What is this series about?
What are you giving your life for? What is it that drives you each day to get out of bed and get you motivated for life? Many people are giving their lives, time and money for ideas and projects that will not last of have any lasting impact. You however have the chance to be part of something that is changing history and will shape eternity for millions of people. That is significance in the truest sense. The church today is under attack - including from people who call themselves christians. The word is clear though - the church matters - to God, to you, to the world. You might need to leave some past disappointments aside to learn again the incredible power of you and Gods family - the church. That is where you belong.
Week 1 - What you might think this IS important
This is a new series about Church. Some people even when they hear that word have a bad reaction. The church is under attack today and may "christians" are the people doing the attacking. Why should the church matter to you? Being a christian is about way more than just believing - it is about belonging. It is only in Gods family that we really appreciate grace and love. In fact the bible is clear - we cannot say that we love God if we do not have love for our brothers and sisters. This series will challenge you again to think about Gods family and your place in it. When you are planted in Gods family you will flourish - that is the way that God designed it. No solo pilots but a family committed to loving God each other and the world.
8th May 2011 Speaker: Andrew Toogood
Week 2 - You were built to belong to God's family
15th May 2011 Speaker: Andrew Toogood
One of the prevailing attitudes today is that your personal happiness is the most important thing in life. The west is absorbed in self and a sense of rugged individualism. However God's plan & desire for you is to be fully planted in his family - that is where you flourish. Andrew looks at why if you do not belong to the family of God then you will never become all that you were created to be - you might still be saved but a full experience of grace & love is found with each other. Some of us need to let go of our past hurts and disappointments and get a view again of how God see's his family. Even with the increase in social media people are more lonely today than they have ever been. Why? you were built not just to connect but to belong. Challenging and insightful
Week 3 - why you won't make it without fellowship
22nd May 2011 Speaker: Penny Toogood
The church is not an organisation. It is a family that needs to be organised. That is a crucial difference that will help you to understand what church family is all about. Even if you have been hurt or disappointed in the past the truth remains that you simply will not make it to become all that you were made to be without meaningful fellowship. Self centered, selfish christianity is not what you were made for and though many people try to find excuses as to why they dont need the family of God the truth is that the word says that it is in the context of His family that you will see the fullness of God. Challenging but life bringing. Fellowship does not mean a boring meeting in a dusty church hall or something irrelevant to you - it is Gods way of dynamic living with each other that will help us to see the fullness of God in our lives. You will not make it without authentic, proper fellowship.
Week 4 - Communion is powerful
29th May 2011 Speaker: Jill Boyd
Communion is something that happens in Church regularly but many people miss the significance of what it means. Communion is a potent reminder of what binds us together as a family. Jill looks at the symbols involved and shows why an understanding of what they mean actually impacts your life every day. The powerful truths of communion and what happens when we share it with our church family reminds us of the incredible work of Jesus and the power to live that comes through that work for you. Have a look again at communion and what it means for you
Week 5 - The real point of Gifts
5th June 2011 Speaker: Andrew Toogood
The family of God matters. Whatever your experience has been in the past we need to come to the place where we fully engage with God's family. why? that is where we we flourish. (ps 92 v 13). One of the incredible things about this family is that God has given us each a part to play - if we don not do what we are built for then there is a knock on effect on the whole family. At Exchange we talk about how the fullness of God flows from being full established in Gods love for you. (eph 3 vs 14-18) and that is what the gifts are for - some teaching today totally misses the point. Gifts are for the people who receive them. They are about demonstrating the love of God for the person who is on the receiving end..... listen and discover he incredible part that God has for you today and the incredible significance that God places on you.
Week 6 - Giving is good for you
12th June 2011 Speaker: Andrew Toogood
Few subjects are more controversial than giving. Many people live in guilt and condemnation about giving and that leads us to a place where we do not even like to talk about money and giving. The truth though is that the family of God SHOULD be different in the area of giving. Andrew looks at how we can be totally confident and free in the area of giving because of the revealed nature of God. Also how do we walk in the balance of grace and faith in the area of money? Is it true that you give to get God to give back to you or do you just sit back and God blesses you no matter what you do? The biggest benefit in giving is in fact for the giver - so get free of fear and allow this word to transform you.
Week 7 - What is ministry all about?
19th June 2011 Speaker: Penny Toogood
Has your experience been that you have felt like you HAVE to serve in your church? Many people have spent years labouring away and if they are honest have felt like this is a requirement rather than a fantastic opportunity to grow as a person. Penny looks at the real reason to minister and how that will mean that you grow and can sustain your service in church for the long term. At Exchange we believe that you do not minister to get Gods approval, the church's approval or out of some sense of competition. Let the love of God transform you and you will find it flowing out of you in ease and rest. That is life giving service
Week 8 - Leadership that builds people
26th June 2011 Speaker: Andrew Toogood
It is hard to get a proper view of the church and your place in it whenever you have been hurt in the past - and especially when people in leadership have hurt you. Andrew looks at the role of leadership and why the model that we see in many churches today is flawed. Leadership is about the people and about helping them to flourish - not status, position or selfish ambition.
If you are reluctant to commit to church because of past hurts then this is a talk that will help you see Gods heart for you and your leaders.
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