Weston Park Baptist Church

The Book of Proverbs is full of practical wisdom that guides us into a full and productive life. It begins by entering into a relationship of trust (fearing the Lord) with our Creator/Redeemer God. Upon entering this I-Thou covenant we are invited to keep seeking wisdom and live out our lives in confidence that Yahweh is on our side. Indeed, He desires to lead us into a path of blessedness, meaning and joyful living.

All month we have been exploring what it means to build a church for Gods Kingdom, being rooted in Christ, living the new life He gives, joining His mission, and celebrating the unity of His people. This Sunday we conclude the series withEphesians 3:721, Far More Than We Ask or Imagine.In this powerful passage Paul prays that the church would be strengthened by the Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, and filled with all the fullness of God. It is a reminder that the church is not built by our efforts alone but by Gods power at work within us, a power far greater than we can dream or imagine.

This week we continue our seriesGrowing Together: Building a Church for the Kingdomby looking at 1 Corinthians 12:1227. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the church is one body made up of many different members. Each person has a role, and every role matters. Our uniqueness is not an accident, it is an assignment from God. Together, we reflect the fullness of Christ as we honour one another and serve for His glory.

Jesus sends us into the world with authority and pupose. As a growing church, we live on mission, making disciples wherever we go. Learn more about our Guest Speaker, Rev. David McCleary, click here.

In Christ, we are made new and called to live as new people. Were not just forgiven but commissioned as ambassadors of reconciliation.

Before we grow wide, we must grow deep. Being rooted in Christ gives us the strength,stability, and nourishment to flourish.

As we close the season of Pentecost we realize that God has expanded his church from Palestine to cover the whole world. It is our job today to continue in this worldwide ministry of bringing down walls and freeing people from various types of oppression. May we continue in the spirit of Barnabas and Saul to bring light, freedom, and joy to a world bound in darkness captivity and sorrow.

In Peters explanation of the Gentiles conversion to the Jerusalem church we learn that God transcends all barriers and draws people to himself from all walks of life. There is no human barrier that prevents the Spirit of God from working in our lives this is the Good News! If this is the case it is not our job to erect more walls of separation but to bring them down and welcome all in the name of Christ.

Acts chapter 10 is a pivotal chapter in the Book of Acts. In it we see the doors opening wide for the inclusion of the Gentiles into the church of Christ. Luke underlines the truth that God shows no partiality (10:34) in his consideration of individuals. We are all welcomed as we turn to God because Jesus is Lord of all (v36). May we have thankful hearts that God has received us (Gentiles) into his kingdom of grace, mercy and love.

The healings of both Aeneas and Tabitha represent the ongoing efficacy of the living Christ. Jesus is not simply a 'dead hero' but is alive and active through his indwelling Holy Spirit. It is Jesus who heals Aeneas and raises Tabitha to life and it is the same Jesus who penetrates our lives and empowers his church for life-changing ministry today.

The conversion story of Saul on the road to Damascus is a key event in the Book of Acts. Saul is transformed from being a persecutor of the church into a pivotal apostle in the presentation of the Gospel. Saul moves from a position of resistance to God's overtures to diligently seeking the new wave of the Holy Spirit's presence in his life. We also are invited to open up our lives to the new work of the Spirit that we might become fully available to God's enlivening power in our world today.

As the church grows more and more people are brought into God's kingdom. People who are different from us but still persons created in the image of God. This is a central point in our story of Philip meeting the Ethiopian Eunuch who is seeking to know God (Acts 8). How does Philip respond to this outsider - a person different by nationality, ethnicity and gender? Does Philip reach out or reject the God-seeker? Such questions remain as critical issues in our day which is marked by varying degrees of prejudice, racism, oppression and hatred.

As the early church grew, challenges arose that threatened its unity. The apostles responded with prayer and trusted Spirit filled leaders to serve practical needs. This Fathers Day, well reflect on how God uses ordinary people, fathers, mentors, and everyday servants to build His church and carry out His mission. Faithful service, whether seen or behind the scenes, is vital in Gods kingdom.

On this Pentecost Sunday we hear Luke's stories of the sick being healed, individuals being saved, and the apostles being released from prison in the middle of the night by the angel of the Lord! Wondrous times celebrating the power and work of the Holy Spirit of God! Even so the Holy Spirit continues to work in the church of Christ as we are receptive to his leading and obedient to his call.

The early church was a community satiated with love, generosity and compassion. As contemporary Christians we look back on those days with a certain wistfulness of spirit. We ask ourselves if the church cannot experience such grace, kindness and compassion for others today? Yet the early church was not perfect as the desire for first place and greed for money was not unknown. As such, Lukes community of faith is both a model to emulate and a cautionary tale of negative outcomes.

Resistance in our faith journey is a fact and occurs both on a personal and collective level. What is needed is an ongoing dependence upon God to meet the daily challenges and hurdles that come our way. Especially important is to be receptive to the fresh inspiration of the Holy Spirit in our day to day faith walk. To seek the presence and power of the Spirit of God is critical if we are to overcome the subtleties of the evil one. May we learn from Peter and John as they model this dependence upon God as thy pass through difficult and challenging times.

The church in action energized by the Holy Spirit brings about healing, restoration, and new life. Such blessings happen not through our own power but by the power of Jesus. So it is Jesus, through his church, to all of humankind - this is what it means to be the people of God revealing the Kingdom of God. And this is what is occurring as we pick up the story of Peter and John and the healing of the lame man. It reveals the new life of Gods kingdom coming to fruition through the Spirit of Jesus who lives within us.

In Acts 2:42-47, we see a church that thrived because of its devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. This passage shows us the marks of a community deeply rooted in Christwhere love, care, and growth happen naturally. Join us as we explore how we can become that kind of church, a place where everyone can find belonging and purpose.

The church comes to life through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit invades our lives through the work of Jesus Christ and energizes us to become witnesses of Christ in both word and deed. We become ambassadors of Jesus! We become His hands and feet to usher in His compassion, mercy, and love to a hurting world. May we receive the call of the Great Sender and become his sent ones to our urban world.

Much of life is about waiting. We wait for all kinds of things concerning employment, family relationships, school, holidays and much more. We also spend time waiting upon God and listening for his direction. It is this experience of waiting that we find as we begin our series on The Book of Acts. It raises the question for us of What is the nature of our waiting? Is it an empty waiting of just looking at a clock or do we wait in expectation that God is working in our midst? The disciples find that as they wait in trust God is bringing about a new epoch of empowerment by his Spirit.