All Christians are called to be Jesus’ witnesses to the world, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said to his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Living a missional live is based on 3 things that Paul mentions in Colossians 4, these are:

1. Pray - Effective missional living begins with faith-filled prayers. Colossians 4 verses 2 & 3

All Scripture points to Jesus, He is the Word/Truth, and God reveals Himself through Jesus. Jesus is God’s language. When God wants to communicate, He does so through His Son. Everything in the Old Testament points to the reality of Jesus, and is also the fulfilment that Christ Jesus is the head of the Church. The Holy Spirit glorifies and magnifies Jesus.

The Word of God without the Holy Spirit leads to legalism, and the Spirit without the Word leads to fanaticism. John 4:23 reads "True worshippers will worship God, the Father in Spirit and in truth." The pillar of Word and Spirit is fundamental in the church and in this teaching we learn how the Word and Spirit work hand in hand in the life of the church.

In continuation of the teaching, "Moving Forward" as a church, we look at the Bible passage, Philippians 3:12-21, where the Apostle Paul gives us 6 things that will help us move forward:

1.A reality check on our humility - Philippians 3 v.12

In this first part of the teaching on moving forward as a church we are challenged to measure success biblically, but what does that look like for the body of Christ? The pandemic has surely challenged our beliefs and faith. We want to stay in our comfort but God calls His church out of fear and to move forward in faith. We can move forward and measure success individually/corporately by repenting of our "idols", returning back to the Lord and allowing God to redeem and unshackle our imagination, to believe what the church can become, and turn the world upside down. Acts 17:6, Acts 4:13

George Bernard Shaw quote reads, “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” Will we chose to step out in faith and boldness, and march forward with courage and confidence?

This teaching is a conclusion of the 5 part series of the study of the book of 1st Peter. In challenging and trying times we can learn how to live an effective Christian life through Christ’s strength and remaining dependent on the Spirit of God, thus discovering how Jesus takes care of us as we learn to lean on Him.

6 things we can draw and learn from 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 6 to 11 are:

The readings from 1st Peter chapter 4 guide the conversations that Seth Johnson has with Geoff and Linda Simpson who went for a mission trip early this year to Nepal.

Called to Blessing

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;

The main points brought out in part 3 of this sermon series are:

When you are called to be a blessing, it does not have to be going well with you because it is not you doing the blessing but GOD THROUGH YOU.

Being a blessing will be rejected by those who oppose God and His followers.

You must be a blessing because your IDENTITY IN GOD demands it of you.

This teaching is an encouragement and challenge to grow through the storm. Like bisons/buffalos we are to face the storm head on and come out on the other side of the storm.

In 1st Peter chapter 2, Peter highlights ways you can grow through a storm:

Three qualities why the Word is so necessary for our growth:

3. Know your true identity - 1 Peter 2:9

4. Discover your purpose - 1 Peter 2:9, 10

The first few verses from the book of 1st Peter chapter one simply translates, “The mess of our past does not disqualify/disable us from christian service.”

Peter was a man that Jesus restored and his messy past did not stop him from following and serving Jesus. Peter wrote to the scattered church - scattered by persecution and isolation, bringing them encouragement through the living hope in Christ; God's commitment to all believers and the promise of their citizenship in heaven.