Alva Baptist Church

What is 'Church'?

No man is an island.

Here we have the Apostle Paul presenting a very familiar idea: The church as the 'Body of Christ'

We are all in this together.

The things we do, and the attitudes we bring, affect the environment of the fellowship

What do you think is the least important body part?

Here is the church here is the steeple, open it up and there's all the people. Different aspects of how we effect the environment. How what comes out of our hearts affects the environment around us.

Following Jesus' example, we are called to deny ourselves: Philippians 2:5-8

How do we 'deny ourselves'?

An illustration from chapter six of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbours.

It can be costly to be seen as a 'Christian'.

Presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice… How does Paul do it? How does God expect us to do it? How are you doing it? Or are you befuddled about how that works?

There is a tension between the requirements of holiness AND the sheer lack of ability in the saint, to be holy by our own efforts.

Our mission in being alongside people, in serving them, is to tell them about Jesus.

God doesn't leave us to 'pull ourselves up by our bootstraps'.

Psalm 51 "...Teach me...purge me...wash me...create in me..." God does the work, when we cooperate.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." ~Jesus

'Believing' calls for trust. This faith calls for us to follow, as God leads us. Following God is equal to obedience

We are called to become transformed as we worship,  so that we may know what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.