Introductory Bible Reading: 1 John 4:7-21
Speaker: Ian Prentice

🗓️ Sunday Memorial Arrangements, God Willing

🗓️ Thursday Bible Class Arrangements, God Willing

Jesus commented in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God". Enjoy three daily portions of God's word.

As a Jew, Jesus would have celebrated the feasts of the Lord as revealed throughout the Old Testament. It is important to reflect on the focus of these festivals:

"Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts... These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons". (Leviticus 23:2 and 4)

As BibleStudyTools notes, the following festivals appear in calendar order in the Old Testament: 

• Passover,
• Unleavened Bread,
• Firstfruits,
• the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost),
• the Feast of Trumpets,
• the Day of Atonement, and
• the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles or Ingathering).

Other festivals mentioned in Scriptures include Purim (mentioning gift giving specifically in Esther 9:26) and "feast of the dedication" (John 10:22).  

So what about the modern festival called Christmas that loosely aligns to Jesus Christ but more to other non-Godly influences such as Santa Claus, decorated trees, gift giving and eating. 

Is this a festival focusing on the Lord God? No.

Does this festival align to the life and ways of being of Jesus? No.

What does Jesus say about how we should behave? The New Testament building on hundreds of passages revealed to us in the Old Testament says about our responsibility and way of life as followers of the Living God:

“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. (Luke 14:12-14)

"Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:37:40)

These teachings build on the words in the Old Testament including:

"Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" (Isaiah 58:7

Other passages advise us to

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:13)

"...showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds". (1 Timothy:5:10)

We are reminded that the important, key thing we should as followers of Christ is to celebrate each first day of the week:

"the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Let's pause and consider what God wants and what Jesus Christ is all about.

“When my love to God grows weak,

When for larger faith I seek,

Then in thought I go to thee,

Garden of Gethsemane”

Excerpt From Christadelphian Hymn Book

📆 Weekly Memorial Meeting: Sunday, 11 am via Zoom only

19/12/21  P Crosley

26/12/21  T Crossley (Coventry West)

📆 Weekly Bible Class: Thursday, 7:30pm via Zoom only

23/12/21  GE Dawe - Bible Locations

30/12/21  C Hinton - Lessons from the Daily Readings

At our Bible Class tonight (via Zoom) we were joined by Chris Howard (Daventry) who shared with us an exploration of Bible Trees: Their Use & Symbolism.

Phil Crossley explores this important Bible topic of are you ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth? 

Length: 15 mins 4 sec

We'd welcome you to explore the December 2021 issue of the https://gladtidingsmagazine.org/Archive/2021/GT1651-12-2021.pdf 

• The Joy of Books
• John
• Words Matter
• Cain and Abel
• The Bible Companion
• The Passover
• Plague, Pestilence, Pandemic
• Bible Reader’s Wordsearch
• our E-mails and Letters

"Part of an interview-style video series where we ask Christadelphians, both young and older, how they came to a knowledge of the truth and what convinced them of the truth concerning Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

In these relaxed episodes, usually over a cup of tea!,   our guests talks about their experiences as a Christadelphian that inspired him to change their lives to become servant of the most high God – the self declared ‘God of Israel’, Join us and see how the Bible has the power to change lives of an open and receptive mind.

This episode features Geoff Dawe who talks about his journey of discovery and in particular, the importance of sound doctrine as a foundation to his faith."