Join the Church to Fulfil Responsibilities

Reason no.3 from Rev. David McCullough’s series “Why Join the Church?”

“every Christian has been entrusted with gifts to be used in the context of a local church”

3. Because We Have Responsibilities For Others

In Hebrews 10:24&25 we are commanded to “consider one another.” Not joining the church sends out a wrong and unbiblical message to other believers and also to the world. Not joining is modelling a sinful pattern to others. This is a serious thing to do. Not joining sends the message – this church and her teaching is not worthwhile being committed to; the work of God doesn’t deserve all of our lives.

Of course the opposite is also true. When we join a Biblical church we are making a massive statement to the unbelieving world and rightly considering others.

We should also remember that every Christian has been entrusted with gifts to be used in the context of a local church. These gifts are given for the “common good” (I Corinthians 12:7). Yes it is true that someone can use their gifts outside of the church but many of the ministry opportunities are available for church members only. A famous American preacher once said, “Not joining the church is saying I don’t want to serve the only institution that Christ ever built.”

Why Join the Church?

Introduction

1. To Obey

2. To Receive Care

3. To Fulfil Responsibilities

4. To Reach the Lost World

5. To Bring God Glory

The Psalm of Dying Jesus

This is a 2 minute clip from Rev. David McCullough’s sermon entitled “The Trial, Trust and Triumph” on Psalm 22.

Watch the full sermon or download the mp3.

Beautiful Iceland Volcano Timelapse

This is best watched on full screen.

(HT: Nathan W. Bingham)

“May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” Psalm 104:31-33

UK Abortion Advert

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

The first advertising break during Monday night’s heavily promoted “The Million Pound Drop: Live” will include an advertisement by the abortion provider Marie Stopes International. Although the advert will not mention the word “abortion” it points people towards the organisation’s 24-hour helpline. This advert will run until the end of June is clearly offering abortion advice. SPUC rightly describe it as trivialising the issue of abortion. A procedure which took away the life of 215,975 UK babies in 2008 and harms many women will be promoted like new brand of cheese or a Slimfast diet.

A still from the advert

According to the Newsletter, Channel 4 have chosen not to broadcast the 30-second clip in Northern Ireland because abortion remains effectively illegal on this island. The exclusion of NI should not stop us voicing our opposition to this advertisement. We should respond sensitively to women in difficult situations but abortion is never the answer.

Read more from the Christian Institute.

Join the Church to Receive Care

Reason no.2 from Rev. David McCullough’s series “Why Join the Church?”

We aren’t to live the Christian life as Lone Rangers

2. Because We Need the Care of the Church
The Lord does not call us to live our lives on our own. He expects us to belong to a congregation of God’s people where we will be cared for and can be involved in making and caring for new disciples. The NT is full of instruction on how the flock of God is to be cared for. Matthew 18:15-17 tells us how the church should respond when someone in the church starts to live like an unbeliever; “tell it to the church…treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
This has practical implication for our lives. God has designed church discipline to be a blessing in our lives – His means for calling us back when we wander. Someone not in membership of a local congregation does not have this privilege and that is a very dangerous position to be in.

Rev. David McCullough

Why Join the Church?

Introduction

1. To Obey

2. To Receive Care

3. To Fulfil Responsibilities

4. To Reach the Lost World

5. To Bring God Glory

How to Walk on Water

Surely this isn’t real?

Belfast Marathon 2011 Not On Sunday

(Thanks to Joel for his comment pointing this out and Dad for his excited text with the news. I felt the news was so good it deserved a full post.)

“Last night members from all of the five political parties represented on Belfast City Council’s development committee agreed that the issue would be postponed for a year and guaranteed it would be held on the usual Monday in 2011.” Newsletter

The BBC and the Newsletter report that contrary to earlier fears the 2011 Belfast Marathon will not be held on a Sunday. It will continue to take place on Easter Monday. These reports, however, do seem to indicate that the issue may raise itself again next year. Lets keep fighting to keep the command to keep the Sabbath holy in the public conciousness for the sake of God’s Glory.

Cromie got our time wrong in his hilarious round up, it was actually 4:19:54

One thing that does bemuse me a little is that  the BBC and Newsletter both quote Stafford Carson and fail to mention the Moderator of the RPCI Synod who ran the whole thing! Thanks to all those who sponsored Dad and I, together we raised over £1000 for the Prostate Cancer Charity. If you’ve promised money but weren’t able to give it to us at the time please pass it on as soon as possible. If you haven’t sponsored us you can still do so online.

Belfast Marathon 2010

Apologies for the tardy nature of this post, but with all four AK writers in varying states of educational disarray, or possibly not wanting to revisit the events of Monday last, this has been on the proverbial long finger.

RPs doing the whole thing:

Robert Robb – 3:47:15

Only at 70% apparently

David and James McCullough – 4:24:30

Life-affirming Father/Son moment

Read the insider’s account here

Relay Teams containing enough RPs to be considered notable:

Pete, Chris Carson, Phil Aicken, and co. – Around the 3:17 mark

Ben didn’t do the last leg, but brazenly ran the last 100m anyway to get his free crisps

Tim arrived soon after, to claim for his team the title of Fastest Team with People We Know/Like in it

Faster Than Ben’s Car – 3:44:32

Sprintwell

Whatever about the disappointing time, the name was still accurate. Thankfully Paul kept his hands to himself this year.

PJ’s Heroes – 3:55:46

Of course, the most anticipated event of the day, nay, the year, was seeing what costume Tagholder Mark McCavery would arrive in at the finish line…

…and he didn’t disappoint. All Mall-dwellers present were choking back the tears of pride and admiration.

Are You Taking the Mc? Renwick – 4:17:07

Heather

Despite their flagrant disregard for the rules, Renwick failed to challenge for the title of fastest friends of AK

Trinity – 4:20:14

Rachey

After everyone of note had finished, tradition was observed as those of us who were still vertically orientated made the trip to Pizza Hut. This was followed by a very sleepy viewing of cult classic Disney’s Robin Hood at Renwick.

Antrim Rd. bested Shaftesbury’s finest

The obligatory session Hs and Vs was indulged in, followed by a BBQ and Psalm-sing. Sadly, this may be the last such day of fun for the forseeable, as plans are sadly afoot to move next year’s marathon to the Lord’s Day. There is a Facebook campaign, although it lamentably misses the point somewhat. Anyway, pray that the authorities would be prevented from further desecration of the Sabbath.

So as not to end on a sour note, here is a picture of Donegal’s favourite adopted son sporting his county’s colours. Tír Chonaill abú!

Some advice for this Exam time…

It’s nearly common practise that my blog posting rises during the months of May/June, mostly due to Study Leave and procrastination. However, i’m nipping it in the bud early this year and saying that this will be my last post for a while, so I thought i’d leave on a light note.

Doing my A-Levels this year, i’ve had only brief experience in exams, however, I recently found an article that will hopefully cheer you all up during this pretty stressful time and give you some advice too!

So here it is, my top things to do during one of your exams this year:

1. Bring pets.

2. Bring cheerleaders.

3. Bring a pillow. Fall asleep (or pretend to) until the last 15 minutes. Wake up, say “oh man, better get cracking” and do some gibberish work. Turn it in a few minutes early.

4. Get a copy of the exam, run out screaming “Andre, Andre, I’ve got the secret documents!!”

5. Make paper airplanes out of the exam. Aim them at the instructor’s left nostril.Run into the exam room looking about frantically. Breathe a sigh of relief. Go to the instructor, say “They’ve found me, I have to leave the country” and run off.

6. Fifteen minutes into the exam, stand up, rip up all the papers into very small pieces, throw them into the air and yell out “Merry Christmas.” If you’re really daring, ask for another copy of the exam. Say you lost the first one. Repeat this process every fifteen minutes.

7. Do the exam with crayons, paint, or fluorescent markers.

8. Come into the exam wearing flip flops and nothing else.

9. Bring things to throw at the instructor when s/he’s not looking. Blame it on the person nearest to you.

10. As soon as the instructor hands you the exam, eat it.

11. Every five minutes, stand up, collect all your things, move to another seat, continue with the exam.

12. Turn in the exam approximately 30 minutes into it. As you walk out, start commenting on how easy it was.

13. Bring a black marker. Return the exam with all questions and answers completely blacked out.

14. Bring a water pistol with you. Nuff said.

15. Start a brawl in the middle of the exam.

16. Come in wearing a full knight’s outfit, complete with sword and shield.

17. Bring a friend to give you a back massage the entire way through the exam. Insist this person is needed, because you have bad circulation.

18. When you walk in, complain about the heat. Strip.

He must have done number 18?!

19. After you get the exam, call the instructor over, point to any question, ask for the answer. Try to work it out of him/her.

20. Bring balloons, blow them up, start throwing them around like they do before concerts start.

21. Complete the exam with everything you write being backwards at a 90 degree angle.

22. Address the professor as “your excellency”.

23. When the professor turns on his laser pointer, scream “AAAGH! MY EYES!”

24. Sit in the front, sniff suspiciously, and ask the professor if he’s been drinking.

25. Get deliveries of candy, flowers, balloons, telegrams, etc… sent to you every few minutes throughout the exam.During the exam, take apart everything around you. Desks, chairs, anything you can reach.

26. Play frisbee with a friend at the other side of the room.

So there you have it, Another King wishes you all the best with your studying over the next few weeks. May we remember the words of a recent Messenger article:

• Be thankful for the great education we recieve and use it wisely.
• Be a witness to others by our hard work, and
• Work wholeheartedly for the Lord.

Colossians 3:17, 23+24   “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

N.B Another King does not take responsibilty of any actions performed by readers wishing to carrying out advice that is mentioned in this post…

Trinity RPC on iPlayer

The Morning Service broadcast on Radio Ulster last Sunday was from Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church. You can listen to it during this week on BBC iPlayer.