Well, last week our cell group met again. After a quick recap on some common opinions held about the gifts of the Holy Spirit we swiftly moved on to get to what I’ve been looking forward to for a while - an exercise to help explore/discover how God may have gifted us, by his Holy Spirit.

An online survey was used…it was one of many available, so by no means the only, the best or even the most accurate help in determining how God may have gifted us.  But, nonetheless very interesting…

Mobile devices in hand, everyone logged in and set off answering the direct, personal questions. By the way - technology is super when harnessed effectively.  5 years ago I’d have had to hand out about 10 sheets of paper per person!

Slowly but surely each person finished up and waited for the ‘results’. After taking time to read and digest what came through people started to share what had been identified as their primary spiritual gifts. Discussion began on what had discovered. Overall I believe there was an atmosphere of affirmation as God was affirming in us how he has gifted us. Yes, there were a couple of pleasant surprises but many discovered things that they perhaps already recognised somewhere deep within.  But certainly there was a sense that God was using this to ‘connect some dots’.  I felt a positive atmosphere in the room.  The Holy Spirit at work…

From here? Well, I hope that this group of already dynamic young adults is able to reflect on what God has revealed, that they grow in confidence in the Holy Spirit and go on to become even more dynamic in him.

My question is this? Is the church all too often operating under power, sometimes even appearing to be ineffective in this world? I believe it is. Could this be, for this particularly group of Jesus followers, an awakening within? In anticipation, I really hope so.

OK.  I turned on my computer this morning to do some work and stumbled across a youth ministry website that provides the names of literally thousands of youth groups.  The following is just  a small sample of those under the letter ‘A’.  Hilarious.

A.C.T.S Anointed Christians Terrorising Satan

A.L.I.E.N. Adolescents Living In Eternal Newness

A.N.T.S. Arise N Triumph Soldier(of Christ)

A.R.M.O.R. APOSTOLICS RADICALLY MAKING OTHER REPENT

A.R.M.Y OF THE L.I.G.H.T. Armed Ready Ministering Youth / Living In Gods Holy Truth

A.R.M.Y. of God Always Recruiting More Youth

A.T.L.Youth Ministries Adolescence Transparent to the Lost

A.T.O.M.I.C youth All Together On Missions In Christ

A.T.T.I.C. Associated Teens Together In Christ

A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Assembly of Wesleyan Eternal Sons Of Methodist Evangelicals (talk about trying to make it fit!)

A.W.E.S.O.M.E. youth Anoited.Warriors.Enjoying.Shareing.Overcoming.Ministerying. Eternity (and again…their spelling, not mine!)

A2J Youth Group Addicted 2 Jesus: coz u cant OD on JC…IT’S A NATURAL HIGH! (what an inspiring strapline!)

ASYLUM C_4_C Crazy for Christ

I reckon Radiant Youth sounds incredibly good now…

Would anyone be keen to hear some of the B’s - Z’s??!

I thought I would be better at keeping up with this!  Anyways…let me update you with where we have got to with our study on the person and work of the Holy Spirit…

We have looked at the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, discussing some of the general works of the Spirit but focussed specifically on how the Spirit makes possible the following:

Justification – ‘Justification is a judicial act, where God remits a person‘s sins and declares them to be in a position of righteousness before God. It is what God does for us… The Spirit is the agent that effects justification in the life of the believer’

Regeneration – ‘The word regeneration literally means - rebirth.  Regeneration is a spiritual transformation where the Holy Spirit takes us from death unto life’

Sanctification – ‘Sanctification is a process of being restored to the image of God, which begins at the new birth and gradually takes place over the lifetime of a believer’

Without the Holy Spirit’s work, these things just are not possible.

We moved on to discuss the outward, visible marks of the Spirit’s work in the life of a believer, with particular focus on the familiar words from Galatians 5:22-23, ‘the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control’

We spent time reflecting on how each of us is doing with each of the fruits. One word: challenging.  Can people really see the Spirit at work in our lives?  However, we also felt it appropriate to celebrate the fruit that we do see in each other’s lives and pray that more fruit is cultivated!

Last week we studied the Gifts of the Spirit.  We only got to page 1 of the study.  God seemed to want us to put the brakes on and do a lot of discussing around this whole area.  Francis Chan says, ‘…maybe the biggest concern with the church today is this apparent lack of the Holy Spirit’s power’. In many, many ways I fully agree.  We spent a lot of time discussing the different viewpoints held regarding Spiritual Gifts…from the cessationist standpoint (that the sign gifts ceased with the time of the Apostles) through to the charismatic end (that all the gifts are in operation today) of what I suppose is a spectrum of opinions…

One group member commented that our discussions seemed to revolve so much around the gift of ‘healing’ at the expense of some of the others that seemed to get overlooked…great point.  We do tend to give a lot of ‘airtime’ to certain things in discussions like that and we miss some of the more understated but equally important things that God has for us.

We are by no means done with discussing the gifts of the Spirit.  I believe God wants us to have a fresh contemplation of this…and I believe he wants us to long for what is missing and long for a greater work of the Spirit’s Power in our own personal lives and the life of our church.  What will that look like? I’m not sure.  But I am excited.

Outside of our cell group two other things are making me convinced that God is wanting our attention with this – firstly, Sunday morning past, our minister preached powerfully on our great need for the Holy Spirit backing up all of what we have been going through and secondly, this Sunday evening we move onto the next session (for the same group of 19-25 year olds) in the Francis Chan BASIC series and the topic is………….the Holy Spirit.

When God is trying to get your attention, yeah…sit up, open your ears, minds and hearts and get ready to let him do what He alone can do with your life.  I for one don’t want to miss out on this.

If you read this blog, any thoughts, opinions or questions would be really appreciated!

Last night we had our second cell group on the Holy Spirit - ‘Meet the Holy Spirit’  was the title of the session.  This morning I’m trying to gather my thoughts about what we discussed…to say I feel challenged, stretched, out of my depth even, would all be fairly accurate.  This is challenging stuff. Something within me also feels that it’s hugely significant for us.  I love the group itself - all late teens/early twenties - those who I believe will be the ’shapers’ of days to come.  A privilege to be amongst them…

Let me try to pull together and articulate some of the main points:

The Holy Spirit is divine. He is God.  This reality is contested and denied by many, but it has to be foundational to what we believe about the Holy Spirit. ‘…the Trinity….three distinct divine Personalities, each wholly God, yet one essence’. Some verses we looked at where Psalm 139:7-10, Luke 1:35, 1 Cor 2:10-11, Heb 9:14.

The Holy Spirit is personal.  Not a force.  Not far off.  Not just a symbol.  Personal.  Not an  ’it’ but ‘He’.  He is within us. He brings God close.  Often we don’t acknowledge this, perhaps we don’t think enough about the personal nature of the Spirit of God within us.  He can be lied to (Acts 5:3), grieved (Eph 4:30), quenched (1 Thess 5:19), resisted (Acts 7:51), blasphemed (Matt 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, Luke 12:10).  We should live in a way that acknowledges the personal nature of the Holy Spirit.

Divine and yet personal. How can that be? Part of that is the beautiful mystery that is God: Father, Son and Spirit. Almighty, eternal God…and yet desiring a close and personal relationship with his children.

One comment was made that perhaps it’s ‘comfortable’ to keep God at a distance.  And yes, it probably is. That would be ’safe’.  But for God to be so personally interested and involved in our lives by his Spirit adds a whole new dimension to life.  When telling his disciples about the Holy Spirit who would come to be with them, Jesus says that the world will not accept or know Him.  But he says these four words to his followers: ‘but you know him’.

I believe the challenge for us is this:  do we know Him? Do we want to know him?  Do we want to know more of Him and His presence in our lives?

Next time: the Work of the Holy Spirit.  I’m already looking forward to it!

(Maybe you’ve read this and have all sorts of questions…I’ve definitely not got all the answers but I’d love to chat to you about it, so please get in touch)

Last night our cell group met for the first time this new term.  This group consists of 20+, 19-25 year olds…yeah, a bit big for a ’small’ group but such a hugely significant group of people.

Last year we completed a 12-session (should have taken 12 evenings…took us 24!) study on Zechariah.  Yes, Zechariah!  Heavy going but really, really good stuff.

Last night we began a new series - the introduction to a 6-part study on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

Our opening conversation was incredibly stimulating.  We began by asking the question that Francis Chan asks - is the Holy Spirit the ‘Forgotten God’, the neglected member of the Trinity?  The conversation flowed from there….we looked at a few key Bible passages, some hugely challenging questions where asked, a sense of anticipation and expectation was present in the room.  When discussing our ‘expectations’ for what might lie ahead, one group member shared his desire to see ‘results’ from what we study, as in the visible outworkings of what we discover and learn from this study.  This desire was echoed by pretty much everyone else.  Exciting days ahead?  Hopefully.  I’m praying so.

I haven’t blogged in a while…I’m hoping to commit to blogging my thoughts after each of these evenings.  Of course, this will be without breaching any group confidentiality but will hopefully help me note down and share the ‘big’ thoughts God imprints upon my heart each time we meet.

Next time…_Holy Spirit // 2…

I’m not long back from New Horizon where I was part of team Engage who had the responsibility of ministering to a group of over 100 young people each day aged 13-14.

We had a ball.  We laughed, danced, played, cried and worshiped together for 5 days straight.  Our theme for the week was Jesus: Encounters.  We looked at people in the Bible who encountered Jesus…never to be the same again.  The women caught in adultery, the rich young ruler, the woman who anointed Jesus with her tears, blind Bartimaeus…

All encountered Jesus and amazing things happened as Jesus spoke and acted out Truth and Grace.

We all encountered Jesus during the week.  I believe we encountered him again in a fresh way.  His Spirit was at work in us as a team and in the young people.  One thing I keep thinking about is this - only Jesus can rescue, heal, forgive and provide our deepest needs.  When a life genuinely encounters Him one thing is for sure: transformation will happen.

We shot a video that told the ‘cardboard testimonies’ of the young people involved.  It blew me away. These young people are living in all parts and corners of our wee country and so I truly believe that what we were involved in last week will have national significance as these young people carry the transforming message of Jesus back to their villages, towns, cities, schools, clubs…so take heart!

Here are some of their short stories of before and after encountering Jesus.  Please read on:

Dead…Born again

Self-conscious…beautiful in God’s eyes

Lost…Found

I was first…I am now second

Shy and scared…Confident and brave

Alone…With Jesus

I followed the crowd…I follow the cross

I was drowning in sin…He has rescued me

Unsettled…Now at peace

My soul was captive…And now it’s free

Puzzled…Solved

Dead in sin…Alive in Him

Trouble…At peace

Wrecked…Restored fully

Self-centred…God-centred

No purpose in life…Life to live for Jesus

Broken…Renewed

Empty…Full

I was Lord…Jesus is Lord

Going nowhere…Going somewhere

Low self-worth…A daughter of the King

Sinner…Saved sinner

Rejected…Accepted

Lonely…Friend for life

Broken…Complete

Dark…Light

Thank you Jesus.

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM SAMI CULLEN WHO IS COORDINATING THE SUMMER SCHEME AT SUNNYLANDS YOUTH CENTRE. THIS MESSAGE IS FROM TUES 20TH JULY:

Sunnylands Summer Scheme has well and truly started! Our first day was yesterday and we started with 34 young people aged 7-13 attending. Today we had 46 young people through our doors! So far the atmosphere has been good, the young people have had a chance to play basketball, play unihoc, try gardening, make finger puppets and have a first trip to Carnfunnock, just to name a few….It has been encouraging to see young people build friendships and open up to each other. I am grateful for a team of Staff Volunteers who are committed to making Summer Scheme 2011 the best it can be. Thinking about you guys at New Horizon. Enjoy it, be blessed and enjoy the banter!

Over and out.

Sami

An update from the New Horizon team will follow soon!

Stuart

Well…here are 3 of the lads who are down in Dublin (think Neil, the fourth member of the quartet is on the phone!)  We have officially begun our Masters in Applied Theology at the Irish Bible Institute.  The module this week is ‘Enabling Leadership’.  This has been great so far…challenging, exciting, a bit tiring (not used to all this study again)…and lots and lots of reading and thinking!!!

I’m very sure that a lot of this is going to affect how I think, what I feel and also what I do…so hopefully it’s going to be of great benefit, not only to me but to all that we do at Woodlands as well!

I will try to blog some of what I learn in the coming weeks…

Until then…HELLO TO CHEAP CINEMA TICKETS AGAIN

Our hearts and prayers are with the family, friends and all connected with Ben Robinson this week.   So sad, so tragic.  So many questions…without answers.  So much that we just don’t understand.  Ben’s death will also have opened wounds of loss in the lives of others who have also lost loved ones…maybe even in their prime of life too.  Two things I’ve wrestled with all week: 1 - while on earth we will never be able to understand and answer ‘why’ these things happen; 2 - I just know, deep inside, that the only place to turn (other than supportive friends/family) is to trust deeply in our God,who’s promises for us still remain…

So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again

In death by love
The fallen world was overcome
He wears the scars of our freedom
In His Name
All our fears are swept away
He never fails

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome

All our failure
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome

All our heartache
And all our pain
God our healer
He has overcome

All our burdens
And all our shame
God our freedom
He has overcome

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome

All our failures
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome

God our justice
God our grace
God our freedom
He has overcome

God our refuge
God our strength
God is with us
He has overcome

(click here for another song worth a listen: \”When the tears fall\”)

This Christmas, think about the wonderful truth that we worship God Incarnate - that God would become man, that he would come to our Earth to make a way for us.  This amazing Truth needs our attention not just at Christmas but always!  Let this thought encourage you to worship God Incarnate this Christmas and into the year ahead.  Read these amazing words of Don Carson and simply worship…

The Prologue

Before there was a universe,

Before a star or planet,

When time had still not yet begun –

I scarcely understand it –

Th’ eternal Word was with his God,

God’s very Self-Expression;

Th’ eternal Word was God himself –

And God had planned redemption.

The Word became our flesh and blood –

The stuff of his creation –

The Word was God, the Word was flesh,

Astounding incarnation!

But when he came to visit us,

We did not recognize him.

Although we owed him everything

We haughtily despised him.

In days gone by God showed himself

In grace and truth to Moses;

But in the Word of God made flesh

Their climax he discloses.

For grace and truth in fullness came

And showed the Father’s glory

When Jesus donned our flesh and died:

This is the gospel story.

All who delighted in his name,

All those who did receive him,

All who by grace were born of God,

All who in truth believed him –

To them he gave a stunning right:

Becoming God’s dear children!

Here will I stay in grateful trust;

Here will I fix my vision.

Before there was a universe,

Before a star or planet,

When time had still not yet begun –

I scarcely understand it –

Th’ eternal Word was with his God,

God’s very Self-Expression;

Th’ eternal Word was God himself –

And God had planned redemption.