LWCCLive: Fear not!

LWCCLive: Don't Look Back!

The first in a series called Looking at 23

The Living Word Eldership and Chair of Trustees set out a vision for building the kingdom of God in a digital age. This response to the coronavirus outbreak calls on all of us to partner together in shaping new ways to reach out with the love of Jesus.

The theme of Ricky's message in the light of the coronavirus threat is, "if you don't want to be ruled by fear then don't take your eyes off Jesus, for fear mustn't halt the mission of the church to advance. The only fear we should entertain is for the loss of those who as yet don't know Jesus".

Jonathan continues in the theme of discipleship and hospitality drawing from personal experience.

Rick boldly confronts the sensitive issue of how we as Christians handle the money that God has given us to manage, reminding us that God owns all of us, and all that we have.

Helen provides us with a helpful insight explaining Jesus' act of cursing the unfruitful fig tree, and the likely reason why in Mark's gospel the account of Jesus driving out the moneychangers from the temple is sandwiched between the two parts of the fig tree encounter. She further encourages all Christians in how they might develop their relationship with God.

Continuing in the theme of hospitality and discipleship, Rick personalises the story of the wedding banquet (Luke 14) as a reminder of the obligation of all Christian believers to diligently pursue giving invitations to everyone who has yet to experience Jesus' amazing gift of everlasting life, to come and discover such abundant life for themselves.

Moving from the story Jesus told about the separation of the sheep from the goats, Rick continues his theme pertaining to discipleship and hospitality, showing that the latter is so much more than just providing the odd meal; adhering more closely to matters like clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the lonely and healing the sick, all done in the context of love.

Bladimir clearly illustrates the significance of Christian baptism using not only the words and instructions from the New Testament, but also using foreshadowing events symbolised in the Old Testament

By occasionally scrunching up a sheet of paper and throwing it aside, Rick graphically illustrates his talk by showing how important it is that we don't throw away or waste all the opportunities that God provides for us to develop our relationship and grow closer to Jesus.

Rick elaborates upon a baptism that was videoed of a friend who came to faith during a visit to Basildon last year. He uses this as a preamble to a new teaching series on the importance of discipleship.

As Living Word Community Church faces the new year, and indeed a new decade, Rick takes a few minutes to state our intent and purpose in the coming period as a community of God's people, immediately followed by Tim outlining the means by which we can all better focus on pursuing God's purposes through effective prayer whilst fasting.

In the build up to Christmas celebrations, Rick reminds each of us of the fact that we have all been saved from an eternal future without God, but by His grace He has restored us into relationship with Him. As such we are not superior in any way to those who don't yet know Him, and should therefore retain an 'attitude of gratitude' whilst wholeheartedly endeavouring to share the good news that they too can experience.

Rick looks beyond the wonder of the nativity scene towards the challenge for every Christian to boldly share the good news that Jesus, our super-hero, brings.

Tim takes us through a prophecy made in Isaiah 9:6-7 some seven hundred years ahead of Jesus' birth that fully describes His incarnation and majesty.

Continuing the thoughts of last week, and considering the beautiful manner a woman served Jesus by anointing His feet with expensive perfume, Rick challenges us all to work alongside God using our various gifts to similarly honour Him and fulfil His purposes for our lives.

Ricky delves into the narrative of Moses frustration in hitting the rock in the wilderness and failing to give glory to God for the water that the disgruntled people were so desperate to receive. Ricky uses this illustration to remind the church to remain in the favour of God by closely following His instructions, so that the refreshing will come from rivers of living water and the power of the Holy Spirit.