C3 Church Watson

What is our perspective when looking at COVID-19? Ps Paul preaches on the importance of understanding where God is in our current situation.

He is risen! Ps Melanie shows us how our hope is found in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

At the cross Jesus paid the ultimate price as the sin He took on himself separated Himself from the father. One of those crucified with Him understood his own guilt as well s Jesus’s total innocence. We accept this sacrifice when we realise our need for His grace and mercy. Our messes and shame lose their power at the cross.

Ps Mel shared how people get stuck through past hurts because they become cynical and only trust in God can move them back to where He wants them to be. Cynicism can lead to bitterness and addictions. Equally dangerous is when a person is believing in a false hope, one that doesn’t emanate from God. This person needs to leave false hope behind and put their faith in the living hope of the Lord.

Ps Paul talks about how to deal with three significant ways we can get stuck: issues from our past, believing lies, and making bad choices.

Ps Mel outlined four ways that we can be stuck in our lives: taking responsibility for others, refusing to let go of a season that has finished, ignoring what God is telling you to do, or you've handed the control of your life to others.

This week we first heard from Tim Taylor who spoke about the importance of reading the word at least four times a week, and the great capacity it has to change our lives and connect us with God. Ps Mel then spoke about the need for worship as a form of positive connection is our lives. Worship has the capacity to change what is going on inside us, which will in turn influence our outward behaviour...

One of the ways we grow as christians is through people we meet in the christian context of Groups. We learn to love people, be respective of their personalty type & character, and this helps with the development of our patience, acceptance and tolerance. We cannot do this in isolation.

Every person craves connection - we are created for it. As Christians we are commissioned to make disciples of Jesus and 1 Corinthians 9:21-23 suggests we should lead people to Christ by serving them.

One of the secrets to being close to God is a strong prayer life. Our prayer life can be greatly enhanced when we pray in the Holy Spirit, because He leads us into Gods will.

Tim continues our series on the book of Colossians, exploring the new life that Jesus has called us to live in. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:3-4

Ps Melanie continues our series into the book of Colossians, empowering us with the message that in Him are wisdom and knowledge, power and authority, and through these things in Him we live.

Paul wrote to the church of Colossae because gnostics were referring to secret knowledge that brought Jesus down to the angelic level. He reminded the church that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is first in everything and the fullness of God exists in Him. And He can be revealed in us as the hope of glory.

There is an open invitation in the Bible given to anyone who is interested to come and see Jesus. He wants every single person on the planet to see Him and know how deep and wide and wonderful His grace and love is for them.

In the beginning God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve. It has always been His desire to be with us and often He wants to be with us more than we want to be with Him. The more we surrender to Him, the greater will be our ability to listen to Him.

Ps Melanie explains that a vital part of God with us is knowing his peace. As we learn to trust in Him and stop relying on our own strength, His peace works its way through our lives.

Nicola Gibb shared ‘God With Us’ through a series of stories in her own life that illustrated the fact that God is with us in the fire, in the storms, as well as in the rich seasons.

As Christ's ambassadors we have an obligation to know what we represent. Ps Paul encourages us to be ready to embody the values of heaven, as we present the love of our Father to others.

Ps Melanie spoke about how God purposes and then helps us to share our story with others, to bring them to Him.

Stu spoke about making a genuine attempt to show interest in people in a loving way to earn their trust. To let them see that you genuinely care, once they experience this genuine care they become curious about where it emanates from. This can create an opportunity to tell them that we love because He first loved us.

Ps Amanda spoke about the importance of us telling our own story about what God is doing, and has done, in our lives to the people around us. People have no counter to the powerful things God is doing in our lives.

Ps Melanie teaches about the impacts of our inner thoughts on our physical and mental wellbeing. How do we respond to the negative words of others? These are thoughts generated from outside. The there are the ones generated from the inside, sometimes by our flesh and sometimes by unwanted spirits.

Many mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are caused by a lack of connection with other people. Ps Melanie explores ways that we can keep connected and be mentally healthy.

Ps Melanie brings an encouraging message on gratitude and mental health, as gratitude is our greatest antidote against offence. We are encouraged to praise Him in the promise and in the suffering.