Opportunities for worship

Sunday School 0930
Worship Service 1030

17 November 2010

Small group bible studies underway

The small group Bible Studies meeting during the week are underway. Two groups are using the Design for Discipleship Series from Navpress. The group meeting at Francois and Katie Martins' house in Mikocheni will begin Book Two this week. Pastor Eric is the leader of this group but leadership duties rotate and are shared by various members of the group. Cost Mrema leads the group that meets an Chanan School in Mbezi Tank Bovu. They are also using Design for Discipleship.
The group that meets in Oyster Bay at Matt and Mary Stephenson's home will begin this week instead of last week as reported earlier on this Blog. This group will examine Romans verse by verse as the meet. They will meet every other Thursday at 6 PM. For more information on any of these groups, contact the leaders or the host for the particular group you are interested in or comment to this blog.

Blessings,
Pastor Eric

Sermon Notes 14 November 2010

Sins Against Grace

One Parable with two applications
Most obviously allegorical of Matthews parables
King is God,the Father
The Son is Jesus Christ
The Bride is the church
The Wedding feast is the Messianic banquet
Servants of the first announcement were the prophets up to John
Servants of the second announcement were the Apostles
The first group of invitees was Israel of the Old Testament
The second group of invitees is every tribe and tongue of earth
The wedding gown is the faithful life expected of a disciple

What then is the meaning of the parable?

The parable warns against two wicked responses to the grace of God so richly poured out on us in Christ. Together these responses prove the point of Jesus summary statement; "Many are called, few are chosen."

The first response is to despise the grace of God by ignoring it or refusing to accept it when it is offered to us. This was the sin of the first group of invited guests. Far too often this sin leads to a rejection which takes the form of violence.

The second response is to despise God's grace by refusing to deal with the sin God's Spirit reveals in our lives. This is the sin of Romans Chapter 6.

The balanced approach is grateful obedience to Christ which produces a life of Holiness and Love.

I Peter 1:22-25
Galatians 5:2-6

11 November 2010

New Bible Study Starts Tonight

There is a new Bible Study starting tonight at 6:00 pm in Oyster bay. Matt and Mary Stephenson will be hosting an exegetical Study of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. This is the first night for this new exciting study.
Paul wrote this epistle in anticipation of a trip to Rome. The church at Rome was started by believing Jews who were converted to the Gospel following Peter's sermon at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out. Paul wrote this epistle as a way of introducing himself and setting forth the gospel he preached to the church at Rome. It is a brilliant defense and explanation of the Gospel of salvation by grace.
Throughout history, Romans has been an influential book not only within the church but in society as a whole. Romans 1:17 (Look it up) was the spark on which Martin Luther built the fire that became the protestant reformation. For many years Law schools used the first 8 chapters of Romans as an instructional example of logic and defending a point.
This study begins at 6 pm tonight at Matt and Mary Stephenson's house in Oyster bay. For directions you may call the church at 0222 774 423 (Land line) or 0777 180 097.

10 November 2010

Family Fun Day This Sunday 14 November

Just a reminder that we have rescheduled our Family Fun Day for this Sunday 14 November 2010. We were originally scheduled for Sunday 31 October but conflicted with Election Day here in Dar es Salaam and elected to reschedule for a later date. Thanks for electing to worship with us and choosing to come this Sunday for Family Fun and Fellowship. Bring your favorite food for the potluck and a game or two to play together for the fellowship to follow. If the last event in August is any indicator we should all have a wonderful time.

Sermon Notes 7 November 2010

The Pharisee, The Sinner and the Savior

The scene is a banquet at the house of Simon, A Pharisee.

A Woman interrupts the banquet, where Jesus is a guest.
Simon, the host, misjudges the woman and her actions.
Jesus presents His host with a question in the form of a parable.
The host judges, correctly but reluctantly.
Jesus explains the womans actions.

The Pharisee, the Sinner, and the Savior

How should Simon (and by extension, me and thee) have responded to this parable?

"I love little because I have been forgiven little. I have been forgiven little beause I have not fully realized the grace of God towards me and received His forgiveness."

THe title of this sermon is deceptive because of the three main characters in the storyonly Jesus was not a sinner.
Simon, the pharisee, was a sinner inside the law, acceptable to most people.
The woman who intruded was a sinner outside the law, unacceptable to most people.
Repentance is harder for those who need to repent but don't know it or will not acknowledge it.

Whenever Jesus confronts our sinfulness our response is either faith or offense. One of us must be proven wrong, either Jesus or me.
He is either a rue, offensive man who points out my flaws and demands that I stop that behavior, or He is God's agent sent to redeem me through placing faith in Him and finding forgiveness in His response.

Sermon NOtes 31 October 2010

The Great Banquet

This pparable is beautifully elegant in its simplicity.

There is no complicated bckground to unravel. there is a rich depth in the background setting of the parable, but it is not necessary to understand any of the cultural settings to grasp the full meaning of the story.
One of the men dining with Jesus is overcome with the exuberance at the privilege of sharing the banquet with none other than Jesus of Nazareth.

In response to his comment Jesus tells a poem, seven stanzas long, that will be repeaed and cherished for the rest of history.

It contains the greatest news the world has ever heard at any time and in any place.

It also contains the direst warning ever announced to humanity.

The Good news: all who choose to attend the messianic banquet are welcome.

The warning: You are invited but it is possible so greatly to offend the host that you will be excluded from the banquet.

Each of the invited guests in the parable gave a flimsy excuse and offended the host, Jesus Christ Himself. In doing so they earned an exclusion from the guest list.

What escuse will you allow to keep you from joining in this feast?