Applications for inter:act 2011/12 open
4 Mar 2011 | Kay Cathcart | Posted in InteractNo Comments
We all long to grow as Missional Disciples who:
- discover more of who God is
- increasingly live as we were created to be
so that we will:
- do what God says
- see transformation in ourselves, others, our city, nation and world
The inter:act gap year programme at MBC is a place which invests in that journey to bring lasting change.
The programme aims to:
- Help you deepen your relationship with God and others
- Discover your gifts, abilities and calling and put them into practice
- Provide teaching in formal sessions which will include Bible overview, practical theology and teaching on mission with an overall focus on application
- Provide practical training and service in a Missional Expression
- Encourage personal growth within team life, workshops, accountability relationships as well as the Missional Expression community
Are you committed to:
- knowing Jesus
- growing in your faith
- loving this city
- giving a year of your life
…then inter:act is for you
Previous inter:act team members speak of how their year changed them:
inter:act helped me to identify who God has made me to be and the gifts I have been given. This has enabled me to start living out of this identity and I am loving it! inter:act is an amazing year of both teaching and practical placements – I would recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about God and how that affects every aspect of ife.
Put simply, for me it was an amazing opportunity to give God the space and time to speak into my life and to teach me how to love and do life with christian brothers and sisters. It also stretched me in all kinds of faith testing and building ways!!
inter:act kicks off
20 Oct 2010 | Kay Cathcart | Posted in InteractNo Comments
inter:act started its new year at the beginning of October, with 12 students on the course.
All are hungry to meet with God and receive from him. Many ministries across church life and the city are blessed by their involvement. On Tuesdays we gather for seminars, team life, supervision and study – a full day of learning and engaging with God’s word and meaty subjects which affect every day living.
Please pray for these guys as they step out in faith. Some still need part time jobs, others are stepping into brand new areas of ministry, most simply long to see God do a significant work in them and through them this year.
Kingdom – Luke 13
4 May 2010 | Kay Cathcart | Posted in Word Words1 Comment
Jesus sends us to show and tell the good news of his kingdom so that those who have not yet heard the word might see it and hear it, know it and receive it for themselves. ‘Show and tell’ is exactly what’s going on in Luke 13: 10-21.
Jesus takes the initiative and heals this woman, pronouncing her cured and touching her. The synagogue ruler is furious as Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day and a power struggle follows. Healing and freedom was available for the woman that very day – there was no need for her to wait. Satan is having his way in her life no longer – she’s been made by God for God and so she’s released to pursue a relationship with him.
Jesus rebukes the synagogue ruler along with those who agree with him. The people who have watched, seen one of their own healed and valued in such a way, are delighted.
Jesus then begins to teach about the Kingdom of God. Why? Because he’s just demonstrated it in the healing of the woman and the turning upside down of the way things were. And he doesn’t teach what the kingdom of God is… but instead the kingdom of God is like….
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which grows into the largest of garden plants. A tiny seed produces a massive tree, growing at such a mighty rate to provide a home for all the birds in the sky- all the nations of the earth.
It is also like yeast hidden in flour, seemingly insignificant and ineffectual but it doesn’t take long until the dough has risen to form a loaf. The yeast makes its presence felt – the dough is transformed. But it’s invisible – it doesn’t seem to have power. You know it’s there because you can see its impact. It’s the presence of the kingdom of God in the woman which heals her.
Elsewhere in scripture we read more about the kingdom of God:
Luke 10: 9 – Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
Luke 17: 21 – Nor will people say ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.
Luke 21: 31 - Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Romans 14: 17 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 4: 20 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
So what is the kingdom of God?
Literally it’s the king’s domain. It began with the arrival of Jesus and will be consummated when he returns. The kingdom of God is reality. It’s the gospel of Jesus – good news. It’s within you. It’s peace, joy and righteousness. The kingdom of God comes in power – power to save – sozo – salvation, wholeness, healing. It has power to change circumstances, people and systems. The kingdom is now and not yet – it is to come and it is here. It’s possible to live it – it’s available for us all now.
This kingdom has a king – Jesus is not just our saviour, he is a king.
Is Jesus king of every area of our lives? Where and when do we find it hard to relincuish control to Jesus in our lives?
How does what we believe about the kingdom of God impact the way we live and the way we share our faith?
Normal
16 Mar 2010 | Kay Cathcart | Posted in FlyNo Comments
We are really grateful for Mike & Cindy Riches’ ministry among us this weekend. Mike challenged us to redefine “normal” in our own lives and the life of our church.
Jesus showed us what normal is when he lived among us – he listened to his Father, relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, taught about the kingdom of God and brought healing.
In Luke 4: 18-19, Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah making clear they are about him:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Do we expect God to continue this work through us? The spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us (Romans 8:11) so we can live this Jesus life. We can redefine “normal” as we seek to live as Jesus did.
Mike called us to fly, to live this kind of “normal” life. He encouraged us to look to God to heal – to restore, to save and to heal (sozo) – this world. He encouraged to pray for that healing and to step out in faith to offer it to others. He called us to:
- Submission evidenced in absolute obedience
- Humility that expresses dependence on God
- Growing faith that trusts God to do the naturally impossible
- An abandoned pursuit for God
- Living life that enjoys & experiences God’s love
- Just do it – in human : divine cooperation
If you have time, you may want to chat these questions through with others:
- Do I really believe that I have the power which raised Jesus from the dead living in me?
- Where do I find that hard to believe? Pray into those areas.
- When you look at the ‘normal’ life Jesus modelled for us, do we expect us to see it realised in our experience? What would we like to see God do amongst us more?
Spend some time praying for healing for those in your group and those you know and love.
Fly together
9 Mar 2010 | Kay Cathcart | Posted in FlyNo Comments
None of us when we fly, flies alone. Every plane has a pilot and a crew. The flight crew (apart from having fabulous uniforms!) have a shared purpose, are dependent on one another and know why & where they’re flying. The air crew metaphor only goes so far however. We’re not recruited by God for a job or task and there’s no selection process where only the beautiful may apply – we are his children, involved in a holy adventure together – we fly together!
In the face of spiritual attack we put on the armour of God, but as Karl pointed out previously, there is no armour for the back. We need others to protect our backs as we stand together. As Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31, we’re the body of Christ.
Jim Graham also spoke about this passage back in October saying:
“Are our limbs distorted so we can’t function? Are we limited by what we’re prepared to receive of the love of Jesus?”
He described love as the synovial fluid which means the body works, and in the same way we’re called to be a community of people amongst whom the love of God flows so we act as one and fly together.
- Is this the reality at MBC?
- What stops this happening amongst us?
It’s often very tempting to spend all our time with people just like us – and all too easily become disconnected to other parts of the body. Unless we’re careful, these differences (backgrounds, preferences, interests) can become divisions and instead of asking the Holy Spirit to bring unity, we focus on the things which make us different… preventing us from flying together. God treasures the diversity of the body but the question is do we?
Another danger we can fall into is by not using the gifts God has given us to build up the church – opting instead to be a spectator. Perhaps we undervalue the gift we’ve been given? or maybe we think Father God hasn’t gifted us? but in operating this way we’re operating out of an orphan spirit which, you’ve guessed it, makes it hard for us to fly.
Maybe we don’t seek or offer the kind of friendship where we might experience flying together. Do we take the initiative to pray with our friends and family who love Jesus? Do people feel spiritually refreshed after spending time with us? Do we help one another to fly together?
The grace of God which flows freely into my life because of Jesus, enables me to stand forgiven and allows me to forgive others. I need not fear the opinions of others because my Father God loves me – so i’m free to be honest before them and risk their disapproval. I can take the initiative to deepen my friendships as Christ took a risk with me.
If you have time, consider these questions:
- What stops you playing as full a part in the body of Christ as you could?
- Are these legitimate reasons or is fear or other unhelpful attitudes creeping in?
- What steps can you take to build deeper relationships with those around you?
Wouldn’t it be great to fly together? No more solo flying!
- Kay