Alva Baptist Church

Elective Soul Surgery

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

~Mark's Biography of Jesus, Chapter 2, verse 17

Jesus has come for us.

God let's us respond to what God has been doing in our lives. If I don't acknowledge it, if I don't agree that I am sick and in need of healing, then God let's me choose not to come to Jesus.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

~written by the Apostle John in his First Letter, Chapter 1, verses 8-10

Come to Jesus.

Follow Me

This short episode is a fraction of the sermon preached that day. More was said but only those who followed closely as requested were able to hear the rest. In the first Chapter of Mark's Gospel the disciples were following Jesus without explanation, based on their trust of the man Jesus. The Pastor asked the congregation to follow him in similar fashion. Not everyone enjoyed this experience.  Not everyone followed. The act of following did lead people, beside the preaching pastor, along the road to meet up with the Parish Church down the road in procession to the Alva War Memorial in Johnson Park for a Remembrance Service. The pastor is just a man and his words have value only to the extent that they are useful in pointing the congregation toward God.  This is why we rely on the word of God revealed in scripture so confidently. Following Christ, we don't have a flesh and blood person to walk beside, but we do have the sure record of His words and His example; and on this basis we do have fellowship with others in the community of believers that the Bible calls 'Body of Christ'.  There is a principle in scripture that we might describe as 'discerning the mind of Christ in community'. (observed in the Book of Acts 15:4-35) We come to know God; we become convicted of sin; we repent (turn away from sin) turning to God for forgiveness; and forgiven, we have fellowship with the Holy Spirit and with each other as redeemed believers.  In this faith we have communion. Through the word and worship stay close to Jesus and know first-hand what He has said and is saying to His church.  Don't refuse to come when He says 'follow me'.

Who is Driving? Mark 1:1-15

We see the Trinity in action in this short slice of Scripture: The Gospel according to Mark Chapter 1, verses 1-15. There is a short introduction to Mark as he tells "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God", according to Peter's eyewitness account that Mark witnessed Peter preach over the time he travelled with him. Founded on an understanding of prophetic scripture, Mark tells how Jesus is baptised and driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for and battles for 40 days with Satan and wild animals; helped by ministering angels. Jesus declaration of intent is summed up in the quote "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mar 1:15)