The by-line on our website says ‘Where faith defines life’. It is the acknowledgement that our faith in Jesus should define how we live and the things that are important to us. It also means that every area of our lives is impacted in some way by our faith – how and who we love, the values we hold, the things that are important to us. Sometimes that faith asks to respond to situations in ways that challenge our expectations.
The early church was faced with some huge questions – how do we accept people who are not like us into the church and what might we expect them to do first in order for us to welcome them? But there were also questions faced by individual believers like Philemon, who we will hear about today, who was asked to accept a runaway slave back into his household, not as a slave but as a fellow believer.
I wonder how faith in Jesus might define the way you live and act towards others?
This Sunday Mark will be exploring the Letter to Philemon. This letter is one of the briefest New Testament writings. It doesn’t look like much on the surface but it’s full of drama, tension, reconciliation and grace. It’s the gospel on a page. As we explore the historical setting and characters in the epistle, we will learn much about Christ’s intercession, God’s love, and our own hope as runaways.
Mainly Music - Meets this Wednesday from 10.00am. This programme is a fun way for parents and their children to spend quality time together based around music and movement. It is a way for us as a church to connect with and offer something back to the community of which we are a part. It’s also a way for us to demonstrate care, concern and support for those with young children.
Small Groups are now up and running again. Contact the church office@pb.org.nz if you would like to join one
Oh and for those who are unable to join us we will still have an on-air service for you @10.30am and again @ 8pm on Thursday evening on Coast Access Radio 104.7FM or you can livestream at
http://coastaccessradio.org.nz/Listen/index.aspx The message and prayers will also be posted to the sermon page on this website.
If at this time you need someone to chat with then please call the church office 04 2987766 or email office@pb.org.nz and we’ll get back to you.
And we are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/paraparaumubaptist
Grace and peace