Documents

Here you will find the notes and discussion points to use in your city groups.

Miscellaneous

Group Description: In this group you will find any one off documents that are not part of a City Church series.




Safeguarding Children - Leadership Statement

26 May 2010

Author:

Keywords:

Appendix 1 of the City Church Safeguarding Policy (Children and Vulnerable Adults)

File Size: 74

File Type:

Finance Presentation Sept 2009

26 March 2010

Author: Ian

Keywords:

File Size: 36

File Type:

CastleGate Event Booking

26 August 2009

Author: City Church Office

Keywords: booking, events

This is the booking form for events at City Church.

File Size: 36

File Type:

Privacy Policy, Returns Policy and Cancellation Policy

7 July 2009

Author:

Keywords: Privacy Policy, Returns Policy, Cancellation Policy

This document outlines the Privacy Policy, Returns Policy and Cancellation Policy for City Church Newcastle in regards to Paypal Virtual Terminal transactions.

File Size: 92

File Type:

Extending Compassion to our City

1 July 2009

Author: Ian

Keywords:

File Size: 76

File Type:

Group Notes

Group Description: This group is for weekly groups notes relating to the Sunday meeting. You can download them in PDF format.

Worship: Having a Heart for God

22 August 2010

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Everyone is a worshipper. The only difference between us is what, or who, we worship. This matters. As A.W. Tozer famously said: “you become what you worship”. To worship wrongly is disastrous.

By the grace of God, the eyes of our heart have been opened to worship God in Christ. We worship Jesus. But what does that mean? What is it to be a worshipper? Like everything about Christianity, worship is shaped by the cross. Jesus’ death defines what it means to worship. His was the greatest act of worship ever seen.

Worship is sacrifice
In the OT worship was accompanied by a great deal of sacrifice. It cost you to worship God. It cost you to draw near to him. This was not accidental. It pointed to Christ. His sacrifice was much more than a bull. He willingly gave himself.

Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He’s done it once and for all: he offered himself up as the sacrifice. (Heb 7.26)

Jesus gave everything, even life itself. And this was not begrudging or reluctant. It was his destiny. It was the goal of his life. God is not looking for bulls, but he is looking for sacrifice. Not because you must, but with the same heart as Jesus: because you are willing.

Let’s take our place with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals, but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips in Jesus’ name. (Heb 13.15)

2. Worship is service
The whole point about worship is that it is not for you! When people worship themselves and think only of their own happiness and fulfilment, they end up in a deathly cycle of selfishness which leads to emptiness. Worship of God helps you to be properly human. It is less than human to be selfish. To be human is to love and serve others. Who are you trying to please in your life? Yourself? Your friends? God?

In the O.T. it was a priority in worship to please God. Not doing this was disastrous (Mal 1.6-12). On the cross Jesus was not seeking his own pleasure and fulfilment. He was serving God and loving us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Rom 5.8)

Worship is much more than singing. But us gathering together every week to sing is a vital expression of our heart to love and serve God and to be devoted to him. It is worship to do stuff for him. But he calls us to love him and to serve him, not just make things happen for him (Luke 10.42).

3. Worship is celebration
In the O.T. worship was fun! It was a massive butcher’s shop and BBQ combined. Better still you got to eat the stuff you had offered to God. It is a paradox. By not seeking our pleasure, but by seeking God we end up very happy and very pleased. God does not want gloomy worship. Our worship fills and nurtures our souls.

Jesus death on the cross gave rise to massive celebration in heaven.
I heard a company of Angels around the Throne, the Animals and the Elders – ten thousand times ten thousand their number, thousand after thousand after thousand in full song: the slain Lamb is worthy! Take the power, the wisdom, the strength! Take the honour, the glory and the blessing! (Rev 5.12)

Worship is joining in with that song! Worship is a massive celebration of the victory of God in Christ. Worship is fun! It is a joyful declaration – God has won!

Group applications:
What stood out to you from the message? How did God challenge you, or what spoke to you particularly?
Why do we so easily think of our needs and desires even in worship? How can we encourage ourselves to focus on pleasing God? What holds us back from offering a sacrifice of praise? How can we grow in being genuinely free and joyful without becoming just superficial or putting on an act?
How could our corporate worship times make God happy? Email your best suggestions to ian@city-church.co.uk
Worship God together!

File Size: 4

File Type:

Healing: Keep it Simple!

15 August 2010

Author: Heather

Keywords:

Read Luke 9.1-5

Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority to deal with all demons and cure diseases, and he sent them out to tell everyone the news about God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said to them:

‘Don’t load yourselves up with lots of equipment, keep it simple. You are the equipment. Stay wherever you are welcomed and be content there until you leave. If you are not welcomed, don’t make a fuss, shrug your shoulders and move on.’ (Message version)

We live in a world full of stuff. We have a new telly and I am struggling to learn how to turn it on. Once upon a time I pressed a button. Now you have remotes with twenty odd buttons, only one of which will do what you want it to do.

Handbags are good places to keep stuff: hankies, keys, paracetamol, that discount voucher for £2.00 off the shopping at Sainsburys.

My doctor’s bag is also another repository for stethoscope, sample bottles, request forms etc. To be a western GP requires a lot of equipment.

What did Jesus give the disciples so they could heal?

No stuff, just POWER and AUTHORITY, enough to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. So how do we receive these gifts when we need them?

Power is defined as: The ability or capacity to perform or act effectively. A torch without its battery isn’t much use, it doesn’t shine very brightly. The battery enables the torch to do its job. Power from Jesus enables us to function. Jesus showed us when he was on earth the ‘perfect functioning model’ of human life. Full of love and compassion, he ate, he drank, he laughed, he cried and he healed people.

I would love that power more and more in me!

And authority.

Power is about making something or someone work, authority is about the ‘rightness’ or legality of exercising that power. Authority about being the lighthouse and rather than being the wreaker on the cliff.

Jesus doesn’t just give us the power but he gives us the endorsement to use it ‘in his name’

It’s not complicated. We get power and authority from Jesus. Then we go and use that to heal the sick.

Group applications:

What healings have you seen or experienced yourself? Share some stories.

Why do we often make it more complicated than it really is?

How could we grow in the use of the power and authority we have been given? What gets in the way?

Why is it that not everyone is healed when we pray and how can we cope with that well, and still keeping praying for people?

File Size: 4

File Type:

God who answers prayers

8 August 2010

Author: Duncan

Keywords:

God wants his people to pray.
Scripture shows us how diverse and exciting this can be: Sometimes it is a loud and public as a nation gathers to pray & celebrate. Sometimes it is intimate and pained as a person looks for relief from suffering. Other times it is mournful and honest as someone comes clean with God about their own sin.

Whatever the prayer, Jesus encourages us to remember that we pray to God who is both Holy and at the same time Our Father. Jesus sums it up in these words: ‘When you pray, say “Our heavenly Father, You are Holy!”

Some keys for effective prayer…

As his people we should pray with confidence. (Matt 7v10) We should pray with our eyes on God, not our circumstances: Remind yourself He is your Heavenly Father. He is good and powerful, keeps His word and loves his children.

We are to pray honestly (Matt 6v7) Use normal language, be honest about the reality of your life. Give thanks to God that He has saved you!

We are to pray with others in mind.(Matt 6 v10) – to pray for justice, pray for others healing, pray for the will of God to be done!

We are to pray with persistence. Luke 18v1 starts with the statement “Jesus taught the disciples this parable so they would pray and never give up!” Continuing to believe that God can bring about a breakthrough honours God, changes situations and changes us!

Finally, we are to pray with the Holy Spirit – both letting the Holy Spirit guide your prayers, using our spiritual gifts and being open to pray spontaneously! (Eph 6v18)

Some questions for reflection
Share with one another an experience of answered prayer.
Share what you find a helpful way/place to pray or style of prayer
Share a current prayer goal.

Activity:
Read through ‘The Lords Prayer’ (Matt 6, v9-13). It is split into 5 key sections. '
Our Father in heaven, You are Holy..
.. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
.. Give us today our daily bread.
.. Forgive us for our sins, as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
.. Keep us from temptation and rescue us from the evil one’.

Studying the passage:
Each bit is slightly different. How would you describe each section?
What does it mean for how we pray?
What do these different elements tell you about God? What does it tell you about how to relate to God?
What is God reminding you of as you read through these sections?

Practical things you could do on your own or as a City Group:

Take some time as a group to pray through each element of the Lord’s prayer.

Try some different ways of praying – try silent prayer/sung prayer/waiting on the Holy Spirit or taking communion as you pray.

If you find prayer really hard.. write down 3 things: Something to thank God for, something pray for someone else and something to pray about your own life. Pray for each thing for 1 minute. Do the same thing before the end of your day.

File Size: 4

File Type:

God is a Servant

1 August 2010

Author: Andy

Keywords:

A servant is someone who does what’s best for others – who puts them first. That is what God is like. Jesus was faithful as a servant all the way to the cross.  As we look at Jesus on the cross, we can see the true meaning of who God is - He’s the God of sacrificial love.

Jesus washed his disciples feet and then said “I’ve given you a pattern to follow.  Love one another in just the same way that I have loved you”.  Jesus says that this is God’s design for life – that we would be like him in loving other people – in serving them;  in doing what’s best for them rather than for ourselves.

Serving is love in action. Serving enables us to take our desire to love beyond feelings or good intentions. We can always make a clear choice to love because we can always choose to serve.

Serving other people isn’t easy but we have help - Jesus didn’t just leave us instructions.  He said “Love one another as I have loved you…”  Jesus has poured his love out and when we understand how much Jesus loves us; when His love fills us; it changes us and gives us all that we need to love and serve others.  The message about Jesus is the announcement of a love that has changed the world, a love that fills people and then sends them off to live and work in a totally new way.

Serving others is fruitful.  It moves people; it melts people. It makes them ask “Why would you do this?  Why would you do what’s best for me and not for you?”  Jesus said “Love one another in just the same way that I have loved you.  If you do this, then the whole world will be able to see that you really are my friends!”

The service that we offer to God has incredible power and an eternal value that is far greater than anything we can imagine. As we give ourselves faithfully to the care of elderly relatives, young children, tedious studies or a demanding job sometimes we can feel like these are just tasks that we need to get through before the main event begins.  We can even begin to wonder if we are wasting our time.  But when we do these things we are following the Servant King in the way of selfless love. God’s economy is very different to ours. Jesus' death looked like a tragic waste but it was an act of service that would change the cosmos. 

One day the true value of our service will be revealed.  We will stand before Jesus and hear him say “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things - now take charge of many things.  Come in and share your master’s happiness!”

For discussion
1.  The passage begins by saying that Jesus knew some things (v.1 & v.3).  How do you think knowing that might have been connected with him serving his friends?

2.  What acts of service today do you think would be the equivalent of foot-washing in 1st century Palestine?

3.  Where do you feel motivated to serve?  Which acts of service do you know you need to do but find difficult?

4.  In pairs:
(1) Pray for one another
(2) For God’s help to grow in serving others…
(3) To be filled again with the love of God so that you can love others
(4) For God to show you again how he values all your acts of service

File Size: 4

File Type:

Monthly Newsletters

Group Description: This group holds all the monthly church newsletters. Contents includes articles, monthly calendar.





August 2010 News

1 August 2010

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for July 2010

File Size: 44

File Type:

July 2010 News

1 July 2010

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for July 2010.

File Size: 40

File Type:

June 2010 Newsletter

1 June 2010

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for June 2010.

File Size: 40

File Type:

May 2010 Newsletter

1 May 2010

Author: Julian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for May 2010.

File Size: 38

File Type:

March 2010 Newsletter

1 March 2010

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for March 2010.

File Size: 42

File Type:

February 2010 News

1 February 2010

Author: Phil

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for February 2010.

File Size: 48

File Type:

February 2010 News Insert

1 February 2010

Author: Andy

Keywords:

Information on our forthcoming 24-7 Prayer Week.

File Size: 62

File Type:

January 2010 News

1 January 2010

Author: Adrian Smith

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for January 2010.

File Size: 46

File Type:

December 2009 News Insert

1 December 2009

Author: Richard Davies/Simon and Sanna Finch

Keywords:


Report on Richard Davies' trip to India and Nepal.

Update from Simon and Sanna Finch in Auckland, NZ.

File Size: 62

File Type:

December 2009 News

1 December 2009

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for December 2009.

File Size: 48

File Type:

November 2009 News

1 November 2009

Author: Julian

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for November 2009.

File Size: 48

File Type:

November 2009 News Insert

1 November 2009

Author:

Keywords:

Serving the City for Conferences, Meetings, Events and Training.

Planning your meeting or event

File Size: 62

File Type:

October 2009 News Insert

1 October 2009

Author: Sola/FP Team

Keywords:

An article about Healing on the Streets of Tyneside and an introduction to each member of our new FP team.

File Size: 60

File Type:

October 2009 News

1 October 2009

Author: Andy

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for October 2009.

File Size: 46

File Type:

September 2009 News

7 September 2009

Author:

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for September 2009.

File Size: 50

File Type:

August 2009 News

1 August 2009

Author: David

Keywords:

Monthly Newsletter with all the news and articles for August 2009.

File Size: 44

File Type:

July 2009 News

1 July 2009

Author: Ian

Keywords:

City Church Monthly Newletter with all the news, views, ads and articles for July 2009.

File Size: 40

File Type:

June 2009 News Insert 2

1 June 2009

Author: Duncan/Gareth

Keywords:

News from FP misssion to Albania and Duncan and Ian's trip to New Zealand.

File Size: 58

File Type:

June 2009 News Insert

1 June 2009

Author: David

Keywords:

OWN IT news update

File Size: 54

File Type:

June 2009 News

1 June 2009

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Monthly Newletter with all the news and articles for June 2009.

File Size: 40

File Type:

May 2009 News

1 May 2009

Author: Ian

Keywords:

Have you got faith for a pizza?

File Size: 38

File Type:

May 2009 News Insert

1 May 2009

Author:

Keywords:

Healing Prayer Team/Who does what on the staff team?

File Size: 52

File Type:

Coming Events

Get Connected

Diary

06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14

Roll over a date for the days events.