Add a headingLENT EDITION:
Lent 3 – John 15 and 16
THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE ISN’T HATE…IT’S APATHY 


“I am the true vine….remain in me…no branch can bear fruit on its own”

I can see out of my study window now. The hedge in front of it had grown very tall and full. But this Christmas I got a hedge cutter! I stare over these pruned back branches with little green in sight and lots of grey/brown. I do hope that it survives.

The branches and leaves that I cut off are in a couple of garden bags. They will die. They will not grow again. But the ones in front of me live to grow another summer.

The lessons so far this lent have been:

1. Receive anointing in power for service

2. Centre on Jesus and obey the commands

Moving onto John 15 and 16 the message seems to be about stamina. Completing the course and being fruitful. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (15:8)

The word Jesus uses is remain.

Remain in me..

Remain in the vine…

Remain in my love….

Jesus spoke about those who had seen the miracles, had heard the teaching and hated him. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (15:18) They hated him because of his claims, because of fear, because of what he had stirred up in them. They hated him because he had made an impression. They hated him because they could not bring themselves to love him. He had stirred an emotion in them and it was not a positive one.

They did not ignore him or hold him in disdain. Love him or hate him. People were not apathetic.

Jesus tells the disciples clearly “you also must testify (about me)” (15:27) In essence, they will hate you because you talk about me.

Don’t talk about me. Don’t tell them my commands. Don’t convict of sin. And they will ignore you. They will be apathetic.

If the world ignores us. Is apathetic about the church. Knows nothing of Jesus. ….we have disobeyed a command. To make him known.

And that is the opposite of love.

“It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Counsellor will not come to you” (16:7)

The Spirit of truth comes to (16:8-11):

  • Convict people of sin

 

  • Point to righteousness

 

  • Condemn evil


And the Spirit of truth gives us the words too. “when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears”. (16:13)

When the opportunity arises “the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:12). To condemn evil, speak clearly of sin and point to Jesus and the love of God.

Lent preparation lesson 3: Listen to the Spirit, speak of Jesus.

Blessings all

Doug

vicar@christchurchpurley.org.uk


LENT EDITION: Lent 2 - John 14  INCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVITY… 

LENT EDITION: Lent 1 - JOHN 13-21  BOTH/AND….HOLD THEM IN TENSION.. 

Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

Welcome to Christ Church Purley 

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The following information is aimed initially at those planning a visit but is useful for anyone visiting Christ Church Purley for the first time on a Sunday.


Where and When
We meet at Christ Church Purley (click here for directions). For our Sunday Services starting at 8:45am and 10:15am, for your first visit, we recommend arriving 15 minutes early to help you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard and will be happy to help.

We serve tea and coffee between the first and second services from 9:45am and then after the service at 11:30am. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. There are disabled toilets off of the Foyer.

Our Services 
Our 8:45am Service is traditional in style with Holy Communion, liturgy and hymns on an organ. You will be lead through the service throughout by the leader. 

The 10:15am service is relaxed in style and led by a band. It is broadcast online and past services can be watched here. It begins with a warm welcome from one of our team and opening prayer. We typically have two or three songs and notices lasting approximately 15 minutes.

At 10:30am the children and young people leave for their groups. A speaker will give a talk that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday lives after which there is usually a song and a led-prayers. One of our leaders will share news and notices, usually about what is going on in the life of the church and we then finish with a final worship song and blessing.

Every second Sunday of the month we share Holy Communion and the children and young people return to join as a whole church family otherwise parents will pick up their children at 11:30am.

On the first Sunday of the month at 10:15am we all worship together in a Worship for Everyone service, with round tables and activities.

Third service:  This is a extended worship and word service led by a band and happens at 11.45am on the first and second Sundays of the month.

Gospel Service: On the last Sunday of each month at 6:30pm, an informal service of worship and word in the Foyer space.

Children and teenagers
We have a great programme lined up for children of all ages:

Stay & Play (Pre-school years). Parents/carers remain and join in with the fun
Kids 1 (5-7 years)
Kids 2 (8-11 years)
Youth (11-18 years)

Parents register their children aged 5-11 years prior to the start of the service from 10am and stay with their parent or grown-up for the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices.

The children’s group activities vary depending on the age but usually there are topic-themed activities, games, craft, bible story, music and ministry. Youth fill up on doughnuts whilst discussing how God is relevant to their every-day and those under five, stay and play with their adult whilst enjoying coffee, tea and chatting with other parents. Free-play and themed activities precede an interactive story and song time learning about Scruffy the puppet dog’s latest dilemma and Mr Bible’s always-great advice.


Getting Connected:

Discipleship Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our discipleship groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other through biblical study. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some morning and some evenings. If you would like to join one we can put you in touch with a discipleship group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering
If you want to get involved in the life of the church and community throughout the week, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Why not complete our Newcomer form and sign up for the Newsletter?