Welcome to the Bridge Church

We're just doing some work on publishing some videos online at the moment. Thought we'd put this one online to see how it looks.

The Last Chapter of Acts

I love the last chapter of Acts.

Paul seems to be talking to the Jews...

You think you're near the end of a story...

but then Luke does something which can only be described as a piece of genius for the narrative of his book. Like every good story - it's the twist.

A twist in a Bible story?

You see, because, I reckon, in chapter 28 of Acts, Paul's not talking to the Jews (well he is, but in terms of the story), he's talking to you.

Will you really hear this story? Will you really see this story? Or is you heart hardened to it all.

You see the twist is that this whole time this has not been just a nice story about the beginning of the church, it has been as story about you, and whether or not Jesus' question in Acts 1:8 (to be a witness in the whole world) applies to you or not.

Acts is asking you to change, into a person led and driven by the Spirit of God as the people in the story have been.

This is not a novel, this is a challenge.

This is your life in this world - Not just their life in the ancient world

So what are you going to do?

If you don't know, I think you should read the book again, perhaps...

When did Paul become Political?

What's following Jesus all about?

Love, peace, the Kingdom of God...

...but politics?

I must admit, I generally think of the path of a Christian as non-political. But maybe that's because all of our recent displays of Political movement amongst Christians have been rather embarassing.

Do you notice how, often when the church moves politically, we end up looking slightly weird and not quite 'in touch' with the real world.

Furthermore, often the issues that seem to get christians up in arms are often 'non-issues' - more to do with christian comfort than restoring the world.

Is it just me that finds it hard to support christians angry at television bosses, when the church is largely silent on issues of human abuses (poverty, slavery, sexism etc) - the real stuff to protest.

So Christianity - generally not good on the political scene.

But Paul seemed to be an exception to that. In Acts 22 and 23, we find him moving and shaking the political scene like a master. He jumps between trial and tribunal, somehow always knowing what to say and when to say it, whether facing an 'angry mob' or the governer.

I'm realising that while Christianity, should probably keep its nose out of the politics of comfort - we do have a call to be able to influence in that arena.

So if you're an MP or the friend of an MP - should you be wondering how you can use your position to serve the kingdom of God?

Imagine if people of the United Kingdom were led by people of God's Kingdom.

But if we're going to influence the society and the leaders of society that we live in, we need to improve our savvy of all things political. We can't just hide away in a corner only asking God to help us. Maybe God wants us to do some things ourselves - like influence our environment ourselves.

But of course, if we want to influence our environment, you know what we have to do...

...We have to be there.

This is your place too

For too long the church has been too far away.

Or at least - that's how we live.

Because every time we do anything, or start anything, or even have a good idea, we always look at the same question - 'How will we get people to come here?' Which I'm sure is the same question that the hotels are asking Madagascar, but it's OK for them, because they are far away, and most of us are not sure what it would take to make us go there, but surely church shouldn't be like that.

And when did Church become somewhere to go?

It's not like Church is some sort of southern African island that's worth a visit if you ever have a chance - this is the organisation, or vehicle, of God's plan to restore planet earth.

People were never meant to go to church. Amongst the first Christians, Christians got together and then took church where ever they felt like.

Did you spot that?

They decided...

It was up to the church, no hoping that people would visit, no more 'travel agent' syndrome, church went where ever it needed, felt like, or wanted. Because, for the first Christians - this was their home as much as anyone else's - and they wanted to ensure God restored it.

Church needs to spread itself out a little more, and while we may feel a little thinner, we'll realise that we reach more people, go more places and be more like church. What we'll also realise (as Paul did in Acts 16) that we begin working to our agenda (which should be God's too). So things happen as and when God wants them to, and not just if someone turns up.

Even if you're in prison.

Which of us is God?

There's this story in the Bible (Acts 12) Where the king, Herod, gets lost in a moment and decides that the people are right to address him as a God.

Which apparently wasn't the wisest of things to do.

The ancient historian, Josephus, said that the evil that came upon Herod's heart caused him to become ill and die.

Which sounds a bit strange to those of us who read the story today, but then I think that we forget that evil will always kill us if we let it fester in our lives, which is probably why the writer of Acts says that when Herod died, he became worm food quite quickly - it's called festering or rotting. Evil.

Evil. Being opposed to God.

Now I think we all find ourselves shifting quite uncomfortable in our seats when we think of evil in terms of not doing what God called us to, and then even more when Paul tightens the net further by saying that everything that not done in Faith is sin.

Faith or evil - it's a risky line to walk isn't it.

But what we shouldn't do is spend our time worrying about whether we're doing evil or not. A better way to live is to live asking - how can I move in more faith today. Now I think that this is where the line is easier to see. Because faith becomes more about whether you trust God with your life, or yourself with your life.

And that's true of your situations as well.

In the stories of Acts 12 we find two stories. In one, Peter waits for God, and God rescues him from prison and certain death. In the other, Herod tries to push his agenda and plans and he dies trying.

You see for many of us, we forget that when we try to force God's hand on something, or we lose patience waiting for God to do what we want, or we just ignore God altogether, really what we're saying is 'I know best'...

or I have a better idea than God on this

or I know more about this

or I'm like God?

So you realise that when we take matters into our own hands, rather than waiting for God to show his plan, really we're not that different from Herod, the worm infested king after all...

Are we?

The choice is yours

Most of the time we find ourselves staring choices in the face, never sure what to do with them.

What will people think if I do that?
How will things work for me then?
Will it even work?
What if it fails?

There's a story in Acts 10 and 11 about a massive choice that Peter had to make. But bigger than the average choice, Peter was deciding about the future of the church.

Was church going to be open to everyone?

Because if it's church, then it must be open to everyone, right?

That's what they call a 'non sequitur', because history shows that just because it's church doesn't meant it's open to everyone...

...and that truth should hurt us.

Because when the issue of the openness of church was first raised amongst Peter and the first christians, they decided that the church was and should be accessible to everyone. 20 Centuries ago they decided that it was open to all, and yet we still struggle with that today.

That's why it hurts.

And given the high likelihood that you're reading this and are most likely not Jewish, that means their decision affects you. This was the Jewish Christians deciding that the message of Jesus was available to anyone who wanted to follow Jesus.

And that possibly means you.

So why don't you extend the favour?

Looking Back to move us forward

This week Roots is thinking about the last few sessions that we've had.

We're 9 chapters into Acts now and a lot has happened.

If you've been with us for the whole journey then why not take a moment to think about the various discussions that we've had over the last few weeks. If you've not been with us for the whole journey then take a moment to look at Acts 1-9 and then join us on sunday night or on the podcast through the week!

Just as a thought for you. Check out www.kiva.org if you feel like doing something world changing.

Stop Proving Yourselves

Is it just that we're cynical, untrusting or perhaps a little jealous, but have you noticed how long we take these days to believe someone - everyone has to fight through several inches of hostility before we'll start to become suspicious that they may be 'alright'. From sales people, to friends, to doctors to family.

It's not that it's completely unwaranted, there are plenty of people out there trying to pull the proverbial wool firmly over our eyes - but does that mean that we force everyone into a rigorous programme of proving themselves to us?

And when we start doing it to people who've just started following Jesus, is that when it gets most ugly. Many times I've watched as people make life altering decisions and we make assessments like - 'We'll see if it lasts', 'I wonder if that's genuine'!

Once again (it's a theme on this blog) Not so with the First Church.

Saul (more famous by his middle name Paul) is killing Christians, Many Christians, Many Many Christians, Until...

Day One : Kill Christians
Day Two : Kill More Christians
Day Three : Travel to Damascus to Kill Christians
Day Three PM : Meet Jesus on road
Day Four : Bed ridden due to blindness as result of Day Three
Day Five : Preaching about Jesus as representative of Christians

Acts 9 uses the term 'At once' to describe how long it took the Church to allow Paul to start working with them.

Which is quick for anyone - but especially for someone for Paul's history, right? What happened to the six-month rule then?

You're right, someone could abuse a system like that.

But I hope at least we'll be open to the idea that God might just work faster than us, because he doesn't need us to prove ourselves to him.

Does he?

Say 'No' to Merchandising

The First Church was a strange place. Thousands joined in the first few days, fire fell from the sky, crippled people walked, people talked in languages they'd never learned...

...and not one film was made...

...no book rights signed...

...ok, I know what you're thinking, they didn't have TV and Books in those days.

But they still had legends, stories and heroes.

What sticks out when you look at the First Church is how they avoided the celebrity status that blights the 21st century church. It's just not there. What was it about these first followers of Jesus that allowed them to keep in mind that they worked for heaven and not themselves? What was it about they're style that stopped them from buying their own hype? Why was there no hype?

Ah, you say, things were different back then?

But they weren't - The First Church leaders encountered attempts to turn them in to 'celebrities'. They even had people try to join them to gain celebrity status (Acts 8) and the First Church hated it.

Strangely one of the leaders, Peter, called the seeking of 'Celebrity' status as a limit on a person, he called it 'Chains' on that persons life, which sounds excessive.

Although I wonder if there are any celebrities out there who might agree? Paparazzi, Women's magazines, Fashion police and the terminally insane chasing you for everything their worth.

Since when did people become commodities that are only worth the success of their last album or how much weight they have (or haven't) lost. Sounds like a lot to carry. doesn't it.

So maybe that's why the First Church avoided this? Maybe it's because they remembered Jesus' words about seeking to elevate yourself as something special (Mt 23) - read it yourself sometime, although be prepared for a version of Jesus that you didn't find in sunday school.

He calls the celebrity seeking religious people 'Sons of Hell'.

Is that because of where they came from or is it because that's where seeking that life will lead you.

And I'm sure you'll find a few celebrities who agree.

So let's be followers of Jesus who are in this for a reason other than how famous it'll make you.

And say no to merchandising

A lawyer you might not want

A friend made the comment recently that Stephen (Acts 7) is not the sort of person you would call on if you ever needed a lawyer or defence attorney!

When falsely accused, Stephen, instead of arguing his point, uses the situation to makle a different, more important point. He sacrifices the opportunity to save his own skin (remember Acts 6 tells us he could out argue all his accusers) and instead chooses to argue for the truth of the church and what it is doing.

How often do we choose to defend ourselves without seeing the opportunity to effect change. How often are we more concerned about our own reputation than the mission we're called to promote? How often do we choose selfish instead of selfless?

What difference does it make?

What did Stephen really gain?

Is there such a big impact?

Well, is there...?

...Ever heard of a guy called Paul?

How rich am I?

Sorry, I forgot to post this last week.

Check it out - it's humbling

Global Rich List

What does it make you think about?

Jigsaw Peace

Do you ever notice that we struggle from an ego crisis?

We all assume that we can do whatever we want...
Have you ever had to tell a friend they can't sing?
Ever failed an exam that you needed to pass?

Many of us live in a culture that perpetuates the idea that we can be whatever we want to be, which if you think about it, is a heavy burden to carry. How do you make life, career or relational choices when you believe that every possible path is an option to you?

Sound's tiring doesn't it?

The Bible ticks to a different beat - it advises a better way:
Only do what only you can do.

We're talking big picture here, holistic stuff, this is not an excuse to get out of washing dishes. Regarding the substance of life, commit yourself to the place where you have most significance (notice the word significance and not success was used).

In Acts 6 the first Christian leaders were trying to do the whole thing themselves.
And it wasn't working.

So they decided to live to a different beat, took the step down from believing that they could do anything (isn't it nice when we join reality) and committed to only doing what only they could do. Because life is so much better when you do.

What was the effect?

Well, the church is still here isn't it?

Standing Up for the Oppressed

Roots is taking a break this week, but that doesn't mean that More Roots has to!

Click on the picture below and maybe think about how you could get involved with a project like this!


Or download a petition by clicking here

God and his symphony

Acts 4:24

Notice how God makes everything. But when we think of what God makes do we ever wonder about why? Or perhaps what does it do?

I think we sometimes seem to think that it's only humans that God is interested in. But what if God was interested in all of creation?

"Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them." (Psalm 69:30)

So what do you think of this:

"Astronomers have recorded heavenly music bellowed out by the Sun's atmosphere.

"Snagging orchestra seats for this solar symphony would be fruitless, however, as the frequency of the sound waves is below the human hearing threshold. While humans can make out sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz, the solar sound waves are on the order of milli-hertz--a thousandth of a hertz.

"The study, presented this week at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Lancashire, England, reveals that the looping magnetic fields along the Sun's outer regions, called the corona, carry magnetic sound waves in a similar manner to musical instruments such as guitars or pipe organs..."

Read the rest of the article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20070419/sc_space/sunsatmospheresings

Look at us

It's strange that a case of mistaken identity happens at a place called beautiful (Acts 3). Beauty is a strange and misleading thing. We often make assuptions about people based on how they look. Have you ever thought...

He looks like a trustworthy guy...
She looks like a good manager...
He looks like he'd be a great prime minister...
She looks great, I think I'll ask her out?

Do you ever notice that at most weddings the men are wondering how they never realised she was so attractive before?

Peter and John are on they're way to the temple one day when a crippled beggar asks them for money.

Was it because they looked like the kind of people who had money? Was it that they paused at just the right time for him to ask? Maybe he asked everyone.

But he asked them - possibly the only two people he'd seen that day who had less money than him.

However, inadvertedly he asked the right people. For whatever reason he asked them, he chose wisely, whether intellect, intuition or sheer fluke, he asked the only two people who really could help him that day.

Ok, so he didn't get any money out of them, but he did walk home that day.

Which makes me ask about how people see you? As much as we understand that looks are only skin deep, unless you have those glasses that we all wanted when we were young, seeing beyond skin and clothes is the domain of God.

Which then makes me ask, what causes people to ask you for help? Is it because you look like someone who could help, is it because you were there when they needed you, or was it sheer fluke?

For too long people have discovered the walk restoring church and people of god by fluke and nothing more. And if we don't look like we can help, why should anyone ask?

So maybe it's time to look in the mirror (physically and spiritually) and ask whether we carry the right look?

Then go help someone walk again.

From temple to temple

Your body is a temple!

It sounds like an advert for some high-promise low return beauty product, but actually it's from the Bible, but it's not about beauty...

...because truth is so much deeper than looks!

The Bible is talking about your body being the dwelling place of God. Where did that idea come from?

In Acts chapter 2 we find this group of people - Jesus' disciples - who are about to embark on a lifetime of serving God and making the world a better place to live in. So they're all gathered together in 'one place' (which was a way of talking about the temple) and while there God fills them with his Spirit which helps them to actually make the world a better place.

What's strange about this is that traditionally, God's spirit was supposed to be in the temple - not in a group of people who happen to be in the temple.

Unless God was changing how he did things!

No longer was God going to be confined to a place or a building, but he was going to be intrinsically part of the positive effect on the life of an individual and how they live.

What would that be like?*

So when we're talking about your body being a temple, maybe it's not a question of 'should I or shouldn't I', smoke that, drink that, buy that, take that, borrow that, wear that.

It's a question of - if God's spirit is in me (and not a 'holy' building) what impact should that have on the lives of those around me?


*3000 people changed their lives on the basis of the evidence on day one!

Who are Theophilus?

"In my former book, Theophilus..." - Acts 1:1

So who is this mysterious guy who merits having two books of the Bible (Acts and it's prequel The Gospel of Luke) written for him?

What did he do, Where was he from, What did he look like, was he even a follower of Jesus?

But what if the question you really need to ask is:

What am I doing, Where am I going, How do I appear, am I a disciple of Jesus?

Why is that the important question?

Theophilus is greek word, it might not even be a name, it means 'He who loves God.' So perhaps there never was a Theophilus, maybe it's everyone who considers themselves a 'lover of God'. Not so much a real person, but every real person.

Maybe the question isn't 'Did Theophilus exist', but 'Do Theophilus Exist?'

Maybe it's you?

Roots gets a blog - eventually

Welcome to the Roots blog.

It's been too long in coming really, for which only I can apologise. The idea here is that every week in the lead up to and after our Roots sessions we can continue the conversation here. There will also be the weekly discussions posted for listening, so even if you didn't make it in person you can listen and then comment.

Please feel free to leave your comments about the blog posts - as in Roots so it is online, all comments are welcome. I'd really like it if you'd take part in the discussion and leave some thoughts for us all to ponder.

Thanks and let's see where this journey takes us.