REAL DEPTH - A Gospel Centred Church
Verse of the Year 2020
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2: 6-7
Dear All,
Since 2013 we have followed a focus in our teaching upon God, the Church and our lives as His children; hence our vision of knowing our Real God, being a Real Church and living Real Lives. In 2017 we looked at Jesus Christ as our Real God and in 2018 we focused on being a Real Church centred on the Gospel, on Jesus Christ. In turn, in 2019, we developed our understanding on how being Gospel Centred should impact our Real Lives. This three-year cycle was conducted under the overarching title of Real Growth.
As we move into 2020 (Happy New Year by the way!), our fresh new cycle will begin with our Real God centering upon the Holy Spirit. In 2021 our emphasis will move to being a Real Church and the object of our study will be God’s Word, the Bible.
This direction was discerned in the Fall of 2019 on our Leadership Retreat. We strongly believe that God is calling and leading us on a path that will take us all deeper into our knowledge of God and our relationship with Him and one another. Our next three years of learning will therefore be within the Vision of Real Depth.
Throughout the year 2020 there will be specific Sermon Series upon the Holy Spirit. We will begin in January by looking at the Acts of the Holy Spirit, during Lent we will teach on the Holy Spirit Himself, then, following Easter and leading into Pentecost, there will be teaching upon the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. After Pentecost our attention will move to the Church and the Holy Spirit, then in the Fall, we will look at the Holy Spirit in the New and Old Testaments to aid the lead-in to the focus for 2021 on the Bible. For times when a Sermon Series is not being followed, the Lectionary Readings will be utilized, studied from the perspective of the Holy Spirit theme.
During this next year we will research material that can be used in 2021 to guide the Church through the Bible in one year. We will look at a range of material for the different ministries in St Aidan’s and for the Sunday services. If you have any knowledge or suggestions please let us know.
This plan and timetable will be launched, subject to the Lord’s will, on Sunday, January 12, in a sermon entitled “Real Depth”. I would encourage you all, so far as is possible, to be there or to listen to it on line after this date.
Our Verse of the Year passages have followed the aims of our Vision of these latter years. We have gone from “working out our salvation” (Phil. 2: 12-13) to “imitating the Lord Jesus” (Eph. 5: 1-2) to this year, where we are looking to go deeper “in our roots into the Lord” (Col. 2: 6-7).
May the Lord bless these plans and draw us closer to Himself and one another.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dave Labdon
Verse of the Year 2020
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2: 6-7
Dear All,
Since 2013 we have followed a focus in our teaching upon God, the Church and our lives as His children; hence our vision of knowing our Real God, being a Real Church and living Real Lives. In 2017 we looked at Jesus Christ as our Real God and in 2018 we focused on being a Real Church centred on the Gospel, on Jesus Christ. In turn, in 2019, we developed our understanding on how being Gospel Centred should impact our Real Lives. This three-year cycle was conducted under the overarching title of Real Growth.
As we move into 2020 (Happy New Year by the way!), our fresh new cycle will begin with our Real God centering upon the Holy Spirit. In 2021 our emphasis will move to being a Real Church and the object of our study will be God’s Word, the Bible.
This direction was discerned in the Fall of 2019 on our Leadership Retreat. We strongly believe that God is calling and leading us on a path that will take us all deeper into our knowledge of God and our relationship with Him and one another. Our next three years of learning will therefore be within the Vision of Real Depth.
Throughout the year 2020 there will be specific Sermon Series upon the Holy Spirit. We will begin in January by looking at the Acts of the Holy Spirit, during Lent we will teach on the Holy Spirit Himself, then, following Easter and leading into Pentecost, there will be teaching upon the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. After Pentecost our attention will move to the Church and the Holy Spirit, then in the Fall, we will look at the Holy Spirit in the New and Old Testaments to aid the lead-in to the focus for 2021 on the Bible. For times when a Sermon Series is not being followed, the Lectionary Readings will be utilized, studied from the perspective of the Holy Spirit theme.
During this next year we will research material that can be used in 2021 to guide the Church through the Bible in one year. We will look at a range of material for the different ministries in St Aidan’s and for the Sunday services. If you have any knowledge or suggestions please let us know.
This plan and timetable will be launched, subject to the Lord’s will, on Sunday, January 12, in a sermon entitled “Real Depth”. I would encourage you all, so far as is possible, to be there or to listen to it on line after this date.
Our Verse of the Year passages have followed the aims of our Vision of these latter years. We have gone from “working out our salvation” (Phil. 2: 12-13) to “imitating the Lord Jesus” (Eph. 5: 1-2) to this year, where we are looking to go deeper “in our roots into the Lord” (Col. 2: 6-7).
May the Lord bless these plans and draw us closer to Himself and one another.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dave Labdon
