God through the storms of life
New Street Baptist Church - 16 August 2020
Welcome to the highlights service from today at church. Steve O’Hara brings us todays message ‘God through the storms of life’ and prayer led by Steve.
We really want you to join in from home when we have questions — you can do this by highlighting the question and hitting the comment button:
Did anyone hear the thunder this week? I love a good thunder storm… hands up who’s with me? Who finds it scary?
One of the best things I heard this week is from Alex and Mia — Kids are so insightful, and don’t put anything in the way of their relationship with God.
Mia heard the thunder and Alex said, “what do you think that is Mia?”
She said “that’s Gods tummy rumbling because he’s had too many sprouts” and then “does that mean god is up there in the sky mummy?”
Alex replied “he’s everywhere Mia and mostly in there (pointing to her heart)”
Mia responding “yay, he’s in my tummy, he’s a kind God and he tickles me to tell me he loves me”
It really reminded me of one of my favourite verses:
Romans 8:15-17 ESV
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
But I really love the ‘Message’ translation of this, which say’s…
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us — an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!
We thank you that you’ve reminded us of how BIG you are this week. We thank you that you love us and you are our father.
Pray: Holy Spirit we welcome you with praise this morning and we ask that you will work through us in prayer and in our sharing. We wait for you to have your way in us….. We ask that you’ll make us more like children, that we can come to you adventurously expectant! Amen
Q. Take a little time to think about what it means to be a child of God. How do these moments help you in your life?
Esele
A child of God means you have to respect God.
Irene
Seeing Steve pick up Caleb and Caleb sinking his head into his father was a real picture of what God wants us to do. God wants us to sink into him and relax, because we can trust him completely.
Q. Did you notice God this week? Discuss or think about a time where you really felt God’s presence? What can you thank our father for this week?
John
Reminded us that we can thank God every day for our life.
Mia
God keeps us safe.
Mary
Having returned from their holiday; spoke of the amazing mountains, vast beaches and the fact God care about us-even though we’re so tiny in comparison.
Q. What have you struggled with this week?
Yaa
As an example this week there are real times of praise and then suddenly something can happen which brings us out of those spiritual highs, causes us to feel low — But God showed how uncertain life can be, through the good and the bad He is still God.
Pray: Lord we put away anything that undermines the confidence in our relationship with your heavenly Father. We ask that these things be gone in your name.
Q. Are there any other things you feel the Holy Spirit has put in your heart this week?
As you go into the week remember this:
“As you walk out of the church this week, remember you are a child of God.
As you walk around St Neots this week, remember you are a child of God.
When you’re at work (maybe having day-to-day conversations), remember that you are a child of God.
When you socialise this week, remember you are a child of God.
When you’re feeling low this week, remember YOU are a child of God and He is waiting with his arms wide open… He doesn’t want you to put anything in the way of being a father to you.”
Steve O’Hara now brings tonight message on trusting God in life’s storms.
Matthew 7: 24–27
Build your house on the rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Thank for joining us this evening. You can also catch up on Church at Home from this morning with Yaa here
