Today is the last official day of Moore Mission in Christchurch. What better way to end our time here at St Saviours and St Nicholas than reading and hearing God’s word taught and together remembering his goodness to us in Jesus!
At the 9am St Nicholas meeting, John opened up Luke 14:15-24 with us and spoke about the invitation God has asked each of us to RSVP to.
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
In the parable, the invited guests rejected the master’s invitation, and in doing so presumed wrongly that they would be able to still sustain the relationship. But instead – those who were poor, lowly and ostracised are able to know God and participate in his banquet, out of no means of their own. We also have been invited to share in God’s banquet feast through his Son Jesus’ death on the cross. Will you accept or reject his invitation?
At the 10:30am St Saviours meeting, Andy spoke from Mark 4:35 – 41 where Jesus calms the storm.
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
The disciples feared the storm and questioned whether Jesus really cared about them. His answer was emphatically yes. Faith in Jesus provides the only true and lasting relief from the fear and reality of death. Will you trust in him?
Tonight Soul Focus, the St Saviours 6:30pm service was officially launched. There was a great turnout with many enjoying the tasty dinner together.
Gus spoke from Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus.
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He challenged us that there is nothing worse than being lost, but nothing better than being saved. Do you know you’re lost and in need of saving?
And with that the official parts of Moore Mission in Christchurch have come and an end. There is much to be thankful for and much to commit to our loving heavenly father in prayer.
Please give thanks for …
- The wonderful, safe week we’ve enjoyed in Christchurch (even with the small earthquake this morning)
- The ministry team at St Saviours and St Nicholas – Dave, Chris, David, Megan and Tim, and their willingness to spend time with us this week
- The people of St Saviours and St Nicholas – their generosity, hospitality, servant hearts and desire to see the gospel of Jesus proclaimed faithfully
- All the people we’ve met – at church, organised events, door knocking and other places
- Those who’ve prepared and given clear, faithful Bible talks
Please pray for …
- God to open the hearts of those who heard the gospel this week to accept the Jesus as their Lord and Saviour
- Ongoing positive relationships between the people of St Saviours and St Nicholas and their community
- Growth in spiritual maturity and number of the people of St Saviours and St Nicholas
- The continuing rebuild in Christchurch. The people here are exhausted – weary and burdened. Please pray for peace and certainty for them in God
- Safe travel home for the team – most are travelling tomorrow or Tuesday, and good rest before college starts again on Wednesday!
Thanks for your partnership in prayer!
Read more . . .