{"id":101,"date":"2011-09-25T20:51:17","date_gmt":"2011-09-25T19:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=101"},"modified":"2011-09-25T20:51:19","modified_gmt":"2011-09-25T19:51:19","slug":"10-ways-god-wants-to-bless-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=101","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways God wants to bless you"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cPhrase from world of education \u2013 continuing the learning journey\u201d
\nGod wants us to grow as Christians
\nLast week I pointed to SEVEN areas, any one of which might be the area where you might be wanting to grow as a Christian.<\/p>\n

1 GROWING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD<\/p>\n

?\tKnowing God better? Prayer and worship becoming more real?<\/p>\n

Eph 1: 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.<\/p>\n

2 GROWING IN OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING<\/p>\n

?\tUnderstanding the Bible better? Finding answers to life\u2019s deep questions?<\/p>\n

Disciples are learners. A lifetime of learning !!!<\/p>\n

3 GROWING IN OUR WITNESS AND SERVICE<\/p>\n

?\tServing God in new ways in the church or in the community? Sharing your faith with others more effectively?<\/p>\n

4 GROWING IN THE IMAGE OF CHRIST<\/p>\n

?\tGrowing in holiness and Christian character?<\/p>\n

5 GROWING BY DEEPER FELLOWSHIP<\/p>\n

?\tCloser Christian friendships?<\/p>\n

Growing close to God implies growing closer to each other. This isn\u2019t about more meetings! It\u2019s about deeper friendships!! <\/p>\n

6 GROWING IN VICTORY<\/p>\n

?\tMore strength to live your day to day life? More joy, greater peace, greater victory in your Christian life?<\/p>\n

7. Growing in PASSION<\/p>\n

There is a difference between being a believer and being an enthusiast!<\/p>\n

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. (Rom 12:11)<\/p>\n

Growing in our relationship with God
\nGrowing in knowledge and understanding
\nGrowing in witness and service
\nGrowing in the image of Christ
\nGrowing by deeper fellowship
\nGrowing in victory
\nGrowing in passion<\/p>\n

ANY OF THESE might be an area where you might want to grow in your Christian life!<\/p>\n

But HOW can we grow? What practical steps can we each be taking? This week I want to look at 10 ways God wants to bless us. Let me say again what I emphasised last week. THE NEXT STEP is not about what you can do for God, but what God will do for you. This is not about extra responsibilities to burden you \u2013 but extra opportunities for God to bless you! THE NEXT STEP is not meant to be a challenge. It is an invitation!<\/p>\n

GROWING BY MEETING TOGETHER<\/p>\n

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
\n25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another\u2014and all the more as you see the Day approaching. HEBREWS 10:19-25<\/p>\n

1. ALL TOGETHER IN CHURCH<\/p>\n

We grow through our Sunday worship by worshipping together and praying together and learning together.<\/p>\n

Evening Services – WHY WE BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE
\nA series of Evening sermons through to November based on the Nicene Creed. We have already thought about what God is really like? Then we thought about just how God created the world. What does it mean, \u201cin seven days\u201d? What do Christians believe about creation and evolution? Last week Rebekah helped us think about the problem of unanswered prayer. If you missed them all those sermons are on the blog. Tonight we think about a tricky question \u2013 how could Jesus really be God and man at the same time? In two weeks – How does the Cross bring us salvation? Then, other important questions. Is the Holy Spirit really a Person? We believe in One church \u2013 one baptism. But Which church? Which baptism?<\/p>\n

2. ALL TOGETHER IN HOME GROUPS<\/p>\n

Our midweek Home Groups meet on Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening and Friday evening. At the moment we are studying Bible Characters \u2013 Nicodemus who came to see Jesus in secret, the apostle John the beloved disciple, three would-be disciples, the Rich Young Ruler, Elijah the worn out prophet, James and John sons of thunder, Doubting Thomas, Daniel, and other Bible Characters.
\nHome Groups also give opportunities to pray for each other and support each other, caring, sharing and bearing one another\u2019s burdens. Home Groups aren\u2019t meetings \u2013 but friendships. Growing Together. <\/p>\n

3. ALL TOGETHER IN SPECIAL EVENTS<\/p>\n

We have our regular prayer meetings after morning services on the second and other and fourth Sundays every month. But we also had our Saturday \u201cDiscovering Prayer\u201d together back in June. Every month a number of churches get together for \u201cCelebrate\u201d, a Wednesday evening of worship, teaching and ministry. And we will have other special events in the months to come to help us grow together in our faith.<\/p>\n

GROWING IN TWOS AND THREES
\n19 \u201cAgain, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.\u201d MATTHEW 18:19-20
\nSPECIAL BLESSINGS of meeting together in 2s and 3s.
\nTo me this is such an important way to grow as Christians that a few years ago I wrote a book, Making Disciples One-to-One. I will talk much more about this in three weeks time when I give you 12 Good Reasons for meeting together one to one. But today let me just whet your appetites by suggesting three different aspects of growing in twos and threes.
\n4. TWOS OR THREES \u2013 FOR NEW CHRISTIANS<\/p>\n

An opportunity for New Christians to be encouraged by Spiritual Aunts and Uncles \u2013 meeting One-to-One in an 8 week course.<\/p>\n

1. A new life has begun!
\n2. Being sure of our salvation
\n3. Getting to know God in Bible study and prayer
\n4. Belonging to God\u2019s family, the church
\n5. Playing your part
\n6. Tug of war \u2013 the battle against temptation
\n7. Go and tell \u2013 the challenge of being Christ\u2019s witnesses
\n8. The Holy Spirit \u2013 the Helper<\/p>\n

It may be that you are new to the Christian faith and this course for New Christians would be right for you. It could be that you have been a Christian for a while and feel ready to help somebody else in their faith.<\/p>\n

5. TWOS AND THREES \u2013 FOR ALL CHRISTIANS<\/p>\n

Praying in Pairs and Triplets \u2013 Prayer partnerships, Prayer Triplets, Spiritual Friendships, What could we do? I will explain much more about this is a few weeks but you could begin to be praying now and asking God if there is another Christian you could meet with together regularly to help you both to grow. <\/p>\n

6. TWOS AND THREES \u2013 FAN THE FLAME<\/p>\n

For the mature and committed Christian, a course of personal study and prayer assisted by a Guide you have a conversation with every week or two. Fan the Flame looks at five themes:
\n1.\tKnowing God Better
\n2.\tBecoming like Jesus
\n3.\tLiving in Christ\u2019s Body
\n4.\tBecoming a Servant
\n5.\tBe filled with the Spirit
\nWith its meetings with a Guide, Fan the Flame gives a first taste of the practice called Spiritual Direction. A number of you have already enjoyed Fan the Flame. You may like to pray about whether Fan the Flame would be the right NEXT STEP for you in Following Jesus.<\/p>\n

GROWING AS INDIVIDUALS
\n9 we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. COLOSSIANS 1:9-12<\/p>\n

7. INDIVIDUALS \u2013 PQR TIME
\nBetween Prayer time and Reading time you get a Quiet Time
\nBible study materials Daily Bread (SU) Every Day with Jesus (CWR)
\n8. INDIVIDUALS \u2013 WORKSHOPS AND COURSES
\nEvents like Spring Harvest, Leading Edge. Taught Courses at Mulberry House or Pilgrims\u2019s Hall, or organised by the Church of England at the Cathedral. Distance learning courses from London School of Theology or Spurgeon\u2019s College.<\/p>\n

9. INDIVIDUALS \u2013 INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLANS
\nOutline with key questions to consider, sermons to read and books and internet articles to look up. \u2013 Example on the Screen
\nHANDOUT containing a list of TITLES
\nEach Study Plan will be put together especially for you!<\/p>\n

10. GROWING BY BEING EQUIPPED<\/p>\n

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip God\u2019s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.
\nEPHESIANS 4:11-13<\/p>\n

Equipped by the Pastor-Teacher<\/p>\n

In his book, \u201cEvangelism as a Lifestyle\u201d Pete Gilbert sums up true Biblical Pastoral Care brilliantly!The task of pastor-teachers is \u201cnot wiping spiritual noses but building spiritual muscles\u201d <\/p>\n

Paul Goodliffe \u2013 Head of Ministry Department of Baptist Union writes – God gives Ministers to the church to equip God\u2019s people for works of service.As far as pastoral care is concerned, the role of a minister should not be that of chaplain but of spiritual director, guiding people on their spiritual journey, identifying and releasing gifts and ministries and equipping people for service. So the important pastoral tasks are nurturing and sustaining faith, creating healthy relationships and building a caring Christian community, praying for people and with people and encouraging the struggling and wandering – not just healing wounded souls. The focus should not be so much on healing as on growth, not on fire-fighting but on discipling. Building spiritual muscles!<\/p>\n

When you join a gym you are assigned a \u201cpersonal trainer\u201d. That person doesn\u2019t do all the exercise for you \u2013 but they guide you on the path! God gives Ministers to the church to be \u201cspiritual trainers\u201d to guide us on our spiritual journeys. That is a task which I am very happy to make a priority. Being a \u201cSpiritual trainer\u201d \u201cnurturing and sustaining faith, creating healthy relationships and building a caring Christian community, praying for people and with people and encouraging the struggling and wandering. Not just healing wounded souls,\u201d, but helping with Christian growth and Growth and discipleship.<\/p>\n

10 Ways God wants to bless you – SUMMARY
\n1. All together in CHURCH
\n2. All together in HOME GROUPS
\n3. All together in SPECIAL EVENTS
\n4. 2s and 3s for NEW CHRISTIANS
\n5. 2s and 3s for ALL CHRISTIANS
\n6. 2s and 3s in FAN THE FLAME
\n7. Individuals \u2013 PQR Time
\n8. Individuals \u2013 Workshops and Courses
\n9. INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLANS
\n10. Equipped by the Pastor-Teacher
\nWHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR YOU?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPhrase from world of education \u2013 continuing the learning journey\u201d God wants us to grow as Christians Last week I pointed to SEVEN areas,…<\/span><\/p>\n

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