LifeGroup in the golden arches (McDonalds) week 2

So . . . week two in the Arches! What a honour to be leading this group! God orchestrates everything! and it couldn't be more evident than today! 
We spoke about how we need to be persistent with our prayers - not to give up if we haven't seen God answer, but to keep pressing in and keep asking! To have faith that God will do what He has said He will do! It was great to hear peoples testimonies on  how God has answered prayers, but it was also great to hear peoples prayers and stand with them and encourage them to persevere.

What I love the most about LifeGroups is that they create an environment - wherever they are - for people to be open and to share things that they wouldn't be able to share on a Sunday. People are able to be vulnerable in a safe place, knowing that they will recieve support and love and prayers from the group! When we make a decision to follow Christ, He doesn't let you walk life alone, but He makes sure that there is community and people around you, we are in this together!
If you are NOT connected in a small group - can I encourage you to get involved!

LifeGroups. . . Living Life Together!!

Revival - Based on abandonment.

Tonight I had the amazing privilege to join with many worshipers at a conference with Jesus Culture and Sean Smith.From the very outset - God was present.

There was a great anointing that was in the room! As we worshiped - the focus was on Jesus, the call for us to give Him our all was strong! By all, I mean EVERYTHING! For me, thats saying YES to God in all areas! Yes to His will, Yes to being single, Yes to Detroit, Yes to Derby, Yes to being willing and available! Yes to giving God my ALL!
Why?
So God can use me!
Why?
An act of obedience!
Why?
Cus I want to see revival in the world! I want to see Gods kingdom come, His spirit poured out,His glory shining in all nations!

And this starts with an heart that is abandoned. A heart that will not settle for what it has, a heart that says Jesus - you died on the cross for me, this is what I have for you . . . MY LIFE!

If we want to see a mighty move of God across this nation, across this world - we need to be 100% abandoned to Gods will for our lives!

What is it that God has called you to do? What are you saying no to, that you should be saying yes to? Why are you going, when you really need to be staying? Why are you holding on, when you know you should be letting go?

It is time to stop, it is time to look to Jesus. Pray with me that we would be a people that know it is time to live a life that is totally and utterly sold out to Jesus, that we would throw ourselves in to the arms of Christ fully surrendered and abandoned to HIM!! And Only then will we start to get a glimpse of revival!

"Revival is based on abandonment" Sean Smith 2010

LifeGroup in the golden arches (McDonalds)

As a church, we have just re-launched our LifeGroups around the city of Derby. We believe that small groups form an ideal way in which we can enjoy community and build friendships. So our LifeGroups exist to build community and to reach out.

I am excited to be a part of this adventure and have privileged of co-leading the city centre group with Adam. Being a city centre group, we wanted to pick a location that was accessible to those who live in that area, or have a heart to reach the inner city of Derby. We approached different coffee shops, but none seemed suitable, then we had a crazy God idea to meet in McDonalds which is right in the heart of the city. So we now have the whole of the upstairs of McDonalds as our home for LifeGroup.

This week was the first week of LifeGroups, and it was lots of fun! We had a great turn out, and people are really expectant to grow in relationship, to grow spiritually and to grow in numbers! I know Adam and I are really looking forward to see how God will use not only us, but how God will use the group. It’s a great opportunity to be able to meet in McDonalds, and we really want to make the most of it! So we will be planning many outreaches and socials. So please pray with us that God would continue to open doors; that the staff at McDonalds would ultimately be saved; and that as a result of us lifting up the name of Jesus in the city, that things start to change for the good!

We know that God has called us to change this city and we believe that this is only the beginning!

Will the real church PLEASE stay standing!

In my previous blog I challenged us NOT to be a church that is just a self-help to the Christian community, but let us ALWAYS be the church that is reaching out with compassion. Let us be the real church that God has called is to be, and let us begin to stand up!
  If we what to become the real church that God has called us to be and stay standing as the real church, great things will happen. But how do we as individuals stand and continue to stand as the real church? Firstly, we need to be the LIGHT in our city - wherever that is - for me at the moment it is here in Derby. If we are to be the light, it means we are visible Light is defined as "something that makes things visible or affords illumination" So as God commands in Matthew 5:16 "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
 Secondly, we need to be people who speak TRUTH. John 8:32 "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." We need to be people who speak up in the face of lies and corruption, we need to be those people who are constantly speaking Gods word into all situations! 
 Thirdly, we need to be people who LOVE. John 15:12 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Love without limits!  God loves us more than anything, and He doesn't just tell us He loves us, He shows us He loves us! Loving people goes beyond words, it involves action as well - don't just say it, show it! 
 God has placed you where you are for a purpose! Be the light in your neighborhood, speak truth to your colleagues, and show some love to all! 

Be the real Church and PLEASE stay standing!

Will the real church PLEASE stand up!

Today I had the joy of joining Derby City Vision  churches at a day of praying and fasting for my city - Derby! and what a privilege it was standing in unity with churches from across the city with one focus. . . seeing the name of Jesus proclaimed! It was great to share vision and to hold each other up in prayer. Reminding me that we, each local church, have to be working TOGETHER.
 
At one particular time, we turned our focus of prayer onto the church. I really felt challenged.
I am sure we all know people who have been hurt by the church, who have been judged, shunned, turned away from church, and I am sure that some of you have felt that way too.

You would think that the church would be the first place "sinners" would look to go for help, for acceptance, but more often we hear that this is not the case. Think back. . . when was the last time someone came walking in to your service smelling of alcohol? When was the last time someone walked into your service that was a prostitute? In fact when was the last person to walk into your church that was a non-believer? 
What has Church become? Is it now a place for the middle class Christian to get there weekly top up of worship, word and fellowship? Is it now a place to get your weekly down-low on the local gossip column?
God help us if this is our experience of church!
We had a time of praying for the local churches represented, but before that we spent some time in deep repentance on behalf of the church. This was a powerful moment - understanding that the church is not perfect, understanding that we have missed the mark as the Bride of Christ. But also realizing the love that God has for the church - the forgiveness and the grace that is on offer to us!
Acts 2:42, 4:32

 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.. . . All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

So let us not be a church that is a self-help to the Christian community, but let us ALWAYS be the church that is reaching out with compassion. Let us be the real church that God has called is to be, and let us begin to stand up! It is time to change the reputation of the church.
My prayer for us - the church - would be simple. That God would break our hearts for what breaks His, that we would see all people as He sees them, through love. That the church would welcome the lost with open arms. No longer would we be a people who judge by what we see because it is different, but that different would now become the norm!

Ask God to give you the lost! And then the REAL church can stand up!