CASTLE BROMWICH CHRISTADELPHIANS
“Follow Me!”
The Lord Jesus invited people to follow him and he set them a perfect example. That was a long time ago and life today is very different. But the Lord’s invitation still stands for, in every age, he wants people to follow him: to share his way of thinking and living, even though you may have some reservations.
LIVING WITH JESUS TODAY
Arelationship with Jesus changes lives, for Jesus is in the business of changing lives. It’s not that everything becomes perfect but for, the follower of Jesus, everything is given perspective and we can find a way of dealing and coping with the struggles that life often brings. It can give us peace to know that there is a purpose in life and that every minute of every day is worth living – indeed that it is a gift from God. And the purpose doesn’t end when our life ends, for God’s plan includes the personal return of Christ from heaven, to rule the world in righteousness. That wonderful promise gives us every reason to take a positive and optimistic view of life. Even though we may sometimes feel negative, God wants us to accept His invitation and become part of His great purpose with the earth.
For all the negative things we say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it, through Jesus. Hover over each statement to reveal Gods message …
‘It’s impossible’
“ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE”
(Luke 18:27)
‘I’m too tired’
“I WILL GIVE YOU REST”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
‘Nobody really loves me’
“I LOVE YOU”
(John 3:16; John 13:34)
‘I can’t go on’
“MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT”
(2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15)
‘I can’t figure things out’
“I WILL DIRECT YOUR STEPS”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
‘I can’t do it’
“YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS”
(Philippians 4:13)
‘I’m not able’
“I AM ABLE”
(2 Corinthians 9:8)
‘It’s not worth it’
“IT WILL BE WORTH IT”
(Romans 8:28)
‘I can’t forgive myself’
“I FORGIVE YOU”
(1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1)
‘I can’t manage’
“I WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS”
(Philippians 4:19)
‘I’m afraid’
“I HAVE NOT GIVEN YOU A SPIRIT OF FEAR”
(2 Timothy 1:7)
‘I’m always worried and frustrated’
“CAST ALL YOUR CARES ON ME”
(1 Peter 5:7)
‘I don’t have enough faith’
“I’VE GIVEN EVERYONE A MEASURE OF FAITH”
(Romans 12:3)
‘I’m not smart enough’
“I GIVE YOU WISDOM”
(1 Corinthians 1:30)
‘I feel all alone’
“I WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE YOU”
(Hebrews 13:5)
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
The Bible teaches that there is only one God. He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, and the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the only begotten Son of God, born of the virgin Mary by the power of God – His Holy Spirit. Christ was all that God promised and intended when he was born. Sharing fully our nature, Jesus reveals to us what God is like, not in form or feature, but in sublime holiness, absolute righteousness and boundless love. All of those qualities run through every word, every purpose, every act of compassion, every part of the life lived by the Saviour.
Christadelphians believe that man is mortal and sinful, in need of salvation and unable to save himself. When we die, existence ceases and we has no hope except by bodily resurrection from the dead at the coming of the Lord Jesus.
God’s grace and desire to save were made known in His gracious promises made to Abraham, and then to King David. These promises are about God’s coming Kingdom on earth when Christ will reign as King, and they explain how we can share the glory of that age in life eternal, thanks to the saving grace of God in Jesus. His perfect life, sacrificial death and resurrection to glory and immortality are the guarantee that man’s twin enemies – his sinfulness known as the devil, and his mortality known as death – have been altogether conquered by Jesus who, though he was the only begotten Son of God, shared our nature in every way, but never sinned.
Every believer must have faith in the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. He or she must acknowledge the need for forgiveness, and of deliverance from death. This is shown when, believing the truth of the Gospel, he or she is baptised by immersion in water, confessing their sins. This begins a life that belongs to God, for baptism establishes a new relationship with God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As an heir of the promises made to Abraham, the believer then waits in patience for the coming Kingdom of God.
The believer’s new life in Christ is a life of fellowship with fellow believers through fellowship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The life of discipleship must be free from personal selfishness, unsullied by politics and violence, and be firmly based upon love for God and for ones neighbour. The life of the believer is one of prayerful confidence in God and His purpose, and in His providential care. Week by week, in the breaking of bread, the saving work of God in Christ will be remembered, and there will be a growing conviction that Jesus will personally return to the earth to bring peace to our troubled world and to establish God’s Kingdom here, with Jerusalem at its centre. The regathered Jews are God’s witnesses that God will indeed fulfil this purpose.
Death has no final sting for the true servant of God. When death comes, if it comes before Jesus has returned, the believer will sleep in peace, knowing nothing of the passing years, until, as though it were but a moment after death, the Lord, returned from heaven, will awaken him or her for the day of resurrection and judgement. Then the responsible among men, living and dead, will stand forth to receive the due reward of their deeds: eternal life and endless joy in the kingdom of God for the faithful; and shameful dismissal and oblivion for those who have been unfaithful to the Word of God or knowingly have rejected its call.
God is still calling out a people for His Kingdom. Your future depends on your response!
DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER
Here you can read some of our key beliefs taken from this amazing book, the Bible. There are also some Bible references which you can use to build your own faith.
- There is one God who is in heaven but is also present everywhere and is immortal, (undying), all-knowing and all-powerful.
Isaiah 45: 5-6; 1 Timothy 6:15-16
- God designed and created the entire universe and has a great plan for the world
Genesis 1; Numbers 14:21; Psalm 74:15-17; Acts 17:24-28
- The Bible is God’s inspired word, given to benefit mankind.
2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1.22-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21
- God’s power is called the Holy Spirit, which He uses to carry out His purpose.
Job 33:4; Luke 1:35; 4:18-21; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Peter 1:20-21
- Jesus Christ is God’s Son. He was a flesh and blood human being through his mother Mary – made just like us.
Luke 1:30-35; Romans 1:1-4; Hebrews 4:14-15
- Jesus never sinned, and he voluntarily laid down his life on the cross to save his followers.
Romans 5:6-8; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Hebrews 4:15
- Jesus died, but God raised him from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is now there with God, but will return to the earth.
Acts 1:11; 2:22-27; 3:15,19-21,26; 17:30-31
- When he returns he will raise the dead who will then be judged after which he will give eternal life to his faithful followers.
Daniel 12:1-2; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:29-32
- Jesus will be the leader of a new world order and will govern the world from Jerusalem.
Psalm 2:6-8; Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 11:15
- When we die our thinking and emotions cease to exist. Our only hope of life after death is by bodily resurrection when Jesus Christ returns.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
- When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, his followers will be part of the Kingdom of God to be established in a renewed earth and they will help him establish right behaviour and justice among all nations. World peace will follow.
Micah 4:1-5; Matthew 25; Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 20:4
- To be part of this, we must believe God’s teachings about His kingdom and the life and work of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:12,35-38; Acts 16:31-34; Galatians 3:26-29
- And we need to repent (say sorry and change direction), and be baptised by immersion in water. We then commit to follow Jesus’ teachings as best we can on a daily basis, and with God’’s help.
Mark 16:15-16; Acts 4:10-12; Mark 8:34-35
- Today, the nation of Israel are largely unbelievers in Jesus Christ. Yet many Bible prophecies are focused on them, and God still has His purpose with them. They will eventually recognise Jesus at his return.
Romans 10:1; 11:1-2; Zechariah 12:8-10