A ‘certificate’ presented to our Christ Church Kids Teachers at the start of the year

The elders and congregation of Christ Church Balham have given their approval and permission for you to teach the members of ‘Christ Church Kids’ about Jesus from the Bible.

You are encouraged to remember how serious the task is to which you’ve been appointed.

Jesus said ‘Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea’ (Mark 9:42). In the light of this remember Paul’s words to Timothy, the young Bible teacher, ‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2:15).

We are very grateful to God for your willingness to be involved. We are especially thankful for your hard work in preparing lessons, your godly example expressed in loving interest in the children and your determination to make Christ Church Kids one of the highlights of their week! Please be assured of our prayerful support of your work.

A discussion document for our Knowing God group leaders in 2004

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6&7

At the outset of this discussion we ought to acknowledge our indebtedness to God for the growth we’ve experienced in the last two years at CCB and our dependence upon him for any growth we might experience in the years ahead. Church growth is due ultimately to God. Nevertheless God employs people and ideas to bring about his intended growth. Therefore though Paul knew that God had determined what worked he and Apollos had genuinely contributed to the growth of the congregations at Corinth. Under God what they had done had made a difference. Therefore at the start of our third term in our third year I thought we could visit the subject of growth and wonder whether we might make some observations and improvements to our planting and watering.

1. The desirability of growth

Occasionally some will object that growth is overrated or that we ought to recognise the growth in maturity that God has accomplished in people’s lives. That is true, in general I think that we have all grown and developed in our Christian faith as a result of our time at CCB. There are also some benefits to being small. Most notably the ease with which people can be integrated into church life. In addition it’s not fair to imply that there hasn’t been evangelistic growth. Wonderfully we’ve seen some people genuinely converted and we pray that those with whom we’re still in contact will soon turn to Christ. The picture is not at all bleak and we must not lose heart. However, we need to be realistic about where we are as a congregation and not let this issue disappear from our thinking for the following reasons.

a. We’d like to be sustainable

At the moment despite the sacrificial and generous contributions of many in the congregation we are financially dependent upon the Co-Mission Initiative. They continue to be wonderfully generous and there is no indication that they are about to pull the plug. However, in October we will be three years old as a congregation and we are not yet stable and viable. The addition of the morning, though adventurous and costly, will help produce stability in the long term since congregational members are more likely to be committed to staying long term.

b. We’d like to share the workload

There are probably a few in church who could do with a rest. In church life it’s often noticeable that a minority of people performs the majority of the work. The model for church ministry should be more like a rowing eight than a bus. In other words, we need everyone to make a contribution and for there to be very few passengers. The more human resources we have, the more our workload can be distributed among them. This will prevent fatigue and the attendant problems that accompany tiredness such as discouragement and negativity.

c. We’d like to start new ministries

There are other ministries that we’d like to start but we’re unable to consider because of our size. For example we could contemplate Mums & Toddlers, the Moore College Correspondence Course, Evangelism Training and ‘Joining In’ but we lack the human resources to do so. Our vision for CCB over the next ten years should include employing a curate, launching schools work, running our own version of the Park Party and planting a new church.

2. The factors affecting growth

a. The alternatives on offer in London.

We’re working against the grain with our evening congregation. Central London congregations offer quality preaching, music and often most importantly an active social scene. People are happy to commute to church for a number of legitimate reasons. I don’t wish to denigrate those that make this decision. I do however want to encourage people to consider the alternative. I also want to extol those who’ve forgone the larger churches in order to lend their support to a new gospel initiative. Those who have made the decision to join us have often done so for gospel reasons and that has been a cause for rejoicing. As we get larger we ought to become more attractive to those who are slow to appreciate the benefits of joining a congregation like ours.

b. The ability and opportunities to do evangelism.

Some within our congregation have exhausted their evangelistic opportunities from years of trying to persuade friends to come to gospel events. It may well be that the work place and lunchtime ministries prove to be more fruitful and that’s why we’ll go on encouraging our people to get involved in those. It may also be the case that people feel ill equipped to ‘take on’ their friends and deal with their objections to Christianity. That was certainly the response from a few people after the doctrine slot last night. The time to do some evangelism training may well have come around again.

c. The mobility of people in at this stage of life.

Inevitably job offers come along, people make career changing decisions or they go off travelling and so we lose people. That is a feature of London life and one of the frustrating factors in trying to build a gospel work. Very few people in their twenties are able to say what they’re doing in the summer let alone in a years time. That’s perhaps a little unfair but I’m prompted to follow Andy Fenton’s example who spoke to his South African contingent at St Andrew’s. He argued that for the sake of their long term usefulness back home they should extend their stay in Wimbledon for a couple of years so that they receive some training.

3. The strategy for growth

• Pray for it. Ultimately God determines whether our plans will succeed and result in growth or not and so we ought to ask him to bless what we do for his glory. Try and pray for particular needs as you observe them in the congregation. For example, with the departure of Peter and Clairelise Judkins we’ll lose two able musicians.

• Pursue excellence. In everything that we do let’s try and do it as well as we can and not simply what we feel that we might get away with. This is not only honouring to God but it demonstrates that we care about the things that happen in church and the people in church. In practice this should affect the way that we organise the stewarding on a Sunday or at Knowing God. It should affect the way we prepare our studies and take care of the individuals in our groups. It should affect the way we prepare to lead the Sunday meeting. Let’s not settle for anything less than our best.

• Develop an eye for detail. In our desire to cultivate an environment of informality we may be inclined to overdo it a little and think that we can develop a similar attitude to organisation. We may occasionally get away with it but it normally means that things end up being done badly. Those who try and ‘wing it’ in prayers don’t lead our public prayers as well as those who write them out in preparation. In the same way those who think that the job of stewarding is done if everything is out or everything is piled into the cupboard are not really doing the job properly. How we steward affects others not only the impression they get of CCB when they walk in but also our own people when they have to deal with the cupboard the following week.

• Model commitment. Try and produce the kind of commitment that you’d like to see from others. The power of example lends significant weight to our words of encouragement. We all know the value of attending and the importance of turning up to things. Of course people take holidays and have to be away but we must be wary of an incipient consumerist attitude to church that means we only ever turn up when we feel like it. The best weeks at church have been those when people have been there and that’s a powerful apologetic to the outsider. After all who wants to go to a church where people can’t be bothered to turn up!

• Develop congregational involvement. Look for opportunities to involve congregational members in the things of life. Invite a friend to the pub to watch the football, organise a game of tennis, arrange for an early breakfast and walk in Richmond park. It’s great news that the social events committee is taking off and that there’s an appetite and initiative for events. No doubt football in the park will take off again soon. The summer offers opportunities for organising social events at which church and unbelieving mates can come into contact. The projector has already been used to good effect in some small-scale events at 30 KG.

• Enthuse to outsiders. Be positive about CCB to others but do so with integrity! We’re not the only church people could go to and we’re not the nest in the area! Be honest about the benefits and costs of being involved. If you’re enjoying CCB and you think that what we’re trying to do is worth being involved in then say so. You are the people who are best placed to ‘sell’ CCB to others. If you’re chatting to Christians I find it’s persuasive to let them know what we want to do and how much we could do with some help.

• Persuade people to stay. Persuasion is not the same as coercion. Coercion is forcing someone to do something against the will and persuasion is convincing someone to change the mind about something. Coercion is ungodly and manipulative. Persuasion is what Paul did. We need to persuade people to stay so that we don’t slow the progress we’re making. This summer I am aware that we will lose a number of people. The mobility of London life means that we may well attract one or two others who move into London after graduation or who decide that it’s time to support a local work.

• Initiate feedback. If you think that the doctrine slots are engaging, the sermons are helpful, the music is encouraging, small groups are useful and the quality of public praying and leading is good then say so. Send an e-mail, send a card and chat about it to others. It’s been hugely encouraging to receive encouraging notes over the last few weeks from people for the mission and ministry in general. If you have negative comments then …

An extended kid’s slot for ‘Thank God … for 2007′

Who can tell me what’s special about tomorrow?

That’s right it’s New Year’s Day. And tonight is therefore called New Year’s Eve and lots of people will be celebrating. The great thing about a New Year is that it’s a time when we can decide to do things differently from the way we did them last year. That’s especially true if we think we made a mess of things last year and we think we need to change. So lots of people make things called resolutions. They might decide to eat less or exercise more or watch less TV.

But I wonder whether anyone here has a resolution they’re planning?

Wait for answers

With the help of Psalm 121 we’re going to think how we might do things differently with God in 2007. We’re going to do that in a moment. But let’s sing a song that tells us all the important things that happened in Jesus’ life. We sang it last week so I remain confident that it’ll go smoothly!

SONG

With the help of Psalm 121 we’re going to think about how we might do things differently with God in 2007. Let’s read the Psalm again.

1 I look to the hills! Where will I find help? 2 It will come from the LORD, who created the heavens and the earth. 3 The LORD is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble. 4 The protector of Israel doesn’t doze or ever get drowsy. 5 The LORD is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun. 6 You won’t be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night. 7 The LORD will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. 8 The LORD will protect you now and always wherever you go.

I wonder whether we spotted what the Psalm is all about. Has anyone got any ideas?

It’s a song all about God being our protector.

Look at (1&2). God is the one who will look after us and look out for us. The guy who wrote the Psalm said that God is brilliant at being our protector for three reasons and we’re going to think about those now.

1. God won’t fall asleep when He’s supposed to be protecting us (3&4)

Look at (3&4)

3 The LORD is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble. 4 The protector of Israel doesn’t doze or ever get drowsy.

God won’t fall asleep when He’s supposed to be looking after us. He won’t get out his duvet, snuggle up on his bed and have an afternoon nap. He wants to be awake every minute of every day to protect us. Let’s think what that’s like.

Two friends are chosen who are then asked to look after two precious things. One is diligent and every bit like God in the way he protects what’s precious [Tom]. The other is neglectful [Angus]. Both should be wearing black suits with a tie and shades. In addition a man dressed as a robber with a large swag bag, black and white stripy jumper, black trousers and a black mask with eyeholes cut out [Sean]. At the end of each point the robber is unable to steal the item from the diligent man but has no problem taking it from the neglectful man.

I’ve asked someone to be a volunteer this morning. Let’s imagine that one day they’re going to become very famous. They’re going to need someone to look after them and look out for them. And so I’ve started a Bodyguard Training School. Two men have sent in their CVs applying for the job. This man [picture of Angus] and this man [picture of Tom]. I’m not sure which one I want to give the job of looking after Rufus’ life and so I’m going to test them. They need to look after two things that are very precious to Rufus.

Me: Rufus what are the two special things that you’ve got?

Prepped answers!

One is his cricket bat and the other is his new rugby boots. They’re valuable because they’re special to him. Why don’t we leave the trainee bodyguards to protect my things and we’ll sing together.

SONG

During the song the neglectful bodyguard [Angus] falls asleep.

What did Angus do?

That’s right, he fell asleep on the job. He’s hopeless. You can’t protect someone when you’re asleep can you? But God will never do that. So the first thing we learn about God from this psalm is.

Put up first point

God won’t fall asleep when He’s supposed to be protecting us (3&4)

2. God won’t wander off when He’s supposed to be protecting us (5&6)

Let’s see what else the writer of this psalm said about God’s protection. Look at (5&6)

5 The LORD is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun. 6 You won’t be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night.

God won’t wander off. He’s like a right hand man. He’s always at our side ready to help us. He’s like a shadow he’s that close. So there’ll never be a time when God isn’t personally right by us ready to protect us. Let’s think what that looks like.

Angus failed at the first of the tests. But let’s give him a second chance. We’ll leave the trainee bodyguards to protect my things and we’ll sing together.

SONG

During the song the neglectful bodyguard [Angus] wanders off down out of the hall and down the corridor.

Where’s Angus? Let’s call him back. Let’s shout, ‘Come back, you’re supposed to be a bodyguard’.

All: ‘Come back, you’re supposed to be a bodyguard’.

Me: You wandered off. You can’t do that if you want to protect me.

God will never do that. He’ll never wander off when He’s supposed to be protecting us.

Put up second point

God won’t wander off when He’s supposed to be protecting us (5&6)

3. God won’t give up when He’s supposed to be protecting us (7&8)

Let’s see what else the writer of this psalm said about God’s protection. Look at (7&8)

7 The LORD will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. 8 The LORD will protect you now and always wherever you go.

God won’t give up. Even when it’s hard to look after us He’ll protect us. Even when He’s been doing it for a long time He’ll still protect us. God won’t give up. But how good will our bodyguards be at protecting?

Angus has failed at two tests so far but I’ve said I’ll give him one last go.

At this point the neglectful bodyguard [Angus] gives up and sits down on the front row.

Me: What’s he doing?

Me: Angus what are you doing?

Angus: I’ve had enough. I can’t be bothered. It’s a full time job looking after you and I’m just not cut out for it. I’m giving up.

Me: Angus might be a lazy good for nothing quitter. But God’s not like that. He’ll never give up.

Put up third point

God won’t give up when He’s supposed to be protecting us (7&8)

Conclusion

Which one of these two trainee bodyguards would you want to protect you?

Why?

But actually God is the best bodyguard that we could ever wish for because

• He’ll never fall asleep on the job

• He’ll never wander off from the job

• He’ll never give up on the job

There’s nothing more precious than the life God has given us.

Who do you think we should ask to look after our life?