Sunday's during August are usually relaxed affairs at ACC, and this year is no different - although we hope you won't mind us throwing in a little odd-jobbing around the Spires building whislt we've (hopefully) got some good weather…
Check out the diary for details of each Sundays activities… we hope you'll be there - and if you can't 'cos you're away on holiday, we hope you have a great time!
Over the past year we've been praying as a church into our building situation. We're believing God is going to enable us to acquire a building that we can use as a resource base for the church and community we're reaching out to… we feel that there is a mandate on us to DIG A WELL - a place that people can come to and have their thirst quenched…
However, after a whole year of prayer and 'pushing through' where we don't seem to be any more nearer our goal, I've begun to ask the Lord what we should do… I have this sense that we need to go to another level in prayer and intercession - what we've been doing is great, however, I think the Lord is calling us to go deeper with him - to deepen our trust and intimacy with him, continuing to seek him for the provision of a building.
Getting to a new level sounds exciting - it is. I see this 'new level' as a place higher (or perhaps DEEPER) that we've not been to before. New levels mean new experiences, new models needed, new support required and ultimately new challenges, of which I guess the most difficult challenge is that of admitting we need to re-learn from a fresh perspective. For new levels we need new structures, but more importantly fresh revelation.
Think about when you moved from primary to secondary school. At primary you were the big fish in a small pond. You knew what you were doing, after all you'd been there for a few years. You were the biggest, the brightest… you were IT! But then, when you hit secondary school - you suddenly find yourself a (very) small fish in a big, big pond! You have to think differently, act differently, learn differently.
So, what am I getting at… well, simply this… We need to be like the disciples and face this new level of 'ministry'; this new season of pushing in for something to happen; as an opportunity to seek the Lord for fresh revelation for how to live, minister and operate… we need to seek Jesus and say 'teach us how to pray' so we're in the right position to receive his grace and revelation for this new level.
If our hope is raise the level of impact in the city, then we need to raise our levels of intercession, and for that to happen I (I don't know about you…?) need to say to the Lord 'teach me to pray'. Are you ready to go back to the drawing board of this thing we call prayer and ask the Lord to teach us how to operate at a new level?
What do you think?… Let me know.
Alistair
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There are always things that we have to face in our lifetime that are of GREAT SIZE - things that are bigger than us - sometimes things that we are incapable of defeating in the natural. The challenge, when we face these giants, is not to settle in the place we have got to, but to push through in spiritual battle, defeating the giant and entering into the promises that God has got for us…
The first Saturday in the month (from March '08 to August '08) is going to be a day of action and mission somewhere in Sheffield.
As part of the national HOPE08 initiative, we're seeking to be part of the national pledge to give ONE MILLION HOURS of action in the form of 'unconditional acts of kindness'. HOPE08 in Sheffield has picked 6 areas and 6 days - with the hope that EVERY Christian comes along to serve that area.
The mornings will be full of worship, prayer and equipping - then the whole afternoon will be spent going out onto the streets to serve…
All you need is to register (www.sheffieldhope08.co.uk), come long on the day with your registration fee* (£10 adults, £6 concessions), and bring a packed lunch!
HOPE ON THE STREETS action days are:
1st March - Arbourthorne! BE THERE!
5th April - Gleadless Valley
3rd May - Philadelphia/Upperthorpe
7th June - Pitsmoor/Burngreave
5th July - Jordanthorpe
3rd August - Hilsborough
For more information please contact our church's pointperson for HOPE ON THE STREETS - Pete Fair
*registration fees are a ONE-OFF and will help cover the costs for the whole HOPE ON THE STREETS work over 6 days. Your registrations gets you your HOPE08 T-shirt which you can use at every HOPE ON THE STREETS action day from then on…
At the beginning of 2008 ACC is facing the challenge to move into the new year 'facing the future forward'. Looking forward is sometimes hard, particularly when you're unsure of what the future may bring, and there is always the danger of just looking backwards at the 'good old days' of the past….
We need to get a right perspective on our journey - and the best analogy I can think of is driving… just think for minute about the size of your windscreen in comparison to the rear-view mirror. I guess your windscreen is about 20 times bigger that your rear-view mirror. The point is this: we need to look back - there is a lot of great stuff in our histories… great people who have spoken into our lives and shaped us; amazing experiences where God has spoken through his Word into who we are; fantastic moments when we have truly experienced the power of God…. it is important to hold onto these things - they are the things that have helped shape us into our present.
However, if we're not careful we can end up stopping in the past, when God is calling us into His future for us. Drive down the highstreet in reverse and you'll probably end up in trouble (sooner or later). Look out the windscreen - focus on where you hope to get to, and you'll have what's behind you clearly in view through the rear-view mirror - you won't lose sight of the past, but it is clearly in proportion to where you are aiming at getting to.
This year, 2008, our choice is to move into the potential of God for us by facing the future forward, still holding on to the promises of God from the past (in particular our vision call from God to reach the neighbourhood and impact the city). And the only way in which we will achieve a future forward vision is to put ourselves in a right position before God. As we enter this new year I have been prompted by the words of the Leeland song 'Be Lifted High' which say "You be lifted high, Oh God. As I fall to my knees so that it's you that they see, not I"
Facing the future forward means putting our faith into action, holding onto the promises of God - and getting before Him on our knees, so that it is not me, my 'ministry', gifting, ability or strengths that the world sees, but Jesus.
This new year, therefore, we need to check out our relationship with the Lord. We need to reconfirm our commitment to God - reaffirm our covenant relationship - where HE is Lord and we are forgiven sons and daughters… Want to face the future forward? Fall to your knees, so that it Him that people see, and pray this prayer -taken from the Methodist Covenant Service - to rededicate your life to him:
This weeks talk by Alistair Beattie, focussed on The Nativity Story and the response that the Shepherds made to being told they'd been chosen to receive Good News. This Christmas, what is your response to the most amazing gift ever - Jesus Christ, and the good news that relationship with God can bring?
[Recording made on 9th December 2007]
This weeks talk by Alistair Beattie, focussed on The Nativity Story and the response that Joseph and Mary made to the gift given to them by God. This Christmas, what is your response to the most amazing gift ever - Jesus Christ, God with us and wanting to be with us every moment of every minute of our days…
[Recording made on 2nd December 2007]
Dave Playle, part of ACC's Key Leader ship team spoke this week on the subject of our potential in God and how we need to believe what the Word of God tells us about who we are…
Who do you REALLY think you are? According to psychologists we aren't what we think we are; nor are we what other people think of us; in actual fact 'You are who you think other people think you are…' However, as Christians we need to be people WHO ARE WHAT GOD SAYS WE ARE… Are you ready to believe God's word, or the circumstances you might find yourslef in… God says you have incredible potential - dare you live in it?
[Recorded: Sunday 25th November 2007]
Martin Turnbull, Leader of New Pastures Church (Northampton, UK) spoke on the subject of 'Maintaining Our Identity in Times of Trouble'. How to hold on to who God says we are in a world that constantly asks us to water-down the truth of our faith… are you just a Sunday Christian or is God impacting the rest of your week too…
[Recorded: Sunday 18th November 2007]
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