Clowne Christadelphian Ecclesia
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Training for Life
October 2024
Those of us who watched the Olympics saw athletes who had trained for years to reach their level of expertise. The French swimmer Florent Manadou put it like this: “It’s not about being the best. It’s about being better than you were yesterday”.
The Bible says: “…Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…”(Hebrews 12:1)
We can be our own worst enemies, clinging to behaviour and attitudes that drag us down, but Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). Jesus wants us to follow his example. His life was a hard one and he was totally focused on doing the work that his Father had given him. Instead of pleasing ourselves, he asks us to think about the way God wants us to be.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11).
Athletes have their hearts set on winning medals in the future. To achieve this, they often have to get up early, sacrifice leisure time and stick to strict diets.
Jesus trusted in God and this gave him strength to endure the difficulties and challenges that he encountered in life. For followers of Jesus, the goal is not a medal, but something much more precious – eternal life in the kingdom of God. In a race, it would be a shame to run in the wrong direction or to give up before the finishing line. God has given us the Bible to tell us what to aim for and how to get there.
If you would like to know more, we can offer you a Bible Reading Planner or distance learning course. We would love to welcome you to Bible talks at 5pm every Sunday at our meeting room on Creswell Road.
Bible Hour on Sundays at 5pm at the Christadelphian Hall, Creswell Road, Clowne, S43 4LS. See 'Whats On' page.
To read the Bible message for yourself click below for an Online Bible Reading Planner - designed to help you read a chapter a day at your own pace. The plan includes summary points, questions and information to help you.
Changing the World
September 2024
Many people would like to change the world. For example, the United Nations are working towards “peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet”. Few people would disagree with the idea; it would improve life for everyone. Since 1945, when the UN was formed, there have been many changes in the world, but are we any closer to achieving those aims?
Political leaders are elected on the basis of the promises they made during the election campaign. Whether or not they can deliver is always under discussion. Do you believe that politicians can find answers to the problems we are facing in today’s world?
Psalm 146: 3-4 says, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.”
Part of the reason that the same mistakes are repeated over and over is that we are mortal. Perhaps we have tried to advise a young person not to follow a particular course of action because it’s a mistake we made at their age. More often than not, they end up learning as we did, by hard experience! We are not on this earth long enough for everyone to learn from their mistakes and do things differently. Even if we were, would it actually happen? Some leaders genuinely want to improve things, but others are power-hungry and manipulative.
Psalm 146 goes on to describe a leader: “who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.”
This “leader” made heaven and earth. The psalm describes how he sets the prisoners free, opens the eyes of the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, loves the righteous, watches over the sojourners, upholds the widow and the fatherless, “but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin”.
We have not seen these things happen in today’s world. Not yet. But this is God’s plan for the future, and it could be our future if we put our trust in Him.
Find out more at our Bible Hour on Sundays at 5pm at the Christadelphian Hall, Creswell Road, Clowne, S43 4LS.
To read the Bible message for yourself click below for an Online Bible Reading Planner - designed to help you read a chapter a day at your own pace. The plan includes summary points, questions and information to help you.
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Living Water
July 2024
In the UK, we can usually turn on a tap and get water any time that we need it. We are used to having clean drinking water whenever we are thirsty. Of course, that is not the case in some other parts of the world.
Jesus was weary and was sitting beside a well in Samaria when a woman approached to fetch water. She was surprised when he asked her for a drink. There was a long-standing dispute between the Samaritans and the Jews. Jesus went on to tell the woman that he could give her “living water”. The woman was keen to have this water, because Jesus said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again”. (John 4:14).
What did Jesus mean? He said that the water he was offering could give eternal life.
Jesus taught people about the kingdom of God. He said they needed to repent and be baptised so that they would be ready for that kingdom. Those who believed in him would have the hope of eternal life. Shortly before he was put to death, he said, “...this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
The woman at the well of Samaria believed Jesus, and she told her neighbours about him. They came to meet him and when they had spent time with him and listened to his message, they said, “…we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world”. (John 4:42).
So what was Jesus actually talking about when he told the woman about “living water”?
During the three and a half years when Jesus was teaching, there were those who heard Jesus speak, but were too busy to get involved. But there were others who realised that his words gave them hope for the future. It was as if they were “drinking in” the gospel message. They didn’t understand everything he said immediately, but were willing to learn. The “water” of the word of God changed their lives. Now they had hope for the future, and they wanted to share the good news.
That’s how we feel too!
Do You Feel Safe?
June 2024
When you see the news, do you feel the world is a safe place for you and your family? There are so many things that can cause anxiety and fear.
What makes us feel safe? It all depends on what makes us feel vulnerable. Is it our health and the health of our loved ones, our finances, the security of our homes and possessions? Or the bigger picture, such as wars, pandemics and environmental issues?
A man, David, who lived thousands of years ago was able to write: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4 v 8)
It is true that when we are anxious or afraid, we don’t tend to sleep very well. The man who wrote these words was often in danger. For a few years, he was on the run from a tyrant who saw him as a threat, although he had been his faithful servant. Eventually he became king, and he had to deal with wars, famines and even a conspiracy against him by his own son. Yet he felt safe in the knowledge that God was caring for him.
In the New Testament, the apostle Peter was put in jail by Herod. One of his close friends, another of Jesus’ disciples, had already been executed. One night, Peter lay down in his prison cell, knowing that Herod was planning to bring him out the next day and was probably going to execute him. Most people wouldn’t be able to sleep with that on their minds. But Peter was fast asleep when an angel came and released him from his chains. He was able to walk to the house where his friends were praying for him and they were overjoyed to see him!
We might not always feel safe, but God can make us “dwell in safety” as he did for David and Peter. It doesn’t mean we are immune to the daily problems of life, and many God-fearing people experience danger, but if we know that God cares about us and is offering us the hope of eternal life, it helps to put things in perspective.