News & Life Group Notes (17.11.24)

Here’s a quick summary on some upcoming events (with links) as well as the life group discussion notes for this week.

Upcoming

Sunday 24th November (already!)
Prayer & Worship Meeting, 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Saturday 30th November
Reconciled Church Day (Sidcup), 10 am to 4 pm

Sunday 8th December 
Carols at Crown, 11 am to 12:15 pm

Sunday 15th December
All-age Service with Kids Nativity Drama, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Life Group Discussion Notes
Last weekend was ‘New Ground Sunday’, where we watched a few videos from others in our family of churches. You can find all the videos here, including video updates from various churches across New Ground that we didn’t see this morning.

We heard from David Holden this morning, with a message based on Ecclesiastes 7:10, “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.”
If you didn’t hear the message today then it’s well worth checking out the 13-minute video here: https://vimeo.com/1010179528

Here are the Life Group notes for this week:

Are We Looking To Our Past Or Our Future?

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’
For it is not wise to ask such questions.

There is a danger that in looking back at ‘the good old days’ we can miss what God has for us today. This can be true as a network of churches (New Ground) as a local church and individually.

In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul says that ‘the surpassing worth of knowing Christ’ is far more precious than anything we’ve ever achieved, and so he writes, “one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

In another letter, Jesus is described as the “anchor for our soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). The picture here is of Jesus sat in the ‘inner sanctuary’ (at the right hand of the Father in Heaven) and we are attached to him by an unbreakable rope. He is also described in this passage as our ‘forerunner’; going ahead of us; instead of us; taking all the danger upon himself; going through death itself so that we can follow Him, certain that He will pull us home. This firm and secure hope helps us to be patient and to persevere. We can look ahead, and look with confidence, something that not many people in the world are able to do.

There are times when looking back is important; to remember God’s faithfulness and to tell stories to inspire faith in the next generation; but it’s never wise to say that those days were better. Our default position can be to live by faith, fixing our eyes on things not yet seen.

Questions:

1) What are the ‘old days’ for you? What do you tend to look back on and think that was better than today?

2) Can you see why saying this is an unwise thing to say?

3) As well as eternal life, is there anything else specific that you feel God is calling you or Crown Church to? Or when was the last time you felt God was calling you to do something?