On Saturday 11th March it was time for the UK MFG Regional Day. The theme of the day was 'Building on the Word' and there were representatives from 14 UK Churches. We began with worship led by the Compass Church Team.
Our Main Speakers were Ken Stroud and Paul Cooper.
Both gave messages to encourage us to make sure the Word is central to all we do.
First we heard from Ken, he said
'there is a “drifting away” from the centrality of the Bible as the only rule for faith and conduct'
and he shared some important observations with us:
- Replacing the Bible with “other” things removes the means of faith and the ability to please God
- Loss of the Bible in the pulpit is loss of the bible in the pew
- Marginalising the Bible is a slippery slope
-Reducing the Word leads to a reduction of the harvest in quantity, quality and experience
- Loss of the Word robs people of the hope and security for this life and the next
- What you feed people determines their growth
- Proclamation of the Word is to make people holy and not necessarily happy
Both gave messages to encourage us to make sure the Word is central to all we do.
First we heard from Ken, he said
'there is a “drifting away” from the centrality of the Bible as the only rule for faith and conduct'
and he shared some important observations with us:
- Replacing the Bible with “other” things removes the means of faith and the ability to please God
- Loss of the Bible in the pulpit is loss of the bible in the pew
- Marginalising the Bible is a slippery slope
-Reducing the Word leads to a reduction of the harvest in quantity, quality and experience
- Loss of the Word robs people of the hope and security for this life and the next
- What you feed people determines their growth
- Proclamation of the Word is to make people holy and not necessarily happy
Paul Cooper shared with us in the afternoon, he said that scripture will bring us clarity and light in confusion.
'You can hear so many messages, peoples own interpretation, peoples own version, verses taken out of context, an incorrect understanding. We need to learn to check it out with the Bible.'
He went on to encourage us to study the Bible. That it is the truth and it remains the truth no matter what others (society) say. But that when we have faulty interpretation it makes for faulty application which is why we have churches/ individuals doing all manner of things in the name of the Lord that just aren’t biblical. So we must know the Word.
'You can hear so many messages, peoples own interpretation, peoples own version, verses taken out of context, an incorrect understanding. We need to learn to check it out with the Bible.'
He went on to encourage us to study the Bible. That it is the truth and it remains the truth no matter what others (society) say. But that when we have faulty interpretation it makes for faulty application which is why we have churches/ individuals doing all manner of things in the name of the Lord that just aren’t biblical. So we must know the Word.
The breakout sessions were led by Sarah Manohoetoe & Stuart Simpson, both of whom brought words to encourage us once more to know our Bibles and to live bible-centered lives. We certainly left this day spiritually fed and of course, we had lots of good physical food too as we shared a delicious feast at lunchtime together.
We were blessed with new MFG members being set in and prayed over, we also had several new visitors join us for the first time. Every where all around there was laughing and hugging and chatting. It was so good to see friends from near and far.
We were blessed with new MFG members being set in and prayed over, we also had several new visitors join us for the first time. Every where all around there was laughing and hugging and chatting. It was so good to see friends from near and far.
We ended the day with communion and prayer, asking God to bless our gathering and the churches represented.
We now look forward to seeing our international friends at the Annual conference in May - booking is open now on the App and on the MFG website.
