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THE BIG WELCOME 

7.00pm 

Saturday 20th June 

with 

SOMA CHOIR

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 THE “ALL OR NOTHING” GOSPEL

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34

If you want an easy life do not even think about trying to follow Jesus! That is exactly what the Lord taught his disciples 2000 years ago and it is the same for each of us today.

Jesus knows that when people set out to follow him it means making decisions that will divide them from others; it means making choices about our own lives that other people will not like and that may stir up resentment. These are not things that we seek or desire. They are the result of the decisions that are made because we are Christians.

We live in a secular society and there seems to be a general expectation that the church should tolerate whatever comes about and that there is no need for discipline. As for Jesus….. well, too often, he seems to be way in the background and even ignored.

Let’s get back to the real Gospel message. This verse underlines the need for us to love one another but to be ready to fight for what we believe in and to make a stand for Christ. That will surely mean commitment and sacrifice…. not least because we now belong to just a small minority in Wales.

Jesus wants us to be willing to put faith first; to be different from the world around us; to accept that people might not like us for being different, that they might resent feeling challenged. This is not a choice. Either we do these things or we can count ourselves out of His Church, “but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven”, he says in Chapter 10 Verse 33.

Jesus’ words run directly against the thinking of the world we live in. The thinking now is that all religions are equal; that all views are equal; that people should be free to do as they wish. Be on guard against those who say it is OK to do and to live as you please, because you are going to be called to account.

If our faith is the most important thing in our lives, then it cannot be approached in a casual or half-hearted or wooly way.  It is all or nothing!

 

Speakers for Sunday Services in June 

  7th:   a.m.   Rev. Peter Cho                        

          p.m.   Pastor Huw  Stephens 

14th: a.m.   Mr John Palmer                     

          p.m.   Rev. Tom Jefferies           

 21st:   a.m.   Rev. Peter Cho              

          p.m.   Rev. Priscilla Pearson  

28th:   a.m.   Rev. Peter Cho     

          p.m.   Rev. Peter Dewi Richards               

  

Special Services in June  

Monday 1st:          6.00pm     Baptist Missionary service

                                                at Zion, Cwmcarn 

Tuesday 2nd:         7.00pm     Tabernacle AGM 

Wednesday 10th:   10.30am     Visit Gilwern House

                                           (meet at Tabernacle 10.00am) 

Saturday 20th:       7.00pm     Big Welcome service 

Monday 22nd:       7.00pm     Men’s Fellowship

(Pastor Huw Stephens, Bethesda, Rogerstone)