Signs, Shores, Shallows and Seas by Pastor Dave

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6: 29&35
  
Readings – Luke 5: 1-11 John 21: 1-14
 
Reflection
     On Sunday I built upon the blog that I wrote on the 28th April considering the imagery that comes from the above Gospel passages that we prayed on at our first Corporate prayer meeting. The Shore representing the Body of Christ with the presence of His Holy Spirit, the Shallows being where the Church meets the World and the Seas being the World. It could be worth refreshing your memory of this by re-reading that blog.
     The purpose of Sunday’s sermon was to look at the signs that confirm Jesus is the Bread of Life and to then look at our context to determine the signs that we are witnessing today; how does the Bread of life connect? 
     Our belief in Jesus as the Bread of Life brings us life in and through Him (John 20: 30-31); this belief is our ‘work’ in God (John 6: 29). As one body we are to share in this bread and to take it to the world (1 Cor. 10: 17). Jesus called us to follow Him and be ‘fishers of men (people),’ (Luke 5: 10-11).
     It has been very encouraging to receive your requests for prayer, your questions and the words & images the Holy Spirit has given you. In light of this ‘work of God,’ I simply encourage you to keep on discerning in prayer on the following matters:
 
The Shores
There is much happening in the Diocese (Clergy Retreat, General Synod, the Discipleship Development Officer role and Faith Horizons). Our partnership with One Body is growing and in One Heart there is much evidence of the move of the Holy Spirit. So, where does St. Aidan’s fit into all of this, where can God’s Kingdom be best furthered, where is Jesus calling us into fellowship?
The Shallows
As individuals we go out from the Body (Shore) each day into the Shallows (the World). This is where we welcome people into the Body of Christ most of all, where we build relationships and share the love of Christ. Therefore the role of Small Groups is essential. Are you in a Group, how is your Group, what is God calling your Group to be and do?
The Seas
We are reaching out as individuals and a Church in many ways. There is ministry with the Youth Centre, Leaf Rapids, Naomi House, Feed my Sheep and in the neighbourhood. There is also real evidence of movement in the younger generations; at St. Aidan’s we often struggle to meet the demands in that ministry. So, where is God calling us to cast our nets, where can the greatest haul of souls be made?
 
     Please pray for individual callings and the Church’s as a whole. Please support the Corporate Prayer events and pray in your Groups and on your own. Keep passing on to us your questions, feedback and words from the Lord.
 
Prayer
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
 
Praise
You’re Beautiful by Phil Wickham

Further Bible Study Options:
 
Manna from Heaven
Re-read our Scriptures from Exodus 16: 2-4, 13-15 and John 6: 29-33.
Compare the Manna from Heaven with the Bread of Life. What differences do you see and how is the Lord Jesus supremely better than simply physical food?
Signs of the Time
Read one of the below Gospel passages and consider how many of these signs have taken place, are taking place and have yet to take place. What does this tell us about Jesus’ return; how should this impact our lives today?
Mark 13; Luke 21: 5-33