Crossing Over…

Last Sunday our new preaching series called “Crossing Over” launched with just great all round services in all of our London congregations. The message was about REVELATION: How and what the cross reveals to us about God.   In our Hammersmith congregation I focussed on the cross revealing that:

• God loves unconditionally
• God is THE friend and Saviour of sinners
• God is ALIVE!

This revelation has the power to change so much in your life as you begin to understand how much Gods loves you and what he did for you, and that His cross was “vicarious”, meaning that “it was an act on behalf of another” – in this case you and me and every human ever. Download my message and PowerPoints here

This Sundays Crossing Over message is about the VICTORY of the cross. I’ll do the first part about Christ’s victory on the cross, and Ali will do the second part looking at how we can live in Christs victory…

Come and hear and experience how you ARE more than a conqueror in Christ!

All our Sunday service details here

Every Nation London on video…

Celebrating the Every Nation London God-adventure… this was part of our intro video at SUPER SUNDAY

(Thanks to Graeme Wright, our Hammersmith children’s pastor – obviously there’s ton’s of creativity in our amazing children’s ministries!)

Our Manila church celebrates 25 years!

Our Every Nation churches in Manila, called “Victory”recently celebrated their 25th anniversary since the famous short-term missions trip planned by Rice Broocks who invited Steve & Deborah Murrell along, who then stayed behind to tend the fruit and the rest is history… congrats to Pastor Steve & Deborah, and all the great leaders and members of the now 35,000+  church… you are a great example to us of humility, passion, excellence, and focus on the mission to make disciples…

Here’s a minute from the celebration -

If you’re keen to experience this yourself in this very venue, make a plan to be at the Every Nation World Conference there in July 22-24 in Manila – its going to be awesome!

Our August Series: “Phlipn’ Attitudes”…

I’m inviting you on an August attitude adjustment journey… with Phlipn’ Attitudes from the book of Philippians.

• “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5)

On each of the first four Sundays in August at all our London congregations we’ll look at a key Christ-like attitudes found in the book of Philippians.  We’ll also have a daily dedicated Phlipn’ Attitudes blog with a daily devotional where we’ll work through the whole book of Philippians from beginning to end considering the subject of Christ-like attitudes. Check the Phlipn’ Attitudes blog out here, and why not set up a feed to get this daily devotional direct to your inbox or Facebook.

And for fun, here’s our video invite below… can you guess who came up with the title of this series…

 

PS – I’ll probably not post much except some personal stuff on my blog here for August – so go’n get some Phlipn’ Attitude somewhere else…

Sermon Preview: “Your Battle to Build”…

I’ve had a week of so many confirmations that this is a word in season. So many people needing to Battle to Build. Some quiting their dream, some going off track, others fighting for it. You must fight for it…

Paul reminds us that  “You are Gods building” (1 Corinthians 3:9) – God has a plan for your life, and if you get that God-dream for your life, you have to learn to hold on to it and to fight for it. Recognise that you have an enemy, and that if faith in Christ is your foundation, then you are more than a conqueror. You CAN stand through the storms that come from within & without, with your life counting for Him. Read the full context of the above scripture here, then say “ouch!” followed by: “I need to battle to build.”

In this 3 Part series we’re going to see that there’s only one foundation on which to build: Christ. And using one of the great Old Testament builders as an example, we’re going to learn that to build is going to take amongst other things: REVELATION (of the plan, and the Planner), REMOVAL (you cant build on rubbish), RESTRAINT (empower your yes & no’s), and RELATIONSHIPS (there are some battles you are just not going to win on your own.)  Nehemiah knew that its one thing to be moved to want something, but its a whole other thing to battle till you see the fulfilment, and he knew that uou have to fight for it.

In the end, when all the dust has settled on this life, there’s a great promise for those who have built right: If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. (1 Corinthians 3:14)

YOUR BATTLE TO BUILD… Sunday 5th, 12th, & 26th July @ Every Nation in Hammersmith & Slough

 

Appreciating our Every Nation London Staff

We had our summer staff barbeque yesterday.  As I heard someone say recently: Its one thing to have a “dream team,” but whats even more powerful is “a team with a dream”…

I sure thank God for each of our amazing team members here, who sacrifice hugely in many ways to support and empower our volunteers & leaders to fulfil our mission to “make disciples of all nations.”

From left front to back: Dina (finance), Lydia (youth), Tami (Hi!Team/Kids), Andrew (Finance Director), Jon (Youth), Tosin (Campus), Stephanie (Pastoral/Outreach), Jenni (Pastoral), Javed (Campus), Simon (6PM Pastor / Engage/ Partnership ministry), Charl (Pastor, Brentwood in Oct), Yvette (Slough pastor/Begium), Dan Smart (Pastor, Hammersmith), Richard (Partnership ministry), Me, Amanda (Pastor, Hammersmith), , Traci (Pastoral), Greg (Operations, Stratford), Ali (Senior Pastor), Graeme (Hi!Team /Kids), Dan Lees (Central Services Operations), Trevor (Pastor, Slough/ Belgium), Gerald (Kids)

Missing from the action due to holidays (yes, we allow a few of those now and again!) are Andrew & Berna (Pastors, Stratford Congregation), Michelle (Worship Stratford) , Darren (Operations, Hammersmith) – (Jacqui Parker finished up at the end of June – thanks for your contribution Jax)

And the crazy team with the crazy dream…

Your Battle to Build…

I’m super passionate about a new 3-part “Your Battle to Build” message series I will be preaching in July at our Hammersmith morning and 6PM services…  Here’s a plug for it from outside our Every Nation church in Washington DC where I attended our North America conference this week…

• Sunday 5th – Part 1: A great building starts with a “Revelation”, and don’t forget to remove the rubbish…
• Sunday 12th – Part 2: You’ll never build much without “readiness” & “Restraint…”
• Sunday 19th – We have Tim & Maz Walker from the Thembalitsha Village of Hope as guests in Hammersmith am service
• Sunday26th – Part 3:  There are some battles you’ll never win alone, and there are some things you’ll never build alone…  

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Nehemiah 4:17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

Dusting off my back-pack

My eldest daughter Amy has just got back from our first ever London church youth mission – as part of our LoveUkraine compassion ministry to some of Europe’s poorest high in the Carpathian mountains.  They delivered food parcels, did activities with the kids, cleaned up around the base, visited an orphanage, and generally had a great adventure in the safe hands of our awesome team of London mission & youth leaders. (Thanks Carol, Donna, Ovo, Jon & Bernice!)

For the trip Amy needed to take a back-pack, and I mentioned that “I had a two special backpacks in the loft you could try.”  Now generally, dad’s stuff in the loft is simply not cool enough to be of any use to a teenager, but this time there was a cautious “OK lets have a look at them” and I quickly got them down: A red one and a pink one.

I told Amy that that these were very special, dating back to when Ali & I arrived in London in 1993 with “our two backpacks and a vision” – Surprisingly Amy quickly decided that the red one (mine, just in case you thought mine was the pink one!) was acceptable, and spent a few days packing it up for her first mission trip - how proud was I!

Amy & Rebekka ready for action...how cool is that red backpack!

I’m so proud of Amy, and so amazed at this incredible journey that started so small with “two backpacks and a vision” all those years ago – Lord help me never to forget not to despise the days of small beginnings – and to be careful what I throw away out of the attic… you never know when it might come in useful (actually, that’s not the point of this story at all is it!?)

Going public with the Cross

Over the past few months I’ve been investing in building relationships with a group of local church leaders in our area from a wide variety of denominations and streams. Its been great to be reminded that we are not alone, and that there are many others passionately sharing Jesus and seeking to live for Him and advance His Kingdom.

Today we had an “Easter Witness” in central Hammersmith (where our west congregation meets), with many different churches coming together for a “silent witness march” down “Kings Street” (!) in Hammersmith – led by mounted police – and then into the “Kings Mall”  (!) for a short public Easter service.  There’s definitely something special about “going public” for Jesus… here’s a pic:

 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18

My Easter message this Sunday is titled “The Cross changes Everything” -including the way we relate to God, to each other, the way we live, and our hope in this life and for eternity. This is radical, reminding us that  our Christianity MUST centre around a true “CrossCulture” which dies with Christ, and lives with Him. There is no other way to be His disciples than to “take up your cross and follow Him.”

The cross + the empty grave = happy Easter!

You’ve got to fight for it!!!

This past Sunday we completed our “Letter to London” preaching series – which took us 5 months (!)preaching through the rich truth from whole Letter to the Ephesians. 

 We ended the series with a couple of sessions on “STANDING STRONGER” from chapter 6 verse 10 onwards…”Finally, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wicked schemes of the devil.”

Here are a few thoughts I’m becoming very convinced about:

Why do we/you need to stand strong?Because you’re in a spiritual war zone. The devil is your enemy.  The Darwinian debate doesnt just get rid of God, but gets rid of the devil too, and thats deception, because he’s after you to kill, steal & destroy.

Whats at stake? All that you believe in and stand for. All the “spiritual blessings in heavenly places”. Your salvation. destiny. health. peace. prosperity. calling. Your testimony. Your relationships. Marriage.  Whatever you stand for is at stake.

How can you stand?  God has provided you with His armour, and putting in on and using it guarantees you to be standing at the end when all the dust has settled. Some of it is for your defence, and the sword of the Spirit is for kingdom ADVANCE in and through your life. So put on truth, righteousness, readiness. TAKE UP the shield of faith, salvation, and the Word of God as a sword. get rid of all passivity, and become alert and watchful to your enemy’s strategies and schemes, and know Gods great promise that “having done all, you will stand”!

If you need more on this, listen to my last message  or two on “Learning to Stand Stronger” here. 

 For one action scene of last weeks message, check out my “sword fight” bit on this clip – The sound quality is poor, and the finale where I “destroy the enemy” with a spectacular lunge is unfortunately missing… but hey, read the Bible and you’ll know how the Great Story ends!