We can measure God's love for us by looking at two things:
First, the Hugeness of God's Sacrifice.
Second, the Hugeness of our Sin.
So first: The Hugeness of God's Sacrifice.
John 3:16 tells us that God gave His only Son! This is huge! The God of the universe as a Son, an only Son and sacrificed Him for us! That’s like a bloke who goes fishing with his son in a boat, sees some people stranded on the rocks nearby about to be crushed by the waves, and goes to save them. While he's rowing hard his son falls in the water and he makes the decision to save the people and not his son!
Jesus 'Christ' - That Christ bit is not Jesus' second name, it’s his title. The name Christ, or Christos, comes from a Hebrew word meaning the messiah, or, the Ultimate King of the Whole Universe! This is mega-monarchy! His crown could support a race track! Yet He came to earth to die! That’s like the Queen of England dying for her country, times by quite a lot.
Christos also is 'divine' title, not as in fairtrade divine chocolate, but a title which shows that He is God! Jesus Christ is God! He is an infinite being and He came to die for us! Thus this is an infinite sacrifice!
Think finally about the death that Jesus died. He didn't just fall over or die peacefully in His sleep, He was crucified. A brutal way to die where the person on the cross slowly drowns because of the weight of their ribs on their chest makes their lungs fill up with blood. It is a horrendous, horrific, horrible, hugely hurtful way to die!
That’s the -hugeness- of God's Sacrifice!
Second: The Hugeness of our Sin.
We all sin, we know that, two minutes looking inside tells us that everyday we say, think, and do things which offend and infinitely holy, clean, and perfect God. But there’s more, it was while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8) that Jesus died for us! It was in the middle of the mess, before we did anything to acknowledge God, that God made the first move, and died for us!
The wages of sin is death so Romans also tells us. That sin is punished by death. We deserved punishment, not God's sacrifice!
Also, sin isn't just doing things wrong, that’s like 10% of what sin is! A much bigger proportion is just treating God as inconsequential in our lives. God sustains our every second, we are alive now, not because God wound us up and let us go, but because God thinks and speaks us into existence every second! To treat this God as if he doesn't matter is infinitively offensive and treasonous to God!
Our debt it huge! So huge that no human could pay for it, only a divine sacrifice would do!
That’s the hugeness of our sin!
If you’re a mathematician you could think about it as an x/y graph, where y is the vertical axis, and x the horizontal from +10 to -10 intercepting at 0. God did EVERYTHING, all positive, as much as could possibly could be done, the ultimate, infinitive sacrifice. So that’s +10 on the x axis. Quite a lot of love. We did everything wrong, totally, completely negative in our sin. We were as messed up as we could be, so the hugeness of our sin is at -10.
That’s the extent of Gods love, stretch wide your arms and hands as far as they can go, +10 all up to -10... You may recognize the shape?
Imagine you were found guilty in court for murder. You've been sentenced to death, but just as the hammer is coming down the doors burst open and a young man runs in and puts his hand under the hammer before it falls. He whispers in the judge’s ear and the judge nods his head. Then the young man and the guards come to you, remove your handcuffs and place them on this man, who then goes and dies in your place. You're then told by the judge you’re free to go; your sentence was borne by another. But when you get outside you're confronted by the press you inform you that the man who died was the judges own son.
You deserved death because of the hugeness of your crime, the judge and his son gave the most ultimate sacrifice! Huge love, for you!
Theirs one explanation (Ephesians 1:7), the riches of His Grace! GRACE. G.R.A.C.E. God's Riches at Christ’s Expense. All Yours. All Free. It’s not a response to your worth; it’s the overflow of God's worth.
This is why Jesus died. To show the massiveness of God's love.
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For more on this, grab yourselves a copy of 'The Passion of Jesus Christ' by John Piper
Monday, 13 October 2008
Why Jesus Died 1. - To Show the MASSIVENESS of God's love for us!
Friday, 29 August 2008
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Jonsies Back!
Katie and I (Tim) took off to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on my day off this week. Myself as a die-hard Jones fan, and Katie as an American we approached screen six at the Odeon with great anticipation. With script writing by George Lucas and directing by Steven Spielberg, the new Jonsie film has the classic action-junky, mystical history, pun-a-minute sparkle of its predecessors, with a gentle, o.a.p., cute-love, weird domestics of a 21st century bbc soap. ... although set in the time of the greasers and the jocks. The experience was also enhanced by the fact we were the only viewers on this occasion, thus had 24 premier seats and 50 or so standard seats to ourselves.
For more review-like reviews go here:
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/indiana_jones_and_the_kingdom_of_the_crystal_skull/
Did you see it too? Leave some thoughts on the comment section!
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Worship Central
If your a Christian Musician then you should really enjoy 'Worship Central.' Its a conference designed to encourage and equip a generation of worship teams, praise bands, song writers, or just people who love making music to God! We went a couple of months ago and had an awesome day, and we're going again!
12th July! (Starting off with Breakfast at Tim's House)
More info and booking here >>>http://www.worshipcentral.org/<<<
Koinos... this week!
Hey everybody! Remember its Koinos tomorrow night.
theLounge @ CCB (map here) 7.30-9.30. We're looking this week at 'Serving Together.'
If you haven't been to Koinos before we'd love to see you! Koinos is the midweek small group(s) that form the heart of the community for 14-18's at Christ Church Beckenham. We hang out together, get into our Bibles, pray together, play games together, and ask critical questions together. As with all our groups, if you're not a Christian you're still very welcome and the only thing expected of you is to bring your doubts + questions, make friends, and test things out for yourself.
Hope to see you all tomorrow!
Blessings
Tim
The Great Commission
This is the Great Commission given to the disciples (and subsequently us!) from the risen Jesus as recorded in Matthew:
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mow we have all heard a lot of teaching on this but there's something really simple which is often missed about this task... look what happens when we read it though the eyes of verses like this:
“Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.”- Jeremiah 23:24
Did you see it?
Who gave the great commission? Eh? It was God! THE God, through Jesus Christ. The God is is over and above everything, who created everything, who holds planets in his hands, who knows what every molecule of the universe is doing every second of every day! This God gave the great commission! 
Do we see this?
THE God of the entire universe has given US a job to do! This God! Doesn't the great commission take on a whole new meaning when we look at the one who gives it?
This is like the Prime Minister knocking on our door asking us to do a job for him... but Bigger!
So the God of the universe has asked for you... are you going to turn him down?
Caleb Club end-of-exams BBQ
Last Saturday we had a great afternoon in Anna Grimble's garden with a BBQ celebrating the end of the exams. It was a whole-load of fun + included, jimi hendrix, a mexican hammock, and genuine american burgers (in that they were made by a genuine american lady!)
We'll be having more of these puppies throughout the summer so don't miss out and do bring friends!
Soul Survivor!
We are indeed going ladies and gentlemen. Week C... thats the 16th - 20th August 08.
Let Tim know asap if you want to go!
Monday, 23 June 2008
CaleClub Gathering Last Night
Last night was an awesome night of reflection on God's call for our lives. We kicked off with some chilling out with a george foreman grill and a whole load of chicken, and then moved into the worship area.
We looked together at Ephesians 4:1-16, particularly verse 1. which says; "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
Tim taught that in order to live a life worthy, we need to get a bigger picture of what 'our calling' is, and so we talk a short walk through the first couple of chapters of Ephesians.
Chapter 1, verse 4 says we were individually chosen by God himself before anything else was created!
Ch.1:5 says were adopted as God's own children, which means we are heirs or all things in the universe!
1:7 says that although we messed up and mess up, God himself died on a cross in Jesus to forgive us, and set us back right with God!
1:13 says that God himself, in the Holy Spirit has come to live inside us... all the fullness of God has sealed us!
2:7 says that God has promised us such joy and riches in heaven that its going to take hm all of eternity to give us!
Finally 3:10 says that all the full wisdom of God is going to be revealed to the world, and even to the heavenly places... though us!
So our calling is chosen, adopted, redeemed, sealed, eternal, and used by God to show himself to the world!
We spent time responding to this through singing, writing, meditating, encouraging each other and praying at prayer stations.
Monday, 16 June 2008
teaCosy
teaCosy was an awesome hit Saturday night! We drank lots...and lots.. of great tea. They'll e another in 1 month! But for now, enjoy some picures:
Friday, 13 June 2008
teaCosy
Tomorrow!
Sat. 14th June.. 7.30-> ... in the lounge, age 14-19(ish) (map here)
Come.
Drink tea.
Play age-old board games.
Watch Beano shorts.
Invite Friends... even make new friends!
Tommorrow!
Come!
>>>Click here for dirrections<<<
Monday, 26 May 2008
Central Line's Blue Jeans Banquet! - The Line/Barn danceoff!
So our two lads teams took the challenge of best line/barn dance, here are the videos of their final efforts!
Team 1:
Team 2:
Thursday, 22 May 2008
Monday, 12 May 2008
Caleb Club
So yesterday we had a great night at Caleb Club. We looked at Psalm 23 a little bit and tried to figure out what the deal is when we seem to be stuck in our faith through difficult points in our lives, and we asked God to fill us again with the Holy Spirit and keep us walking. Here's a few shots from the night:
Live n' Let Love
Some shots from the Youth n' Kids Program at the CCB Weekend Away at Pilgrim Hall.
A massive thank you to the team:
Anna Gimble
Kayleigh Fox
Steph Fox
Emily Gray
Sarah Gardiner
Nick Batt
Cathal Crumpler
for all your help, the kids loved you, you were a great Godly example to them and to me and I wouldn't have got through it without you! Thank you!
Thursday, 24 April 2008
A couple of bands to ave listen to
Click the band name to be beamed to their website/myspacemusic/purvolume site to check them out.
Emery.
Kutless.
Tim Hughes.
That'll do for now...
Benjamin Slee, 'Just As I Am'
Hey guys n' gals... plug for Ben's ep, 'Just As I Am.' Grab them from him at Caleb Club. - If you don't know Ben, he's one of the Worship Leaders at CC, a musical legend, a great lover of songwriting, and has potential for major growth n' maturity in the Christian music scene. Watch this space!
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
CCB's Weekend Away
Christ Church Beckenham's Church Weekend Away is happening NEXT WEEKEND!!! - Thats Right, we're all packing up and heading south for Pilgirm Hall (how much south does this country have?!?) for a weekend out teaching, praise, games, and chilling out together! We're going to be spending the whole weekend in John 13-17... cool.
If you haven't get signed up, do so, like... really really quickly! Talk to Tim (timmy.gee@hotmail.co.uk) or find brian after the 10.30 service.
Theres going to be a Kids'n'Youth program too, called 'Live n' Let Love.' - Still looking for leaders, again, let Tim know asap.
Cheers!
Monday, 21 April 2008
CCYM's Culture Beliefs
Welcome to the Christ Church Youth Ministry : blog. At CCYM we have a couple of culture beliefs about all we do.
1st. - We try to be seeker friendly - we believe that everybody is in process, and encourage people to explore at the level they are at. - So skeptics and doubters you are very very welcome! We're not here to indoctrinate you, we do want to provide a place for you to explore and ask questions.
2nd. - We try to live genuine faith - we don't believe in the 'perfect christian' default... and we don't believe in forced-'happy-clappy' faith. - We believe God wants our hearts in the shape they are in, including all the dirt/darkness in our lives and circumstances - thats the stuff which he transforms!
3rd. - We are a christian community - not that we expect everyone to believe what we do... like whats said in 1. skeptics and doubters welcome, but our answers, and our posts will come from a worldview that believes Jesus is the Son of God, who died, rose again, and offers freely eternal life.
So poke around, chill out, mail in questions, leave comments. This is a safe place to be who you are. So be real and be open.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Koinos
Last night was the kick off for koinos. We learnt about a guy who went swimming in beans while singing the wrong verses to jingle bells and that Nick Batt walks past a giant golden bum every day. Fascinating Stuff!
We also got deep into Mark 1:1-15; the Gospel kick off. We discovered that Jesus is prettyhuge in Mark's eyes, and from some Old Testament background we were able to learn that Jesus is the bringer of the good news, the judge, the king, the comforter, the one who would totally turn time, the Lord, humble, one who can forgive our sins against God, a new Adam (i.e. the man who would reverse the fall and restore creation) a total legend, and even... God Himself!
We also learned that time is imperative... the time is now! That we need to respond to God now! That means every day turning from our own ways of life and returning to God's way of life.
We thought a little bit about the wilderness to, those times when we feel far (and even abandoned?) from/by God and flat-out teased and tempted by Satan, the times where we’re restless, hungry, thirsty, spiritually and emotionally aching, and more than a little confused. - We understood that it was God himself who sent Jesus to the wilderness, and it had perfect purpose and He cam out gold! - And so we thought that in those times we can be encouraged that we're still walking in God's plan, that he's not abandoned us, and we will come out if we hold fast to his promises!
What’s the main point? Repent and Believe. That is, turn from the things and life we know isn't what God wants, and commit to God's way, and look to Jesus and believe in who He is!
Awesome night! Come next time!
Caleb Club age in to week’s time, Thursday night (21st) 7.30-9.30.
