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Christianity
- The Christian religion, founded on the
life and teachings of Jesus
ACTS
2 – the community of believers
Michael
Angelo paints a picture called ‘Creation
of Adam’ it depicts the image of God straining
with everything in Him, every muscle and
sinew tort, His face an expression of desperation
as He stretches out His hand to reach the
man sat below Him whilst the man relaxed
and undisturbed by what is going on holds
out his hand leaving a tiny gap between
his and Gods. Michael Angelo is showing
Gods desperation to connect with man to
be in relationship. He is showing that God
is in pursuit of man, that He loves him
so much He would do anything and go to any
length to make it happen.
Christianity
is about belonging to a community being
a part of a family that the Bible calls
‘Gods family’. The early church was known
as the community of believers. They looked
after each other, were known for their love
and care and the simple fact that they valued
each other. Anyone was welcome into this
community, it wasn’t judgemental or selective
and they came, as they were - young, old,
male, female, rich or poor. They were Christians
and they built their lives on the life and
teachings of Jesus. That is what Freedom
Church Bury is.
Christianity
takes you on a journey, an adventure; many
can be looking for something. This can be
fulfilment or purpose. The bible says that
God knows the plans He has for us, that
He knitted us together in our mother’s wombs.
There are no mistakes with you and we all
have purpose! The bible also says that God
knows us intimately that He is concerned
about us, He knows how many hairs are on
our heads when you get up and when we lie
down, YOU are precious to Him. To be a Christian
is to know God, to be connected with the
Father through Jesus his son.
John
3 v16 ‘For God so loved the world that he
gave his only son…’
Jesus;
who was this man?
Jesus
said that life should be and could be lived
to the full. He spoke the truth. His passion
and enthusiasm challenged people to the
very core of their hearts. He loved, ha
laughed with and he cared for people. He
lifted people to where they could be; rescuing,
recovering and restoring them. He showed
people how to live through his love for
them and his example to them. In the end
he died for what he believed in. He died
for you! Jesus’ death was an act of love;
it brought forgiveness once and for all
and in meant that anyone could have a relationship
through Jesus with God the father. But it
didn’t end there. Jesus rose again; the
bible says that death could not hold him.
His death was the price paid but him coming
back to life meant that we could have life
and live that life to the full. Jesus is
not dead he lives and through his church,
the community of believers he shows his
love, care and value.
Christianity
is a life connected to God through Jesus;
it is a life less ordinary lived through
and on the teachings of Jesus. He helps
us live this adventure; connect with our
purpose – ‘the things we were created for’.
He pursues us with His love. He is pursuing
you and He will never stop and never give
in. He is not deterred by rejection because
He loves you unconditionally.
To
become a Christian you simply say ‘yes’,
yes I want to live the life I was meant
to live. I want to know forgiveness and
have life to the full. If you want to make
that decision today then you can say this
short prayer but more importantly we’d love
to hear from you, because we’d love to help
you on this adventure.
Jesus
I know you died for me. Thank you for your
forgiveness
I choose today to live in
it.
I know you rose again so that I could
have life
I don’t understand it all but
Please
take my life and turn it into what it should
be!
You have given me a fresh start…
And as I start my new life today, I
leave behind want was and walk into what
will be.
AMEN
Said
the prayer? Get in contact – come on there’s
a brand new adventure waiting for you.
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