2014 done and gone but memorable

Encounters with Jesus

This past Sunday Discovery Kids took over all our services at Milton Keynes Christian Centre. It was great to get just a small glimpse of what the amazing people, who invest into the children's lives, do each week.

Here is the message that Nicola, our Children's Pastor, and more importantly my wonderful wife shared with the church.


Encounters with Jesus - Discovery Kids Takeover from MKCCpreaching on Vimeo.

"Greater than" Leadership

Being given the honour of leading in God's Kingdom is any guise is a great responsibility. It means that God has entrusted you with the welfare of his children. When caring for the children of a great God it requires truly great leadership.

So our leadership must have the characteristics of the greatest leader - Jesus.

Humility > Pride
Serving > Taking
Listening > Talking
Learning > Boasting
Example > Telling
Encouragement > Threatening
Character > Gifting
Empowering > Controlling
God's Word > Any leadership book
Following Jesus > Leading others
Transparency > Manipulation
Christ likeness > Charisma
Healthy conflict > Blind obedience

Delight in the riches

I read this today by Seth Godin, as he talked about the the historic decision of the Swedish government over 200 years ago, to ensure all their citizens were literate.

"Teach someone to read and you guarantee that they will be able to learn forever. Teach an entire culture to read and connections and innovations go through the roof."

I here much said around church world today about culture. It would seem each local church must have its own defined culture. Once defined each new believer connect to this culture and adopt it as their own. Anyone who doesn't buy in will eventually have to leave.

If this is important then I think the culture I'd like to promote is that everyone grasps this collection of books we call the Bible. If each follower of Christ in a local church will devour each word of scripture that leads to a ever deepening love with the author.

A culture of reading, meditating, studying and applying God's Word would be as revolutionary in the church as the ability to read was for a country.

Activated by a partnership of our reading and power of the the Holy Spirit, God's Word can build a dynasty of advancement and innovation in Jesus Church.

King David talks about God's Word in this way:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. - Ps 119:9-16