Philippians 1 v 12 -26
I thank God because the soldiers have learnt about Jesus.
All I care about is that Jesus is known
I am hoping to get back on the road and tell people about Jesus
If I’m alive I can teach people about God and if I’m dead I’ll be with God .All over I’m not afraid because I don’t care whether I live all die.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Friday, 25 April 2008
Our name - MIracle Stars
One Sunday morning over the holiday we spent some time thinking about our group name, Miracle Stars.
I’d only just discovered we had a special name – I thought we were just the 8-11s!!! And what a great name! It got me thinking……
I started wondering and asking Father God, “What could it look like for us to be Miracle Stars? Not just to have the name, but to actually be living like Miracle Stars for You, God, in Your world?”
First of all I thought about the world “miracle”. I think that a miracle is something that only Father God, in all His greatness, can do. It’s not like a card trick or part of a magic show that looks amazing but can be learnt if you know the secret and practice a bit. A miracle is life-changing and points to what God has done and who He is. Hmmmm…….That means that we, as Miracle Stars, might have something about our lives that only God could have done. When He breathes His life into us it’s a miracle, it’s life-changing and no=one and nothing else can affect our lives in quite the same way. Great!
Then I started thinking about stars. Our world is full of “stars” – pop stars, sports stars, TV stars, stars who are stars just because they are famous, beautiful looking people stars…..But there is one star in Matthew 2 that really caught my eye. It’s the star the astrologers saw who came to visit Jesus in the Christmas story (remember them? “We three kings” / gold, frankincense etc?!). They saw the star and said to Herod, “Where is the one called King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” I love that. The star had two jobs. Firstly, it pointed the astrologers to where Jesus could be found. Secondly, it led them to worship him. Wouldn’t it be great if we were the kind of stars whose lives pointed other people to Jesus, helped them get to know him and showed them how to make Him the biggest thing in their life too?
Learning how to become that kind of Miracle Star is the tricky bit, I suppose, but that’s what we help each other to do every time we meet. And there are some great tips to be found in Philippians 2 on how to shine just like this kind of star for Father God in his world. See if you can read it before we look at it together on May 4th!
I’d only just discovered we had a special name – I thought we were just the 8-11s!!! And what a great name! It got me thinking……
I started wondering and asking Father God, “What could it look like for us to be Miracle Stars? Not just to have the name, but to actually be living like Miracle Stars for You, God, in Your world?”
First of all I thought about the world “miracle”. I think that a miracle is something that only Father God, in all His greatness, can do. It’s not like a card trick or part of a magic show that looks amazing but can be learnt if you know the secret and practice a bit. A miracle is life-changing and points to what God has done and who He is. Hmmmm…….That means that we, as Miracle Stars, might have something about our lives that only God could have done. When He breathes His life into us it’s a miracle, it’s life-changing and no=one and nothing else can affect our lives in quite the same way. Great!
Then I started thinking about stars. Our world is full of “stars” – pop stars, sports stars, TV stars, stars who are stars just because they are famous, beautiful looking people stars…..But there is one star in Matthew 2 that really caught my eye. It’s the star the astrologers saw who came to visit Jesus in the Christmas story (remember them? “We three kings” / gold, frankincense etc?!). They saw the star and said to Herod, “Where is the one called King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” I love that. The star had two jobs. Firstly, it pointed the astrologers to where Jesus could be found. Secondly, it led them to worship him. Wouldn’t it be great if we were the kind of stars whose lives pointed other people to Jesus, helped them get to know him and showed them how to make Him the biggest thing in their life too?
Learning how to become that kind of Miracle Star is the tricky bit, I suppose, but that’s what we help each other to do every time we meet. And there are some great tips to be found in Philippians 2 on how to shine just like this kind of star for Father God in his world. See if you can read it before we look at it together on May 4th!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Miracle Stars Blog Post 1 Phil 1:1-11
v1-2
From Paul and Timothy, Servants of Jesus
To the Saints in Jesus at Philippi
We wish you love from Father God and Lord Jesus
v3-6
Every time I remember you, I thank God. I pray with joy, when I pray for all of you, because you help me and I help you. I am certain that God will finish the work he’s begun.
v7-8
I will always love you and keep you in my heart, whether I’m in trouble or able to preach freely. You and I are always getting gifts from God that we didn’t deserve. God knows that I love you
v9-11
This is my prayer for you: that your love gets bigger and BIGGER in knowledge and understanding f Jesus, filled with the goodness of Jesus – for worship of God
From Paul and Timothy, Servants of Jesus
To the Saints in Jesus at Philippi
We wish you love from Father God and Lord Jesus
v3-6
Every time I remember you, I thank God. I pray with joy, when I pray for all of you, because you help me and I help you. I am certain that God will finish the work he’s begun.
v7-8
I will always love you and keep you in my heart, whether I’m in trouble or able to preach freely. You and I are always getting gifts from God that we didn’t deserve. God knows that I love you
v9-11
This is my prayer for you: that your love gets bigger and BIGGER in knowledge and understanding f Jesus, filled with the goodness of Jesus – for worship of God
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Map
Here's a map of the area Paul and the other disciples were travelling around. Can you find philippi? Do you recognise any other names of places on this map?
Origins of the Church at Philippi
'The Church in Philippi is a result of Paul's ministry during his second Missionary Journey. The first convert in Philippi was a proselyte of Judaism, Lydia a business woman from Thyatira. (Acts 16:12-14) Her own conversion led to the conversion of her whole household. The opening of her home to the missionaries provided a base of operation for Paul's work and a place of assembly for the young church.'
(Taken from http://www.abu.nb.ca/ecm/Phip00b.htm) check it out for even more info about Philippians.
(Taken from http://www.abu.nb.ca/ecm/Phip00b.htm) check it out for even more info about Philippians.
Who was Paul?
There was a man named Saul was a devout Jewish leader who hated what the Christians were doing so he persecuted, threatened and even killed some Christian believers under Jewish authority until one day when he was on the road a bright light flashed around him and lost his sight and he fell to his knees. Then a voice from heaven said
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
In the city God had spoken to a man called Ananias who then went to find Saul, who now knew Jesus as Lord, to baptise him. As he was filled with the Spirit his sight was restored. (Acts 9)
Saul, who was also called Paul, became so excited the more he heard about Jesus that he couldn’t help but preach everywhere he went. As the other disciples, Paul travelled to many countries and cities preaching about Jesus and wrote many letters to churches that started to meet because of his work, including the letter to the Philippians, which he wrote whilst he was in prison.
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
In the city God had spoken to a man called Ananias who then went to find Saul, who now knew Jesus as Lord, to baptise him. As he was filled with the Spirit his sight was restored. (Acts 9)
Saul, who was also called Paul, became so excited the more he heard about Jesus that he couldn’t help but preach everywhere he went. As the other disciples, Paul travelled to many countries and cities preaching about Jesus and wrote many letters to churches that started to meet because of his work, including the letter to the Philippians, which he wrote whilst he was in prison.
From Jesus to the Church
After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared many times to his disciples but the last time he met with them was on a mountain near Galilee. Jesus Said to his disciples
… “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 2818-20)
Jesus then left to be with his Father in heaven and the disciples waited for the gift Father God had promised. (Acts 1:1-5)
When the time of Pentecost (the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week) came the disciples were all together ‘…Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting…All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them…’ (Acts 2). Now, there were many God-fearing Jews from many different places staying in Jerusalem at this time who were amazed at what they were seeing as the Spirit came and although many were confused Peter, the disciple, told them all about Jesus and what God had promised to them. It says about 3000 people accepted the message were baptised that day.
After the day of Pentecost they all met together everyday in the temple courts to teach and learn from each other about Jesus and share together in breaking bread to remember what Jesus had done for them, and they also devoted themselves to prayer.This was the start of the Christian church.
… “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 2818-20)
Jesus then left to be with his Father in heaven and the disciples waited for the gift Father God had promised. (Acts 1:1-5)
When the time of Pentecost (the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week) came the disciples were all together ‘…Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting…All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them…’ (Acts 2). Now, there were many God-fearing Jews from many different places staying in Jerusalem at this time who were amazed at what they were seeing as the Spirit came and although many were confused Peter, the disciple, told them all about Jesus and what God had promised to them. It says about 3000 people accepted the message were baptised that day.
After the day of Pentecost they all met together everyday in the temple courts to teach and learn from each other about Jesus and share together in breaking bread to remember what Jesus had done for them, and they also devoted themselves to prayer.This was the start of the Christian church.
Welcome
Hi there,
Welcome to the Miracle Stars blog. This blog has been created to help you learn more about Jesus and the early Christian church, particularly in Philippi. Every week the Miracle Stars will be adding to this blog to re-writing the book of Philippians as we study it together. Some children's leaders from Cairns may be adding more information or asking questions about the background behind the Church as we go through this term, or some may even like to add some prayers on here to offer to Father God.
I hope you will be blessed reading this blog as much as we hope to be writing it.
Jonny. CRBC Children's Worker.
Welcome to the Miracle Stars blog. This blog has been created to help you learn more about Jesus and the early Christian church, particularly in Philippi. Every week the Miracle Stars will be adding to this blog to re-writing the book of Philippians as we study it together. Some children's leaders from Cairns may be adding more information or asking questions about the background behind the Church as we go through this term, or some may even like to add some prayers on here to offer to Father God.
I hope you will be blessed reading this blog as much as we hope to be writing it.
Jonny. CRBC Children's Worker.
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