The Bethel - Old Trafford Christadelphian Church

With the example of Latif Yahia as an illustration, Mike drew out how commonly it is very difficult to tell the difference between 'Christians' and non-Christians. He uses the warnings from Jeremiah who spoke to Israel about the same problem in Chapter 19 and then leads us on to the idea that we should be emulating and difficult to tell apart from Jesus. Jesus, being the 'exact representation of the father' is our template, we are attempting to be the 'fedai' of Jesus and God in this world, not being chamelions who 'conform to the patterns of this world', but being catterpillars that are 'transformed by the renewing of our minds' (Romans 12).

What do you do in a crisis? How do you react when things go wrong? What's your response when you enter a slump? Malcolm encourages us to make sacrifices in small things for God to improve our self-control as well as our service, and reap the reward. God calls us to share our conviction and passion for Christ, and that will bring more colour into our lives.

Malcolm looked at five things that the apostle Paul had that produced fruit from God's word: Praise, Purpose, Promise, Permanence and Power.

Walking through the various states of lifestyle: I'm not ok - you're not ok, I'm ok - you're not ok, I'm not ok - you're ok and I'm ok, you're ok, Pete explores how our approach to each other affects us understand ourselves and our faith. Pete argues from Philippians 2 that our desires should be for caring for each other not for 'right ' and 'wrong'.

Jesus said (and proved!) in Matthew ch 9 that 'the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'. But he also stressed that those who seek forgiveness must themselves be prepared to forgive.

Taking cues from Isaiah 56, Charles explored two common 'Christian' traits that were also rife within the people of Israel: Self Justification and Favouritism. Jesus threw out both of these traits as he came to justify and "gather the outcasts of Israel."

The 'I'm in, you're out' and 'others not welcome' sense that comes from self-justifying and practising favouritism is as common now as it was in the time of the Kings or Jesus' life.

Charles encouraged us to, in the words of Isaiah 56:1, "Maintain justice and do what is right", emphasizing the point with the illustration of Peter's encounter with the Ethiopan eunuch.

In exploring 'servanthood' or 'servantship', Colin drew from the roots of the hebrew word for servant, and it's agricultural connotations, especially relating to the life of Samuel. Samuel was, as it were 'tilling the land', cultivating God's people so they would grow some real fruit. The question he asks us is 'what land are we cultivating and how are we aware of God's presence and will in each circumstance working out His purpose?

Is God just sitting, waiting for that day when he will send Jesus back to set up his kingdom? Malcolm's encouragement was based on God not just waiting but working daily, for and with us as we look forward to Christ's return. There is also the challenge that we are to work too, not just sit and hope it all works out in the end.

Jesus' parable in Matthew 18:21-35 gives us a mirror in which to view the way we all act as the unmerciful servant. Tony explored how, though forgiveness and mercy are often seen as weakness, it is in forgiving others that we can break free from the destructive, hypocritical cycles in which we often live. Tony encouraged us to make the difference by living in a way to firgive others, just as Jesus came for not just ours but everyone's forgiveness.

John talks about William Tyndale making the bible accessible to all through his translation, and how we can learn a lesson by keeping the bible message simple and available to all.

God's love is often looked at as either a high theological concept or as a 'fluffy', vague 'something'. Pete Walked us through nine practical, tangible aspects of God's love for us. In the hope that at least one would connect with each of our hearts. The nine aspects were: God's love is - Life-giving, Affectionate, Providential, Personal, Wisdom, Faithful, Happiness, Lover & Lord, Friendship and how we respond to it.