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Christianity and the culture we live in
I recently wrote an article for the Reading Football Club Supporters Club (STAR) magazine. This is about the nature of true success and what success is built on. In the piece I have written of how my life, as a Christian leader, is built on values that come directly from the bible. They have, and do serve me well – and many are just common sense.
Values are the principles we actually live by. They are at the heart of our decision making and life choices. The bible itself warns of the problems that can come by becoming so comfortable living in contemporary culture, that we become part of it to such an extent that we lose touch with the biblical values we say we believe in.
Here at Brookside we are embarking on a “mixed diet” of teaching during our Sunday church gatherings. One of the main courses will involve a variety of speakers exploring big life issues and what the bible has to say about them. We are aiming to present these in such a way that we are provoked to think about our own lives in the light of the truth of God’s word. Hopefully we will also be better prepared and equipped to make choices and decisions that are best for us, as well as understanding the issues at hand better.
We will be looking at life in a sexualised society, what the bible has to say about governments and our responsibility toward them (not least with an impending General Election happening this year). We will have sessions on alcohol and addiction, marriage and relationships, and on how God provides for our needs – but not necessarily for our “wants.” There will be other subjects that should stimulate us to think and to ask God to help us live in the kind of freedom that adds real quality to our lives.
Another course of teaching will track the ENGAGE course that is starting this month. Through this we will be searching for a fresh church culture that shares God’s heart and love for the people of His world – flowing from our love for Jesus. Hopefully in the cells we will have opportunity to grapple with the issues raised at ENGAGE and even those who have not been able to join the monthly Sunday evening experience, will be able to grasp the kind of things we’ll be looking at together.
As well as welcoming some guest speakers, the last part of our Sunday morning experience will be a time each month that is dedicated to and for God Himself. We can tend to view church life and meetings according to what we “get.” The heart of worship is what we give to Him and so as a leadership team we believe that we must make space; For God – Worship and Thanksgiving. These times will make extra space for the prophetic gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used to help strengthen and build up the church at Brookside.
We believe that the various components to our gathered times will help us on our journey towards a greater expression of love for Jesus and the mission He calls His church into. Let’s pray for inspiration and anointing to flow through all we experience together. |
Steve Prince, 22/01/2010 |
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