Our guest speaker this week is Ben Oliver, one of the Kerith elders. He reads Acts 16:6-10 where Paul and his companions were guided by the Holy Spirit to visit Macedonia after He had stopped them from going to Asia or to Bithynia. Ben picks out 4 things that they had come to know about God that made it unremarkable to them that He would guide them in this way.

See additional notes at https://kerithcommunitychurch-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/encounter_kerith_church/EYS-Nq4cx4pGmLdqZlLYHLEB0ux_nK3hDSSlyACWEhJp7Q?e=AQQAlU

Esther continues our "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" series by looking at the fact that the Father Is well-pleased with us - just as with Jesus, God takes delight in us, His children.
She looks at 3 ways that we can receive approval:
- for something we've done (but there is no probation period where we have to prove ourselves to ourselves, others or to God, so she asks "what is your motivation for serving God?")
- for trying (God is pleased when we are prepared to step out and give it a go)
- simply because we are His (it's not based on anything we could ever do, say or prove but purely on who God is)

See additional notes at https://kerithcommunitychurch-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/encounter_kerith_church/Ea0dApX-zpdBgLLJDmVCtpAB7RBS4BkeOvRnC3y-42Sb5A?e=tEPZVx

At today's Encounter we firstly continue the remembering theme from last week by looking at the persecuted church around the world. Then Esther resumes our series "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" by looking at the truth that I am beloved by God, having value and worth. It's a love that is intentional, sacrificial, pure, isn't concerned with it's own self but rather with the greatest good of us, and doesn't expect anything in return.

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With Armistice Day approaching on Friday, we decided to have a Remembrance Service at our Encounter meeting. Several people share memories of family members or friends who served in one way or another in the World Wars or in other conflicts so that we might have the freedom that we enjoy today. Then we had an opportunity to pray for people who are currently suffering in the many conflicts that are happening around the world today.

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Esther continues our series "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" and looks at the issue of sonship - we are children of God, adopted as sons and co-heirs with Christ. Everything that God made available to Jesus is available to us. As sons & daughters of our Heavenly Father we represent Him.

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Continuing with our "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" series Esther states that when we are baptised we are raised as a new creation - it symbolises a new start. She uses the illustration of a caterpillar & a butterfly to show that we have been transformed into a new creation. It's not something that we work towards but it's something that God did when we believed in Jesus as our Saviour.

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Esther continues our series "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" by talking about the fact that we are washed. It symbolises the forgiveness that we have received because of what Jesus did at the cross for us. She asks if we believe that we are clean or do we keep remembering the sins that God has already forgiven & forgotten?

See additional notes at https://kerithcommunitychurch-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/encounter_kerith_church/EVBOoxopm9dLkrTZunYxdF8BkuUfKV7bpJdZbZQcY7PT9g?e=bZhyfD

Esther continues our new series by stating that before diving into who God says we are, we need to build a framework by looking at the baptism of Jesus. We come to the river & repent, next we go into the river & are cleansed, and then we come out of the water as a new creation so that we can walk in the freedom of knowing that we are loved & approved by God.
Esther closes by asking 2 questions - "Dp you feel far from God?" and "Is it time to turn around and draw near to your loving Father?"

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In order to understand who God says we are, there are 2 aspects of God that we need to consider. Last week Esther looked at the first aspect, that we were created by God. This week she looks at the second aspect, that God is our Father. She outlines 3 reasons why it is important for us to understand & believe that God is our Father if we are going to come to Him to ask Him the question "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" - God loves us, God knows us & God has our best interests at heart.

See additional notes at https://kerithcommunitychurch-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/encounter_kerith_church/EbEi3K31-0hGkvyw1fbhHBABmK-RFkyDy65EvomBoh5XLA?e=agxncL

After last week's introduction, Esther starts our "Who Do YOU Say I Am?" series by talking about the fact that we are created by God. She make 4 key points: You are not an accident, You are known, You are awesomely and wonderful made, You belong to your creator.

See additional notes at https://kerithcommunitychurch-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/encounter_kerith_church/ETtI6ssQUSVCim3wFRlP-NwB0vjdF6Vps6MYm2-_ESLc3Q?e=Ur7c0S