Crestwood Church Blog

Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at a few points on how to witness to certain groups about the love of Christ.

We live in an ever changing community which is becoming more and more multi-faith in its thinking and practice.
Before we look at witnessing in this way, a few questions needs to be asked.

Why do we?
Jesus said to the church

"you shall be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8)

“Go...make disciples of the nations” (Matt 28:19)

John Stott said, “we engage in evangelism today not because we want to or because we choose to or because we like to; but because we are told to.”

The idea of mission is not the elderships, but of Christ’s. It is as important as breathing.

Who should?
Some may say that witnessing for Christ is not their calling or their ministry; it is only for evangelists. At Pentecost the birth of the church the entire congregation of believers were filled with Holy Spirit, not just the Apostles. The Apostles may have been the leaders, but very quickly the ‘ordinary’ believers started to tell others about the Lord. The Holy Spirit brought a real boldness and authority to all the believers. He continues to do the same today.

If we do not witness, those close to us, (our neighbours, friends and even family members.) may never know of the life changing love of God.

How should we?

1. Pray and read the Word– Asking God for strength, protection and authority and let
the attitude of your heart be that of Jesus, compassionate and loving , seeing people
through his eyes.
2. Go together in twos– Companionship and unity will encourage and support you. In
our modern world safety is also a real need.
3. Use leaflets and booklets– We may not know all the answers to everyone’s questions,
don't make up answers, seek God or use literature.
4. Don’t be ashamed– What you are standing for is truth, people may mock you, insult
you or even belittle you. But God’s Word remains.
5. Actions as well as words– Especially when witnessing to people you know, be loving,
practical and genuine. Don’t preach at them.
6. Don’t belittle opposing beliefs and practises. This is their view, many with not have a
view as many in the UK are apathetic towards a Holy God

Labels: Boldness, Holy Spirit, Mission, Witnessing

At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them.
Isaiah 49:8-10

God is always willing to bless us, he is forever wanting to touch us with his goodness and gives us what we ask for. Sometimes what we ask for is of God, but the timing is not right. Other times we may ask for something but in reality we are not ready for it. In both situations, God in his sovereignty chooses not to give at that time. But at just the right time when our heart comes into line with the Father's, blessing occurs.

Now we know this is true as individuals, but we rarely apply this to the body of the church. What if we, as a church, were to say "Lord, we are ready, whatever it takes, we are available!" We are giving God the permission to have his way with us. God doesn't need our permission, because he is Almighty, but he chooses to wait for our response.

In the church in Laodicea, Jesus stands at the door of their hearts, knocking and waiting for a response, waiting for permission to allow him to enter. This verse from Isaiah 49 is to the entire assembly of Israel, therefore it's not only for us as individuals. In this verse the Lord is promising us his protection, but also giving us the authority to take our community into the blessing of God.

Through you I will re-establish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again. I will say to the prisoners, 'Come out in freedom,' and to those in darkness, 'Come into the light.' They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare. They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters.

Let's declare to him as one people "we are ready". Let's invite the Lord to do whatever he wants to do!

Labels: Church, Crestwood, Growth, Mission

By Janet Shackleton.

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance
Psalm 65:11 (NLT)

As Jesus called his disciples to follow him, he promised to make them from ordinary fishermen into "fishers of men". And as they walked and lived with him, they learned who he was and saw his almighty power change the most impossible situations and transform lives.

We saw that same power among us last year as lives were changed when people met Jesus. In this next year let us continue to pray and trust him for an even more abundant harvest, of God's fruitfulness in our own lives and in the local community. We are called to work in the harvest field, and the Lord promises to "drench the ploughed ground with rain, melting the clods and levelling the ridges" (Psalm 65:10) and to bring in the harvest.

Though at times it seems our lives follow a difficult pathway, even then he promises abundant blessing and fruitfulness. And when those around us seem hard and unreceptive to the message, let us continue to pray for the rain of the Holy Spirit to bring softness and fertile ground, for a rich harvest of life in Jesus.

Labels: Community, Mission, Promise

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."
Matt 13:31-32 (NLT)

This week we're holding our holiday bible club. Don't underestimate the potential for the growth of the kingdom of God amongst our children. What starts small will eventually grow into something that is unstoppable. Who would ever have believed that the gospel would have been as successful as it is? (Other than the Lord Jesus that is!)

When we are planted and rooted into the things of God, we become an unstoppable force that always achieves the purpose it was intended for. The purpose is always so much bigger than our expectation. Let's pray for the kids of the next generation - that they will become children of God for this generation and help us in fulfilling the purpose God has already laid out for Crestwood Church.

Remember our faith should be like that of a little child: open, tender, real and to the point. Sow a seed today.

Labels: Bible, Children, Mission

Wherever you set your feet, the land will be yours. Your frontiers will stretch from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north, and
from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
Deuteronomy 11:24 (NLT)

As we take the gospel to our community the Lord will open up the way for his Word to be victorious in the lives of those that call upon his name. All the Israelites had to do 3000 years ago was to walk in the land where God had promised and it would become theirs. Today we are asked to wear the shoes of peace (Eph 6) and take the gospel with us as we walk in faith through the area about us. Believing that the Lord will give us these territories too: that lives may be changed as the love and mercy of God is trodden about this estate. This area is lost without the message of the cross but they will not hear it unless we tell them.

In early bible times, territory was won by blood being spilt, today blood has already been spilt, once and for all, that of the lamb of God...Jesus Christ, He has made the way for all of mankind to inherit his land. (Heb 10)

Labels: Community, Crestwood, Faith, Mission

Some more quotes on mission from around the world, to inspire us and lift us as we go into a week of mission ourselves.

• "We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving." - Alexander Duff
• "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." - C.T. Studd
• "The reason some folks don't believe in missions is that the brand of religion they have isn't worth propagating." - Anon
• "God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." - Hudson Taylor
• "The church that does not evangelize will fossilize." - Oswald J. Smith
• "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply" - Hudson Taylor
• "You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving." - Amy Carmichael

Labels: Believers, Church, Mission

As we come towards our mission week, invite and tell others about Jesus and live in the power of God, that all might know and all might see that Jesus is Lord.

Famous Quotes from Christian Missionaries

• "You have one business on Earth - to save souls." - John Wesley
• "Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save the world alone." - David Livingstone
• "God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" - J. Hudson Taylor
• "Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." - C.T. Studd
• Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us."- Keith Wright
• "The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time" - Carl F. H. Henry

Labels: Believers, Church, Mission

Today is Mission Sunday, a day when we look at a part of the wider church around the world.

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.Matt 16:18 (NLT)

The church in the UK may be weak, and in other nations may be facing tribulations of many sorts. But it is here to stay. There is nothing that can stop it from being built. Satan may have mobilised his angels to wear it down and try and prevent it from growing. But across the world the church is growing at a wonderful rate, especially in Asia.

The power of the gospel is still changing countless lives and the blood of Christ that was shed at Calvary still has the power to remove our every sin. There are still many who don't know Jesus, but the kingdom of God is winning over the powers of this age. The resurrection of Jesus has conquered the curse of death and freed us from hell. Nothing shall pluck us from his hands.

Labels: Church, Mission, World