Partakers Christian Podcasts

WOW Word 10

Evangelism

This week, Alphy shares about evangelism - telling others about, and showing, Jesus! WOW!

You are called to evangelise!

While you may not be called to be an evangelist (Ephesians 4:11), you are called to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5). In Jesus’ last words on earth, His church was commanded to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8). You are a member of that church, and as a part of the Church, you are included in the way God has chosen to spread His message of reconciliation (Acts 4:12; 2 Peter 3:9). Remember Paul’s words from Romans 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

What is evangelism?

Why evangelise? Be beautiful to somebody by both telling and showing them the good news of Jesus Christ. Come see and hear more by playing and/or downloading the video below!

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God as Trinity

God as Trinity

Jesus speaking: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14v15-17

What kind of God offers salvation? A personal God! Now a God who is personal, must be capable of having and sustaining relationships. A God who sustains relationships will also want to be known! We know that God is spirit, yet also a personal and infinite being (John 4v24). He is one in substance or nature and incapable of being divided “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deuteronomy 6v4) yet also as we shall see, three co-equal and eternally existing persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can say for certain however, that the inter-Trinitarian life of God is a mystery beyond our mortal comprehension, experience and language.

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Having said that, the word that the Church historically has come to define the God-head is ‘Trinity’. The actual word “Trinity” does not exist in the Bible! Does that surprise you? The word "Trinity" or "Tri-unity" actually derives from the Latin word "Trinitas," which is defined, as “three are one “or” the property of occurring three at once”. Whilst the word doesn’t appear, the principal behind it, most assuredly does! The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Opponents of this doctrine say that it is actually 3 gods, but that would be to say the Trinity is 1+1+1=3... However the Trinity is best seen as 3 persons in one God, which is 1x1x1=1.

There are principally two main errors when thinking about the Trinity. One is that the three names, Father, Son and Spirit are simply three different designations of the one God. The other is that God the Father is the true God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are somehow inferior, and therefore not strictly God.

Whilst there are no explicit Scripture texts using the word trinity, the concept is explicit throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament "God said, Let us create...” (Genesis 1v26) and "Sovereign Lord, Spirit and Redeemer" (Isaiah 48v16). In the New Testament, at Jesus' baptism the three persons of the Godhead were represented (Matthew 3v13-17); also in the Great commission “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28v19). Elsewhere baptism is to be in ‘the singular name, of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and not ‘the names (plural). God is One “and there is no other but Him” (Mark 12v32); and it is also in the Paul-ine Grace “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13v14). The Lord Jesus also impressed upon the Twelve Apostles the distinction between the Father and Himself, and clearly taught about the Holy Spirit as being distinct yet again.

Indivisible - There is in God, one indivisible essence or substance of which God is made. God is expressed in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In each of these belongs the whole undivided essence of God. The totality of God exists in the Father, also in the Son and in the Holy Spirit. Each member of the Trinity is self-conscious and self-directing. The three members never act in opposition to any other member, but always in union and harmony.

Precession – This endeavours to describe the relationship within the Godhead. The members of the Godhead are co-equal and co-eternal. However, there is an order of succession in their relationship but this does not imply superiority & inferiority. The Son is begotten of the Father (John 3v16) and does the Fathers Will. Both the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15v26).

Relationship – There is a communal honour between the Trinity Persons (John 15v26; 16v13-15; 17v1, 8,18,23). In the work of redemption or salvation, there is a co-ordination in the Triune Godhead (Hebrews 10v7-17; Ephesians 4v4-6; 1 Corinthians 12v4-6). The Father ‘elects’ (Ephesians 1v4); The Son ‘redeems (Ephesians 1v7); and the Holy Spirit ‘seals’ (Ephesians 1v13-14). Between the three Persons, there is an eternal unison in active purpose and yet seemingly external distinctive between the Three members of the Triune Godhead.

This Godhead Trinity, with its inherent qualities of relationship shows that God is indeed love, and the work of salvation is an act of love from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. If God was not a Trinity, then how could love possibly be shown, as love requires more than one Person for it to be active? As a Trinitarian being, love is an endemic quality of the Godhead. The Father loves the Son and the Spirit. The Son loves the Father and the Spirit. The Spirit loves the Father and the Son. The God we serve as Christian disciples exhibits love and this God commands us, to love one another so that He will be seen (John 13v34-25). By showing love, we reflect the Trinitarian God, in whose image we are made.

For more to think about please do read Ephesians 1v3-14. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. How can the inter-relational aspects seen in the Trinity, be an encouragement to me?

Q2. How does each member of the Trinity individually help me?

Q3. How can I be thankful that I serve a God who is love, and knows love intimately?

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SALT - Nancy

Interview of less than 3 minutes with a Christian answering 6 questions.

1. What is your name?

2. How long have you been a Christian?

3. What is your favourite piece of Christian worship?

4. What is your favourite Bible verse?

5. Who in church history are you most encouraged by?

6. When did God last answer one of your prayers?

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God's Two Words To You

God's Two Words To You!

This page contains links to download the 16 mp3 files for our series God's Two Words To You! If you use the Firefox web browser, you can use the free tool "Down Them All" to easily download these files... Thank you.

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/d3q3um/Partake-God2Words2U-Track01.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/s5228k/Partake-God2Words2U-Track02.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/vmzsrt/Partake-God2Words2U-Track03.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/n5sctp/Partake-God2Words2U-Track04.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/3gsktd/Partake-God2Words2U-Track05.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/f5e578/Partake-God2Words2U-Track06.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/qycryi/Partake-God2Words2U-Track07.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/at49ju/Partake-God2Words2U-Track08.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/6xrhq/Partake-God2Words2U-Track09.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/ei553x/Partake-God2Words2U-Track10.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/hg2wk7/Partake-God2Words2U-Track11.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/4a5ez2/Partake-God2Words2U-Track12.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/qiyync/Partake-God2Words2U-Track13.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/tfhp6y/Partake-God2Words2U-Track14.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/cjggph/Partake-God2Words2U-Track15.mp3

http://davegroberts.podbean.com/mf/web/c5ych/Partake-God2Words2U-Track16.mp3

All For the Good

Today I am answering the question: ‘What is it like being a Christian at school?’

That’s a hard question to answer! I don’t make it obvious at school that I am a Christian, which I often feel bad about as I feel like I should but I just don’t have the confidence to I think. However I do refuse to let people ‘use the Lord’s name in vain’ and people respect that. Also I would never deny being a Christian if asked.

I do feel fairly comfortable being a Christian at school because my school is a Christian school, (although not everyone who goes to my school is a Christian). We have voluntary Eucharist’s and a Chapel we can go in if we’re upset or annoyed about anything and a Chaplin who we can talk to as well!

I’m also on a Faith and Worship committee at school and we’re discussing how to tell people about God in schools and the community at the moment!

Thanks for listening/reading!

Katy

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Friday Prayers

Partakers Friday Prayers!

4th October 2013!

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity!

Today we are specifically praying for the imminent Partakers WOW Tour of the USA! Come and pray! Pray particularly for our time in Denver and Detroit!!  Let me know you are praying by making a comment below! Play & download the video!

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All For The Good

September
By Sue Goodall

Children in coats
Sizes too big
Their faces mirrored
In shiny shoes
Kicking the crinkly
Turning leaves...
Old season out,
In with the new.

Adults with worries
Shoulders weighed down
Ash-grey faces
Secrets unguessed.
Oh that they knew
That He is saying,
''Come those heavy laden
And I'll give you rest.''

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Nicene Creed

Nicene Creed

What we believe as Christians...

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray and profess together!

We believe in one God,

the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

and of all that is,

seen and unseen.

~

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God,

Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

~

Through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit,

He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

~

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures:

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

~

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son,

He is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

~

We believe in one, holy,

catholic (universal), and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

~

Amen

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All For The Good

Hi! Welcome to ‘All For The Good!’ I am Katy! Today I am answering the question: ‘what do you like about your church?’

 

I like basically everything about my church! I’m lucky that in that my church is family orientated so there are a lot of children/young people my age and I’m quite close with all the youth at my church! Our church family are all very welcoming and I always feel comfortable at church. The worship songs are also, good, which is great as I love singing!

Also, our church has different age groups for the youth to go on Sundays: there is a crèche, then a group for years 7-9, then a group that I am moving into called ‘The Hub’ which meets every second and fourth Sunday for years 10+. It is a discussion group, particularly focussing on topical issues and questions we may have. (It is only alternate Sundays so that we get used to sitting in church right the way through and interacting with the adult service). The pastors at our church are great speakers and will pray for you and are very supportive and kind! I also sometimes play my flute in the worship band which is great! I love my church!

Katy

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Thursday Ponderings

19th September 2013

Pauline's Ponderings!

Christians are particularly bad at gossiping – they do it in the name of prayer, which makes it worse. They share some information about someone and then mention that they need prayer. Do not do it. Unless someone has asked you to share information about them, keep it to yourself. Even if someone asks you about the person, don’t say anything – it’s not your info to pass on, it IS GOSSIP.

Although it might seem very unjust, if someone has wronged you in any way, even verbally told lies about you and put you in a bad light you are not allowed to say anything that will put them in a bad light. You are not allowed to slander them, even if they have slandered you! I am using the word slander in the way the bible intends it, not how the oxford English dictionary defines it!

In the Old Testament when the word slander is used, it has often been translated from the Hebrew word meaning ‘ to defame or to strip one of his positive reputation’ In the New Testament, the word for slander is made up from two words, one meaning ‘to speak’ and the other meaning ‘against’. So when you see the word slander in the bible it means the open and intentional sharing of damaging information about someone, whether the information is accurate or not!

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesian 4:29-32)

If you say anything derogatory about them, even if it’s true, it is not in line with God’s word. You can tell one or two of your closest friends, if you need prayer support, but examine your motives for telling them before you do so. It is the motive behind the telling which is crucial. If you are passing the negative information about behaviour because you need support of some kind yourself, that’s fine.

But if you are passing on the info because you want people to know that they are horrible, don’t do it! You need to forgive them and leave God to administer justice. It’s hard and we need to ask God for his help on an hourly basis to make sure our speech is pleasing to Him. Do you agree or disagree with Pauline? Let her know by making a comment below!

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