Crawley Community Church

This week Caz Alliston takes us into Philippians 4:6-7 which deals squarely with worry. She encourages us to move from people who worry to people who pray.

With "How not to be an oaf" Stu Cox preaches with inimitable humour on gentleness following the Philippians 4:5 passage "Let gentleness be seen in every relationship for our Lord is ever near" (Passion Translation). Stu talks about "not punching people with truth", "not speaking with haste" - Proverbs 29:20 being "gentle with our words" Proverbs 15:1 and having a mate you can tell you when you are being a "muppet".

Danny looks at Phil 4:4 as part of our series on METAMORPHOSIS. It is strange and unusual that a man in prison could tell a church to rejoice. God used Paul being in prison to advance the gospel and for good. Danny makes the point that under God's watchful care, "our lives are not a runaway car". God is always working. In all our struggles God can advance His mission and use our lives to be a blessing.

This week Joseph takes us through Philippians 4:2-3 looking at the conflict in the church between Euodia and Syntyche, and how we can be of one mind and have unity.

This week Ken unpacks for us the biblical view of love. As a foundation, he does an amazing overview of Metamorphosis PAST: We have been transformed 2 Cor 5:17, PRESENT: We are being transformed Romans 12:2 FUTURE: We will be transformed Phil 3:21 He speaks into the modern paradox of how technology has made us more connected but often more lonely. Our need to be loved is a primary requirement for mental and emotional health. He questions the world's view on what's lovable, which is often shallow and about wealth and physical attractiveness - when we lose our physical attractiveness, are we then unlovable? He used Romans 5:7-8 to explain God says we are worthy of his love. And he talks about how we can learn to Agape love - unconditionally love others and how this love is transformational.

Danny, this week as part of the Metamorphosis series unpacks the truths in Philippians 3 verses 12-14 NIRV quoted below "I have not yet received all these things. I have not yet reached my goal. Christ Jesus took hold of me so that I could reach that goal. So I keep pushing myself forward to reach it. Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself."

Steve quickly recaps the Metamorphosis kick-off done at the Church Weekend away for those who weren't able to join us. Key Scriptures are Romans 12: 1-2 as well as Colossians 2:8, 2 Cor 4:4, 2 Corinthians 3:18 and closing with 1 Peter 1:14 "Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness."

Danny talks us through Ephesians 6: 1-4 on the role of children in how they need to respect and obey their parents and the role of Fathers to not exasperate or provoke their children to the point of resentment but instead bring them up tenderly with loving kindness in the discipline and instruction in following Jesus and the word. We closed out with praying over our children together as families.

Danny shares on his recent trip to Portugal to support our Portuguese-speaking churches over there, and also we have a very short preach from Jim Partridge on 2 Corinthians 8:1-7. Jim leads the team at King's Church part of the New Ground group of churches.

Steve this Sunday preached from 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 for our Gift day where we look to accelerate the work of the Kingdom of God in our town, our nation and in our hearts as we look at the topic of generosity and sowing.

In our final week of the CORONATION series, Danny takes us through Jesus our King.

This week Ken explores Jesus our Priest in our Coronation series and why the new covenant is so much better than the old. So good in fact we may take it for granted and need to be aware of the cost that was paid for us to be close to a holy and perfect God.

This week Ken kicks off our new series, CORONATION, where we look at Jesus - the Prophet, Priest and King. "And they said to him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." Luke 24:19

Danny outlines the internal mission of the church from Ephesians 4 and helps show us what a "Healthy Church" should look like with correctly laid foundations. Christ himself gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 1 Timothy 3:15 talks about the church of the living God, being the pillar and foundation of the truth. We need to, as His church defend the truth in the bible.

In the finale of our series called Dynasty, Steve looks at 2 Samuel 5:1-5 where it shows David waited 30 years before he finally became king. Steve outlines how 30 years of preparation helped him prepare: What Kingdom dreams are we growing and sowing into while we wait? Hebrews 6:11-12 We mustn't allow our hearts to grow dull or lose our enthusiasm for the things of God, rather, we should follow the example of those who fully received what God promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance. The fact that CCC is next to Spurgeon Close and Carey House is prophetic. As Carey preached we need to "expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God."

Danny preaches from Ephesians 4:11-15 explaining how Jesus gave some to be apostles (one who has a call to plant and oversee churches) within the five essential ministries of Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. He outlines how we, as a local New Frontiers and New Ground church, are part of something way bigger than us, and we get to serve and play a part in what God is doing. He explains that a healthy church is not where the minority do everything but where everyone plays their God-given role and takes responsibility to identify and then use their gifting for God.

It's Easter Sunday at CCC. This week Ken shares the question that Jesus was asked by the man who had kept all the 10 commandments "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18-23). Ken explains this is a great question to ask at Easter, and we need to hear the answer and how the bible answers this big question. If you are new and haven't listened to our podcast before, this is an excellent one as Ken lays out truth behind the Easter story.

Danny continues our Dynasty series looking at David's encounter with Goliath. What's a Goliath? Everything or anything that makes you feel small, powerless, and Goliaths can be everywhere, maybe even inside your mind. Danny outlined things we can learn from David and be Giant Slayers. 1. Giant Slayers are nosey 2. Giant Slayers go from smaller to bigger challenges 3. Giant Slayers win with their own God-given weapons.

In week 8 of our Dynasty Series, Steve looks at 1 Samuel 22 where David is on the run and hiding in a cave from King Saul. Steve explains that at some point, all of us enter "the cave" - a place where things aren't going well and where we need to learn to depend on God to come to our rescue. Steve explains how the wait and trials are part of God's assignment, a place where we can be active rather than passive in our waiting, as it is where God forms faith & obedience in us.

1 Samuel 30 is the account of David fighting to get his family back from his enemies who had captured them. Danny shares how this story is just as relevant for us today and how we also need to fight for our families. David found strength in his God to fight for his family. We need to recognize that family is under attack. Our problem is that we can tolerate sin, rather than hate sin. We are not making war against sin as we should. Danny shares why it's so important to not be passive. It takes work to a) fight for your family b) pray for your family c) read the word with your family d) not give up on your marriage e) not tolerate sin in your own life.