LYNN SWART at Ivy MCR: Called to EXTRAVAGANCE

Lynn Swart at Ivy MCR Called to Extravagance These notes from Lynn’s talk tonight form a great study for our Grow Groups: When she was in the USA recently, saw amazing manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Gold dust on people etc., that’s a miracle – but how about all the other provisions he gives us? Discuss: What do you think about that kind of thing happening in services? Weird – or God? Discuss: When was the last time something took your breath away? Watch the Frozen Planet; the penguins jumping out of the water – WOW! Isn’t our God amazing? It can take your breath away. We can’t script for those moments. God takes people’s breath away in the Bible: Read Isaiah 6: and pray that God will keep taking our breath away… Ezekiel fell on his face before God, as did John – read Revelation 1. What would we do if we saw God in his glory like that? We need to recognise that the Trinity is here with us, now. Do we see that? Or can worship become […]

CAP Centre – Matt Barlow at Ivy MCR

Matt Barlow CAP changes lives, now & into eternity. Jesus calls us to represent his heart to the poor, summed up in his manifesto: Not just recounting what Isaiah saw, but fulfilling it. It’s happening The Spirit of the Lord is on me.. To preach good news to the POOR Freedom for the prisoners And release the oppressed & proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. I’m here to do this! To release the oppressed. He has predestined us to be confirmed to the likeness of his Son. He says If you are going to follow me, you are to be like me. Shout loud & clear. The poor need to be set free. There has to be room for them, in your house, round your table & in your finances. How do we do this? Well the biggest cause of relational & social breakdown is debt. And it’s hidden. You don’t see it, they don’t wear a sign around their neck announcing it. We have a consumeristic, keep up with the Jones, ‘I’m worth it’ culture. Debt & finance […]

Andy Hawthorne: Called to Impact!

Andy Hawthorne When you became a Christian you weren’t called to come to church but to BE the church. Success is not a big building for us to gather in, but when we impact the world. The real action is on the pitch, but the 15 minute break with the manager is important Ephesians 2:10 We – not me. Corporate promises! Not solo flight Christianity. Are God’s masterpiece We wow God!! He smiles over you Created in Christ To do good works Prepared in advance for us to do If I don’t do mine, the world misses out. Go to the grave having done them, This verse doesn’t sit alone. We need its context. It starts with the worst news ever. Very bad news. As for you, you were dead, following the devil, an object of wrath! That’s harsh. But without Christ, we are sinners. Dead men walking. All of us, the best of us. Thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Dark hearts. Messing the world up: and God is angry about that. Everything that spoils the world. Righteous anger. You think […]

THE CHURCH BUILDING CYCLE. (ALC Network Day)@StephenMatthew_

 Stephen Matthew has become a friend whose wisdom I appreciate greatly, he has been very generous with his time and encouragement, mentoring me individually through numerous conversations over in Bradford and also coming across to meet with some of our leaders at Ivy recently as we prayed and planned into our future. He is a surveyor by background and combines theological acumen, practical skills and a pastoral heart through 25 years of ministry to be a man with a brain worth picking for anyone who wants to build a prevailing church. Here’s my notes on his talk at the ALC Network day this week:  There are only two kinds of churches: The church everybody wants to build (It’s there in Acts 2, and the ideal church, it inspires us). The church God wants you to build. If you try and copy the church ‘out there’ you’ll always fail. God wants to speak to YOU about YOUR people and place. It’s always bespoke. You work the process and start to build from scratch or reinvent what’s been built so far. What […]

TALE OF TWO BROTHERS: Charlotte Gambill: @CharlGambill – ALC Network Day

GREAT TALK from a fantastic Network Day! All our team who attended were blown away. Well worth looking over and praying through in your teams etc. Psalm 133: 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, 
running down on Aaron’s beard, 
down on the collar of his robe. 
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon 
were falling on Mount Zion. 
For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Have we accessed this blessing to its full extent?1 We can INSTIGATE this, bring it in ourselves. If… we can figure out how to be united. And that’s not about standing up and all hold hands. That can be purely external. We need this REAL unity. In our teams, churches, cities. In our marriage and with our kids is where it starts. Where has this gone wrong? Go and look for brothers in the Bible that got along – there weren’t many! Cain and Abel Jacob and his […]