Hi,
This week I've been struck again by the radical nature of following Jesus. It happened as a result of working on a project for school that had to do with 1 Peter. Let me give you the verse that has challenged me:
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (1 Peter 2:19)
Just think about that. What would your reaction be, if you would be treated unjustly as a Christian? Would you think of it as a gracious thing? Would you endure by trusting in God and remembering that this was the way Jesus was treated? So Yeah, maybe you feel that its rather radical to actually follow the Jesus way...
I am deeply convinced that even though Jesus Way doesn't seem to make the best sense to our natural mind, it is the best. So I encourage you to join with me to really live out a radical life with Jesus. It is the way God honors and blesses.
This weekend @ Kotikirkko:
Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm
Sharing
Worship
Bible Study: Ephesians 2:1-10 (Jesse)
Sunday English Service 11-12.30pm
Worship
Message from Ephesians 2:11-22
Communion
Welcome to be built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit...
Samuel
------------------------------
Special invitation from Tony to join the new small group that is starting this week:
This is a reminder that the small group study will be starting at 7pm this Thurs. the 2nd at Tony & Kimberly's. We will be meeting on Thurs. evenings every other week for a total of 6-8 sessions, depending on how quickly we progress through the material. Please feel free to forward an invite to anyone you think may be interested.
We look forward to seeing you,
Tony
Ps. Kimberly was officially due on the 29th, but baby is not coming anytime soon so we will both be there ;)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Vision of Jesus
I've been just studying how big deal it was for the church to defend the right view of Jesus. There were people who had a hard time wrapping their little brains around the Trinity and especially the divinity of Jesus. What's at stake in having the right view of Jesus? Well everything. Our salvation to start with. It is only in the incarnation of God himself, His death and resurrection that God took our brokenness and offered us a new grace to partake in the divine life. Christ restores the image of God for us and in us!
It is the vision of Christ that drives us to live an authentic life with God:
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
-------------------------------
I trust that you have heard about the tragedy in Finland. A school shooting again! (And on the same day a school siege in Canada). This world is in a mess and in a great need of people who can make a difference. We are people redeemed by God to bring redemption to this world. Christ in us is the hope of glory for us and the world around. May we live out our calling to be the salt and light in this dark and corrupted globe!
This Friday 7.30-10pm Prayer and Praise Night
There will be a flow for the evening from John 17. (You might just want to read it beforehand...)
We'll engage in prayer and worship in a variety of ways with the purpose of encountering God and joining in what He is doing.
Sunday English Service 11-12.30pm
Worship
Word
Small group response & sharing
Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday
and capturing a greater vision of Jesus together!
Samuel
It is the vision of Christ that drives us to live an authentic life with God:
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
-------------------------------
I trust that you have heard about the tragedy in Finland. A school shooting again! (And on the same day a school siege in Canada). This world is in a mess and in a great need of people who can make a difference. We are people redeemed by God to bring redemption to this world. Christ in us is the hope of glory for us and the world around. May we live out our calling to be the salt and light in this dark and corrupted globe!
This Friday 7.30-10pm Prayer and Praise Night
There will be a flow for the evening from John 17. (You might just want to read it beforehand...)
We'll engage in prayer and worship in a variety of ways with the purpose of encountering God and joining in what He is doing.
Sunday English Service 11-12.30pm
Worship
Word
Small group response & sharing
Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday
and capturing a greater vision of Jesus together!
Samuel
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
History Makers?
You want to be a history maker?
Quite a big dream, eh?
A bit risky too...
but hey lets look at it
There is this one passage that we looked at during Tuesday Greek class that I want to share with you. It's from the scene at the well where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman:
10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you(H) living water."
...
28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man(AJ) who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"
The woman left her water jar... She got so caught up in the realization of who Jesus was and the offer of living water (Spirit) that she just left her own water jar and went to tell about her encounter to her whole village! There is something for us to catch here too... When we realize the resources (Living water) Jesus has for us, we can drop our own and go in His! We can't do much in our own strength, but with His Spirit in us there is inspiration, energy and power to be history makers!
Let the "Living Waters" flow in you that you are filled to the overflow and the life you have with God "spills over" to this needy world.
Some plans...
This Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm
Sharing
Worship
Review of Ephesians 1 (so everyone can get to the same page; I am going to ask from you who have been studying together... please read and get ready to answer some questions!)
Discussion: How to be History Makers in Our Generation?
I'll give some historical background how the church turned the world upside down (or actually right side up!) in the first 3 centuries. Then we'll talk how we could engage in something like it...
Sunday English Service 11-12.30
Worship
Word: Klaus preaching!
Reflections and praying in small groups
also just a heads up on some upcoming Fridays:
9/26 Prayer and Praise Night!
10/3 Bible Study: Ephesians 2:1-10 (Jesse!)
10/10 Hot Topic evening
etc.
I just encourage you to be consistent cause if you want to grow Spiritually and build some community, you'v gotta get in with a commitment and take responsibility for your own growth and also to be a part of building up the body of Christ together!
Let's do it!
We can totally make history by just walking the Jesus way
and being the body of Christ for the world to see!
one little history maker in the making,
Samuel
Quite a big dream, eh?
A bit risky too...
but hey lets look at it
There is this one passage that we looked at during Tuesday Greek class that I want to share with you. It's from the scene at the well where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman:
10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you(H) living water."
...
28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man(AJ) who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"
The woman left her water jar... She got so caught up in the realization of who Jesus was and the offer of living water (Spirit) that she just left her own water jar and went to tell about her encounter to her whole village! There is something for us to catch here too... When we realize the resources (Living water) Jesus has for us, we can drop our own and go in His! We can't do much in our own strength, but with His Spirit in us there is inspiration, energy and power to be history makers!
Let the "Living Waters" flow in you that you are filled to the overflow and the life you have with God "spills over" to this needy world.
Some plans...
This Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm
Sharing
Worship
Review of Ephesians 1 (so everyone can get to the same page; I am going to ask from you who have been studying together... please read and get ready to answer some questions!)
Discussion: How to be History Makers in Our Generation?
I'll give some historical background how the church turned the world upside down (or actually right side up!) in the first 3 centuries. Then we'll talk how we could engage in something like it...
Sunday English Service 11-12.30
Worship
Word: Klaus preaching!
Reflections and praying in small groups
also just a heads up on some upcoming Fridays:
9/26 Prayer and Praise Night!
10/3 Bible Study: Ephesians 2:1-10 (Jesse!)
10/10 Hot Topic evening
etc.
I just encourage you to be consistent cause if you want to grow Spiritually and build some community, you'v gotta get in with a commitment and take responsibility for your own growth and also to be a part of building up the body of Christ together!
Let's do it!
We can totally make history by just walking the Jesus way
and being the body of Christ for the world to see!
one little history maker in the making,
Samuel
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Divine opportunities
Hi Everyone!
I hope your week has started good.
I started my classes today. It was quite overwhelming: Woke up at 6 and rode my bike all the way to UBC (1hour) to start Greek class at 8. Then History of Christianity class and later Christian Thought and Culture. Lot of new stuff to cover and learn. But I am excited to dig deeper and broaden my horizons.
There is one verse I would like to share with you:
"So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith" (Galatians 6:10)
It's good to have this as our daily attitude and prayer: "Lord give me Divine opportunities to do good today and to make you known"
Let me share you one Divine opportunity I had yesterday. We were at SuperStore grocery shopping when I saw this really dark skinned young man. I just felt to give him a big friendly smile. Later I saw him again and just said some friendly words. Well his dad was there too with an other African man and he started thinking why is this white guy so friendly to his son. He came to talk with me and as it turned out they were pentecostal believers from Uganda. There was great joy as we hugged and rejoiced together because we shared the same faith and Spirit. The man called me today and said how encouraged they were to meet us. It was a Divine opportunity to do good.
So I encourage you to embark on an everyday adventure as you ask for Divine opportunities to do good and seize the opportunities God gives. God gets the glory, we get the joy!
Then to what is happening this weekend at Kotikirkko:
Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm:
Sharing in small groups
A little survey
Worship time
Bible Study
Tea time!
Sunday English Service at 11am!!!
Worship
Message
Small group discussion and prayer time
If you want to prepare yourself, read Ephesians at one sitting (or at least chapter 1).
Enjoy the Divine opportunities you get this week!
Samuel Tedder
samuel.tedder@gmail.com
778-689-8100
I hope your week has started good.
I started my classes today. It was quite overwhelming: Woke up at 6 and rode my bike all the way to UBC (1hour) to start Greek class at 8. Then History of Christianity class and later Christian Thought and Culture. Lot of new stuff to cover and learn. But I am excited to dig deeper and broaden my horizons.
There is one verse I would like to share with you:
"So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith" (Galatians 6:10)
It's good to have this as our daily attitude and prayer: "Lord give me Divine opportunities to do good today and to make you known"
Let me share you one Divine opportunity I had yesterday. We were at SuperStore grocery shopping when I saw this really dark skinned young man. I just felt to give him a big friendly smile. Later I saw him again and just said some friendly words. Well his dad was there too with an other African man and he started thinking why is this white guy so friendly to his son. He came to talk with me and as it turned out they were pentecostal believers from Uganda. There was great joy as we hugged and rejoiced together because we shared the same faith and Spirit. The man called me today and said how encouraged they were to meet us. It was a Divine opportunity to do good.
So I encourage you to embark on an everyday adventure as you ask for Divine opportunities to do good and seize the opportunities God gives. God gets the glory, we get the joy!
Then to what is happening this weekend at Kotikirkko:
Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm:
Sharing in small groups
A little survey
Worship time
Bible Study
Tea time!
Sunday English Service at 11am!!!
Worship
Message
Small group discussion and prayer time
If you want to prepare yourself, read Ephesians at one sitting (or at least chapter 1).
Enjoy the Divine opportunities you get this week!
Samuel Tedder
samuel.tedder@gmail.com
778-689-8100
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
New Beginnings
Time to start a new season in the Kotikirkko Youth Ministry!
I am excited to experience new beginnings with you.
This fall is a new beginning for my family in Vancouver, new beginning for me as a student and a new beginning for me in ministry with a new youth group.
Maybe you too have many new beginnings this fall.
New school?
New friends?
New Pastor!
I pray that God would grant us a fresh start, a new beginning, in the youth ministry. Not that everything is going to be new, because obviously there is going to be a lot of continuity to what God has been doing among you. But still a fresh start for a deepening life of devotion and active involvement in the ministry!
My vision is: ...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13)
What to expect in this new season of youth ministry?
Well you'v got to come and check it out for yourself...
The first few Fridays will reveal a lot, so I hope to see you all right from the start!
This Friday prepare to share with me and with your brothers and sisters your journey: where have you come from in your life? What has God done in your life up to now? How do you expect the journey to continue?
I'll share also my story and something of what I want to see happen with you and me joining our journeys for sometime...
So I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Kotikirkko 7.30pm this Friday!
Samuel Tedder,
New Youth/Young Adult Pastor
778-689-8100
tedder.samuel@gmail.com
I am excited to experience new beginnings with you.
This fall is a new beginning for my family in Vancouver, new beginning for me as a student and a new beginning for me in ministry with a new youth group.
Maybe you too have many new beginnings this fall.
New school?
New friends?
New Pastor!
I pray that God would grant us a fresh start, a new beginning, in the youth ministry. Not that everything is going to be new, because obviously there is going to be a lot of continuity to what God has been doing among you. But still a fresh start for a deepening life of devotion and active involvement in the ministry!
My vision is: ...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13)
What to expect in this new season of youth ministry?
Well you'v got to come and check it out for yourself...
The first few Fridays will reveal a lot, so I hope to see you all right from the start!
This Friday prepare to share with me and with your brothers and sisters your journey: where have you come from in your life? What has God done in your life up to now? How do you expect the journey to continue?
I'll share also my story and something of what I want to see happen with you and me joining our journeys for sometime...
So I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Kotikirkko 7.30pm this Friday!
Samuel Tedder,
New Youth/Young Adult Pastor
778-689-8100
tedder.samuel@gmail.com
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