Discovered Treasure

On 14th January 2024 Sunday Worship was led by Alan Chant.

Alan reminded us of the two short parables in Matthew Chapter 13: The parables of the Hidden Treasure and The Pearl.  

To the ploughman the discovery of treasure came 'out of the blue';  the merchant had been disappointed for years in his search for the perfect pearl.  These discoveries changed their lives forever.

But what is the treasure? The answer is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 6 & 7: 'We have this treasure:--  The light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.'  (NIV, abridged) 

Ploughman or merchant, rich or poor, young or old, skilled or intellectual, the discovery of being called to know God through Jesus Christ is life-changing Good News.

A Fresh Start

Sunday Worship on 21st January 2024 was led by Colin Woolcott

The children's 'magic writing slates' of the 1960s may be replaced today by electronic versions, but God is still able to 'wipe the slate clean' for those who repent.

Jonah was sent east by God - he went west. Later God spoke to him a second time; he repented (thought again and changed his mind) and went west, this time to preach in the city of Nineveh the message God gave him.   The people of Nineveh also had a change of heart and believed Jonah's message.

Luke 15:7 tells us: "there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." 

In the same chapter is the story of the prodigal son. He came to himself' before he came to his father. His repentance shows the possibility of a fresh start: being truly sorry and turning from sin. A  change of heart!

Be strong and of a good courage (Joshua 1:9) 

Sunday Worship on 28th January 2024 was led by Andrew Richards.

Andrew contrasted the strengths of Goliath and Sampson (also the names of two extraordinary ship-building cranes in Belfast). Which would you rather be?

The Christian has strength and defence provided by the 'whole armour of God' (Ephesians 6:10-18)

• The Belt Of Truth - protection that never changes. Satan will say anything; truth alone endures.

• The Breastplate of Righteousness - protection for the heart. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it"  (From Proverbs 4:23). It is no use on the shelf - wear it!

• Footwear readiness - with awareness and preparation we can take the message further more effectively. 

• The Shield of Faith - we have an enemy we cannot always see coming! Faith is God's gift to protect us.

• The Helmet of Salvation - Look after your understanding! Salvation is found in The Lord Jesus Christ, and in none other.

• The Sword of the Spirit - which is the Word of God: His truth expressed the the Bible. This sword is alive and active, it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). We may say one thing, but think something else - the Word of God is able to convict us of deceit

The sight of a fully dressed soldier is frightening; the spiritual reality is even more powerful!.

Walking with God

Sunday Worship on 4th February 2024 was led by Nicholas and Mandy Richards.

Nicholas and Mandy shared the ministry, around the theme of Walking, choosing hymns such as 'Oh for a closer walk with God'.  Nicholas used slides, with many photographs from his own collections, to illustrate the circumstances in which the hymn-writers had expressed their faith.

Mandy shared biblical examples of a walk. One was the Emmaus Road, where two despondent and confused disciples could not understand the reports that Jesus has risen from the dead. Jesus Himself joined them on the journey. He 'opened the tapestry of God's plan' in the scriptures of the Old Testament and showed that the Messiah had to suffer, and then enter His glory.  When he came into their house and broke bread with them they recognised Him. 

We live by faith, not by sight!  We were reminded of John's Wesley's final words: "The best of all is that God is with us"

Hiding In A Tree

Sunday Worship on 25th February 2024 was led by Roy Davey.

Zacchaeus, whose story is told in Luke chapter 19, could not see Jesus because of the crowds.  Having climbed a dense sycamore-fig he thought he could be an observer, only to discover that the Lord had him in focus instead, telling him to "come down". No one can hide from the Lord and so Zacchaeus life was changed!  In the same way Jesus Christ may be telling us to come down from a tree where we are hiding:  - that of unbelief; - of a critical spirit; - of lack of patience; - of lack of understanding: - of coldness towards the things of the Lord.  He wants to be Lord and Saviour to us.

Recall the tree in Eden (Genesis chapter 2): the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Man was not to eat its fruit.  Tempted by Satan, Adam and Eve disobeyed and it became to them a tree of death. Immediately mankind died spiritually and death entered the world. 

That may explain a lot, but there is a way back to God: another tree!  Jesus "... himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”   The cross is called a 'tree' in 1 Peter 2:24. Christ was crucified for our forgiveness and to bring us new life.

There was a moment of opportunity for Zacchaeus when he was in his tree; the Lord Jesus Christ offers such a moment of opportunity to us today. Imagine Zacchaeus had ignored his opportunity!

Hope for the World: Salvation!

Sunday Worship on 3rd March 2024 was led by Colin Reed. Colin preached on a text from 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verse 5: 'Our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.' .

We hear much about the love of God, but not so much about the wrath of God. Its there and very real.

Without personal belief in Jesus Christ as our own Saviour we don't have a hope in this life or the next.

Whether you believe it or not, this is what is going to happen: we are going to meet God one day and we need to have belief in Jesus for any hope at all for Salvation.

Sir, We want to see Jesus!

Our Sunday Worship on 17th March 2025 was led by Alan Crowe. Alan is an old friend of the chapel. 

He spoke to us about the request of some Greeks who were at Jerusalem when Jesus was travelling there. They asked Andrew, a disciple, "Sir, we want to see Jesus". They were not Jewish, as most in Jerusalem were, but they too wanted to hear what the Son of God had to say.  Jesus message to them was about his forthcoming death and resurrection: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."  

They didn't understand that Jesus was referring to his own death and resurrection; how the church would grow from his sacrifice. 

Like one who sorts out a tangled mooring chain and cable, Jesus can untangle messed-up lives. The is no guilt for those who belong to Jesus Christ. They have received God's forgiveness. (see Romans 8, verse 1)

We desperately need to be like those Greeks!

A crowd is made of individuals

Sunday Worship on 24th March 2024 was led by Alan Chant. 

Alan invited us to think about the individuals in the crowd that shouted "Hosanna! Salvation!" to Jesus on the day that He entered Jerusalem on a young donkey.

As well as ordinary Jews on pilgrimage to the Passover feast there were the 12 disciples, the 72 converts who had also been sent out by Jesus to preach, and probable many of the 500 followers referred to in 1 Corinthians 15:6. Zacchaeus and Bartimaeus from Jericho were almost certainly there, and Simon the Leper, Mary, Martha and Lazarus from Bethany.  With more sinister motives were Zealots who wished take to the sword to drive Romans out of Judea; the wife of Zebedee, pleading for her sons, James and John, to be given pride of place in Jesus' kingdom; and Judas Iscariot the soon-to-be betrayer of our Lord.

In the centre of the activity and misunderstanding, Jesus was riding on a colt, unbroken and too young to leave its mother. He was coming as the One to whom the Passover lamb had been pointing for nearly 1500 years. On this occasion Jesus would make the need for further Passovers obsolete by his offering himself of the cross as the only effective propitiation for sin, ever. 

The crowd, so noisy with their 'Hosannas!', would soon be shouting "Crucify him!", and Barabbas would owe his life to Jesus. Not even Peter would remain true.

But a greater festival is planned.  The Book of Revelation tells us in prophecy of what it is that Palm Sunday foreshadows:

'After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” '  (Revelation 7:9-10 ESV)

Is that where you want to be?  

Where's the body!! ?

Easter Sunday Worship on 31th March 2024 was led by Jeff Lacey

We all experience sad events in life. 

For the women who attended the crucifixion, nothing compared with watching the suffering body of the Saviour gasping for breath.  The three crosses that were erected on 'Skull Hill' that day were on public view as a cruel deterrent.

Despite the male followers of Jesus keeping a very low profile, the women bravely returned to to tomb where they had seen Jesus' body buried. They knew Jesus had died and so they brought anointing oils, but they had no idea how they would cope with the very heavy stone that had been sealed into the tomb. Removing it would be another story! There was also a Roman guard to contend with. 

They didn't know the ending like we do!  What did they expect? Their journey seemed pointless, but common sense did not deter them. 

When God calls He also equips. We know the end of the story! Jesus had conquered the impossible: death was defeated. The women met an angel - no wonder they trembled. However, the angel's message was clear: Jesus was alive, resurrected, and He would meet his disciples shortly.

When the women passed the message to the men, Peter took off for the tomb. Like him we must experience the risen Lord for ourselves; hearsay must be turned into reality.

Jesus, now risen, was recognisable but different. His gift to those who believe in Him is to be a resurrection body like His: without the desire to sin, without weakness, without pain, without tiredness.

{References included Mark chapter 16, and Luke chapter 24.)