Presence, Power and Purpose
Our aim as Jubilee Church is to build a community of people who know who they are, who know what they have and who know what they are called to do.
Throughout the Autumn we have had a variety of mini-series looking at these three aims through the central theme of Presence, Power and Purpose.
We began with talks on knowing who we are as we focussed on building a Presence-centred Church. These talks had followed on from the summer when we heard about those who had an Encounter with the Risen Jesus. We had also received an exhortation to cry out because Jesus is Passing By. In each of these series we have been encouraged to seek the presence of God.
In the series on knowing what we have, Rob concentrated on God’s Gift of Healing. This is both a gift from God to us individually plus a gift to the church to take to other people. Jesus called us to be a people of power
Our final mini-series has been about knowing what we are called to do – our purpose. In a fresh take on the Christmas story, Becky, Rob and Tom have looked at how aspects of a 2000 year old story are still relevant to us today.
Why Jesus Came Into The World
In starting the series, Becky looked first at what God’s purpose was in sending Jesus. It was to reconcile humankind to Himself, through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
God brings us into relationship with him, and out of that comes our desire to tell others about Him. We are called to spread the good news and to make disciples who make disciples.
Becky referenced the letters that were sent to the churches in the Book of Revelation. She concluded with what she imagined might be written to Jubilee Church:
‘I know your heart for pursuing My presence, that you are presence-centred and step out in My power, in healing, in deliverance, in prophecy. But I am coming soon, and there are many more that I am calling to myself. Do not neglect my Great Commission. Be faithful in making disciples’.
Angels are Messengers. And so are we!
In the second talk, Rob spoke about how God sent the Angel Gabriel as a messenger. He showed us how differently Zechariah and Mary responded to the news Gabriel brought. Zechariah responded with disbelief and cynicism. Mary replied with willingness once Gabriel had given her an explanation.
Rob explained that we are now the messengers.
‘The baton is now in our hands.
We’re the ones who carry hope into silence.
We’re the ones who speak life into cynicism.
We’re the ones sent to bring good news to people who may have started to think God has forgotten them’.
Shepherds – Interruption, Inclusion and Information
Tom took us through the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2. He looked particularly at the role of the shepherds and how their experience relates to us today. Their night was interrupted. They were included in the events of the night despite being considered to be outside society. And they joyfully informed people of what they had seen and heard.
The shepherds were included in God’s mission – and so are we.
Tom ended by challenging us:
‘We are a people who know what we are called to do. There is a message to bring to the world, workplaces, colleges, and schools. And communities to shepherd, who know us and we know them. But we need to be interruptible, hearing the promptings of God’.
‘We need to know that we are included by God, no matter how qualified we think we are and to know that the information and the message we have is awe inspiring and gives glory and praise to God’.
We know we are included, even though sometimes we feel insignificant. We know God’s presence and the good news of Jesus. The challenge is: are we interruptible?
Thank you to Becky, Rob and Tom for the use of their notes in compiling this blog post.
And finally, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
