We are pleased you have joined us for the Sunday Morning message. This week is very special as the Sugar Land Baptist Church Choir from Houston, Texas visited us at Springwell.  42 choir members along with their leader Clint Kimmel led worship. One of their ministers, Rev Dr. Taylor Sandlin, Taylor brought us a message on The Great Commission from Matthew 28 v 16 - 20.

Welcome - Simon Clay, our Minister-In-Training.
Song - Let the rock keep silent while we praise - Choir
Song - 10,000 Reasons
Hymn - Abide with me - Choir
Song - Holy for ever
Hymn - Amazing Grace - Choir
Bible Reading - Matthew 28 v 16 - 20 - Read by Simon Clay
Simon prays for Taylor before Message
Message - The Great Commission

                                         The Great Commission - Rev Dr. Taylor Sandlin
Prayer -  Taylor
We’re living in an increasingly secular culture. Yet there is still within every soul a desire to connect with something bigger. Often the most  odd things!
They go looking, yet Jesus’ final words were not about worship but mission. He wants the people of every nation in the world to know about him. and it’s our job to tell them
All people need to know the love of Jesus, even to the ends of the earth.
We know God’s power when we step out of our comfort zone and spread the Good news to our neighbours, whether next door or far away. 
The Great Commission isn’t  about ‘doing church’  and waiting for people to come in. We have to go out, and we are enriched as we do. He is with us always. 
Prayer of thanksgiving - Taylor
Hymn -  Take my life and let it be
Song - He has never failed me - Choir
Clint shares
Song - Hymn of Heaven
Prayer - Simon Clay
Thanks to our visitors
A Blessing - Simon Clay

If you would like to see and hear Sugar Land Baptist Church Choir there is a live video on the Church Facebook page which you can access from the Church Website

WBC Messages - 020723 - Rev Dr. Taylor Sandlin - The Great Commission

Welcome to the Sunday Morning Message from Springwell.
Our Senior Minister Rev Phil Robinson brings us a very challenging message from Matthew 9 v 9- 17. 

Welcome
Call to Worship
Opening Prayer
Prophecy
Bible Reading - Matthew 9 v 9 - 17 Read by Carolyn Hames
Prayer before Message

                                 Church Life v Kingdom Life
Any new movement leads to division. People break away from the old order. The Western church today faces this on two fronts. 
a. The Issue of Sustainability 
Churches have closed because the number of Christians has shrunk. As they age and die, the congregations disappear.
b. The Issue Of Cultural Accessibility. 
Churches are reluctant to change, and if they do they’re still out of date.  Society moves on at an accelerating pace, churches must keep their focus while adapting to change.
1. A Community Of Sovereign Vitality v 9 - 15
Jesus said ‘I will build my church’ This is the Kingdom of God, not just  buildings. If a church is not displaying the power of God it will be divided and close. 
Matthew worked for the Roman authorities and was reviled by Jews. But Jesus came to the socially discredited. 
(a) Kingdom Revelry  v 14
The ‘sinners’ were those who didn’t keep strict Jewish laws. Hosea 6 v 6 - God desires mercy, not sacrifice. God isn’t religious! He’s bothered about the life, not the stuff. It’s a matter of priorities. 
A church that doesn’t  love has lost the plot. 1 Corinthians 13. Jesus came for the broken, He’s all they need. 
Matthew’s party, attended by Jesus, offended the Pharisees because they thought everybody should be like them.
Christian life, Kingdom life, should be a vibrant, joyful celebration.  People are invited to it for their own value, not because they fit our mould.
(b) Kingdom Intimacy. v 15
The church often runs to a schedule, but does it lead to meeting God?  Kingdom life is about event, not schedule. 
2. A Community Of Structural Vitality  v 16 
Unshrunk cloth isn’t ready for use, patching it up doesn’t work. Kingdom life can’t be stuck on to Jewish customs, it needs something new.
3 A Community of Spiritual Vitality v 17
New wine in old skins doesn’t just rip, it bursts. The new wine is the Holy Spirit of God, wanting free rein to transform the most needy in any generation. Many churches just get in the way, and the Holy Spirit bypasses them and bursts out somewhere else. 
If we want to be a vibrant church, welcoming all, it will be a challenge. But God is with us, leading us on. 
Prayer at end of Message - Phil
Prayer for our future - Phil

Questions on Matthew 9: 9-17.
 Textual questions.
1. What was the status of tax collectors, such as Matthew, in Israel at this time? (v9).
2. What does Jesus mean in His statement recorded in v12?
3. Why does Jesus quote Hosea 6:6 in v13?
4  What is the reasoning of Jesus why His disciples do not fast?(v14-15).
5  Why does Jesus describe Himself as the 'bridegroom' in v15?
6  What is 'unshrunk cloth' in v16?
7. What is the issue with 'old wineskins'?  (v17)
8. What is the result of the actions described in v16 and v17?

Discussion questions.
 1.Why is it that Jesus is comfortable to socialise with people of questionable morality in their own context whilst many Christians are not?
2 In what way is Jesus' teaching about the restrictive nature of contemporary Judaism in v16-17 relevant for our Churches' challenge to be culturally accessible?

WBC Messages - 170424 - Rev Phil Robinson - Church Life V Kingdom Life

Whetstone Baptist Church is a community of faith in South Leicestershire, UK, who live to glorify God through Jesus Christ in worship, making disciples, loving one another, and serving the community. We are a group of people from many different backgrounds, who have had many different experiences in life, and yet have one thing that brings us together and unites us – our love for our Father God and our relationship with him through his son, Jesus Christ. Our Senior Pastor is Rev. Phil Robinson and our Associate Pastor is Rev. Nick Swanson.

Whetstone Baptist Church is a vibrant and active church, hosting services on Sundays and running midweek small groups which offer a more personal setting to explore and deepen faith with typically 8-12 others. We have dedicated prayer and pastoral groups and a wide range of adult, young person, and child ministry groups. 

Our WBC Messages playlist contains the latest messages from our Sunday services and other recorded items. For more information please visit our website at https://www.whetstonebaptist.uk Thanks.

WBC Messages - 170424 - Rev Phil Robinson - Church Life V Kingdom Life

Whetstone Baptist Church

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