Partakers Christian Podcasts

Exploring Islam 02

Exploring Islam

Origins of Islam

Today we shall unpack more of what Islam means to those who follow the faith, and how it relates to Christianity in similarity and difference. Our first step however will be to briefly appreciate its origins!

Society Muhammad was born into

The founder of Islam was the prophet Muhammad born in the city of Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia) around 570AD. The family he was born into was of some importance in the city however his father had died before he was born and soon after when he was six years old so did his mother. The conditions in Arabia and for the Arab people before Muhammad was a complex network of nomadic tribes who lived and moved around the desert regions. Loyalties were clear cut and rules for living were easy to understand as your duty and honour were simply bound to your clan.

But it wasn’t long before these tribes began to congregate and towns and then a few cities were forged. Suddenly with a close community filled with a mixture of clans the established framework and social order was threatened. Orphans and the poor were increasingly ignored and as resources and power became sought after commodities the moral fabric of what was a simple nomadic life became vulnerable. It is important to realise that this is the social setting which Muhammad was born into and the problems which he witnessed. The religious situation of the Arab people leading up to Muhammad was a cauldron of idol worship, spirit worship, and sun, moon and star worship. There was a community of Jews living in Mecca at the time, and nearby countries like Ethiopia were almost entirely Christian. In fact the Ka’aba, which is the large cubic structure in Mecca today and forms the focus of the Hajj pilgrimage, was already old by the time of the Islamic prophet. It was used to house hundreds of idols, but later in Muhammad’s life when he returned from Medina to Mecca he claimed the structure for Islam.

The beginnings and growth of Islam

Around 610AD Muhammad received the first of what was to be seven visions of revelation from Allah delivered through the messenger Angel Gabriel and would form the Qur’an after his death. The first one was famously in a desert cave which he commonly used as a retreat. From here on Muhammad began proclaiming his message from Allah to the Arab people. It was one which called them to abandon their idol worship and commit to monotheism. But it wasn’t limited to being only a religious message but also a political and social structure which would alleviate the injustices Muhammad perceived and one which would please Allah. He found he had only some followers of this new faith and eventually in 622AD in fearing for his life he fled to the nearby city of Medina who welcomed him with open arms. Very quickly he established a political leadership in Medina, his followers grew, but the opposition in Mecca remained.

After eight years of petty killings between the two cities, this is where jihad has its roots, Muhammad with his men went to Mecca desiring a peaceful pilgrimage, but instead the officials surrendered in fear of their safety and the city became Islamic. During 632AD Muhammad died whilst living in Medina and had left in his wake a large political empire as well as a new religion. However, he had failed to declare a successor. He was the final prophet, the seal of the prophets, and so another one was not sought, but instead a political leader. There was much struggle within the Islamic believers in Medina and despite a successor being appointed a division was formed which was to remain under the surface and come out later through much blood shed in the creation of Sunni and Shi’a Muslims. The Islamic empire expanded exponentially over subsequent years and it is important to remember that this all began with the twenty year prophetic service of one man Muhammad.

The growth was achieved primarily through plundering neighbouring towns and cities and when control was achieved the Islamic faith was a prerequisite for the indigenous people to stay. The only exception at the start were for Jews and Christians who were tolerated as second rate citizens, but later on even this faded. However, more peaceful conversions were happening at the same time through Muslims sharing their faith whilst working the trade routes across the continent and into Asia. What Muhammad had achieved was a first for the Arab people, a sense of unity and loyalty to more than just their individual clan. Now it was to the one god Allah and his prophet, and this provided the opportunity for growth and prosperity.

Islam before Muhammad

What we have just discussed paints a very quick picture of the beginnings of Islam as we currently would know it. However, from a Muslim’s perspective we must appreciate that Islam existed before Muhammad. Islam when translated simply means one who voluntarily submits to Allah, which is simply the Arabic word for God. Muhammad was the last prophet, the one sent to the Arabs. Previous prophets from Allah went to the Jews in the form of Abraham, Moses, David and many more. For the Greek people Jesus was Allah’s prophet.

All of these familiar names were in fact Muslims as declared in the Qur’an and their revelations to their respective peoples were of a similar type to that of the Qur’an. Moses brought the Torah, David the Psalms, and Jesus the Gospel. However, the respective peoples corrupted these books and didn’t live as Allah would have wanted; hence the current versions of these holy books are not considered by Muslims as original. This explains how a Muslim views a Christian. They have corrupted the sacred revelation given by Jesus to include things like the Trinity and divinity of him, and so are in need of repentance.

For a Muslim Christianity was born out of this dishonest process and did not exist before or because of the prophet Jesus. Next time we shall consider in more detail the nature, design, and layout of the Qur’an and Hadith, Muhammad’s great religious legacy.

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Exploring Islam 01

Exploring Islam

Introduction

About Myself

Welcome to this new series where we shall be exploring the depths and diversity of Islam found in our world today. I am a born again Christian living in the UK and I have found that our understanding of this faith is somewhat lacking in Churches and in the general public. Whilst attaining my undergraduate degree in Applied Theology I studied Islam from an academic perspective and spent time in several UK cities meeting with Muslims of all types from many different cultures in their homes and in the Mosques. I am now occupied in looking after our one year old son and studying at Postgraduate level in Biblical Interpretation. But Islam still remains a personal interest of mine, and as a Christian we should be looking to build friendships with our Muslim neighbours and never be afraid of learning something new about their faith whilst always being prepared to sensitively share our own. My hope is that whatever your background you will enjoy and benefit from this podcast series.

Introduction To The Podcast Series

The media can deliver much of our experience and understanding of the Islamic faith from far reaching locations across the world. However, the tragedy of this is for most us who do not know Muslims personally we commonly paint them with the same brush, assume that they are all ‘out to get us’ or seem so different and unknown that we avoid them. This series will attempt to fill in the potential gaps and maybe even correct some misunderstandings all done in the spirit that ‘loving our neighbour’ includes those of a different faith or ethnic origin. However, it must be appreciated from the outset that we embark on a journey to better understand one of the largest world religions which despite its own ambitions for unity and uniformity contains significant diversity of expression. Here is our first lesson; there can be a big difference between official orthodox Islam found in the text books, and the understanding and practice of individual Muslims across the world. I must qualify that what I bring to these podcasts is based not only on my own academic study of Islam but also in meeting with individual Muslims living in the UK from different cultural backgrounds. Much of what is accessible to Christians regarding Islam is written by Christians on the mission field and this is of great worth. However, I have found that first hand conversations with the Muslims who live nearby provides a unique perspective which will help us pray for them, build friendships, witness in love, and ultimately accept them into the Church as new believers. The journey starts here.

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This now is available to buy as a book on Amazon at £5 :

UK/Europe - £5 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exploring-Islam-exploring-diversity-Christian/dp/1507774567/

USA - $7 - http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Islam-exploring-diversity-Christian/dp/1507774567/

 

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A Christmas Thought By Gregory of Nazianzus - Partakers Bible Thought

A Christmas Thought By Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – 390)

Christ is born, glorify Him.

Christ from heaven, go out to meet Him.

Christ on earth, be exalted.
Sing to the Lord all the whole earth;

and that I may join both in one word, let the heavens rejoice,

and let the earth be glad, for Him who is of heaven and then of earth.

Christ in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy;

with trembling because of your sins,

with joy because of your hope.

Come on in to hear more of this person of the ancient Church!

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Gospel of Mark - Introduction

Christmas 2020

The Gospel of Mark - An Introduction

G’day and welcome to Partakers! In the run up to Christmas, we are going to go through the Gospel of Mark together, to get a broad view of the life of Jesus during his time here on earth.

We are reading it back to front, that is from Chapter 16 through to Chapter 1, in order that we may gain some new insights into Christmas. Today we start with an introduction to the Gospel of Mark.

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** We are reading from the World English Bible translation, which used to be the American Standard Version. It is in the Public Domain and therefore copyright free. Come inside to hear and see! The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. That means that you may freely copy it in any form, including electronic and print formats. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.

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WOW Jesus

Jesus Christ, the most extraordinary person who ever lived, who never wrote a book but has more books written about him than any other subject! History is split into BC and AD in honor of him! Jesus Christ, the God-man, who gives a WOW factor to anybody who will bow the knee and serve Him.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmmjezAc1qg]

Here in this short video, I introduce my own WOW factor about Jesus. Jesus who promises salvation and how He still challenges and loves people today.

You can download a copy of this video by right mouse clicking here and saving...

I also have a seminar, WOWJesus, which I would also love to bring to your church or group. Contact details are below and at the end of the video. I look forward to hearing from you and how we can work together. Thank you.

WOW Jesus

Jesus WOW!

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You have heard of the X-factor! Well today we have the WOW Factor! As I look through the Bible and in the Old Testament, I read about how the world fell out of a living and dynamic relationship with God! But I also read how a Messiah, a saviour or rescuer if you like, was to be sent by God, in order to restore the world back into that intimate, dynamic and living relationship with God! I read the four Gospels in the New Testament and I see this Messiah-Saviour as the God-man, Jesus Christ. As I do so, I get a WOW factor about him. Many people in the Bible did also, during his public ministry and even after his death! Here is once such person! We read about this man, in Acts 9:1-3 Saul had just had his first encounter with Jesus Christ: a definite WOW factor for him.  Sometime later, as Paul, he wrote about this same Jesus Christ to a group of people in Colossae. We heard that from our bible reading!  It's a WOW poem by Paul about Jesus! In here I see Paul's WOW factor of Jesus! Paul's WOW factor of Jesus from Colossians 1v15-20 includes: Jesus' divinity, humanity, death, resurrection, supremacy, creator, leader, eternal, sustainer, power, authority, reconciler, peace-maker and peace-giver! WOW! What would your Jesus WOW factor include?

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Let me share with you some thoughts on the WOW Factor of Jesus and me.

1. My Jesus!

What is this WOW factor I get about Jesus Christ? Who is my Jesus? There are many WOW factors I get, but we don't have time for that tonight, you might be thankful to hear! You will have to come back next week for more! So tonight, 7 WOW factors of Jesus!

a. Unique :

The first word I would use for Jesus is that He is unique - totally unique! Never before and never to be repeated again - ever! Jesus Christ is the standout person from all of history! In all of human history, Jesus Christ is incomparable! Yet in human form, we read that during his earthly ministry he had no physical beauty that would draw people naturally to himself. We read that Jesus' body on the cross was disfigured and tortured beyond that of human likeness. His perfect life, His salvation work on the cross and His subsequent rising from the dead, is what makes Jesus Christ unique - a once and for all lifetime Messiah or Saviour for the entire world!  This great God of creation, stepping into His creation as a human, with the purpose of reconciling the world back to Himself! WOW!! Jesus' uniqueness meaning I can have an active and dynamic relationship with God.

b. Majestic:

Then the Jesus I see is full of majesty and awe! He is not simply a king with a crown on his head. He is the King of all Kings and the Lord of Lords! This Jesus Christ did not decay in the grave - He overcame death in the grave and was raised again majestically! As Paul said about Jesus' resurrection, in that passage from Colossians, Jesus is "the first-born from among the dead".  Paul writes later in Colossians 2v3, that "in Jesus Christ, all the majestic treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden." Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who with unparalleled majesty, is the head of His body, the church. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the church would not be in existence 2000 years later, let alone 2 years after his death. Jesus' majesty meaning I can depend upon Him for all matters of life.

c. Tender:

Next I go to look into his eyes - his tender eyes! Jesus looks upon people with love, adoration, justice and tenderness. Eyes filled with mercy, grace, love and compassion. Eyes that fill with rage at injustice and oppression! His penetrating eyes that can separate flesh and spirit! This Jesus is kind and sympathetic - his look of love on a world that is separated from God, and a world He is calling back into an active relationship with God. Jesus' tenderness which means I can run to Him for comfort because He sees what I am going through.

d. Wise:

Then there is Jesus the wise man! When Jesus spoke words, people were amazed! They were astounded that He spoke with elegance and yet with authority. They had never heard anyone speak like He did - with both grace and authority. The same is true today, if we are listening. That is why we read the Bible to find out what He would say to us. That is why we seek to hear Him speak to us and why we speak to Him. That is why preaching is to be seen as an act of worship - by both the preacher and the listener! Jesus' wisdom meaning I can ask Him for advice and seek His imagination to solve problems!

e. Strong:

Jesus is strong enough and capable enough, to carry any burden that is laid upon Him. Jesus Christ gives a solid and sure foundation for all aspects of life, which will not fall or be destroyed. Indeed Jesus Christ will never fall or decay such is His imperishability as the everlasting God. Jesus Christ is solid, dependable and strong; nobody and nothing can stand against Him. Jesus' strength means I can go to Him for protection and strength when I am weak and knowing He will supply my needs.

f. Lovely:

Finally, at least for now, this Jesus oozes loveliness! Jesus is altogether lovely and lovely altogether! Jesus is beyond compare for the things He has done and the things He will do. Jesus Christ is altogether lovely in regard to his person, humanity, birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, exultation, glorification, grace, protection, tenderness, power, wisdom, vengeance, judgment, majesty, redemption and pardon! Jesus' loveliness means I can have His incomparable joy when I feel defeated and dejected. That is my Jesus: unique, majestic, tender, wise, strong, and lovely. That is my Jesus, whom I seek to serve and obey in every facet of life, every second of every day. I don't always achieve it, but I know that when I fail, I can ask for forgiveness and He will grant it from His wellspring of gracious mercy. Yet another WOW factor about Jesus Christ. It is this Jesus whom I depend upon and personally know to be totally reliable in every way.  When people let me down, turn away from me, discourage me, think wrongly off me, incorrectly assume my motives, this Jesus always picks me up, never turns me away always encourages and embraces me.

2. So What?

But so what, you may say! I know those outside the church certainly ask "So what?" All through each day, I know that Jesus has been dependable, going ahead of me! Amazing! This Jesus who died on a Roman cross two thousand years ago was the same Jesus who was raised from the dead, without decay, into newness of life and ascended to the right hand of the Father. WOW! There is only one Saviour for the world. There will never be another because there is no need of another. Despite the bleating of other religions and faiths! Jesus never said, "I am a true vine; a way, a truth and a life". Just as He did not say "I am a shepherd, a door, a light or a bread of life." If He was like that, then He would have no WOW factor at all. No! Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Jesus is the only great shepherd and the only door to life with God. Jesus is the only light of the world and the only bread of life. Jesus calls everyone to partake of the nourishment and shelter only He can provide. That's our Gospel WOW factor which is unalterable. Sadly only a few respond: "Yes!" Are you one of His followers or are you one of His deniers? Again, I ask you - what would your WOW factor of Jesus include?

3. Jesus! WOW!

Oh how Jesus loves us. Jesus! WOW! By now, you may well be asking yourself "What does WOW stand for?" It means "Worthy Of Worship!" Jesus Christ: unique, majestic, tender, wise, strong, and lovely, is most certainly worthy of worship! The Jesus WOW factor involves Jesus being radical and relevant! Even a brief look of the Gospels, will reveal that about him! Some people back then didn't get Jesus, and people still don't get Him two thousand years later! You may well be one of those who don't get what Jesus was about! Whose fault is that? It's not Jesus' fault that people today don't respond to Him! It's partly a result of the church and Christians down through the ages, including today, not following Jesus and being fully committed to Him, obeying His commands as closely as they could or should! That's why my parents thought churches were dangerous places and Christians were simply brainwashed and deluded people. They did not hesitate to tell me that that is what they thought about Christianity! But as a teenager I rebelled against my parents, responded to the call of Jesus Christ, and became a follower of him some 30 years ago! Some say I am still rebellious, but I just don't see it!

4. We are to be little Jesus'

Another definition for you! The word Christian, means ‘little Jesus'. Did you know that? That's what being a Christian is to be - a little Jesus!  As we travel this life we are to be little Jesus' to others. The world out there and this community will know you and I are Jesus' followers, if we are obedient to Him, practically showing love! A love which considers the interests of others before our own self-interest! A love which sees different churches working together and for churches willing to be radical and risk-taking for the sake of the Gospel! Surely we can celebrate our differences and yet work together for the sake of the Gospel? Our ability to love others is borne from a loving God of vast imagination! Even a subtle look at creation will reveal His imagination - even in creation's fallen state! What is more, the solution to most problems is borne from people with imaginations reflecting the imagination of this Jesus! WOW! Imagine whole communities transformed for Jesus Christ, having got the WOW factor! Imagine Ringwood, or the place you live, filled with people seeking to know about our Jesus, because we as Christians were sacrificing our time and possessions, just as the early church did in Acts 2, and wanting in every aspect of life to give Jesus the glory and honour that is worthy of His name alone! Is that your vision for this community? Loving God and loving each other just as Jesus commanded would transform our local community! How do you show others that you love this Jesus? You show it by loving and serving others! They are the primary ways of showing you love God! It is easiest for us to love our friends. But Jesus commanded that his followers also love their enemies! Now that is very radical and it can be difficult! We see constantly in the media and elsewhere, that regards our enemies, we are to be confrontational or at best to just ignore them! How is it possible to love our enemies? It is only with the help of God and His abundant grace towards us! We depend on the Holy Spirit who lives inside all Christians to empower, transform and guide! To only love those who love you is what is expected by people everywhere as normal behaviour. But if you are a Christian, you are to do more! You are to be seen to love more than other people. You don't have to like others as friends, but you do have to love them as fellow human beings! According to the late John Stott, perhaps the greatest indicator of your love of Jesus Christ is in your giving! Jesus talked about giving quite a lot.  Jesus Christ gave everything so that you and I may have life and life in abundance. So by giving generously, you are reflecting that God, through Jesus, has given abundantly to you. And of course, by loving, serving and giving to others, we may just be the answer to people's prayers.  How is your giving? Giving generously is not just financial. It could be an email, a letter, a smile, a touch, a kind word or a phone call.  These things too are valuable to the recipient, particularly the lonely, isolated, sick, depressed, recovering and oppressed. We are to give generously, but not just to those we like. Just as we are not to love only those we like and get on with. We are commanded to love everybody, including our enemies, those we are ambivalent towards and particularly those who are in need. Our giving of words, gestures, touches, possessions, lives and yes, even money! How does our giving of anything match that of the God we claim to love? Our money, words, talents, gestures, touches, possessions and lives: to be given without expectation of return.  That is the essence of grace. Our money, possessions and lives were all given to us by God in the first place! How and what you give is up to your own conscience before God. To not pass them on wisely and freely for the use of others in need is to rob God of glory due His name.  To not do that is to engage in a gospel of works and not the gospel of grace. Indeed, the reason most people don't give to those in need, is because they are either selfish or lack the imagination to fulfil those needs. Or is that just me?  When those outside the church, in the world, give, they generally give expecting something back. When we Christians give, we are to give as God gives - freely and without expectation of getting anything in return. Now that's radical giving! We, as the church, being little Jesus' are not to emulate the world. Rather, we are to emulate the greatest gift, Jesus Christ, who freely gave all, in the name of love! How is your own WOW factor of Jesus?

5. Give in His strength

Whose strength are you using to love, serve and give?

Let me ask you another question. Whose strength are you using in order to love, serve and give? If we love, serve and give to others in our own strength then eventually we will get tired of loving, serving and giving. But if we maintain our relationship with Jesus and do it in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us, then our loving, serving and giving will never tire - we will keep on loving, serving and giving because the Spirit's power is inexhaustible. So as you love, serve and give, who are you leaning on for strength and replenishment? When you are tired of loving, serving and giving, ask God to renew your strength! When you lack the imagination to love, serve and give, then ask God to renew your imagination! He will help you! Most problems can be solved with the use of imagination and putting it into practise. Just because you can't help somebody, doesn't mean somebody else cant! That's why we are a church, a body of believers, to help each other and together, envision solutions to the problems being faced - a people of vision! How is your own WOW factor of Jesus?

6. A Final WOW factor

You may have noticed I used only 6 WOW factors when I originally said 7. Here is my seventh - Jesus is coming back! This Jesus is coming back to gather His followers, to Himself. Jesus is coming back, but not as a baby this time. There will be no kitchy-kitchy koo factor. No! Jesus is coming back with a big WOW Factor as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. More about this aspect next week, unless the Lord changes my mind! But for this week, are you ready? What does Jesus look like now? He is described by one of his beloved followers, John in Revelation 1v13-16 Among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. That's the ascended Jesus Christ as portrayed by his friend John! WOW! Are you suffering today with some illness or you are in the middle of a period of grief?  We all suffer in some way. I had a stroke back in 2003 and recovered. I still get aches and pains, particularly a very dodgy memory. But one day!  One day you and I will have perfect bodies and minds. WOW! And not only that, but this God suffered and died on a cross, so has sympathy for our own suffering while we are in this world! WOW! Jesus is coming back and will do the most extraordinary thing.  We read about it in Revelation 21. But for now just verse 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Isn't that just the most amazing verse with a great big WOW factor? Picture it! Jesus Christ taking your face in His scarred hands and He will wipe away your tears - tears of suffering and tears of joy. You will say to yourself, it was all be worth it - the trials, temptations, sufferings and experiences I have had for the sake of Jesus Christ my Master. WOW!

Conclusion!

So our time is at an end for tonight, how can we conclude? We saw together how Paul had a WOW factor about Jesus Christ!  We saw how to me Jesus' WOW factor included his uniqueness, majesty, tenderness, wisdom, strength and loveliness. Then we looked at the WOW factor having an impact on communities; that we Christians are to be as Jesus by loving, serving and giving to others! We saw that by loving, serving and giving using Jesus' strength means that we will never tire of loving, serving and giving to others.  Then lastly we glimpsed briefly at that momentous time when Jesus comes back to wipe the tears from those who endure for His sake. WOW! How are your travels with Jesus? It may well be that you are here tonight, feeling desolate, abandoned and lonely. Let the WOW factor of Jesus wrap you like a warm embrace, encompassing you with loving compassion. Or you may well be here and you are feeling tired, drained, burdened and in need of help. Maybe you are struggling to make a major decision and don't know what to do. Allow Jesus to give you the strength to endure! Give the burden to Jesus and let Him take the weight for you.  Seek the wisdom of Jesus in making that decision. He will help if you ask. That's all part of the WOW factor of Jesus Christ. You may well be here and you are on fire, fully committed to Jesus and feeling great! Then keep going and keep letting Jesus be your strength, your wisdom and your help.  But don't keep it to yourself - that would be selfish! Go to others you know who are in need, regardless of who they are, showing them your WOW factor of Jesus. Go to others, loving, serving and giving just as Jesus loves, serves and gives to you. Finally, you may not yet be a follower of Jesus Christ. I don't know. If that is you, then I would urge you to accept His call upon you: for He is calling you. You may not get another chance. If that is you, then please don't leave here without talking to somebody about this Jesus. Know that Jesus calls you by name, just as He did Saul, myself and innumerable others. Jesus invites you to have a WOW factor with and about Him. Next week, we will continue to look at the WOW factor of Jesus. But as for those particularly aspects, you will have to come back!

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WOW Factor of Jesus

Jesus Christ, the most extraordinary person who ever lived, who never wrote a book but has more books written about him than any other subject! History is split into BC and AD in honor of him! Jesus Christ, the God-man, who gives a WOW factor to anybody who will bow the knee and serve Him.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmmjezAc1qg]

Here in this short video, I introduce my own WOW factor about Jesus.  Jesus who promises salvation and how He still challenges and loves people today.

You can download a copy of this video by right mouse clicking here and saving...

I also have a seminar, WOWJesus, which I would also love to bring to your church or group. Contact details are below and at the end of the video. I look forward to hearing from you and how we can work together. Thank you.

WOW Jesus

WOW Factor of Jesus Christ!  Do you know Him?

Sermon - Jesus WOW Part 2

The Challenge Of

Jesus' WOW Factor

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Introduction!

Last Sunday we reflected together about the WOW factor of Jesus. What does WOW stand for? Worthy of Worship! We saw together how as expressed in Colossians 1v15-20 Paul had a WOW factor about Jesus Christ! I shared how the WOW factor of Jesus for me included his uniqueness, majesty, tenderness, wisdom, strength and loveliness.   That this extraordinary Jesus loves us with an unparalleled and creative passion! Then we looked at the WOW factor having an impact on communities by way of us as Christians being as Jesus, through loving, serving and giving to others! We saw that by using the power and strength of the Holy Spirit within us, meant that we would never tire of loving, serving and giving to others.  Then finally, this Jesus will be returning and will do the most extraordinary thing to all those who persevere - Revelation 21v4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. That's a WOW factor of Jesus! How has your WOW factor of Jesus been this past week? It would be lovely to just stay there and bask in that WOW factor but that would not be the full picture! We have to live between the present and the future and Jesus has left us with a job to do! Anybody here find that following Jesus closely easy? Not just me then!

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JOG eBook Sampler

Sample chapter of JOG - Jesus Over in the Gospels.  Eighteen study chapters where we jog together through the four Gospels of the Bible.

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The book is now released under the title of "A Glimpse of God" and available on Amazon on this link! Come on over!