Sunday School Christmas Celebration 12th Dec 2010

 

 

 

 

Youth Christmas expression 5th Dec 2010

 

 

 

 

Church Growth Seminar 28th Nov 2010

 

 

 

 

Sunday School Sunday BMCD Nov 2010

Welcome of Rev Jolly Samson Raj & Family 23rd May 2010

 

WSCS Team

 

How is our love for the Lord

Dear Beloved
The parable of the sower is taught to us from the Sunday school days which tells us of 4 types of hearers. The indifferent hearers ( Way side soil), the Impulsive hearers( shallow soil on rock) the Infested hearers ( crowded with weeds)and the Ideal hearers( Produce Hundred fold)
Jesus Admonishes the audience and says, “take heed therefore how you hear ( Lk 8:18) Seed that is the word of God is always the best it is the soil which matters. We hear and read the word of God consistently, but by the amount of fruit it bears fruit, easily categorize us. But the Lord is not interested in categorizing but in the fruit.
We bear fruit only if we hear and retain the word of God
We hear only if we pay attention to who is speaking. It is God who speaks to us. Prov 4:20 says,” My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.” Prov 2:6 ,”For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth comes understanding” and Prov 1:6 let the wise listen and add to their learning…”
If we are not listening that means we do not Love the Lord our God. If we Love God we will pay attention to what He likes and what he dislikes. Secondly if we are not listening to God then we are obviously listening to our sinful hearts to fulfill its desires. In other words we are saying that there is no God we do not need God. Ps 14:1 says,” The fool says in his heart,” There is no God” But God is not interested in categorizing us, he desires fruit.
In addition to listening the word of God, retaining is essential to bear fruit. Prov 4:4 says,” Lay hold of my words with all your hearts” 3:1 admonishes ,“My son, do not forget my teachings” we forget because In our busy life style we have no time or little time to reflect upon what we read or hear. The reason is that we have given priorities to pressures of life rather than the one who gives wisdom and redeems us from them. Take time to reflect on Word of God as you do on your problems and desires.
It is our relationship with the Lord which drives us to listen to Him and retain his words in our hearts. Ps 119:11 David says, “I have hidden your words in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Until we meditate on the word of God we cannot retain, until we retain it cannot guide us It cannot protect us, it cannot bring forth fruit.
The Lord loves you and does not want to categorize you for your attitude towards his words. He is interested in fruit of listening. How much will you love Him?

With every Blessings in Him
Pastor Jolly Samson Raj

True Joy of Independence Day

Celebration of Independence Day also reminds us of the celebration of the Passover. This was also a sort of celebration of Independence Day for the Israelites, God who had delivered them, lead them through the desert guiding them and shaping their lives in the bond of covenant. Their life and worship was to be a testimony to the nations but their repeated failures disappointed God.

The history of people of God in the Bible tells that, Although people had receive Socio-Political economic freedom but they continued in spiritual bondage .God had to send His son Jesus to deliver humanity from the power of evil and sin. Liberation from death and power of sin and evil is only achieved through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross

Today the lord who redeemed us, leads us in the bond of new covenant by the power of Holy Spirit. And says “You are my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) to proclaim good news of redemption in Jesus Christ by the power of Holy Spirit.

The new life in Christ is the most compelling testimony a Christian can give to people around. Jesus tells us that,”you are the light of the world… Let your light shine before men…” (Mt 5: 14-16)

When we live ungodly lives and show no evidence of redemption, the proclaiming of the Gospel falls deaf on the ears of hearers. When Christians live in open sin we can hardly expect others to hear the gospel message that saves from sin. We are not only called to worship God but to live high Biblical standards of social life also.

That is the reason Paul exhorts in Titus 3:1 “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good”. Our attitude and conduct in subjection to the law of the land and paying our taxes is important. secondly he is saying to do good works because now as (Eph 2:10) says that we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Next he says,” To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility towards all men”(Titus 3:2). Now we are born again of the spirit, a new creation in Christ. We need to show. Jesus said in Mt 5:16,” …so that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.

Let us celebrate the joy of Independence with a reminder of our spiritual redemption and responsibility to proclaim this good news through our transformed lives in subjection to authorities and live peaceable, considerate and humble lives to the praise of His glory.

Every Blessing in Him
Pastor Jolly Samson Raj

Mother's Day Service - 2010

A special service on Mother's day, the singing was absolutely wonderful, led mostly by the mothers in our Church...

 

Easter service 2010 - Pictorial

Easter Service

CHANGE

THEME: CHANGE
Bible reading: Acts 3:1-11
INTRODUCTION:
We are in 3rd Sunday of Lent. Lenten season is the time of self examine, reflecting upon our lives, self seeking, a time of repentance, a time of dedication & rededication, fasting and praying, self denial, simplicity, a time to observe our relationship the Lord & work for the Lord and a time of CHANGE ( permanent change, not short term change; inwardly as well as outwardly change).
Friends, Theme for our meditation is CHANGE. Change must be permanent and it must be inside & outside change. This is our God requires from us.

BACKGROUND:
Acts 2:43 says “many wonders and miracles done by the Apostles, which are not recorded by the writer St. Luke in this book but only few.”
Dear Friends, this Acts 3:1-11 is true story of change. Introduction of the book of Acts “It was written so we would have the True Story of how the Christian church began and grew; and also 4:16 testifies “we can’t deny this miracle”
This true story begins with v.1
St. Peter and St. John were going to the Temple for Prayer at 3pm. They had custom to pray thrice in a day i.e. 9am, 12am, 3pm. (Dan. 6:10; Ps 55:17).
We would say it was the leading of Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit led them to temple. B’coz book of Acts also called “Acts of Holy Spirit”.
It was 3pm. They were near the ‘Beautiful Gate’. And there was poor cripple lying and begging. He was crippled or lame from the birth Acts 4:22 for 40 years. He never walked and jumped in his life. He wasn’t allowed to enter into Temple. B’coz Jewish thinks that foreigners, Gentiles, Samaritans, tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers & physically challenged people can’t enter into the Temple. They relate their deceases and sufferings are the reason of their own sins or their parent’s sins.
He used to beg at Beautiful Gate but nothing was beautiful, excited, and joyful and changed in his life. His friends leave him at Temple gate to beg. This was his daily routine for many years.
(This is the picture of spiritual cripple ness without Christ Jesus or Christ less person. He/S can’t enter into the relationship with God, Can’t enter into the Kingdom of God without Jesus Christ. There is no excitement, no reason to live, no joy, no hope, no change, no eternal life, no forgiveness and life is spiritually crippled without Lord Jesus Christ.)

BODY:
V.3- He saw Peter and John and asked them for money.
It seems he was professional beggar. He knew the place to sit (at Temple gate) and when to sit (during prayer hours).
V. 4 – Here is the guidance of Holy Spirit. Both looked at him. And Peter said, “Look at us.” (Strange b’coz we never say to any beggar “look at us” instead of giving money).
V.6 - But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
It was command or words of authority.
It wasn’t suggestion - would you pl rise up and walk in the Name of Jesus Christ.
It wasn’t trial – let us see how you rise up and walk in the Name of Jesus Christ.
It wasn’t request – will you pl rise up and walk in the Name of Jesus Christ.
He immediately walked and jumped and praised God. He went into Temple with Peter and John. Earlier he never walked and jumped and entered in the Temple.
He was unstoppable. He was Continuous praising God.
Friends, God has called us to bless people and made us people of Hope Col. 1:27, and call sinners to walk in the Lord’s way. Only Lord Jesus Christ can heal physical and spiritual cripple ness.
There were three Changes took place in his life.
(1) Place:
He changed his place. Earlier he used to sit at Temple’s gate and wasn’t allow to entered in the Temple but now he Immediately went in the Temple.

(2) Fellowship:
Earlier he had fellowship with beggars but now v.11 says he held or clung Peter and John. He changed his fellowship with God’s people.

(3) Life:
Now he wasn’t depended upon others, not begging, but walking, jumping and praising God. There was joy, excitement, beauty and Changed life.

Illustrations:
1) St. Peter, who healed this cripple person, There was Change in his life. Once he denied Lord Jesus Christ but now he was ready to die for Him.
He and other Disciples didn’t cast out demon and heal sick Mark 9:18. When they kept fast and prayed, Acts 2:43 says they did many miracles and wonders.
Fasting and prayer is very essential for believers and both are back bone of the believers.
Even people wondered when Peter preached before thousands of people.
Acts 4:13 says “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Greatest qualification they had).
What a Change!
2) A rich honorable man, wise well educated, full of zeal. Act 9; Phil 3:4-6; 1 Corn 15:9. Who saw a great light and he used his wealth, wisdom, education, zeal, life for God’s service. He changed his mission.
What a Change!
3) A demons possessed man, ugly, dirty, violent & naked. When he had encounter with Lord Jesus Christ he totally became new being. People saw him well dressed, clean, calm and sitting at the feet of Lord Jesus Christ. Mk. 5.
What a Change!
These persons never shouted that we are Christians pl look at us. But other people saw them found total change in their lives. (Act 3:11 Came running to them)
This is the Change. This is what God requires from us.

CONCLUSION:
Dear Friends, Ask Holy Spirit to Change your lives.
So that other people may see you and glorify your Father in heaven (1 Pet. 2:12) and they may see you a new creation, new being and totally different person in the world full of hate, corruption, evil and temptations.
Gal. 2:20; 2 Corn. 5:17.

May God bless you.
Rev. Varinder Kumar

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday 17th February 2010

→ Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.
→ It occurs 40 days before EASTER (46 days with Sundays)
Jesus → 40 days of fasting
Nation of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness → 40 years
Moses’ fasting on two occasions → 40 days and nights
Elijah’s journey to Horeb → 40days and 40 nights

NAME -
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers or believing Christians as a sign of repentance.
The ashes used in this are gathered after Palm Crosses from the previous years’ Palm Sunday are burned.

RITUAL – (a very old tradition)
This ritual of putting the ashes on the foreheads of the believing Christians in the shape of a cross is performed by a priest, or pastor, or I some cases officiating layperson. This act or the ritual echoes the ancient eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one’s head to show their repentance before God. We cam see this at many places in the Bible, particularly in Old Testament. This ritual is very prominent in Roman Catholic Church, they treat it as a sacramental, and not as a sacrament, and it can be given to any Christian because it is a mark of repentance. Most of the other Christian Denominations observe the Ash Wednesday but this ritual is not observed so strictly, and in some cases not observed at all.

As the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, or alcoholic drinks, smoking etc.
This observance is a very old tradition probably started in 5th or 6th century AD. This is a very old tradition and it marks the beginning of Lent days. In NT times also there were many traditions but Jesus Christ condemned only those traditions which came directly in conflict with the commandments of the Word of God. Like Jesus condemns the tradition when he said in Mt 15:3 “why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” [Tradition was – what you would have gained from me is given to God (qurban). By this they brake God’s command – ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’]
Eastern Orthodox Churches does not in general observe Ash Wednesday.
In Republic of Ireland, Ash Wednesday is National No Smoking Day.

BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. According to the Bible ashes were used in ancient times to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent’s way of expressing sorrow for their sins and faults.

EXAMPLES: Job – Job 42:3-6
For cleansing -- Numbers 19:9 & 17
The king of Nineveh -- Jonah 3:6
Jesus gives this as an example of repentance -- Mt. 11:21 Lk 10:13
Requirement of Law for cleansing -- Heb 9:13
Being a mark of repentance and the beginning of Lent . . .

Today we just concentrate on the subject of REPENTANCE.

Repentance is the only way with which we can re-establish our relationship with God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To redeem us from the bondage of sin, God did every thing in Jesus Christ, few of them are:

i) God gave us instructions through his prophets, through the Law of Moses etc

ii) God prepared a perfect sacrificial lamb to be sacrificed for our sins.

iii) God accepted that sacrifice for our sins because it was a perfect sacrifice.

iv) God has given his righteousness to us.

v) God has prepared a place for us in heaven.

vi) God has given the Holy Spirit to us, who dwells in us to teach us, to guide us, to strengthen us, and so on . . .

vii) God has opened the door for us to become God’s children & the citizens of heaven.

Why Repentance?
BUT ALL THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE ONLY because of ONE THING -- REPENTANCE.
John the Baptist and Jesus Christ both started their ministries by calling to “REPENT”.
John said, “Repent, for the kingdom is near.” (Mt.3:2)
Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Mt 4:17)
And in Gospel of Mark states like this, “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15)
Call to repent was the basic teaching in the message of salvation.

What is Repentance?
Repentance is not an achievement or success (if success is defined as an achievement of a goal.)
Rather it is a process which starts from the time of turning back.
The Greek word for repentance means turn around, or change of direction totally.
It is not a finished act but is a continuous process. As an explanation, consider this small illustration:
A healthy man → become sick → visit a doctor → starts following all his instructions regarding food and life style → may be a diabetic → after some time of good health started ignoring the instructions → got sick again very badly, on a death bed → recovers again but then takes a conscious decision to follow all the instructions of his Dr.
Because he experienced a death like situation, he took this conscious decision to follow the instructions, even after he faces trials and temptations to fall in the trap but again and again he over comes and consciously follow the instructions.
Analyzing our present situation → giving a serious thought to it → deciding to turn around → act accordingly → always be alert not to turn back again →

This is REPENTANCE.
→ Change one’s mind
→ Call for a change in a person’s attitude toward God that impacted one’s actions and life choices
→ It involve the idea of “turning” → from one way of thinking and living to a different way
→ Common external signs of repentance → prayers of remorse and confession and renouncing of sin

In the Bible we find a very good example of repentance:
The Parable of the Lost Son or the Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32

Analyze few facts of this Parable
Father divided his property → Indicates that the father responded to his younger son’s request and allowed him to make his own choice to go his own way.

When the son came to himself he realized that his sin was not only against his earthly father but in the deepest sense against heaven, that is, against God himself.
The prodigal repeats his prepared confession, but father cuts short before he finishes, showing that he has forgiven him, and shows his great love for him.
→ While the younger son represents tax collectors and sinners, the Older son represents the Pharisees. Both groups were listening to the parables, but the Pharisees were probably the primary intended audience of this parable (see verse 3).
→ The older brother protests that the welcome extended to the returning younger son in not fair, comparing the life with his father to years of servitude without celebration.
The picture offers a sharp contrast between → on one hand, the mercy and grace extended by the father (representing God the Father)
→ and, on the other hand self-righteous resentment (never disobeyed … yet you never gave me) of the older brother (exemplified by Pharisees)
Even after all these things older brother refuses to acknowledge the prodigal as his brother.
An affectionate appeal by the father, showing that he still loved the older son and wanted him to join in the celebration
By implication, Jesus is still inviting the Pharisees to repent and accept the good news.

Two → younger one is extrovert → loud → express his mind → own will → acts quickly sons → it’s easy to express his repentance → world will know
→ elder one is introvert → quite → don’t express his mind and will → slow to act
→ it’s difficult to express his repentance → difficult for the world to know it

Both the characters fond in each one of us → the areas in which we can speak, express, show → → it is easy to repent because every body know it can see.
But in the areas in which it is difficult for us to speak, express, show → it is difficult to repent because no body knows about so we can live in hypocrisy in those areas

This tradition of observing fast for 40 days is a good tradition, for new generation it may seem irrelevant but if you treat this, not as a religious practice, but as an opportunity to trained yourself in your spiritual life and battle. In any of the sports whether it is cricket, or foot-ball, badminton or athletics training camps used to be organized by the authorities.
So treat →
Lent → as a spiritual training camp,
Jesus → as a chief coach, master and Lord, and
Bible → as instruction manual

by Mr. Roneld V Kumar