I Am the Gate

Tim D - Mayfield Church of Christ - 21/4/2013

Listen: I Am the Gate

John  10: 1-10

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

I Want More

I've just finished reading 'Kisses from Katie' by Katie Davis with Beth Clark, the story of  how Katie at 18 pursued the call of God on her life, moving to Uganda to minister and live out Jesus' instructions to take care of the poor, the widow and the orphan. She walked away from a life of material comfort and went against the tide of societal expectations to live out God's call on her life. She established a ministry that takes care of the needs of hundreds of children as well as being a mum to 13 adopted children.

As I started reading I felt like I could understand her. I saw reflected fragments of my own heart. When she describes falling in love with a Uganda, I recognised that feeling. When she talked about being wrecked by Jesus and the desire for more, to live and act as he calls us to do everyday, it resonates with my soul. When she described her frustration and discomfort with the wealth and abundance of stuff when she returned to America for a time, I was reminded that I have felt that. On one level, reading her story was encouraging for me as I sometimes feel quite alone as I wrestle with this stuff in my own heart and mind.

On the other hand I've found it challenging and I feel uncomfortable. For despite my heartfelt desire to act in obedience to God and to live out a genuine and biblical faith, I easily succumb to the patterns of the world, becoming comfortable with security and stuff, settling in to routines that don't require daily reliance on God and living selfishly instead of selflessly.

I want more.
More of His will in my life instead of my  own plans.
More of His priorities instead of my own selfish desires.
More of His love, grace and mercy instead of my pride and comfort.

Lord, hear my prayer.

I AM the Light of the World

24/3/2013 - Mayfield Church of Christ - Tim

LISTEN: I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

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Telling the world about Jesus

13/1/2013 - Mayfield Church of Christ - Em

Listen: Being a Jesus Follower: Telling the world about Christ

1 Peter 2: 9-11

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

A Christmas message...from Spiderman?

16/12/2012 - Mayfield Church of Christ - Tim D

Listen: Christmas Message