Thursday at Bible Week – accept no imitations
Bishop Greg Venables began his Thursday night address by again urging us to read, study, believe and obey God’s Word – to be shaped by it and live according to it.
Referring to our title for the week, Accept No Imitations, he said that: “The major imitation of Christianity today is it doesn’t really matter what you believe as long as you believe something.”
He continued: “In the real world it doesn’t work. This is about reality, not about the illusion of pluralism and relativism. The Greek word for reality is truth. Know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).”
Bishop Greg recapped his previous nights’ teaching in Romans 5 and 6 before turning to the issue of the law in Romans 7.
We were, he explained, freed from the law and under Christ in order that we may bear fruit for God. The purpose of the law is to reveal to us that we need forgiveness.
He noted the first mention of the Holy Spirit (vs.6) and how it was impossible to come to faith and live as a Christian without the work of the Spirit.
So, along with the Apostle Paul, as Christians we don’t like or understand what we do (vs.15–23) and count ourselves wretched, but thanks be to God, we’re delivered from this body of death! (vs.15–23)
Our reality as Christians is that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and we serve under love – loving God because he first loved us. This is the reality that Greg urged us to live by.
Sylvia
Sylvia Venables shared how she was a reluctant missionary until God called her through Scripture. She has remained in South America, obedient and uncomplaining for 40 years!
Concluding, Bishop Greg said: “Real obedience is about love. It’s not gritting your teeth, it’s about loving so much that you’ve got no option. ‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.’ We’re not going to go into the desert (like the disobedient Israelites), we’re going to move into the promised land.”
Members of the congregation were invited to respond by receiving an anointing with oil for their own lives and ministries and several hundred came forward.
View some photos from Thursday night at the Bible Week
Listen again to the first three talks and short clips of Sylvia Venables.
Exploring Ministry
Also on Thursday night, we took up the leadership theme of Exploring Ministry. Diocesan Development Officer, Andrew Brannigan, interviewed Emma Carson and Revd Adrian Green.
Adrian is the Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Emma is going into the second year of her ordination training at CITI.
Around eight people are ordained into the diocese every year and that process begins with the Exploring Ministry Group which is coordinated by Adrian.
Adrian explained: “It’s a group for anyone who senses a call to go into ordained ministry. You can be of any age or background or educational ability. I’m available to meet up with anyone at any time but the group meets formally four times a year.
“This coming year we’ll start a new 2 year cycle where we’ll focus in on things like call, character, leadership and transition. We meet all across the diocese in four different churches so we get to see how ministry is worked out in different settings and contexts, and we get to hear from the rectors of those churches.”
Emma, who has been through the selection process, now helps to lead it. She said: “I think it’s a really key process, to meet with other people who are going through the same journey, even if it doesn’t end in going forward for selection or being ordained.”
If you sense a call to ordained ministry please chat to your rector first and then get in touch with Adrian (adrian-green@hotmail.co.uk).
The next meeting of the Exploring Ministry Group is on Wednesday 20th September.
Please join us for the last night of Bible Week, Friday 1 September, as we continue with Romans 8 – Final.