John Wood

 

 Sermon Audio [2:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Sermon Scriptures: Download

John Wood

Ellel Glyndley Manor, Eastbourne – Steps to Freedom from Fear

 

 Standard Podcast [67:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Sermon Scriptures: Download

Suddenly, but not surprisingly, Israel is being vilified in the media and by virtually every nation for stopping the flotilla of ships from Turkey.  I won’t restate all the details as anyone watching the news has heard all the accusations against Israel.

But have the reports been the truth, the whole truth?  Proverbs 18:17 is instructive:  “The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.”

This is especially true when it comes to Israel and the world.  Be careful what you believe.  A statement by the PM of Israel  said “Israel is guilty until proven guilty.”  And so it is.  Use discernment.  Know the issues.  Know the agenda of Israel’s enemies.

Israel’s legitimacy rests not in the opinion of the world but in the Word of God.

You can read the interview with the commander of the Israeli team here:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2527573/posts

Seek the truth.  Know the Word of God, especially regarding the subject of Israel and the Jewish people.

I became a Christian during my university days.  Being on the university golf team afforded me an opportunity that changed my life.  I was invited to a Christian meeting by two friends — one on the university basketball team and the other a varsity diver.  They both belonged to an organisation called Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  This is a wonderful organisation in the US whose mission is to reach university campus athletes with the gospel. Sports and the gospel make a great combination.

I have always loved sports, especially the Olympics.  With London hosting the 2012 Olympics I am already sensing the excitement many will feel in a couple years.

London will be the centre of world attention during the Olympics.  This will become an amazing opportunity for the Christian community to touch the lives of thousands.  In many ways the sports world is a world unto its own.  Especially in the US there have always been strong Christians standing up and witnessing to their fellow athletes. May that happen more here in the UK.

For all these reasons I was excited when my daughter was employeed to lead a project called “Time for God 2012.”  (www.timeforgod.org)  This project is to bring churches together to reach out in community projects leading up to the Olympics.  There is also a national organisation called “More Than Gold” (www.morethangold.org.uk) that is mobilising the Body of Christ nationwide to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Olympics.

I am wondering if those in our church (or other churches) want to get involved?  I will be coordinating a meeting in a couple weeks of area leaders to discuss the opportunities.  Would you like to host an Olympic family in your home?  Perhaps there are other sports related events we could get involved in.

Stay tuned for more information.

We have just returned from a wonderful tour of Israel.  This was my fifth trip to Israel.  All five trips have been special and each different but this may have been my most satisfying.

This is the first time we (my wife and I) have stepped out to lead a tour group.  Accepting this responsibility changes a tour from being a holiday to being work but the rewards were worth it.  We loved being able to facilitate others in all the benefits of their first tour of Israel.  It was great to see their excitement as the bible comes  alive.   We walked in the footsteps of Jesus, visited with believers in the Galilee, and saw modern Israel up close.

As others have said, the geography of the land of the bible is like a fifth gospel.  As Bargil Pixmer says in the introduction of his book With Jesus through Galilee according to the Fifth Gospel “… Five gospels record the life of Jesus.  Four you will find in books and one you will find in the land they call holy.  Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you.”

Thousands of pictures were taken, many sights were seen, but best of all was to see how hearts were touched and lives changed.  One said to me “my life will never be the same.”

Here’s hoping the Lord will allow us to take a group again next year.

Gary Mayer

The last message in the current series.
1 The Nations
2 The Church
3 Evengelism

 

 Sermon Audio [62:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Sermon Slides: Download