Taupo Baptist Church

Luke 9:23-26 (ESV)Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Isaiah 43:16 -21This is what the Lord says— He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again,  extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

Isn’t it ironic that the higher the standard of living in a society, the higher the incidence of worry, anxiety, and neurosis. Eccl. 5:12. Why is this?

Community and Mission

John 10:10 makes it clear that there are forces of both good and evil in this world. Why are some cultural groups and nationalities more aware of the realities of these things than others?

Spiritual transformation is the process by which Christ is formed in us, for the glory of God, for the abundance of our own lives and for the sake of others; it results in an increasing capacity to discern and do the will of God.

Luke 12:35-48

God's word is truth, His word is powerful

The Lordship test:Is Jesus Lord of your life? Do you want to love serve and obey Him?The fellowship test:Do you love your christian brothers and sisters and enjoy being with them and want to help them?The relationship test:Are you in a relationship with Christ where you speak to Him and He speaks to you? Where He leads you and guides you and you feel safe and secure?

Who am I to .....?"Yahweh, Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God ..."

In the parable, a man planned a large banquet and sent out invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to contact each of the invited guests, telling them that all was ready and the meal was about to start

Hope in Jesus Christ.

God totally loves each one of you, and even now He's inviting each one of you to come home.

This Christmas season the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ has become so commercial.

JOY = FEELING A deep contentedness and delight that is not derived from earthly circumstances but from the reality of a living relationship with the person of Jesus.

Baptists” feel that Baptism is an area of doctrine they have got right. Yet they do not follow the pattern of scripture where people got baptised the day that they became a Christian. We often make people wait until they have proved they are genuine. (See Paul – Acts 9, Philippian jailer Acts 16, Ethiopian Acts 8). Why is this?

"Revival" means reviving dead areas in our lives. Bringing to the light, areas in our lives where sin is lying low or unobserved and bringing it to the cleansing blood of Jesus. Is this a major need of the church today?

The wealth and false sense of self-sufficiency in this church had resulted in them being apathetic – lacking in passion and enthusiasm. Why is it that when our lives are going well, when our kids are healthy, our bills are paid, our marriage is strong, our church is at peace... that we tend to pray less, and worship becomes more superficial? 

In scripture, different images and metaphors are used to describe the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives i.e. wind, fire, guide, helper, comforter etc. What image do you most connect with in this season of life, when you think about Holy Spirit, and why?

 Jesus said to the woman whose bleeding had stopped “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering”. (Mark 5:34). Can you think of any instances where you have strongly believed for healing and yet it has not happened?  Why do you think this was the case?