- and received a gift for forwarding to Bishop Stephen. We had previously presented a signed book by him to Jayaseelan, the pastor.
The service included dance - we enjoyed joining in!
1 Corinthians 1:10-16 NIV
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas ”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)”
http://bible.us/111/1co.1.10-16.niv
John 15:11-17 NIV
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”
http://bible.us/111/jhn.15.11-17.niv
Nalla irukingala
Refer to the wedding last time here at St Peter's
The Bible says the church is like a bride
We are a bride. Who is the bridegroom?
Jesus is the bridegroom
Jesus loves us just like the very best husband and wife love each other: but even better
Jesus himself chose us as his bride. We are the people He wanted.
I am told a dowry is normally paid.
In one sense there is a dowry
Jesus pays it himself. He is so keen to love us that he doesn't want anyone else to pay it.
He paid it by dying on the cross.
I have said it is a bit like dowry but of course it is a much more wonderful thing.
He paid it for each one of us, male and female
The groom paid it himself
He pays it to us
To us all, men and women, girls and boys
When Mandy walked down the aisle it was the best day of my life
When anyone becomes a Christian, God is delighted. The Bible says that there is a party in heaven!
They start an eternal life. No coming back!
And God is so delighted that he gives us wedding gifts us well.
He showers us: the gift of his own presence, his Holy Spirit, to be with us to help us
He gives His Spirit to men, to women, to boys and girls, to rich and to poor, to all castes and classes
We are all one. God has broken down every barrier.
As God has paid such a price for us, let us then be generous.
'My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you'
Let us be generous in our families.
The love of husband and wife should echo God's love for us
Ephesians 5:31-33 NIV "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
http://bible.com/111/eph.5.31-33.niv
Make peace in your homes
Husband, do you lay your lives down for your wife as much as Jesus loves you?
Wives, do you seek to love your husband as Jesus loves you?
People often disagree. But as Christians resolve issues by the end of the day.
Ephesians 4:26 'Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry'
Let us be generous in our church life
We are the new eternal family
In any family with children there are squabbles between the children.
[example]
If you are parents and your children squabble, what do you do?
You get them to solve the problem and forgive each other.
When someone has wronged us, let us give what it takes to forgive them.
Has someone wronged you? Go and find them and do all you can to put things right. If you need help, ask your pastor to help.
Sometimes we take sides when there are disputes. We get passionate. He is right, they are right, they are wrong, they are better.
But there is only one side: Jesus!
1 Corinthians 1:13 "Is Christ divided?"
If you are on any other side you are not on God's side.
Then let us love God's world
Why did God choose you?
John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last"
Impressed by hospitals, schools, hostels
The food relief
A man was walking along a beach. And he saw that what had happened is the tide had gone out and there were tens of thousands of starfish left stranded on the beach, dying for lack of oxygen, in the heat of the sun. And there was a young boy who was picking up the starfish one at a time, going down to the sea and just throwing them in, and going back to get another one, pick it up and going back and throwing it into the sea.
And this man went up to him and he said, `Look, can’t you see—there are tens of thousands of starfish out here! I don’t really think that what you’re doing is going to make any difference.’ And the young boy picked up another one, and he went down to the water’s edge and he threw it in the sea, and he said, `I bet it made a difference for that one!’
Afterwards I speak with the Youth Group about God's call for us to serve him in all walks of life.
Mandy and Ginny meet the Women's Fellowship, and Paul meets with the AA group who use the church premises and are very grateful for the use of the facilities.
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