Companions With God

On Sunday the 19th November Church took place at Manor Drive Methodist Church and following communion I spoke about being companions with God and each other. Below are some of the quotes I used and questions I asked. The voice recording of the talk is also attached.

Quote from Exiles - Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture - Michael Frost

We are called by God to be God’s and each other’s companions. The term “companion” is rich in meaning, coming from the Latin com panis (with bread). We are called to deliver on the promise that we will share bread with others, that we will be one with each other. There are many names for this sharing: utopia, community, the kingdom of God. It is this sharing that Jesus calls us to. He does so in the sacramental feast known as the Lord’s Supper. He breaks bread and shares it with us. Indeed he is the bread, the nourishment that binds us together in our mutual need of him. The Christian movement ought to offer the promise to others that we are the epitome of companionship.

Quote from Rob Bell - Velvet Elvis “as Christians it’s our duty to master the art of the long meal”.

Hebrews 10v11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful
    Where is your hope today?
    What do you hope for?
    How is our hope displayed in our lives?
    If people meet with us do they leave feeling more hopeful?
    When did you last profess hope?

To be a people of hope we need:-

Dangerous memories – Jesus" meal about remembering him
    What is the most exciting memory you have as a Christian?

Dangerous promises –

Quote about Authenticity - Philip Yancey - I would rather be with someone who is real than someone who is good.
God has made promises to us and we have made promises to each other.

Promises about Service, Generosity, Mission, Righteousness, Justice
    Which promises excite you the most?

Hold unswervingly to the memories that we have and the promises that we’ve made.

Spur one another on toward love and good deeds
We are called to be a people who make dangerous criticism about the things around us that offend God.
Dangerous criticism
Issues of Righteousness, Injustice, Creation,

What good deeds are you doing?
How can you spur someone else on towards love and good deeds?

Let us not give up meeting together – but let us encourage one another
    Dangerous songs

Isolation is dangerous for exiles. We need to encourage other and to sing dangerous songs.

Dangerous songs are songs of revolution – in pretty much all revolutions there are songs. We need songs that give god Glory, speak of our future hope and help us to encourage each other.

Simon Kirby, 20/11/2006