Colin Glen Christian Fellowship

David Burke encourages us from Mark 14:53-65. Sunday services live stream from Colin Glen Christian Fellowship in West Belfast Address: 1st floor, 124 Stewartstown Road, Belfast, BT11 9JQ

The resurrection of the body is a core Christian belief. If there were no resurrection, we should just party here and now, and not worry about sin. But because there is the resurrection, we must take sin seriously, and trust in Jesus, for resurrection to eternal life. Praise God for victory over sin and death, in Christ Jesus. Watch: https://youtu.be/rSHuDUL9C0Q

We all need forgiveness, because we have all sinned. Our consciences are God's gift to us, to alert us to our need for forgiveness. The cross is God's gift to us to provide the forgiveness we need. Faith is the means by which we receive God's forgiveness for our sins. Watch: https://youtu.be/yIru3oUgR8U

The Church exists to serve others (both inside and outside the Church), to mature in the Lord (sanctification, discipleship), and to glorify God. Mark Dever summarises; “The proper ends for a local congregation’s life and actions are the worship of God, the edification of the church, and the evangelization of the world. These three purposes in turn serve the glory of God.” Watch: https://youtu.be/Rd-6NhYB_bk

The 'Church' is not a building, or an organisation per se, but the people of God. The visible Church is those who are identified as following Christ. However, not all are true followers. The invisible Church is all true followers, even if some aren't connected to the visible Church. The 'local church' is where believers serve and are served, where they worship and find fellowship. The 'Church' is both the New Testament people of God, and in a wider sense all redeemed people including those from the Old Testament era too - those who are in Christ. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope for the future, in Christ alone. Watch: https://youtu.be/feG5MDPP3OM

Along the journey of life, Jesus' followers must follow where he leads. There are two ways to live, obediently loving God as we ought to, or disobediently sinning. We can only be content in Jesus when we trust and obey, humbly following him, not going astray on our own path. "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." (Psalm 23:1–3, NLT) Watch: https://youtu.be/U6FwMG1VRTE

Leslie Thomas encourages us as we look forward, from principles in the life of Jacob. Watch: https://youtu.be/-9BAziu-sTo

As we look forward to the year ahead, we are reminded in Philippians 3 not to look back to the past when we thought we were good enough before God, but to Christ as our righteousness, and to look forward to the future with expectation and joy, pressing on in faith. Watch: https://youtu.be/IVb3acW2dBM

Jesus' name means 'The Lord is salvation'. His description 'Immanuel' means 'God is with us'. At Christmastime we remember Jesus' birth, and celebrate who he is and what he has done for us. Watch: https://youtu.be/T8OxAgb8OWc

Jesus calls us to find rest in him. Everyone has a restless heart, and can only find peace in Christ Jesus. He said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NLT) Watch: https://youtu.be/HMCVhgDP4AM

Carol service. Message from Leslie Thomas. Songs led by Esther Livall, Christine Thomas and Leslie Thomas.

The person of the Holy Spirit was too often ignored in the past, yet too often over-emphasised recently. After a summary outline of the person and work of the Spirit, we are challenged to live more godly lives by the strength and power of the Spirit, in order to give glory to God. Watch: https://youtu.be/tqUkn4Cj5z0

Bono sang "I still haven't found what I'm looking for". Years before, Mick Jagger sang "I can't get no... satisfaction." We seek fulfillment in many things. But our hearts will only be at rest when we find rest in God. First, we need to trust in Jesus. Then, we need to depend on him each day. Our hearts will only be at rest when we find him and walk with him. Watch: https://youtu.be/FVbxvxDG1-M

Christ is coming again. We don't know when, but it will be obvious to all when it happens. There will be signs before his coming. But they are hard to read. It may be different to how we imagine, just like John the Baptist was expecting Christ's coming to be different to what it was. But he will return in glory. And we should wait expectantly, and watch the condition of their own souls, always being ready and not found to be backslidden or even worse having fallen away. Watch: https://youtu.be/bnLoXswQfU0

We all look for approval, in various ways. We all seek to be rewarded for what we have done. God's ultimate reward will be given on the judgment day. Anyone who has trusted in Jesus need not fear, though, as they are now under no condemnation. Yet, we have daily reminders of approval and judgment, through God's interim blessing of government (having rejected God's government, anarchy and chaos resulted, but to prevent those excesses recurring, God gave us the idea of human government - although never perfect, it is better than anarchy and chaos). Watch: https://youtu.be/q4dmatdBx_I

After the recent high court decision in favour of the HIA (historical institutional abuse) victims, and the HIA legislation having been passed in Westminster both last week, Margaret McGuckin shared her personal story from her childhood and how God had worked powerfully in her life, right up to reaching those milestones last week.

The ascension of Jesus is not just about him being enthroned at the right hand of the Father. From there, he intercedes for his people. He also sends the Holy Spirit to guide the Church on earth. Believers have no need to fear, not only because Jesus is interceding for them, but also because through the Spirit he is the leader of the Church on earth (through the spiritual gifts of the Spirit). Watch: https://youtu.be/dqB0ooRQU3k

Many people doubt the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Yet, while the laws of physics are God's normal way of keeping the universe running, he sometimes does the abnormal, miracles. We should not doubt them. Followers of Jesus believe in the resurrection, have the assured hope of eternal life, instead of sinning by refusing to trust in the facts of the resurrection that God has provided us in history. Praise God for all that he has done or us, and that all we have to do is accept his salvation by faith, with thanks. Watch: https://youtu.be/ylS_c_R6TGE

Why was the cross necessary? Could God not have just said that our sins are forgiven without Jesus having to suffer in our place? The reasons for the cross are that sin is far worse than we realise, that justice demands that sin be punished, and that because of God's love he has taken the punishment himself so that those who accept his forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ will not perish but have eternal life. There was no other way for love and justice to be fulfilled. Watch: https://youtu.be/EF2S-QCrsY0

We all need a fresh start before God and his standards, regardless of how well we think we are doing by our own standards. Christ Jesus' birth gave humanity a fresh start and salvation. We can opt in to Christ by placing our faith in him. We can then have the power of the Spirit to enable us to be godly, and we will have assurance of eternal life to come. Sunday services live stream from Colin Glen Christian Fellowship in West Belfast Address: 1st floor, 124 Stewartstown Road, Belfast, BT11 9JQ