Category: UL Values

Value #7: Being shaped by the Bible

28/11/2014

As God's people we believe the Bible is the reliable, authoritative, and sufficient word of God.
There are many influences and worldviews that would shape people's lives. Our life together is shaped by the big story of God's redemption and love in Jesus Christ - from before creation right through to the new heaven and earth.
So we regularly spend time learning together from God's Word and it is as we see ourselves in this big story, that our choices, character, and relationships are shaped.

Who do we listen to? That's a big question for us. There are many voices in our world, clamouring to be heard. We can think of friends, family, the media, education, politicians, different faiths, non-faiths, and various kinds of -isms along the way.

Sometimes we know clearly and up-front what a voice is saying to us. Sometimes it is not so clear. I think this is especially true with the media. It may be films or TV programmes we watch, or music we listen to. It may be newspapers or magazines we read. There are the news reports on TV and radio too. All kinds of voices. And these are not all bad. Not at all. The point here is not to be paranoid about all these things and go and live in a cave somewhere to hide from them. No. The point is to realise that there are always worldviews and values behind any communication from people - because noone is 'neutral'. We all have biases.

We thought about this by watching two quite normal acceptable news reports about the Ukraine crisis. It was one year ago that the demonstrations hit the streets in Kyiv, and since that time, tragedy has come to the lives of many. We watched a report from the BBC on what has been happening over the year, and then compared it with a report from the Russia Today website. They both seemed fine, but slight changes in tone, wording, and at some points, opinion, made it clear that these two were coming from different stables.

So the issue is, knowing who we are listening to, and making a point of listening to the voices we can trust. It involves thinking.

As followers of Jesus, we listen to his voice, and in particular listen to the voice of God as it comes to us through the pages of the Bible. It is a great story; it outlines all God is doing and has done throughout history, and we get to be a part of it!

Understanding what the story is, and what our place in it is, shapes how we live. It affects choices we make. It affects the way we see issues. It affects the way we see other people, and the way we act towards them. It shapes our hearts - our character - who we are at our core.

This was why Paul was encouraging the young leader, Timothy, in his letter to him in the New Testament. He was facing all kinds of bewildering issues, and lots of opinions on it all. But Paul encouraged him to remember what he had been taught, and then said this:

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work
2 Timothy 3 v16

So, this is why as Urban Life, we spend time reading and learning from the bible. We read it ourselves through the week, and we read it together when we meet. It is the voice we listen to above all others. This is the explanation of reality - 'life, the universe and everything.' It's the story we find ourselves in, as followers of Jesus.

That's why we spent a big part of this past year going through an overview of the bible story. We stopped for a while in September to look at our values again, but after Christmas we will be picking up where we left off, and going with the rest of the story through to Easter.

We need to see the big story - the upper story, and as we do, we comprehend the lower story of our everyday lives that much better.

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Value #6: Serving together using our gifts

27/11/2014

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As part of the body of Christ, we use our gifts in every aspect of life, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We shape activities around opportunities, gifts and passions of our members.
Leadership is not about control, but about setting a vision by modelling and teaching the gospel, so creating a culture in which everyone flourishes in ministry.

Jesus Christ does not live on this planet in a human body anymore. Or does he?

It's clearly true that he is not walking around Palestine as he did 2000 years ago, in the body he had then. But the bible speaks of another body now, which he inhabits and through which he touches the world... the body of Christ - his people!

As his Spirit lives in his people, he shapes and leads them so that we are his ambassadors in his world. We love people, and serve people, and we do it together.

The body idea is a brilliant one, which explains just how we are all different, and yet we work together to fulfil Christ's work:

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12 v 12-27

So... we each have different gifts and different roles.
This means:
- None of us have everything
- We need each other
- It is as we work together in our church family, that Christ's work is done.

We drew a big body outline, and named many different body parts. Then we named many different body gifts. When we think about activities that we do with our bodies, whether running down the street, eating a meal, or whatever, many different parts of the body need to be at work to make it happen. Likewise for God's people.

If God has a plan for what he wants us to be doing in the community, it is going to follow that he will have gifted us and planted a passion for it among us. And so as leaders, we seek to lead and shape people so that they are able to use their gifts to serve, together.

We serve together.

Lord God, we are your people, we are the body of Christ, and you put each one of us where you want us to be. Please shape us and use us to serve and work for you just how you want.

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Value #5: Praying wherever and whenever we can

14/11/2014

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As worshippers of God, we love, honour and depend on him and express this as we pray - individually and together in community.

We pray as an impromptu response to needs and opportunities. We pray for others and we offer prayer as one way of serving others around us.

As we pray we recognise that God is the orchestrator of mission in his world, and he is our source of power and strength.

When we read about the life of Jesus, in the bible, there are many wonderful things that he did and said. But it is easy to overlook something very important which crops up here and there, as a one-liner before or after another story... something like this:

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place.
Luke 4:42

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed
Luke 5:16

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God
Luke 6:12

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked....
Luke 9:18

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him, and went up onto a mountain to pray
Luke 9:28

You get the idea! No wonder then that it gets to the point where we read this:

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray...'

They had clearly been watching what he was doing, and realised there was something different about the way he prayed.

It wasn't like the disciples had never prayed before. And they would have seen many other people praying too, over the years, as they had lived in those Jewish communities... but there was something about the way that Jesus prayed that made them think - we really haven't cracked this at all! Something about the way he prayed, and the things he prayed for.

And so they ask him to teach them and he gives them a kind of agenda for prayer.

Father, hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Give us each day our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us
And lead us not into temptation
Luke 11:2-4

These are the big issues a healthy prayer life should be grappling with. These are the things that matter. We often call this 'The Lord's Prayer' and recite it, which is good, but it was meant for more than that. It's an agenda for prayer as we think about God, our world, and our lives. This is something we have talked about in Urban Life before, and one way of working with this agenda is to pray through it, bit by bit, bouncing off each phrase and talk to God about each one.

We can also learn about prayer in other passages of the bible. So we looked at Matthew 6. We looked at some of Paul's prayers in Philippians 1 and Ephesians 1. We looked at the early church in Acts 4. And we looked at Jesus's Parable of the Persistent Widow, where he teaches us to always be praying and never give up.

Prayer is so important for us. It is part of our relationship to God himself. It is an expression of how much we need him, and so it is really worth spending time thinking through how we approach him, and how we make space, like Jesus Christ himself did, to spend time with him.

Exactly when and where is not prescribed for us. But the need to make space in our lives to pray to our Father in Heaven, is very clear. Sometimes we do this together, praying in our meetings, praying with another as they tell us about a need, but aswell as these times, we also make space to get alone with God.

This prayer thing is not just some kind of dry rule - just a routine we have to have - no, it's really good for us. Time spent with the Father in this way, strengthens us and empowers us to go and live our lives with more joy, more peace, and more purpose. We get in line with what the Holy Spirit is doing in his world, and we bring blessing to those around us as we pray for them and with them.

Without it, we are like two friends who claim to be close but never talk, or like a couple who say they love each other but never spend any time engaging together.

I think lots of us have experienced the fact that when we do make the time after a dry spell, we come back wondering why we left it so long. And when we regularly make space in our lives for this, we are clearer, happier, more centred and better people! Honestly - it's a privilege and a source of joy to us as we connect in this way. Let's make space to pray!

Father we come to you and ask that you will keep us dependent on you.
Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.
Spirit fill us and guide our prayers. May we always be ready to turn to you as a natural instinct as we face all that comes our way each day, and live it all for you.

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Value #4: Working for city renewal

9/11/2014

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As residents of our city, we want to work to redress injustice, pursue reconciliation, and welcome the marginalised.
We celebrate the diversity of culture in our local contexts while recognising the need for gospel renewal.
We encourage one another to glorify God and serve others through the workplace, business, community projects, government and artistic endeavour.

What attitude should we have to our city, to our culture? This is a question the church has often grappled with. Sometimes Christians have said - 'stay apart from it all, stay separate, so that you can keep your identity'. Others in society would say - 'come and join in, don't be any different, give up your identity'. But its interesting that in the bible, when the prophet Jeremiah was talking to people in a similar sort of situation, he basically said - 'join in, get involved, and yet keep your identity as the people of God.'

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah ch29 v4-9

A guy called Tim Keller has written a lot about this and makes these points above. As shown in those writings of Jeremiah, these people of Israel, now living in Babylon, were trying to figure out how they should live. And the three scenarios above were discussed. But Jeremiah was clear that God wanted them to be positively involved in life there, while maintaining their identity.

We can see it in the life of the Old Testament character Daniel, aswell. As in Jeremiah's case, he was looking at life in a country where his values were not shared, and where, at times, there was great hostility to his beliefs and practices. And yet, he became determined that the right thing to do was serve and bless the new place. Daniel served but remained clearly as a follower of the Lord, known to be praying three times a day, and known, along with his friends, to serve the Lord first and foremost above all others (including the king). They almost lost their lives over these things, but in the end became recognised and respected all the more for their clear convictions.

Of course, not everyone was involved in the leadership of the country as Daniel and his friends were. But whatever the situation they found themselves in, the people were to be engaged and take a positive attitude to the city, while still being clear in their faith. This is what we want to do and it may be worked out in all kinds of ways, whether in the workplace, in our leisure time, through business, the arts, education, community collaborations, or simply neighbourly kindness. We are seeking to serve others and be a positive influence.

We want to do what we can for the place we live in. We love Derby. We love the people. We love its rich heritage and cultural diversity. We also see its brokenness and so want to bring healing, hope and light that Jesus Christ can bring, into dark and difficult situations. We want to bless this city in doing what we can to make life here fairer for all, more comfortable for all, battling injustice and poverty and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Sometimes that will involve challenging situations and people. But we act out of a desire to love, serve and see people and places renewed.

We are seeking to bless, not tear down. Seeking to love, not hate. Seeking to encourage, not discourage. Seeking to bring peace not conflict. Seeking to bring forgiveness not shame. Seeking to bring hope not despair. Seeking to bring life, not death.

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Value #3: Being an inclusive community

20/10/2014

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As part of God's diverse people we warmly welcome those from all backgrounds and we seek to make church accessible to unbelievers, offering a sense of belonging.
We are a community of grace in which people can be open and vulnerable.
We are God's forgiven people and we welcome and support other broken people as they journey to find forgiveness, peace, joy, hope and freedom in Christ.

There is such a variety of people in the world. With all our different cultures and ways of living, it makes interaction with others a rich and varied experience. There are so many different sounds, colours, smells, tastes, personalities, styles, interests, hobbies, and more. A wonderful array of humanity.

And yet, alongside this, there are real difficulties for many. There are some groups or types of people who we may find difficult. It might be because of background, or a nationality, or because of certain behaviours we find unpleasant or annoying, or because of a way of life, a belief system, or a personality-type... there are endless differences between us as human beings on this planet, and so as well as the beauty of it all, the scope for finding people we don't like is significant, and so the fractures begin.

It has been this way since way back. In Jesus' day there were lots of tensions between different groups and didn't have much time for one another. But Jesus made a point of spending time with all kinds of people and often this made onlookers uncomfortable. They would wonder, how can he spend time with these people one minute, and with those the next.

Here's a classic encounter from Luke's gospel, chapter 5:

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth.“Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Tax collectors were hated as traitors. They were working for the occupying forces, so you can imagine the hostility they faced, and that's before you consider the way they would fleece people by taking a cut for themselves. They were outcasts, and so their social circle became other 'outcasts'... but Jesus not only calls Levi (who became Matthew the disciple) but spends time at his house with his friends and eats with them.

What's the big deal about eating and drinking? In that culture, as in ours, its a significant sign of friendship, association and acceptance. To refuse to eat with someone is to reject them.

Did Jesus just sweep Levi's issues under the carpet? No. The inclusive nature of Jesus love and friendship and acceptance is the beginning of a journey. It brings transformation; power to be healed from the brokenness of our lives. It is a call to become more complete and fulfilled than we ever imagined.

God has accepted us as his people, even though we did nothing to deserve it.
So realising this and seeing ourselves rightly, we understand we are those who have received his grace, not as those who are better than others. There's no room for a 'holier than thou' attitude.
So seeing ourselves rightly, we see others rightly too, as made in God's image, created and loved.
And putting those two things together, along with the example of Jesus, we seek to be an inclusive community, valuing all people, and calling them to follow him.
We adapt. We welcome. We include. We love.
Just as God has accepted us into his family, so we love, welcome and include others too.

Lord thank you for your grace and forgiveness in our lives, making us whole. Help us to show grace and love to others.

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Value #2: Sharing life as family

12/10/2014

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As children of God, we care for one another, disciple one another and are committed to resolving any conflict between us. We celebrate life together and discuss big decisions as extended family. We emphasise hospitality and use homes for most of church life.
This model is also a simple and reproducible form of church without any trappings that could limit freedom and flexibility.

What is family? Here are some of the things we all came up with today as we met together:

Families...
- do things together... like go to Legoland (apparently!)
- support each other and help each other
- are together in the hard times
- eat together
- relax together
- celebrate together
- give gifts to one another
- do jobs for each other
- tell silly jokes
- laugh
- argue
- show love
- are friends
- are where you can 'be yourself' and be honest
- travel together

The bible uses the metaphor of family for church a lot. It is a major emphasis. All the things we wrote above are true for church communities. Because it's not simply that church is like a family. It actually is a family.

We read various parts of the bible including 1 Timothy. This book of the bible is a letter from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young man who was leading a church. Paul was talking about how church life should be, and in middle of all that he gives this reason:

I am writing this to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 3: 14-16

The household of God. And New Testament language backs this up as we read of God as our Father, being joint heirs with Jesus, being brothers and sisters, adoption, new birth, and so on.

This is a key identity for us.

We are family.

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What's the big deal about community?

11/10/2014

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Billy Joel, the American singer/songwriter, sang a great song called 'Piano Man'. Lots of people know it and enjoy singing along to it. I'm even thinking of going and banging it out as a tune on the piano that Dan from 'Pocket Places' has anchored out on Normanton Road for a couple of months - though of course I can't play remotely as well as Mr Joel. But it's a great anthem.

Many people love the song, but may not realise what its about. It is actually all about our need for community and how people crave it, yet may lack it even in a crowd. Listen to these lines:

Now Paul is a real estate novelist,
Who never had time for a wife.
And he's talking with Davy,
Who's still in the Navy,
And probably will be for life.

And the waitress is practising politics,
As the businessmen slowly get stoned,
Yes they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better that drinking alone.

There's a fuller commentary on the song here.

We are wired for community - we need it. We don't function well and our mental (and sometimes physical) health suffers without it. Why is this?

In Genesis chapter 1, the bible says men and women are made in the image of God - which is an interesting and baffling phrase. It's given brain ache to many great theologians as they grapple with it. What is it?

Well it doesn't mean we look like God in terms of eyes, a nose and a face. But it does mean that we reflect something of his character and nature. And one of the amazing things about the view of God we have in the bible is that he is in community in himself!

This opens up all kinds of other discussions of course, which make the mind boggle (though should it be surprising that seeking understand God's nature makes the mind boggle?) But it is amazing to realise there is something about the very nature of God which is a loving community - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. At the heart of God himself we see loving relationships. Amazing!

So as those made in the image of God (whatever that fully means), we get something of a sense of why relationships and community are so important to us. Even though the image is broken in us, this community instinct is still there. And the best and most important kind of community we need is with God himself, and with others who also know him. Together we find ourselves to be part of his kingdom, his family, a new society, a community of faith, love and hope.

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Value #1: BUILDING GOSPEL COMMUNITY

6/10/2014

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As those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are committed to encouraging one another with the good news that he came, died for us, rose to new life, and reigns as King - bringing us life. We want to share this news with others.
We challenge one another to be servant-hearted, risk-taking and flexible, because the good news is more important than our preferences, security and traditions.
As we live life, serving together and loving one another, church is encountered as a network of relationships rather than a meeting you attend or a place you enter.

So, yesterday afternoon we began our series looking at our values, and we thought about this first value - being a community based around the good news of Jesus.

What is community? Why do we desire it? What happens when we don't have it?

People all need community; it's something about the way we are wired - how we are made. We need relationships, to give and receive support, and a sense of togetherness around common aims. When we don't have it, loneliness and isolation is a terrible thing. Indeed, solitary confinement is one of the worst punishments we inflict on someone in our society.

So communities usually have a purpose - there is something that binds them together; something that they do together. For us, this is believing and sharing the good news of Jesus.
In the bible, the apostle Paul wrote to a church in Philippi, both appealing to them to live in loving community together, and reminding them what the gospel is - what Jesus came to do.

He's saying - come on - live together in loving community around a common purpose:
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Then he reminds them about the good news what Jesus came to do, both as our core belief, and as our example... being willing to be put out to any lengths in order to serve others and see people become part of his kingdom:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death--
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

This community serves God and is outward looking as well as caring for its members:
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Lord, please do this in us.

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Urban Life communities - followers of Jesus living life and bringing life in an urban setting!

The blog gives a snapshot of our life together as we post things we are learning about; things we believe; songs we love; readings and prayers to strengthen and help us; and general information about what is happening in our communities.

So here are updates, reviews, reminders and support for those who are part of our communities, and a chance to 'look in' for those who are interested and wondering what we are all about.

Value #7: Being shaped by the Bible

Value #6: Serving together using our gifts

Value #5: Praying wherever and whenever we can

Value #4: Working for city renewal

Value #3: Being an inclusive community

Value #2: Sharing life as family

What's the big deal about community?

Value #1: BUILDING GOSPEL COMMUNITY

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