from the Bible that well sums up all of the above, “A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” Ecclesiastes 1:4

Future Map 11 runs until 5 February 2012. You can see examples of the work and read more information about the artists on the official website.

The Zabludowicz Collection
176 Prince of Wales Road
London
NW5 3PT

This article was first posted on http://thehopecreative.wordpress.com/

To some the sea is a challenge to overcome. To others, a dangerous enemy.

Other news stories describe various storms and shakings; terrorist attacks in Nigeria, and the IMF’s warning that the world’s economy is ‘deep into the danger zone.’ In the face of such challenges, Christians must draw strength and comfort from their faith in God. The Psalmist writes, ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the Earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging’ (Psalm 46:1-3). As the Psalm continues, the writer contrasts the violent sea with a stream that makes glad the City of God (v4).

Even in the midst of storms, God provides comfort.

Many people in our society have no belief in a personal deity who offers peace or intervenes in history. When they find themselves shaken by the storms of life, we must be able to offer them a glimpse of the peace that can only come from hope in the Christian God.

On one occasion, the disciples were on a boat in a storm, terrified for their lives. They woke Jesus, who uttered two words, “be still” and the sea turned calm. It’s this kind of God that the world needs to know right now; a caring, powerful God who immersed himself into our experience, faced the storms head on, and in an instant calmed them. As we introduce people to the storm-stilling Jesus they ought to wonder, as the disciples did, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mk 4:41)

The message of Christianity, however, is not simply comfort now, but hope for the future. In Scripture the sea is a symbol of evil, chaos, or hostile powers [1], so when John writes ‘I saw “a new heaven and a new earth” […] and there was no longer any sea’ (Rev 21:1) he anticipates a day when all elements that currently stand against God’s purposes will be banished forever. With language echoing Psalm 46, John describes a river of life that makes glad the City of God (Rev 22:1-3). In this New Creation, world economies will no longer collapse, for in it will be the wealth of nations (Is 60:11). There will be no suffering, sickness or death; God will wipe away every tear (Rev 21:4).

The Christian hope is not that God will evacuate us from Earth to a disembodied existence elsewhere; a dramatic rescue from a sinking ship. Rather, God will renew Creation, undoing the brokenness once and for all. The storms of life are like birth pains, anticipating the day when God will make everything new (Rom 8:18-25). Until then, we are to proclaim the gospel message of hope. We should seek to alleviate suffering, care for the poor, and give people a taste of what life will be like in God’s New Creation.

Whatever storms you may be facing, take comfort from the promise of hope, and seek to extend His peace to those around you. The same God who said ‘be still’ to a raging sea, encourages us likewise; ‘be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10).

This article originally appeared in Friday Night Theology for the Evangelical Alliance 

What is it about Jesus that is so captivating and intriguing, that even those who disagree with his teachings and disbelieve his religious claims still find him worthy of study and admiration? Why do we orient our calendar around the year of his birth and make films, art exhibitions and West End musicals about his life and death? What is it about him that draws scorn from so many, and yet causes the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte to say, “I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man”?

On Sunday 12 February we are beginning a new sermon series entitled I AM: Jesus on Trial. Over seven weeks we will look at some key sections of John’s Gospel to try and discover who Jesus claimed to be and how his claims are relevant to Twenty First Century Londoners.

John’s Gospel is a creative, intriguing book. If you’ve ever read it, you may notice how different it feels to the other three gospels. We’ll explore some of the reasons for this throughout the series (I don’t want to give away all the best material now!), but let me give you a few brief headlines:

The book was written around 80 A.D. probably to a mixture of believers and sceptics in Asia. The author, John, was one of Jesus’ closest disciples (John 21:20-23) and spent many years following and learning from him.

In his account, John lists a number of signs and claims that demonstrate the uniqueness of Jesus, and he describes his purpose in writing saying, ‘These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’ (John 20:31). The Gospel doesn’t record every miracle, saying or relevant detail, in fact John writes, ‘there are many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written’ (John 21:25). John deliberately pieces together some key claims and signs to build his case that Jesus is the Son of God.

Some commentators have pointed out that the gospel is full of lawsuit motifs and themes, emphasising that Jesus and his claims are on trial right throughout the book. Throughout this series, we will take a different claim each week, piecing them together to paint a picture of the person, life, death, and relevance of Jesus, and inviting you to explore these claims for yourself.

We will consider a range of questions, including: What does it mean for Jesus to describe himself as bread, light or a vine? Given the scarcity of sheep wandering around central London, how does Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd have anything to teach us today? If Jesus calls himself the way, the truth and the life, what does that mean for the claims of other religions?

This series will also pave the way towards Easter, helping us to understand the reasons for Jesus’ death and why Christians put such an enormous emphasis on a tragic and gruesome moment in history.

Perhaps you have been a Christian for many years? I hope that this series will help you to see Jesus in a new light and appreciate afresh how unique and revolutionary his claims are. Perhaps you are not yet a Christian and have always wondered what the fuss is about Jesus? Can I invite you to join us and to test his claims for yourself? It may be that you will find him and his message to be more relevant, more challenging and more compelling than you ever imagined possible.

Recommended Resources

As we go through the series we will recommend a number of books. But if you’re interested in reading up in advance, here’s a short selection to get you started. 

John for Everyone – Tom Wright

Tom Wright’s For Everyone commentaries are short study guides to help you understand and quickly get to the heart of each book of the New Testament. John for Everyone comes in two parts, and in these books, Wright manages to distil down decades’ worth of research into accessible, bite-sized chunks. They won’t deal with every verse, or answer every question you may have, but they will help you explore the major themes of John’s Gospel.

The Gospel of John – D.A. Carson

If you want a commentary with a bit more depth and weight, then Carson’s commentary in the Pillar Series is a great alternative. At about 700 pages, including a lot of detail and a fair bit of Greek, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But of all the modern commentaries, it’s probably one of the most respected and more accessible.

Simply Jesus – Tom Wright

A more general recommendation on the person of Jesus; Tom Wright’s latest book is a great introduction to who Jesus is and why he is relevant to modern people. If you want an accessible book that will help you to understand Jesus and his message in their first century context, then this is a great place to start.

We are convinced that God wants us to love the society in which He has put us, and commit ourselves to helping it reach its full potential. The Everything Conference is a key part of this, and on the evening before it, we are offering the opportunity for people who want to explore in more detail what it means to be Salt and Light in society, through the Everything Dinner on Friday 16 March 2012.

The Everything Dinner draws together people from all walks of life who are passionate about seeking the flourishing of our society, for a three-course meal in a central London location. Renowned author, social analyst and public speaker Os Guinness will be joining us for the evening and speaking on ‘Christian influence in the public sphere’. This will be an inspirational evening with opportunities to ask questions, connect with others, share stories and see the potential we have to make a difference together in our nation.

This year’s venue will be the Lime Street Exchange, situated in the heart of the City of London, within easy reach of several mainline and underground stations. It takes place on Friday 16 March at 7:00pm.

Follow this link to book your place and choose from a selection of menu options. Please note that this ticket does not give you entry to the Everything Conference on the following day. Tickets for the conference are booked separately through this link.

Places at the dinner are very limited, so book your place as soon as possible.

Or maybe you’re someone with specific skills, contacts or resources that you want to use to help others to achieve the dreams God has put in them.

Either way, you should come to this event. Twelve people will each give a short pitch to a room full of supportive people; afterwards there will be time and space to chat informally over a drink, for those with ideas to connect with those who might be able to help.

For more information and to pitch an idea, visit the Transform Business group on The City. The only real criteria is that ideas must be ‘good’ – with a clear benefit to society.

Good Ideas – Trailer from Jonny Elwyn on Vimeo.

Money is important. It affects almost every aspect of our lives. Money can be used for good causes, such as supporting churches, building hospitals (and perhaps saving the Eurozone). It also can be used for evil causes, such as financing illegal drugs and pornography. With over 2,500 references to money and possession in the Bible, it is clear that God has a lot to say about this subject. Regardless of how little or how much of it we have, we all struggle to manage it or have the right attitude towards it. Billy Graham is quoted as saying that our cheque book is a theological document, because it speaks of our priorities in life. Therefore, when it comes to money, there are two things we, as Christian, must settle in our hearts and minds:

Firstly, God owns it all! (Psalm 24:1) God owns all our possessions. It is He who gives us the ability to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). King David (as described in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12) praised God saying:

“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”

This should get us excited. Our language around wealth should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for the giver, God. In other words, for those of us with an income (whether wages, benefits, the bank of mum and dad etc) we should practice gratitude in our daily living.

Secondly, we are stewards not owners. Shocking and very counter-cultural, I know, but we are entrusted stewards. In other words, God has trust and confidence in us. Just like the parable of the tenants in Matthew 21, the landlord believes that we are worthy of trust. This is a lovely picture of Christian stewardship, that God gives us rich blessings and invites us to exercise careful and responsible oversight and management of all he has given us.

Money Matters is running a three week money management course that teaches people budgeting skills and a simple, cash-based system that really works. This course will help anyone get in control of their finances, so they can save, give and prevent debt.

Dates: Sun 29 Jan, 12 and 19 Feb 2012
Time: 13.30 – 15.00
Venue: The Mermaid Theatre, EC4V 3DB

Tickets are free but spaces are limited, so come to the info point in the foyer on Sundays to register.

Some useful money websites

Breathe: Live Simply – http://breathenetwork.org/

Breathe is an informal network of Christians who want to break the consumer mould and live more simply and more free. No rules, no membership, just an informal group of people sharing together on the journey.

Christians Against Poverty- www.capmoney.org

A national debt counselling charity, providing debt advice via a network of centres across the country.

Citizens Advice Bureau- www.citizensadvice.org.uk

The Citizens Advice Bureau helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free confidential advice and information provided through local bureaux including specialist money advisers. The website has a selection of useful information, ranging from family issues to money matters

Community Money Advice – www.communitymoneyadvice.com

A national network of free confidential debt advice centres. They also run training for debt advisors and support for advice centres.

Credit Action - www.creditaction.org.uk/

Biblical principles embodied in high quality money management materials from a small charity that packs a powerful punch.

Crown Financial Ministries - www.crownuk.org

Biblical resources for money education for adults and kids from a long established and highly rated charity.

Money Saving Expert – www.moneysavingexpert.com

Not a Christian site, but very useful! This is a dedicated money saving site covering a wide range of consumer issues. The excellent weekly money saving tips email is well worth signing up for. Its founder, Martin Lewis (a fan of Cap Money) features regularly on breakfast and other money/consumer shows on TV.

Stewardship - www.stewardship.org.uk/money

The Christian financial support services charity supporting charities and churches in a wide range of legal and financial services including payroll, mortgages and charity formation as well as the highly rated Stewardship charitable giving accounts.

The evidence is in, from all areas of society: money is a difficult thing to handle.

It’s one of those things, like sex and power, that can be a great gift but is so often managed badly. Money – the use and abuse of it – is a hot topic and there have been too many news stories of late in which bankers, politicians and – yes – Christian leaders have been publicly shamed for their mishandling of money.

1 Timothy 6:10 is possibly one of the misquoted texts in all of the Bible. Contrary to popular belief money is not the root of all evil… but the love of money is. As Paul says to Timothy, ‘Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction’ (v9). Once we begin pursuing money above all else, we begin to find ourselves imprisoned. Our character suffers; we become jealous of those who have more than we do; we are never satisfied with or grateful for the things we do have; we pour our energies into always gaining a little more. There’s nothing wrong with making money, being wealthy and using your resources wisely, but once we allow it to dominate our thoughts, our attitudes and our values, we are on a slippery slope.

Money is a great servant, but a lousy master!

You don’t have to be wealthy for money to become an idol. Whether we have plenty of it and struggle to know how to use it wisely, or we have little of it and are craving more, we can all fall into the trap of being weakened and corrupted by an obsession with money.

When asked ‘How much money is enough?’ American billionaire John Rockefeller famously answered ‘Just a little bit more.’ How many of us, if we are honest, have thought the same? ‘If I only had just a little bit more…’

We live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. All of us will have bills to pay and tough decisions to make. At this time of year it’s a particularly pressing subject for many, as credit card bills start to come in and people have to begin paying the price for their Christmas extravagance. For all of us there are difficult questions, with which we have to grapple:

Is it ok for Christians to be wealthy? What are the responsibilities of the rich? How can we use our money and influence to build a just society? Should we use credit cards? What sort of debts are acceptable for a Christian? Ought Students to give to the church from their Student Loans? How is it possible to save money when living in such an expensive city?

At the beginning of 2012 we want to take four weeks to address some of these important questions in a short preaching series designed to help us think biblically and practically about how we use our money. We have called the series Enough: Uncommon Sense in an Age of Austerity.

Enough is both a recognition of God’s provision and a declaration of our intent. We believe that God is enough; to provide for us and meet our needs. The great majority of us have enough; food, clothing and shelter – we simply do not need to keep stockpiling more and more stuff. And we want to declare ‘enough!’ to the dangers of greed and consumerism, which can so easily incarcerate us with their never ending demands for more.

Uncommon Sense reflects the fact that the wisdom of Scripture goes far deeper than the obvious or the ‘common sense’ that has so clearly been shown for its shortcomings. We need something deeper, more lasting and more powerful. This is what we find in the pages of Scripture as it talks about money.

This will be a practical series that will enable us to live with greater freedom in a world where money so often rules, and learn to enjoy, give and grow wise with one of God’s good gifts.

Throughout the history of the people of God we see that at important moments they gathered together. The people of ancient Israel would come together to hear what God has said and thousands gathered to hear the Gospel articulated for the first time in Acts. There is immense value and potential in us meeting together, united around one vision before our God.

That is why we urge you to join us at Mobilise 2012. The vision of this event is very much in line with our vision: ‘The Rescue’ – the rescue of the Students and 20s of our nation who need to hear the great news of God’s salvation.

In London alone there are around half a million university students and as a student community we are praying, hoping and dreaming of how we will see God rescue many: thousands being saved, student-run Alpha courses springing up everywhere, lives being transformed, God’s healing being a normal, regular part of life, young men and women being trained up at Uni to serve God in their field – be it anything from engineering to English literature – churches bursting at the seems… “Nothing is too wonderful for God” (Gen.18v14).

Mobilise is replacing our usual second Student Weekend Away, meaning that this is a really significant time for us all as a community, to build friendships and have great fun as we pursue God together!

Be there, encounter God’s heart and vision for our friends and course mates and then come back to London equipped and envisioned to see God’s kingdom come on campus!

What you need to do:

1. Begin revising earlier:  Four days earlier in fact, then you have time for four days at Mobilise!

2. Budget: This event is five months away, do you think you could save up to cover the cost?

3. Book now through the online booking system

The details:

Mobilise 2012 is taking place in Prestatyn, North Wales, from 10-13 April with speakers like Tom Shaw, PJ Smyth and Andrew Wilson.

The cheaper tickets are £95, for four full days – plus a contribution towards the coach we’re hoping to book and food. If money is an issue please do speak to us. Hurry though, cheaper tickets run out on December 18th.

The Student Team will be there, come and join us!

But trees aside, I love Christmas: the sights, the tastes, the weather, the traditions. I especially love Christmas in London; the German market stalls that adorn the Southbank; the pop up ice rinks that allow you to skate in the shadow of some of the city’s great landmarks; the unforgettable experience of being buffeted by a thousand angry shoppers as you stop dead in the middle of Oxford Street to admire the lights.

It does take me a little while to get into the festive mood though. Some people, the moment Christmas products arrive in the shops (mid August?!) they start singing carols and wanting to hang foil from the ceiling. I’m not one of those people. It takes time for me to warm up to Christmas. Once the festive feeling kicks in properly, I become less of a Grinch and more of a Child. I begin wanting to hug people and watch Home Alone… I even start to appreciate the aroma of pine in my living room! But it takes something to get me in that mood; a watershed moment; a festive experience.

Typically the thing that tips me over the edge and banishes ‘the Scrooge within’ is a good old festive gathering. That’s why I’m looking forward to the ChristChurch London Carol Service on 11 December. What better way to get into the Christmas mood, than to spend a Sunday with friends and family singing carols together, reflecting on a message of peace, joy and hope, and devouring mince pies?

If you’ve never been to a Carol Service at ChristChurch London, you’re in for a treat. The Mermaid Theatre will be beautifully decorated, there will be a choir and carols, readings and a short talk, all topped off with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. There will also be a crèche and children’s activities at the morning service.

If you’re anything like me and need a little kick start to get you in the Christmas mood, this will be the perfect event; put the date in your diary, invite your friends, and join us on Sunday 11 December at 11.00 or 16.00.

ChristChurch London Carol Service
Date: Sun Dec 11
Time: 11.00 and 16.00
Venue: The Mermaid Theatre, EC4V 3DB

Flyers are available at church, or download a copy to send to your friends

Used by churches all over the country and beyond, the course gives an ideal opportunity to take hold of the truth of who we are in Christ, provides challenge and space to resolve personal and spiritual conflicts, and encourages and enables Christians to move on to maturity.

The beauty of the course is that it is relevant to anyone who has been a Christian for a day or for fifty years. So whether you’re just starting out or you are aware that there are some long standing issues in your walk with God which you want to tackle, please consider signing up for the course.

Topics covered include:

- Where did I come from?
- Who am I now?
- The battle for our minds
- Handling emotions well
- Forgiving from the heart
- Walking in freedom every day

The course starts on Sunday 22 January at 13.30 and will run for six consecutive Sundays plus one Saturday (18 February) and is open to anyone who attends ChristChurch London.

Each Sunday we will cover two of the talks (there are thirteen in total) and on the Saturday, we will cover one talk and provide space and time for you to go through the ‘Steps to Freedom’.

The cost of booking a space is £15 and covers all the materials required and the Saturday session. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

To book, click here and follow the instructions.

Sadly this is true of too much fringe theatre – it’s for the actors to showcase themselves and not for the audience to enjoy themselves. It makes me not want to go and it certainly makes me not want to invite people!

For the last few months, I’ve been part of a small team putting together the ChristChurch London Christmas Carol Service and although there are lots of differences between ChristChurch and London’s fringe theatre this is going to be the biggest difference: we care about the experience of the audience!

One thing I’ll promise you, on 11 December we are going to do our best to treat our guests like VIPs. We want everyone to be engaged, entertained, left with an all over Christmassy feeling and a positive experience of ChristChurch London. We don’t want anyone to feel left out, cringing with embarrassment or looking for the fire escape.

So get inviting people! I’m excited about the friends and family I’ve got coming. I’m excited about introducing them to ChristChurch London. We may not have stained glass windows, bells and smells, or an organ – but we’ve got you, me, a choir, a band, pretty lights, mince pies, mulled wine, David Stroud… oh and the audience we invite.

ChristChurch London Carol Service
Date: Sun Dec 11
Time: 11.00 and 16.00
Venue: The Mermaid Theatre, EC4V 3DB

Flyers are available at church, or download a copy to send to your friends.

Then came the crash of 2001. It wasn’t like I did anything ‘bad’, more like circumstances spiralled out of my control. I went through some deep relationship pain, lost a job, felt purposeless and anchorless. More than that, I’d felt that I deserved better – that my hours and hours of Sunday School preparation, prayer and Bible study and service in church entitled me to a better life. It felt like life was out of my control, and that all the good works and wholehearted Christian service in the world couldn’t make it right.

In the midst of a severe case of the blues, I wandered into a meeting at a Bible week called Stoneleigh… which is where I heard Terry Virgo preach on the subject of grace.

There are some sermons in which I fall asleep. There are others where I think (arrogantly) ‘I’ve heard better’, and still others where I think, ‘That was pretty good – I see things differently now.’ On rare occasions I come away thinking ‘That was amazing; utterly incredible’. But on the fingers of one hand, I can count the sermons of which I can say, ‘That totally changed my life’ – and Terry’s was one of them. I can’t remember any of his points to be honest. It was more the profound sense awakened in my heart that ‘I need this grace stuff more than anyone else in the world’. It evoked a thirst in me that I didn’t even know was there. All the hard effort and disciplined service I’d been putting in to try and earn points with God, without realising that’s not the way it works.

I’d never thought of myself as a legalist before – thinking that my good works somehow entitled me to a more privileged life. But in so many ways I’d become like those religious people in the Bible that Jesus castigated so violently – smug on the outside, broken on the inside – the worst kind of religion.

Terry’s message turned me inside out and it wasn’t pretty. But it did start a long road to undoing all the wrong patterns of thinking and a slow, increasingly satisfying walk towards true freedom – freedom from performance, pressure to conform and an unhealthy view of God, and things really have never been the same again.

When you realise church is for broken people like me, rather than those who can hold it all together, it takes away all the impetus to prove yourself – it’s just wonderfully liberating. I’m more comfortable in my own skin, prayer is the most amazing pleasure, and serving (while sometimes hard work) is a joy not a duty. I’m not saying I’m free from all self-righteousness – my wife can assure you on that point – but I’m a different person as a result of that talk, and I’m still a work in progress on the other stuff!

I’m not going to get all glowing and mushy with Terry’s visit to ChristChurch London on December 4 – where he’ll be speaking on the subject of grace. But I will be praying hard that his message impacts us significantly as a church. If we really ‘get’ grace, then relationships, serving, worship, workplaces, prayer, self image – the whole lot – become very different.

So put December 4 in your diaries, or download the podcast at least – grace really is amazing – and it’s worth hearing about, especially from the man who’s made it one of his key life messages.

Even in the past few months, riots, fires, shootings and looting have suddenly opened our eyes to the need within our communities. Scandals have filled our papers, politicians’ expenses have dented public confidence and we all sense things are not just going to magically sort themselves out. It is almost as if we are watching the social fabric of London literally tearing apart before our eyes…

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God promises:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

So on 1 December we are going to do just that. At 7.14pm, Christians all around the world will unite for an hour of prayer, crying out to God for peace, justice and forgiveness for our nation, and to demonstrate a positive vision of Jesus’ church. People will be meeting in 38 cities, including New York, Marseille and Edinburgh, and we want to invite you to join us here in London.

A group of us from ChristChurch London will join with hundreds of other Christians from across the city, meeting outside St Paul’s Cathedral to unite in prayer for our City and our Nation. There will be no stage, no mics, no brands, no speaker… It will just be the people of God gathering in one place at one time, with a desperate cry for the healing of our land.

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, reminds us of the power in this adventure we call prayer:

“Prayer is the world in which God can do anything. To move into that realm is the greatest adventure. It is to be open to the infinite and hence to infinite possibilities. Our private, self made worlds, come to an end; a new world appears within and around us and the impossible becomes an everyday experience. Yet the world that prayer reveals is barely noticeable in the ordinary course of events. Hundreds of people gathering outside St Paul’s Cathedral on December 1st will give the world a positive vision of what the church exists to be and do.”

Has there ever been a time when our City and our Nation have been in more desperate need for the church to unite and cry out to God in prayer, for the healing and restoration of our broken land? Come and join with hundreds of people taking to the streets crying out to God for change and healing in our nation…

For more information visit The City and the official Facebook group.

Over the last ten years of my life I’ve had the opportunity to travel to India, build churches in Argentina and work with students in South Africa. On all of these trips I’ve learnt more about myself and more about God, but since my last trip abroad something different is going on. God is stirring my heart for the nations.

I hear stories about people in communist countries who aren’t allowed to worship Jesus in public and realise how blessed I am to live in a country as free as the UK. I watch the news and see people starving in Somalia and know that God is calling me to give generously to help feed them. I read books about Jackie Pullinger transforming the lives of drug addicts in Hong Kong and realise how powerful God is. And I watch films about the genocide in Rwanda and weep into my pillow as I understand how much God is pained by the sins of the people He created.

God is stirring my heart for the nations. I don’t know if He’s calling me to move abroad, or if my career will eventually lead me to work for a charity supporting those in the developing world. But for now, I know that He’s calling me to pray and to support others who are being called abroad.

Over the past year or two, friends of mine have gone to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Some of them moved for work, others to help for charities, others to witness to people who don’t know Him. Some have gone for a few months, others for the rest of their lives, or at least until God calls them somewhere else. And I’ve learnt the importance of staying in contact with them and reminding them that they are loved by the people left behind them.

There is so much going on in London that our church can get involved in and support, which is so exciting, but we also want to be a church that goes to the nations. So the ChristChurch London Global team has been set up to support those who are leaving the UK – before they go, whilst they are away and if/when they come back.

I am so excited about seeing my friends again, and until then I’m excited about keeping in touch with them, hearing the stories of how God is moving in the countries they are living in, and praying for them. But I’m also excited about the people from ChristChurch who God is calling to move abroad and change the world, and I’m excited about spending time with them praying through that calling, preparing them to leave and keeping in touch with them whilst they are away. And I’m excited that one day, whether in a few years or in the New Creation, I will celebrate with them over all that God has done in and through them and me.

If you know that God is calling you abroad or, like me, simply want to support those that go, we’d love to see you on 3 December. Oh – and breakfast is on us!

ChristChurch London Global Breakfast
Sat Dec 3
10.00 – 13.00
Crypt on the Green
St James’ Clerkenwell
EC1R 0EA

Arthur Guinness would. The water in Dublin in the eighteenth century was so unhealthy that the poor were drinking gin as a cheap alternative. Disturbed by the ill-health and poverty this caused, Guinness used his knowledge and business-skills to brew up something that was more drinkable than the water, more healthy than gin and hugely profitable.

Meanwhile, other members of the family were sending people out across the world, planting churches and winning the lost in many other nations. What a great family! And what a great summary of the heart of the Everything Conference.

Our next conference will be on 17 March 2012 at the Mermaid Conference Centre, Blackfriars and we are thrilled to be welcoming Dr Os Guinness, a direct descendent of this family, as our keynote speaker. Os will be giving us some practical ways in which believers can connect with and influence their world, and through interviews and short videos we will hear the fascinating stories of others putting this into action, including:

Award-winning comedian Paul Kerensa, a script-writer for the hit comedy show Miranda, explaining how a Christian can bring something of God into a secular comedy-writing team;

Three businessman-brothers telling us about the really innovative way they are fighting the sex-trade;

Finding out why a small group of people have committed to live in an inner-city community for a number of decades and how they are seeking to bring about change within that community;

And much more!

I will also be speaking, and we will complete the package with Spirit-filled worship, prayer and ministry. It’s shaping up to be an amazing day.

Whatever you are passionate about, Everything 2012 has inspiration, ideas and tools you can put into practice in your world – you don’t want to miss it. Advance tickets are on sale now for just £20 (tickets on the door will cost £25), so click here to book. And if you book in by Sunday 15 Jan, you can get an 10% off the ticket price by entering the code EVERY10. That’s nearly a 30% discount on the day ticket price!

Book in and spread the world.

(1) It’s been a busy term, you deserve a little extra rest. Set the alarm just an hour or so later and treat yourself to a lie in.

(2) There’s a newly opened M&Ms World in Leicester Square. Why not pay it a visit. At 35,000 square feet, it’s the world’s largest sweet shop, selling over 100 types of M&M. (I dare you to request a bag containing one of each type!)

(3) ChristChurch London will be meeting at the Piccadilly Theatre at 16.00 this Sunday!

Every year we have to pack our bags and vacate the Mermaid for one week only. So on Sunday 20 November, we will be meeting at the Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, W1D 7DY. Don’t, whatever you do, turn up at the Mermaid by mistake. There will be no smiley-faced welcome team, no worship time, no sermon, just some other random people there running an event and charging you to get in!

As well as a change of venue, there will be no 11.00 meeting. Since the Piccadilly is a larger venue, this will be a great opportunity for us to bring our two meetings together and see some faces you’ve not seen for a while. So come along at 16.00. Children’s work will be provided; see the details below.

And who knows, if you do bring me a bag of 100 different M&Ms I might just award you some kind of prize! *

__________

Date: Sunday 20 November
Time: 16.00
Venue: Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, W1D 7DY

Creche: Stalls Bar
Jumping Beans: Grand Circle Bar
Kids Club: Royal Circle Bar

Refreshments: Tea, Coffee and Juice will be available from the bar areas after the meeting
Socialising: Why not join us for a drink after the meeting? 18.30 at the Warwick, 1-3 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR

* Prize to be determined… It may well end up just being a handful of your M&Ms.

Leaning on the bar the other day, Jack, who makes films, was conversationally updating the guy who was making my coffee with his news. “I think, maybe, I’m gonna start something new tomorrow. Yeah, I’ve got this idea.   need to go home, actually, and start applying for some money to do it. It’s an animation. Yeah, it’s this idea, but I’m not really sure what it is yet. I dunno what it’s gonna be. Yeah, I’m not sure what it’s about. An animation of something, I reckon…” Jack coughs, awkwardly, into the silent response from the bartender.

A short while later, as I settled back in my seat waiting to be educated by George Clooney in corruption, integrity and power in American politics, one of those one-minute ‘inspiration’ sorts of films came up, which big companies like to run to show they’re being socially responsible. Whether you’re a cynic or not about such matters, there was no denying the power of this particular film, documenting Danny’s story. He was given another start in life by a teacher who believed in him. So profound an impact did this have, that Danny now spends his spare time helping young people engage with a political system that exists for their benefit and invites them to contribute for the good of their society. A handful of other similar films are being shown in cinemas, amongst them the story of James who three years ago was sleeping on the street but is now helping other homeless people engage through art, and the account of Adam who, following his brother’s murder, now spends his time teaching young people about the consequences of violence and how they can live for peace.

Behind the making of these films, and the offering of grants to make your big idea happen, were company bosses who believed that supporting communities is important. Then there were a whole host of scriptwriters, film-makers, editors, location managers, set designers, researchers, PR consultants, advertising agents, musicians, and technical advisers, not to mention the hundreds of 18-25 year olds whose big ideas range from schools running an event to which local councillors are invited to hear their concerns, to basic IT and technology classes for the elderly in the local community, and teaching young people to cook.

Our London is a city full of crushed disappointment and desperate need, and it is bursting at the seams with the most extraordinary creative possibility. If we really believed that God is the most gifted, passionate and talented Creator God that will ever exist, and if we understood that He asks us to see our world with His eyes, and if we glorified Him through being a teacher, a PR consultant, a musician, a politician, by helping the elderly person in our community access the internet, by working hard for a business and deploying the personal and corporate resources for the good of our world, just imagine what more might happen in our city.

If you want to find out what ChristChurch is doing in London, and how you can join in, come along to the Everything Matters Breakfast on 19 November.

And just in case you were wondering, I’m thinking bigger than a poster.

Everything Matters Breakfast
Sat 19 Nov, 10.00-12.30
Charing Cross (Guoman Hotel)
The Strand,
WC2N 5HX

When in the UK, working in her capacity as a peer in the House of Lords, Baroness Cox speaks fearlessly and full of conviction of the hidden suffering she witnesses abroad, holding our government to account to stand for dignity, mercy and political freedom. This is an amazing woman who takes the call of the Bible seriously, to ‘loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke and let the oppressed go free’ (Isaiah 58:6). Motivated by the God of the Bible and the life of Jesus she considers her life’s calling to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’ – for the poor and persecuted who do not have protection from their own government or from the international community. She serves the most forgotten people, those who aid organisations cannot reach because it would be too dangerous, and other governments will not assist because to do so would be politically risky.

I will never forget hearing Baroness Cox speak for the first time when I was at University – it had a profound effect on my life. It challenged my perception of what I considered might be possible with God in my generation. I was left challenged to dream what impossibilities we, the church, might be able to do to fulfil the biblical mandate to care for the poor and to work toward seeing the oppressed go free.

I encourage you to come along to hear Baroness Cox speak this Sunday – invite your friends – and consider afresh the overwhelming reality that God’s heart is for the poor and the oppressed, and that He is calling us to follow Him in meeting their needs.

Baroness Cox will be speaking at ChristChurch London on Sunday 30 Oct at our 11.00 and 16.00 meetings. There will be a special opportunity for a Q&A following the afternoon meeting; 18.00-18.30 in the River Room.

As part of our celebration, we showed the following video, which documents just a few of the projects which we are involved with in the city. Sit back, relax and enjoy…

Vauxhall Foodbank exists to provide emergency support when this happens, and this video gives a taster of some of the work the Foodbank team have achieved so far:

This video gives a taste of what goes on every Monday evening and explains a little of the vision behind the project

We recently decided to get in touch with others who love this city, and were thrilled to receive the following video message from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson:

London must surely be the most fascinating place in the world to be such a fly. To rest on the mighty height of the Shard, its shiny new glass blinking out at the city, as it comes to birth. Its closest rival a few miles away in Canary Wharf, stares back, by turns confident and uncertain in its own symbolism of power in wealth. To settle on the sandstone face of the National Gallery, majestic over a Trafalgar Square whose residents change every second, whose monuments declare history and culture, old and new, lauded and reviled. A few steps away and the walls are those of a wooden café set amongst manicured gardens, lined with benches that seat tourists from twelve time zones away, Whitehall officials enjoying a snatched lunch break, and the shuffling man with nowhere and no-one to go to. Or perhaps the wall is the corner of a Soho street, where the party-goers trip past and the girls in the garish flats above are visited hourly by men who pay them for a service.

Perhaps the observation point is the dead-grey concrete wall of a towering block of flats, in whose rooms families occupy what passes for a living space, the beds squeezed wall-to-wall in a room where all six occupants sleep, and a thick layer of dirt covers every visible surface, including the inhabitants. This is the sort of wall that gazes enviously at the vibrant white and terracotta façade of the row of mansions across the road. The glimpse is only fleeting, as the wind rustles through the line of trees that has been planted strategically to keep fresh and green the aspect of the mansion-dwellers, and to obscure the reality of the concrete blot opposite.

The fly on the wall of the flats in my street would, in a momentary lapse of concentration, miss the swift exchange of crisp notes for a discrete, well-wrapped package which takes place between the black-clad motorbike rider and the purposefully quick pedestrian. Or maybe its attention was simply diverted to the unmarried elderly gentleman who has lived in the same flat his whole life but whose world has so bewilderingly changed that just stepping outside has become an impossible task. Resting on the wall of the Greenwich Observatory, one of the few naturally high vantage points, a fly might gaze north over a city whose skyline alters by the moment, its millions of inhabitants making millions more observations every moment of every day, not one able to comprehend the depth of what every other mind, every heart perceives.

These vast heights and depths of the wealth and the poverty of our London are comprehended fully by only one observer. But I am amazed every day that He invites us to see things differently, and not just to observe but participate. To delight in the richness and beauty of the people and the places, to partner with others in bringing out the best in our city, and to walk beside all the brokenness, bringing life and truth and restoration. To play our part in this dynamic, pleasure-seeking, lonely, fun-filled, vast, broken, rich, exhausting, historic, dense, sleepless, poverty-ridden, life-giving, breath-taking, horizon-breaking city. Just imagine what this extraordinary place might become if we really did live as Jesus invites us to, right here in London. There would be nothing short of a lifetime of adventure ahead.

So, without further ado, let me introduce them to you…

From left to right they are Graham Clark, Ben Thomas, Monica Scale and Martin Vickery. Believe it or not, they aren’t related!

Graham and Ben will be serving on the Newfrontiers Media team, working on various projects such as filming, graphics, logistics and websites. Monica will be serving with the ChristChurch London families ministry, helping to organise everything from the crèche rota to cakes at families lunches. Martin will be working with Joel Kendall on the Student Team.

So, what can I tell you about them? Well, Ben is a great cartoonist. In fact, I am not-so-secretly hoping he will draw (and publish) sketches of the Elders soon. Graham is an accomplished mathematician. He’s the kind of guy that if you ask him anything he’ll know the answer. Monica is super friendly and seems to love coffee… a lot! Martin, who I shall name ‘the philosopher’ is clearly very servant hearted as he seems to have done volunteering all around the world. Considering he was arranging the Frontier Project the day before his wedding, I think it’s safe to say he works well under pressure. That’s just a taster… more to come on them in some interviews coming soon… watch this space!

I know you must be thinking, ‘Wow, these people seem great, how can I support them?’ Well, I am glad you asked! I am sure they would appreciate prayer, friends, dinners, encouragement, financial support (they are doing the year for free don’t you know) and maybe a coffee now and again. Yes, that would be lovely.

If you’ve read this and are thinking you’d really like to follow in their footsteps, why not click here to find out more about doing the Frontier Project, or send me an email and we can chat. I have a feeling you won’t regret it.

So if that is your commission how are you going to do it? As a student team we have developed a ton of opportunities for you to get in training to run the race on your campus, in your personal walk with God and also in the context of the whole church.

Do you want to grow personally in your knowledge of the Bible, in a deeper intimacy with God and with increased passion for a radical life? A great way to focus on personal growth is through the student discipleship program, which runs over a term - speak to Andy Tuck or Angela Devine about getting into a 1-2-1 discipleship relationship.

How are you doing getting to know the student community and gaining a heart for what being a Christian student in London is all about? Come along to our Student Weekend Away in November, where you will get to hang out and have fun with the ChristChurch student massive, as well as having awesome teaching and worship times.

Are you passionate about engaging your friends with the gospel, growing in confidence in defending the truth of Jesus and engaging more effectively in discussions about Christianity? Attend the Apologetics training, running either side of Christmas, where you can get a firm grounding on how make a convincing case for Christianity.

Do you have a firm grasp of what to believe as a Christian on the hot topics of money and relationships and a thorough grip on what the Bible teaches about salvation and the spiritual disciplines? Make a priority of our new Discipleship Training sessions on Sundays (1:30-3:30), where the likes of David Stroud, Andy Tilsley, and Liam Thatcher will be giving teaching and leading discussions on these topics and more.

So are you going to take seriously the biblical command to grow up into maturity of faith so that you can run hard after God?  Get in on the action and make the most of all these different ways you can get trained over the next year, so that you can run your race to obtain the prize.

Full information about all these things can be found on the Christchurch calender and the Students Zone on The City.

On October 9 we will be celebrating our anniversary and we have called it Love London Sunday. Given that it is our seventh birthday we thought we should make it a special one. Time and again in scripture ‘seven years’ is an important period of time, which often leads to the people of God prayerfully reflecting on their own relationship with God and how they were doing with Him.

We did not want to miss this great opportunity to do the same, so we are encouraging everyone, in the lead up to our Love London Sunday to put aside some time and ask how you are doing with God, the church and the city. Then when we gather on October 9 we can take some time to renew our commitment to Him and His plans for the capital.

We have produced a short piece of literature that we hope will help in this process. Hard copies are available at church, but in case you’ve missed them, click here to download the flyer.

This flyer contains a few thoughts and questions you can ask yourself, as well as some pointers for how you can respond. This is a personal tool to help you recommit yourself to God and His plans for this city. Why not give it a try and join in our corporate period of preparation?

We are excited about what God will do in this city and how He will use you to play a part. Do make a note of the date for Love London Sunday, Oct 9, and join the adventure.

]]> http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/articles/read-reflect-renew/feed 0 http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/sermons/dna/generous?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=generous http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/sermons/dna/generous#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:00:05 +0000 David Stroud http://broadcast.christchurchlondon.org/?p=3293 In this, the first week of our new series, David looks at Paul’s instruction to be generous. We’ll see that sacrificial giving furthers the mission of God, provides for the poor, and enriches our own lives as well.

“By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.”

Along with all these new sights to take in, most students are moving away from everything familiar; family, home, friends and church. They are arriving en-masse to begin living, working and socialising with a group of people who will all be in exactly the same boat. It certainly makes the arrival in London through the ‘Freshers Window’ quite a unique social phenomenon.

Jesus famously promised “Life, and life in ALL its fullness!” (John 10:10) for those who follow his life and teaching. It poses an appropriate question for all students arriving in London: ‘Where will you search for life?’ When Jesus offers ‘as much of life’ as you can take hold of, he also fires a warning shot against looking for life in any other place.

London is truly one of the greatest cities in the world, and studying here can be one of the richest experiences and adventures a student can have. When Jesus is central all things are possible! But it’s also true that it can be one of the most challenging and difficult situations that you could find yourself in. This is why, as a church, we are so passionate about building a genuine, strong, and inclusive community, which prioritises training, in order to help you live as a radical disciple, and share Jesus’ promise of ‘life in all its fullness’ with every student on every campus in London.

So whether you are a first year, a final year or a postgraduate disciple, we want to make sure you are equipped and supported to live life to the full and be serious about Jesus.

Growth, care and mission: That’s what student life at ChristChurch London is all about, and we hope you make the most of all we have to offer:

A Huge Welcome to New Students!

We really look forward to connecting with you in the welcome bar at our Sunday meetings. Another good first port of call should be our ‘Meet the Leaders – intro meetings’, which will give you a chance to find out all you will need to help you get plugged in.

Come and join us at 18:00 at the Mermaid Theatre on the following Sundays:

• Sept 25
• Oct 2
• Oct 9
• Oct 16

Freshers Fayres

We are looking forward to meeting many new students over the coming weeks as we visit freshers fayres and look to connect with all the new arriving students! In addition to helping support CUs on many campuses, we have a ChristChurch stall at:

• Southbank University, 21^st September (Southbank SU Bar)
• Kings College London, 22^nd September (The Barbican Centre)

We would love all students to be involved on campus and help connect with new students during the freshers fayres, so do be thinking how you can welcome new students yourself.

It really is up to you how you use your time here; as they say, ‘the World is your Oyster’, which is why we want to see your time as a student maximised, not wasted! We are passionate about all of our students growing closer to God, not drifting away from Him. We are committed to equipping you to take every opportunity you have to share the gospel with your friends, and not miss out on any part of this full life.

Students: Choose Life. Make the most of all that is going on for you at ChristChurch this year.

Welcome to London! Where were you previously, and what were you up to?

I grew up in Mansfield in the East Midlands where I studied and did my A-levels. After that I spent a year working as an intern with Soul Survivor. When my internship was coming to a close, I was offered a role working in their worship team and so I spent the next 4 or so years there, which were very foundational for me. I really got that sense of family there, and it set me up in so many ways for what’s ahead. I’m very grateful!

How have you found your first few days in London?

London feels like home already – and I thought Watford was pretty nice! Moving house a couple of weeks ago, driving into London through some of the key tourist spots felt very exciting! And on my first day working for ChristChurch London, I had a meeting in Parsons Green, and Bill Nighy was sitting opposite our table, so a great introduction to life here!

What will you be responsible for at ChristChurch?

My role will be to head up the worship team as part of the ChristChurch staff team. I’m excited about what’s ahead and am very privileged to be working alongside the team and to serve here.

How did you get into leading worship?

I started leading worship back at my home church where I grew up. I was 14 at the time, and very nervous! But it also seemed natural as well – I’ve always loved worship, singing and music, particularly when they come together. We had a worship director who became my mentor and invested in me, taking me along to conferences and giving me space to learn and grow. What I’m really passionate about now is getting alongside others and seeing them released in their worship and worship leading.

What are your hobbies? 

Songwriting, going for coffee, running, watching Lost, recording and golf

What are your musical influences?

Some of my favourite artists are John Mayer, Dashboard Confessional, The Script, but I’ve got a pretty big Spotify playlist at the moment! I’m also really enjoying some of the recent albums by New Wine, Matt Redman, Passion and Hillsong.

1) Desiring the Kingdom by James K.A. Smith. This is a super book on how the world around us shapes our lives without us knowing it. It’s intelligent and at times demanding. It gives a very different take on what it means to be Salt and Light, and was very insightful.

2) Echoes of God by Jon Tyson. Jon has planted five churches in New York in the last five years or so, and he and I are becoming good friends. His book is a great introduction to Christianity, ideal for someone who wants to read something extra after having been on the Alpha course.

3) Rage against God by Peter Hitchens. A journalist and brother of atheist Christopher Hitchens, Peter explains why he came back to Christ in his 50s, why he is convinced that strong societies can only be built on Christian values and why he believes that everyone needs God. A fascinating read.

4) Mental toughness in Sports by Jim Loehr. This is the book that England cricket coach Andy Flower and Captain Andy Strauss read, which helped get England to the no 1 spot in the world. It reminded me of what Paul tells us in the New Testament about the importance of renewing your mind. An absorbing read for any sports person with lots of wider application.

I’ve seen a flurry of comments and texts from people expressing all of those emotions and more. They range from ‘Get out of London’ to ‘Let’s get out there and clean up the streets’ and everything in between. To be honest, most of them express something of the powerlessness of the question ‘Why?’

Is all this the fault of the government? What responsibility do the parents of those committing violence have? Have we created so much inequality between rich and poor, that the undercurrents of tension were bound to overflow at some point or other? Do socio-political models indicate that it was all an inevitability?

I’m not going to speculate on any of that, but like everyone else, I’ve been asking those questions and more. It’s left me wondering ‘What on earth should I do as a Christian in response to all this?’

Well, the truth is there’s a myriad of things to do, but I’m just going to leave you with one. Pray.

That will certainly lead to action in due course. There are threatened elderly people that need reassurance; there are financially destitute people that need support; single moms need love and care; young people need to know there is a better way of resolving tension; streets need cleaning; local councils needs to know we’re here to help; local businesses need help getting back on their feet; the police need our cooperation; the church needs mobilising to action; broken glass needs sweeping up; lots of young people need fathering, discipline, love and grace; MPs would value ideas to help communities restore peace and togetherness; community support officers need lots more volunteers.

But if you want to know the best place to start, it’s on your knees (or however you like praying most!) The prayer sermon series earlier this year taught me that. There are moments in time when God seems to bring us to a point where there’s nothing else to do but look to Him. I think it’s one of those humbling moments when I’ve realised this city needs something that I, on my own, can’t provide. No one can, apart from Jesus.

So rather than asking lots of questions, I’m trying to fix my thoughts on the one person who’s got all the answers, and offers genuine hope and healing and restoration. It all sounds a bit cheesy to be honest, but I can’t think of any better place to go. The biggest hindrance to prayer is a lack of understanding about the character of God. If I knew – if I REALLY knew – how powerful he is, and how much he loves London and every single person in it, I’d find my way to my knees more quickly. So before you decide how you’re going to respond to the riots, can I exhort you to start there. God may speak to you about serving, or cleaning, or supporting, or rebuilding, but remember that His power is more effective than your service.

I’ll leave you with the words of one of my favourite hymns to meditate on, and I hope as you pray, you’re filled with hope for our amazing city, rather than despair.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear.

What a privilege to carry,

Everything to God in prayer.

Oh, what peace we often forfeit!

Oh, what needless pain we bear.

All because we do not carry,

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour still our refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield you,

You will find a solace there.

Cinderella, Rocky, Slumdog Millionaire; these are just a few examples that leap to mind, and the principle is always the same. Whether it’s the inspiring story of unexpected bravery, the memoir of a self-made billionaire, or the more modern (and regrettable) incarnation: the reality TV show, people seem hardwired to lap up these kinds of stories.

This summer we will be spending four weeks looking at the book of Esther. Stories don’t get much more ragged or rich than this. It’s the tale of a Jewish orphan girl who became the Queen of Persia, rescuing her people from a plot to destroy them. It’s a remarkable and challenging story, touching on themes of faith, influence, integrity and character.

One of the most striking things about the book is the absence of God. He’s not mentioned once in the whole ten chapters. But as we shall see, though never named, He is always present, working behind the scenes in unexpected but hugely significant ways. Hence we have entitled the series Esther: God Behind the Scenes.

We shall look at four snapshots from Esther’s life, considering her rise to power, and how God used her to rescue His people. Why not take some time to familiarise yourself with the story? Try reading it through and getting to know the characters before the series starts.

Our hope is that this mini-series will help us to look afresh at our call to be a positive influence for the good of our city, and to recognise the work of God in all that we do.

Refugee Support Network, a charity which specialises in educational support to young asylum seekers and refugees, are managing us as we start what we hope will be a long lasting project working with these young people in South London.

Najib is really excited that his teacher recently referred him to RSN, who have matched him to a mentor from ChristChurch London. Najib and his mentor will be meeting once a week for an hour in the evening to work on his Maths and English for the next six months.

Amina came to the UK in 2006 on her own from West Africa, when she was just 16 years old. Her journey and first few years of living in London were marred by exploitation and abuse. When she eventually broke free from the abusive relationships which brought her to the UK, she found an organisation for women who had been trafficked which offered her accommodation, rehabilitation and support.

She began studying hard at Lambeth College where she completed a BTEC in Business, achieving two Distinctions and a Merit. Through educational support at RSN, she has now been able to enrol in a university course which will help her to fulfil her dream and ambition of working in the financial sector in the city.

It is such a joy for us at ChristChurch to have begun working with young people such as Najib and Amina, in partnership with RSN. Getting to know them and seeing them succeed in their new lives here in the UK is a true privilege and is really exciting! If you want to be involved through praying for our work with RSN or through educational mentoring, then please get in touch with me at helwyn@refugeesupportnetwork.org. There are opportunities to mentor young people through colleges in both North West and South East London.

Being very English, the weather brings us together. Huddling under umbrellas and shouting over the noise of the raindrops to the neighbour in the coffee queue, thoughts are exchanged on the best acts to see – those under any sort of cover, apparently.

The festival programme is a feast of delights, the creative capacity of human beings trying to make something of their world – money, hedonism, sense, fun – played out in glorious technicolour. Hilarious comedy sets, thought-provoking debate between MPs and journalists, frank interviews with charming actors, uncomfortably real theatre and achingly beautiful music, with a big welly-full of pop through the decades thrown in for good measure.  Artists stretch out their talent in questions and answers, and their audiences respond.  Adoring fans surge towards vast stages, pressing forward for a glimpse of their idols, hands instinctively lifted exuberantly high as symphonic melodies, soaring voices and flashing lights create a heady mix.

It’s easy to see why Suede have re-formed after so many years: Brett Anderson struts the stage, embracing the adulation just as he did fifteen years ago.  The music washes over the thousands who join in with The Naked and Famous singing, ambiguously,

“All of this is tearing us apart,
I don’t know where us or this start…
As the plans turn into compromise,
the promises all turn to lies.”

The lead singer of The National drops down into the crowd, and, with technical team clutching the microphone lead and racing after him, propels through his fans who reach out to touch the man whose whole body cries out,

“Sorrow found me when I was young,
Sorrow waited, sorrow won…
Don’t leave my half a heart alone
On the water.”

The remarkable Johnny Flynn defies explanation as he sings whilst simultaneously playing the violin, before exchanging it for a trumpet, followed by several different guitars.  

“We’re all digging, if you wanna know,
Fixing, digging far too slow, far too slow.
We dug for money, we shovelled four tons.
And the end wasn’t funny, though we’d all had fun.
Limping and broken, the tunnel fell in,
I’ve been limping from tunnels since my original sin.” 

There is a curious mix amongst the artists on show of unabashed indulgence in their creation, or in the celebrity it generates, alongside an honesty that confesses neither artist nor their work can ultimately satisfy.  It is a truth most brutally voiced by an extraordinarily gifted young south London rapper turned poet named Kate Tempest, whose disarming, physical frankness has us spellbound.

“I’m out for the truth, I’ll shout it from the rooftops.
Too many are too lost…
It’s never too late to see beyond the surface.
I don’t care about the hype, what I care’s about integrity, cos you only build them up to burn their effigy anyway.
I’m so hungry for something sustainable, something with truth, something unchangeable.”

I left Latitude wondering if the 25,000-strong crowd, artists and punters alike, weren’t united beyond their muddy, musical weekend by a hunger for something greater than all the brilliance of creation they had witnessed.

Believe and be Baptised: Interview with a recently baptised Christian.

Believe and be Baptised: Interview with a recently baptised Christian.

Those 24 hours were never just about those 24 hours. They were a small part of the bigger picture God is painting through gathering His people to pray. Momentum is growing as He is drawing His people to pray for this city, nation and beyond. To encounter His heart and in doing so, allow our hearts to be changed. To pray for this city and then live the prayers that we pray. It all starts, keeps going and ends in prayer.

Did you make it to a Life Groups: Connected event in March?

For me, one of the highlights of the first Life Groups: Connected meetings was
getting to meet new people and seeing people connect with one another in a
larger setting than a Life Group yet somewhere smaller than a Sunday gathering.

London is a large city; a huge city in fact. Connecting with people is a challenge
– being a Londoner requires incredible tenacity! As a church we want to make it
easier for you to meet people and build solid and meaningful relationships with
one another. Life Groups: Connected provide a perfect opportunity to do just that.

Building community across ChristChurch London is just one of the aims of
Life Groups: Connected. Added extras include space for you to grow in your
relationship with God and your life as a Christian and to be inspired to get
involved in your community or work place by hearing about what others are
doing across the city.

The good news is that these meetings will happen instead of Life groups so no
extra meeting to go to. A great excuse to catch up with your usual Life Group plus
a whole host of other lovely, friendly ChristChurch London faces!

The second Life Groups: Connected Week is happening June 7-10th.

Speak to your Life Group Leader or check out The City if you want more
information. If you’re not in a Life Group and want to attend one of these
gathering, please contact lifegroups@christchurchlondon.org

North/ Central: Tuesday 7th June, 7.00pm at City Temple, Holborn Viaduct
South/ East: Tuesday 7th June, 7.00pm at Vauxhall Christian Centre
South/ Central: Wednesday 8th June, 7.00pm at Vauxhall Christian Centre
West: Friday 10th June, 7.00pm at Putney Community Church, Werter Road

Sarah and I duck unnoticed through the doorway and climb the steep, winding lino-covered stairs, framed by walls that are an assortment of garish colours.  At the second-floor flat, a tiny CCTV camera overhangs the frame. Stacey opens the door with a generous smile of recognition.  She ushers us into the cramped, stuffy kitchen, just big enough for two very large, noisy TV screens, a stove, and two chairs.  Stacey introduces us to Lisa, who has just arrived from Romania, joining her sister and sister’s boyfriend.  Lisa stares at me from under heavily made-up eyes, the false lashes accentuating her youth. The chatter of two different TV channels simultaneously pummelling her ears surely isn’t helping her English, which barely extends beyond a greeting.  I attempt to ask her about Romania, and her uncertain expression turns to plain confusion so I leave her to rustle around for a large cigarette to occupy her attention.

Stacey, who is in her seventies, is a Londoner born and bred.  Her husband, Jake, abandoned the family over twenty years ago.  Their youngest had never known him, until last week when he announced to the family that he had cancer and that he could go any day.  Stacey has no sympathy for the man who has caused her so much grief, but she is desperately concerned for her two sons and daughter, who want to know their dad.  Unsure how to navigate the anger and sadness they all feel, she asks simply that we pray for them.  As we leave, Stacey has one eye on the CCTV screen which reveals a grainy visitor on his way up to the flat.  The laughing crowd by the doorway downstairs remains oblivious to the transaction taking place above.

Back outside the air is getting darker and the Soho lights brighter as we head to another innocuous-looking doorway, adjacent to a bar crowded with well-heeled, young media types knocking back expensive champagne.  Barbara opens the door to the flat with a grin, her Wolverhampton accent resonating with my childhood in Birmingham.  Anicka, a young Czech girl, is lounging on the large couch in the living room, glued to her favourite programme, Midsomer Murders.  As we chat about the English in Prague, a commotion erupts in the street outside, and Anicka leaps from the sofa to the front door, wrenches it open and shouts loudly down the stairway.  She then rushes to the window, flings that wide, and yells down into the street, two floors below.  Barbara looks irritated by the disturbance and explains that the local crack addict must be lurking at the doorway again, posing as a pimp and tricking potential clients into giving him money before they climb the stairs to the flat, thinking they’ve paid for their service.  It’s a regular occurrence.

Barbara resumes the conversation about her seven-year old football star grandson, who’s played in the junior teams for a number of league clubs. She sees him at the weekends when she’s back home in Nottingham.

Our time with Barbara and Anicka is necessarily short.  We’re interrupting their working day.  As Stacey with Lisa, so Barbara needs to make sure that Anicka makes enough money selling sex that day to cover both their expenses of using the flat, and preferably have something left over to take home.  For these women the sex trade is a business, and a legal one.  There are the practicalities of meeting overheads, managing clients’ expectations, advertising and competition.  Their concerns – family relationships, paying the bills, adapting to a foreign culture and language – are the same as thousands of others across the city.  These women are no more statistics or social issues to be cleaned up than any other mother, daughter, grandmother.

And if you ask any what they think of their business, “choice” is the operative word.  Women who sell sex have chosen that way of life.  Yet in the same breath, the women who look after these young girls are aghast at the thought of their own daughters being in this business.  If the choice had been made out of a place of real, complete freedom, you can’t help wondering if all these women might not be somewhere altogether different, and that as a result, this small but influential corner of London, where the sex industry operates on every level, might not change quite profoundly.

All names have been changed.

The next Everything Matters Breakfast is on 14 May 2011.

Resurrection life link

Andy Tilsley’s thoughts on getting comfy this easter

This is a picture of what every 21^st century man or woman aspires to. Statistically most of us will spend over 1400 hours in front of the television this year. Devices like remote controls and DVD players have been designed so we can fill our minds with even more programmes & movies.

Now, (if you’re not asleep already), note how alert you feel. How ready are you to pray? How deep is your compassion for the poor right now? How much does your mind wander from practicing spiritual disciplines to eating one more piece of Easter Egg?

You probably work very hard. You’ve earned the rest. Life is too busy, and doing one more thing, one more act of service, is just one too many. The comfort is richly deserved. For many of us, the Bible’s exhortations to ‘pray continually’, ‘care for the poor’ or ‘practice hospitality’ leave us feeling weary; needing the chair; frustrated and depressed at all that we haven’t done, and won’t do.

Now, instead of thinking about all that needs doing, think about Jesus: his majesty; his incomparable power; his perseverance under pressure; his unquestionable, unstoppable love. Consider his forgiveness for his torturers .Consider everything that Good Friday represents. Consider the pain. Consider the loneliness. Consider what He might have been thinking as he walked to the Place of the Skull. “Consider Him, who endured such opposition from sinful men, so you will not grow weary and lose heart”(Hebrews 12:3).

If the Bible sometimes leaves you feeling overwhelmed by the need for action, spend this Easter by turning your thoughts to Jesus at every opportunity. If we truly comprehend Him, we may even get out of the chair.

Eventually, and much to my friends’ delight, I became a Christian four years later having still never gone near the Alpha Course doors.

Having no intention to give up one precious evening a week, I strangely invited a non-Christian friend to do the Alpha Course with me at ChristChurch, London. So, I found myself on a table of 10 strangers eating curry and lemon tart (not at the same time of course). I’d always heard of how good Alpha was, but as a Christian I thought it would just be a reconfirmation of my faith, whilst I encourage my friend to engage in the discussion after the talk and whilst I pray that she becomes a Christian.

The eight weeks that ensued after the launch were enlightening, encouraging, challenging, and equipping. In the first talk ‘Who is Jesus?’ I was struck by the reality of Jesus’ existence and had complete revelation of who He actually was. This might sound strange coming from someone who follows Him, but I’d never been presented the facts concerning who He was before, which completely bowled me over.

As I attended each week and listened to explanations of prayer, the Bible, having faith and more, my views were challenged and I realised how little I had questioned what I believed. This didn’t cause me to unpin my Jesus badge though and I didn’t turn back to my old ways, but it gave me a fresh understanding of those who do not believe.

There are some tough questions a non-believer can come out with, that I would have never even considered. The cost of becoming a Christian is pretty huge for many, and it’s not an easy decision when questions plague the mind.

So, reflecting at the last Alpha supper, I’d gained enlightenment of my beliefs, I’d learned a great deal about them too, and I’d been incredibly encouraged by those who had started without faith, and finished with it in abundance.

It’s just a fantastic opportunity whatever your viewpoint.

As a self-confessed enthusiast and advocate for all things C. S. Lewis, this argument from his preach The Weight of Glory was not unfamiliar. The challenge was reasserted after watching one particular scene in the recent film Voyage of the Dawn Treader, to which the entire audience were unable to respond except with a deep intake of breath; that moment when Lucy, striving to be anyone but herself, a strategy with which we are all familiar, is admonished by Aslan for wishing herself away and forgetting the unique impact of her own life.

The challenge quickly turned into a struggle with a new term of lectures that seemed determined to dampen any post-festive sentiment for hope, change and mission.  These lectures were about genocide, social destitution in London and decades of Western actions that have encouraged Islamic fundamentalism: continuing realities of human history that are often easier to avoid than address.

But then I was reminded of a story.  It was of one ordinary man whose diligence and hard work as a lawyer in the US Department of Justice were eventually acknowledged with a commission to lead the UN delegation that investigated the genocide in Rwanda.  If the story stopped there, most of us would be sufficiently inspired by his use of the gifts God had given him.  But not Gary Haugen.  From that moment, his life changed and he established the International Justice Mission (IJM), an organisation with the view to eradicate slavery from this world. It was a decision not to cower behind a looming obstacle but attack it with God-given purpose and possibility.

It is estimated that today, there are over twenty-seven million men, women and children in slavery, across the western and third world, in chains of forced labour and prostitution.  Yet one man, convicted by his faith and trust in a God who is bigger than the difficulties of this world, has made it his endeavour to not only set slaves free but to build a team that influences judicial systems, police forces and entire communities in order to prevent further violations.  Now working in five continents, the impossible is not permissible for IJM.

There are many other stories of inspirational men and women that I could have chosen.  But rather than use up words creating a list, how about a proposition?  What if we, as students in twenty-first century London, endeavoured to use our studies, our gifting and our salvation to put our names on that list?

Admittedly, if you are like me, you may put failings, inabilities and anxieties in the way of giving consideration to the prospect that we could be part of a generation of men and women who bring unprecedented, Christ-centred change to the world.  But such an attitude forgets the greatest gift we have: Jesus.  Fears of difficulty or inadequacy must not be allowed to become an excuse to settle for a life ambition that is limited by the constraints of this world but instead drive us to seek God.

Sure, there are long-term questions: what exactly am I supposed to do; and when; and how? Which is part of this great challenge; learning what it means to fully put our faith in Christ and trust him for every step.  In particular, as students we need to put aside distractions and anxieties and focus on the immediate world we live in: our campuses.  What message would it send, and what foundation would it build for our future ambitions, if as Christians on campus we sought to love everyone unconditionally, devote time for the vulnerable and overlooked, dared to speak against injustice, prayed with those hurting and in need, studied in a way that does not seek personal glory but honours God who gave us everything and fervently prayed that this would be the year of the favour of the Lord?

And we are not alone in this. ChristChurch London alongside many other churches and indeed movements are responding to the challenge highlighted by C. S. Lewis, asking, ‘What is the church to look like in our day!?’. The Everything Conference is in its infancy and I believe that, as students, we have two choices.  Either we sit back and wait to see what emerges or we can engage, and take a lead, right now. Just imagine what could happen if we sought to influence the culture of our universities; to transform what it means to be a student?  It’s my belief that all worldly probabilities would be off the table if ordinary men and women irrespective of gender, race, class or academic standing dedicated themselves to a calling that although terrifying and unpredictable, and with the possible reward or scorn rather than recognition, because its the very thing we were created to do. Are we a generation to see the impossible be made possible by our Great Commissioner?

Let’s bring a little more Kingdom to our world, to our campus: and let’s begin now.

My walk into the City would take me along the river and over Millennium Bridge.  For many months I marched to the tune of whatever happened to be filling my ears through my headphones, a pair of good trainers bearing the brunt of my focused commute.  So it was a while before I registered the weekly presence of a seated Big Issue seller at the end of the ramp on the bridge.  Perhaps it was the towering Tate behind him that caused this solitary bulky figure to appear so diminutive and therefore go unnoticed.  More likely it was the filter in my eyes that had grown so accustomed to such sights as to render them as much part of the London scene as any other monument to the greatness of the city.

It was the appearance of a second man which finally brought my march to a halt.  He sat on the concrete ground away to the side of the ramp, cheeks as hollow as they were sallow, a brown dog lying across his lap for warmth and a card silently shouting to passersby that he and his dog were hungry and homeless.  Unsure how to respond to this intrusion into my daily routine, but stirred to some reaction, I opted for the Big Issue seller.  Our conversation that morning was no more than a brief hello and a thank you as he thrust into my hands the latest copy.

Joe was an attentive seller, always alert to a customer.  On some days trade would be busy.  The passing financiers seemed more willing to part with shrapnel from elegantly tailored, bottomless pockets in the name of an identifiable transaction, than they were to throw dull coins at a cardboard sign.

On quieter days, Joe had more time to chat and my awkward greetings were gradually softened by his openness.  He told me a lot about his wife, Viv.  On one morning, Joe told me that to celebrate her 60^thbirthday that week, he had taken Viv for fish and chips and then to see Avatar, which had enthralled them both.  Without Viv, Joe said, he would be nothing.  Years ago the two had been heroin addicts.  They had together come off the drug cold turkey, although he confessed that they both still enjoyed a smoke.  He never hid his disdain for his companion by the bridge (“a beggar” as Joe called him) who, he told me, left the ramp littered with used needles and plastic bags which Joe tidied up. On those days there was no question who had command of the bridge.

In Joe’s absence, though, this companion’s seat moved from the concrete nearby to the very centre of the ramp.  Yet still the plea on the card elicited no response, despite the need to walk within inches of the lonely, solid presence in order to cross the bridge.  The only greetings exchanged with this figure were between a pair of vacant eyes and countless pairs of feet encased in expensive leather styles.

The scene is repeated across the city as worlds walk past one another in silence and ignorance.  Judgment is passed on all sides; behaviour is rationalised and then justified by whatever measure is the norm.  Here, relativism fails and so those at the bottom remain there, absolutely.  If there is to be any hope for change, all hearts must accord with the absolute that exists outside each of our shuttered worlds.

After enjoying our first year of marriage in London, God is calling us to a new thing with Newfrontiers in Zimbabwe. Last year Cat was on the FP team at Christchurch and Ben was working for a microfinance charity. Over the year we felt increasing called to join the work of Foundations for Farming, a ministry which is seeking to transform lives, communities and nations through teaching them how to be faithful and productive with the land God has given them. Ben spent three months with Foundations for Farming in 2008 and the team out there were eager for us to come and help with the growing work God is calling them to. So in October Ben left his job and we flew out for two months to start our new roles and sort out the long-term visa situation (a previous attempt from the UK hadn’t gone so well!).

With Ben’s background in International Development we’ve been asked to develop the monitoring and evaluation of the training that Foundations for Farming does. Cat will also be helping the communications team spread the word about what God is doing in the nation to help it gain further momentum. Improving the way Foundations for Farming monitors the impact of its training will enable the work to be improved while also providing substantial evidence to support the message they teach. The vision is that when the Church in Zimbabwe is united and mobilised to call on God and help the poor feed themselves, the nation will be transformed and real development will take place. The Church has the opportunity and responsibility to take the lead in setting the captives of poverty free. In Zimbabwe the hope is that out of the dust a glorious transformation will occur that will reverberate across the continent.

As part of this vision God has led Foundations for Farming to be involved in many areas of society including; rural and urban church communities, schools and prisons. During our two months there at the end of last year it took us a while to get a grasp on where the different areas of work are at in terms of monitoring and evaluation. There’s quite web of connections between the people, churches and organisations involved, but we enjoyed meeting everyone and quickly felt settled and part of the team.

In the end the programme which we worked most extensively on was schools. In November Foundations for Farming began a programme in 55 rural primary schools teaching the staff and pupils how to sustainably farm and grow vegetables, key for a nutritious diet. We spent quite a bit of time gathering information on what the teachers already knew and thought about farming and how we could best teach children in their schools. After training, almost all the teachers were passionate about teaching the principles of Foundations for Farming in their schools and when we did some follow up visits in December we were greatly encouraged by some of their achievements in a very short space of time. The project is funded by UNICEF so if it is a success then we are hopeful that the doors to more schools will be opened and we can make real difference in educating and giving hope to the next generation.

In terms of church life, we have decided to invest in River of Life Westgate Church (Newfrontiers), where Foundations for Farming is based. It is quite a poor church and we are one of the few white couples attending. Also, with much of the service in Shona (the language spoke in the North of Zimbabwe) it is quite a cross cultural experience! This has its challenges but we look forward to learning the language and finding ways to deepen friendships at the church.

We had to leave the country in December while our volunteer visas were considered, and have continued our work from a distance. We haven’t received our visas yet, but we feel God still wants us there for the International Foundations for Farming Champions Conference in March. So we’ve booked our flights in faith and we are leaving Sunday 27th February.

We are sad to be leaving our ChristChurch family but would appreciate your prayers for the provision of visas and finances as we go as well as for a great conference where people from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Mexico and India will be coming to learn about what God has started in Zimbabwe.

For more info on the work go to www.foundationsforfarming.org

Being a Christian is about serving God. In this, we are called to become more like Jesus who provides us with the ultimate example of humility and servant-heartedness.  We shouldn’t serve out of any sense of compulsion or expectation. Rather we should do it because we want to serve and please God. Not for what we can get out of it, but simply because he is God and we are called to imitate Jesus.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care – then do me a favour: agree with each other, love each other, be deep spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourself the way Christ thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he … took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling experience.” Philippians 2: 1-8 (The Message)

The brilliant thing about serving God is that we get to enjoy it and we get blessed through doing it. Not in a ‘God will bless you if you serve’ way. He blesses us anyway. But we can serve knowing that we can enjoy it and be blessed as we build and develop relationships in the church and in the communities we serve as a church. We get to have fun. We get to challenge one another to walk closer to God. We are able to be physically and spiritually part of what God is doing in London.

In David Stroud’s Vision 2011 Sermon on 6th February we heard again about the vision and calling of ChristChurch London: to be a church in London seeking to bring God’s Kingdom to earth. David reminded us of how this won’t happen unless we all play our part.  Will you sacrifice some time and energy to be part of what God is doing in ChristChurch London? There are plenty of ways to get involved – what are you waiting for?!

Please visit the Serving Opportunities Page on The City (log in required) for more info. Or email me: rebecca@christchurchlondon.org

An example of mission

We start the year on January 1^st, because it’s the day that He would have been circumcised and given His name – the 8^th day after his celebrated birth (December 25^th).

The great sayings of the season were originally His, like ‘It’s better to give than to receive’, ‘Go the extra mile’ or ‘Turn the other cheek.’

He’s influenced some of science’s most significant luminaries, like Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei; literature is forever shaped by His presence; art galleries the world over have masterpieces dedicated to His life; our musical heritage owes itself to His existence; His influence inspired some of the world’s greatest social reformers, like William Wilberforce, Lord Ashley, Earl of Shaftesbury, Hannah More and Octavia Hill. Many of the great buildings of our time were created for His honour.

Without Him, there’d be no Bach’s Hallelujah Chorus, no Martin Luther King “I have a dream” speech, no painting of the Sistine Chapel, no St Paul’s Cathedral. We’d not be enjoying the latest Narnia premiere this winter, nor frantically finding gifts for our loved ones, nor singing ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’.

He never wrote a book, never held an office, never owned a home, nor lived in a palace. He never travelled the world, grew up in obscurity, was slated by His peers, and deserted by His friends.

Even Richard Dawkins admits he ‘probably’ existed, and now over two billion people worship Him as divine.

Not bad for a carpenter from Nazareth, who was murdered by the state before His mid thirties.

His name is Jesus, and as you finish the longest and coldest term of the year, why not pause for thought, and contemplate how life (and by life I mean everything!) would be utterly different without Him.

If you want to find out more about Jesus, check out the Alpha Course, starting at the Mermaid Theatre on Wednesday January 19.

As I step through the door a thick wall of stale air hits me, all the more solid for its contrast with the bright, crisp Autumn outside.  Andy has found a seat upstairs by a window, where the atmosphere is less stifling.  The bar downstairs is busy serving the twenty or so men of indeterminate ages, on their own or in twos, united by their choice of drink and crimson-coloured cheeks.  Two sit at high stools, nursing pints and talking in low voices, glancing occasionally at the sport playing on the widescreen overhead.  Another sits on his own scanning a Red Top with one hand whilst the fingers of the other worry at the nearly empty glass in their grasp.  Only one other woman is present besides me.  She stands at the bar, her shoulders and arms exposed to reveal the colourful tattoos decorating every visible patch of skin, and shivers and shakes in the warm.  She pays for something colourless over ice before finding a low sofa to sit, and wait.

I order my fix for the day, a large Americano – ‘that’s £1.29 please’ – and Andy’s choice of venue is momentarily redeemed.  As the coffee machine splutters noise into the air, I hear a snatch of conversation from the two men propping up the bar nearby.  One, his pint glass empty, excuses himself to use the facilities.  At his companion’s offer to replenish his glass in time for his return, the man protests earnestly, ‘Oh no, George, you know me – I’m not like that.  You know me.  That’s not me.  That’s not me.’  Feeling uncomfortably out of place, and oddly intrusive, I retreat from the scene clutching my coffee, which admittedly could taste worse.

As we leave the pub two hours later, our review of social outreach concluded, the scene downstairs is unchanged, the sentry-like residents still seated or standing as before.  The lady on the sofa is still shivering, still vacantly waiting.  George’s companion evidently hadn’t protested hard enough, as a half empty glass is now lodged in his shaking hand.  The sign advertising the pub’s new hours (‘Now open for breakfast from 7am!’) renders any appeal against late-night licensing fruitlessly tardy – by about 12 hours, or perhaps 12 years.  Here reside myriad broken lives, shattered by a complexity that defies glib description or analysis.  The sadness shouts out of dead eyes that mirror the sorrow in the lives they look upon.  The two-hour discussion of social outreach seems painfully blinkered and hopelessly inadequate.  But not wholly.  Somewhere very close by, another, greater heart is breaking, present continuous, desperate to breathe life and hope.

Mark is doing, every day, all the things I want to write about. He’s incarnational. He’s my words in flesh. He’s a Man by choice. Mark is a freelance cameraman who lives a few floors above me on my estate. It’s not a bad estate, in fact, I quite like it. But it’s still in the middle of Elephant and Castle, and is far from perfect.

A while back there were a spate of burglaries (one of which I was home for, while 3 lads kicked in the neighbours door) and that’s when I met Mark. He said he’s lived here for 20 years and never had any trouble, but these burglaries propelled Mark to take responsibility for the welfare of the estate.

He wrote to Peabody, who manage the estate, and he wrote to his MP as well. He’s forming a housing association so that the people on the estate have a voice. He’s pushing for new security measures (in response to which we now have bright fully functioning lights in all the stair wells), but he also wants key fobs and cameras as well. He’s making things happen, slowly but surely. When Peabody conducted a survey on the estate they had 8 responses; Mark went door to door and got 80.

He’s a man, because he’s leading, cultivating and redeeming. He told me he came home the other day at about 5pm and three teenagers were smoking ‘something’ in our stair well. So he asked them to leave. In response they tried to jump him. (You should know that Mark teaches Tai-chi in the community centre in the middle of our estate – a centre he had reopened and redecorated. It’s something he loves and something he hopes will get people active and help build community). So when these three guys tried to attack him, he was able to stand up to their intimidation. Another evening, there was a guy hanging around the estate after dark, acting suspiciously. Mark approached him to ask him what he was up to and he ran off. Mark phoned the police and the man was later picked up for acting suspiciously nearby. He’s taking responsibility, being courageous, leading and redeeming.I don’t know if he’s a Christian, but if you met him, he’d teach you more in 5 minutes than i could ever describe in 500 words.

If I was more like him, I’d be a better man.

Despite ongoing fighting in Afghanistan, and even though I have served in Bosnia and Iraq, my thoughts soon turn to the battlefields of France on Remembrance Day. The fact of the matter though is that despite the losses that we are experiencing in present conflicts they are dwarfed by the slaughter, and the sacrifice, of the World Wars.  Visiting the First and Second World War cemeteries and monuments in France have been some of the most moving experiences of my life.  On several occasions I had the honour of taking young Army recruits out on battlefield tours that were always sobering and maturing experiences for all involved.  Particularly evocative for me is the cemetery at Omaha beach.  What makes this so special is the sharp duality of the situation. The graves rest in a beautiful position, at the top of the steep rise from the beach, with a fantastic view out to sea.  But as you stand there, the cool sea breeze on your face, it suddenly hits you that you are standing where machine guns raked the sand.  The picturesque hill was a terrible obstacle for the troops being disgorged on the shore, the quiet breakers were awash with blood and the gentle dunes littered with tattered bodies.  The opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan painted a grim picture of this reality; and I am glad that it did so.  Even though there is no way you can create the true horror of war on the screen I can still remember the looks of the faces of people coming out of the cinema which showed that they had at least been brought a little closer in empathising with those who fought on D-Day and in other campaigns.

My friend’s Granddad survived the Normandy campaign and he used to tell us of his time on D-Day when he was serving with the Commandos.  He was involved with taking ground not far down the coast from the scenes in Saving Private Ryan.  As he had been fighting up the beach he was shot in the neck and told to return back towards the waterline to receive medical aid.  As he withdrew he was shot again in the leg, which convinced him he was better on the advance, and so he joined the attack once again, ignoring the two bullet wounds he was now sporting.  He was a hard drinking and sometimes abrasive man, but he was also a hero who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.  The courageous example of such men inspired me in my military service and continues to humble me today.

The symbolic poppy links Flanders fields to the opium fields of Helmand, yet wearing a tattered paper flower and stopping for a couple of minutes on the eleventh of November seems such a falling short in the light of the sacrifice that we are remembering.  But, I am very glad we do it. In an age where we worship the celebrity we need to be reminded of those who are far more worthy of our attention.  True heroes consider sacrifice more important than fame, courage of greater significance than good PR and commitment to a higher purpose of more worth than stealing the limelight.

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You can read some more of the highlights from the trip by logging onto The City, so I won’t repeat them here, but suffice to say for myself it was both a moving, stretching, inspiring, and eye-opening experience. I think spending some concerted time with Newfrontiers leaders from another nation really underlined the international family of churches that we’re part of – something you can so easily forget when you’re immersed in the day in, day out life of ChristChurch London. It’s not only reminded me again that we’re part of something international, but I also developed some great friendships, and intend to keep in touch with all that God is doing out in the Zimbabwean churches.

As well as the Leadership Summit, some of the highlights for me were speaking in a couple of the churches – Kingdom People and River of Life, Eastlea. I also had the chance to lead and get involved with some ministry times, both in the churches and the summit. I guess you should never be surprised when God uses you – He can use anyone – but given the context of a nation that has come through such a testing time over recent years, I found it particularly humbling to be used to encourage and serve churches and leaders – who certainly ended up blessing me far more, with their infectious love and enthusiasm for God, life and church.

If you don’t know much about Foundations For Farming, I suggest you have a look both at Dave’s notes on The City, but also have a look at www.foundationsforfarming.org/ – we had a look and brief of some of the things they’re up to. The phrase ‘nation-changing’ shouldn’t be used lightly, but that’s exactly what it is – with the potential to be continent-changing in due course. It’s really motivated me to dream big for what the church can accomplish in every aspect of life – business, education, health, government – and watching them in action got me dreaming once more about what we could accomplish here.

The wildlife is also stunning. I had a nervous run-in with a preying mantis – a big green insect-like thing that had me in a staring contest on day 1. I won narrowly, but he did make me yelp in front of a church leader. At the end of the week I had an even more traumatic experience with 5 (yes FIVE) spiders…….the biggest I have ever seen in my life. Not only were they the size of a small tractor wheel (okay, I exaggerate…..slightly) – but they can run so fast, and it was hard trying to convince everyone that I am a brave warrior when whining whilst cornered by an eight-legged monster. In between though, we saw lions, monkeys by the side of the road collecting fruit, a bushbaby in a tree one night, impala, elephants, and my favourite………the little dog owned by the leader of one of the churches called Coky. We’ll try and get some photos and videos uploaded in the coming days and weeks to give you a flavour of what it was like, but suffice to say, it was a fabulous week.

However, one thing I was completely sure about was my love of football, both playing and watching. One dark February evening my work team was playing a team called Christchurch. They seemed like a pleasant bunch of guys and at the end of the match (which they won!) they asked my team to join them for a drink, which we did. We were all taken aback by how friendly and jovial they were.

A few months later one of the ChristChurch guys, called Phil, called me as his team were short of players for a league match and asked if I would play for them. Before the match we all huddled together for a prayer. I remember his words about Jesus loving us and how thankful he was to God for football and friendship. I asked more about his beliefs and he told me to attend the Alpha course.

I really enjoyed attending the course, but at first I felt it wasn’t for me. I was envious of how much faith my table leaders had in God and told myself I could never have that. I only went away to the weekend as the location looked so picturesque in the brochure and I was keen to get away from London for a few days.

On the Saturday night Adrian spoke about the Holy Spirit and how he had a vision of me finding the truth in a book. I was shocked, I have always been a big reader and I find great company and comfort in books. I read the Bible that evening with my table leader Phil (not the footballer, I have since learnt that not all Christians are called Phil) and I was amazed at the Gospels. It was like I had been looking for the teachings all my life….

The more I read and learn the more I love Jesus and God. It has changed my outlook and I am thankful for the blessing of life.  I now know of God’s love and for not only me but of everyone. That love is teaching me to love and forgive just like Him… though I won’t hold back on a tackle on the football pitch, Jesus hasn’t told me to become weak!

I hadn’t read any of his material until only a few years ago, but his influence seemed to impact virtually any and every author and speaker I came across. If the likes of Bill Hybels and John Ortberg have played a hugely important role in shaping me, how much more significant is the man who has shaped them?!

Dallas Willard is a well-known author and speaker, and has been a Professor at the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, since 1965. He specialises in the philosophy of mind and of logic and is credited with shaping both secular and Christian thought across the world with his variety of philosophical and theological publications. He has also served on the boards of the C.S. Lewis Foundation and Biola University.

There aren’t many Christians who have earned such respect in the academic and scholastic spheres, and he’s both a model and inspiration for anyone who wants to use their faith to great effect in the marketplace of education and ideas.

You may well have read his award-winning books ‘The Divine Conspiracy’ (1998) and ‘Renovation of the Heart’ (2002) – if not, I heartily recommend them to you. Dallas is able to communicate complex theological truths in a profoundly simple way.

It’s probably a bit weird to say I feel like I know Dallas, having never met him, but his influence has trickled into so many parts of my life, whether it be directly through his books, or indirectly through the men and women he has influenced, who in turn have shaped my life.

What strikes me most about him though is not his phenomenally astute mind, or his ability to grapple with some of the most complex questions of life, but actually moreso his fatherly nature and genuine delight at caring for and inputting into others. I’m particularly pleased he’ll be speaking at ChristChurch London on how to develop your personal devotional life, as that’s probably one of his specialities.

I hope that as you listen to him speak, whether it be in ChristChurch London this Sunday, or on the subsequent podcast, that it prompts you to listen to more of his stuff, and delve into some of the books he has written. If you do, I promise you won’t be disappointed, and it may even change your life too.