Woodies Kids | Peace (Fruits of the Spirit week 3)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.


This week we are thinking about…

Fruits of the Spirit: Peace

Do you know what the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ are? You can read about them in Galatians 5:22-23.

These fruits aren’t actual fruit, they are ways of acting or being that is pleasing to God. When we spend time with God by praying and reading the bible the Holy Spirit helps grow these fruits within us.

This week we are thinking about Peace. Have a watch of the video below

TIME TO THINK

How do you think you would react being on a boat in the middle of a storm? I think I probably would have been scared like the disciples!

In life we go through hard times and sometimes things that are a bit scary, just as Jesus told the disciples not to be afraid, we don’t have to be afraid either. When we trust in Jesus His peace will be with us no matter where we are or what we are doing.

Welcome to our Woodies Kids video! Join Ruth and Lydia this week for a fun-packed episode.

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Dear God,

When I am afraid or nervous please help me to remember You are always with me. Give me your peace and help me to feel safe.

Amen

The Heart of Worship | April Ballard at 7pm | 2 August 2020

2 August 2020 - 7pm Service

The Heart of Worship

This is a one-off worship special as we have a break in-between our July and August series where April Ballard will speak on The Heart of Worship.

Be sure to tune in next week when we start our new series, Re-Create on 9 August 2020!

Woodies joins New Wine online | 11am on 2 August 2020

2 August 2020 - 11am Service Takeover!

NEW WINE: United Breaks Out

On Sunday, 2 August we’re having a New Wine takeover instead of our 11am service. This United Breaks Out session with Nicola Neal on Psalm 23 will explore how the reality of 'God with us' during the challenges and pain of this last season will help us to both define and fuel the way we now move forward as we interact with a hurting, disorientated and fearful world.

You and your family and friends can join in with United Breaks Out online this summer. And don't worry if you've missed anything, it's ALL available online, for free, at new-wine.org/breaksout.

As much as we’re loving coming together as a church family with our brothers and sister in Christ online, we know lots of us can’t wait to be reunited in Peterborough next summer. And New Wine have just announced that United 21 is now open - and a Flash Sale is on!

Head over to new-wine.org/united21 to find out more, and to book at the Flash Sale price to save up to £50 on tickets.

Volunteers Needed: Camera & Tech Team

It’s going to be a long time until we are able to gather in our church building for large services - so we want to recruit Camera & Tech Team volunteers to enable us to live-stream services on Sundays.

We’ve worked throughout lockdown to create pre-recorded services, but we want to move to live-streaming from the Main Hall at Woodies. This feels more like ‘the real thing’, as it enables a flow of worship and gives space for interaction through social media too.

The Seven PM team has piloted the live-streaming process for us, we’ve created a new Operations Manual and it’s been running smoothly. However, to begin live-streaming an 11am service and keep the 7pm going strong, it’s vital that we recruit a much larger camera and tech team to help out on Sundays.

COULD YOU VOLUNTEER FOR CHURCH?

If you’d like to volunteer on a regular basis (either once a month, once a fortnight or weekly), we are specifically looking for people to be:

  • Camera operators

  • Live-stream producers

  • ProPresenter users (Worship words overlays)

We can teach you everything you need to know to feel confident in these voluntary roles. People who are technically inclined will be best suited for these volunteer roles.

Want to get involved? Contact April Ballard to find out more and sign up to help make church happen!

Vacancy for Video & Production Assistant

Woodlands Church has an exciting opportunity for someone to join their Comms Team as a Video & Production Assistant. This essential role will support the Comms Lead in delivering high quality video and media for our increasing online presence.

The Video & Production Assistant will work closely with the Comms Lead, Service Planning Teams and Worship Teams to produce high quality and engaging video content for social media and the church website. Candidates should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, able to take initiative, working well in a team and on their own.

Video & Production Assistant duties will include, for example:

  • Lead a team of production volunteers to film, record sound and live-stream two church services on Sundays to our website, YouTube and Facebook.

  • Plan, produce, and film video content that is pre-recorded to be inserted into live- streaming services, such as interviews, stories, prayers, promos and video notices, etc as needed.

  • Create overlays, animations and motion graphics as needed to compliment the branding of church services online.

  • Assist in managing the church’s YouTube account, including channel playlists.

  • Support the Worship team to produce high quality worship video content.

  • Publish links to YouTube onto the homepage of the church website


Qualifications:

  • Essential:  GCSE or equivalent English

  • Essential:  Video production skills

A minimum of college level video production skills, preferable higher. A strong portfolio of video work can be presented in lieu of, or in addition to an academic qualification.

     

Specific Experience and Knowledge:

Technical Competence 

  • Experience in operating cameras for video and photo at live events and set up recordings is essential. Use of systems like Castr is desirable.

  • Experience in operating Adobe Creative Cloud software, focusing on Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, Premiere Pro and After Effects is also essential

Creativity

  • The ability to approach design and communication projects from a highly creative viewpoint is essential

  • The ability to understand and utilize brand guidelines is also necessary

  • A sense of fun and a willingness to take risks in creativity will be welcomed

  • The ability to work in a team is essential – collaborating with others and a willingness to receive and give constructive criticism

Administrative Skills

  • Good time management is essential, together with the ability to be self-motivated 

  • Good admin skills should be demonstrated in terms of file and resource management

Written and Verbal Skills

  • Good written skills will be advantageous 

  • Ability to communicate ideas and solution verbally   


All members of the creative media team are required to have the ability to communicate the Christian gospel and values in a clear and authentic manner. In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 there is, therefore, is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian and we would expect them to adhere to our values as a church.

The post is subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance.


APPLY FOR THIS ROLE

Post: Part time - 2.5 days
Salary: between £21,000 - £22,000 (pro rata)
Contract: Fixed Term (12 Month Contract)

To apply:

The closing date for applications is midnight on Friday, 31 July 2020. 

If shortlisted, interviews will take place within August 2020.

Woodies Kids | Joy (Fruits of the Spirit week 2)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.


This week we are thinking about…

Fruits of the Spirit:

Joy

Do you know what the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ are? You can read about them in Galatians 5:22-23.

These fruits aren’t actual fruit, they are ways of acting or being that is pleasing to God. When we spend time with God by praying and reading the bible the Holy Spirit helps grow these fruits within us.

TIME TO THINK

How can you be joyful? Did you know the bible says the joy of the Lord is our strength. The more joy we have the stronger and more courageous we will feel.

Do you know how to have more joy?

Join Ruth and Lydia this week for a fun-packed episode. We chat to Richard and Ellie about what Joy is.

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Dear God,

Help me to be joyful in every situation. Remind me that Your joy is my strength.

Amen

Fruitfulness: Planting | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 26 July 2020

26 July 2020 - 7pm Service

Fruitfulness

We're continuing our FRUITFULNESS series during July. Dave Mitchell will be sharing a special message on planting from John 15.

STUDY NOTES

Attached are the resources for our 'take two.' This week, Megan Saunders from our student community shares some thoughts on planting in a short video along with some additional questions to take into your group.

During August, The Seven PM team will be taking a break from sending out out 'take two' notes. However, do keep an eye on our Woodies Instagram (@woodieschurch) and Facebook pages for some content that might keep you ticking on over summer. As always, we hope that you find these useful.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

You can also check out Dave's discussion questions below. First read John 15:14-15, 20-21, 26-27.

These verses speak of disciples carrying on the master's business, through the power of the Holy Spirit, spreading the gospel. It is an opportunity for us this Sunday to reflect on what it means for us to be a Church that is a Church planting Church, wanting to see fruitful reproduction of Church all over our City.

  • What does a fruitful Church community look like?

  • How important is 'connecting' for us a Church planting other Churches to maintain fruitfulness? How do we guard unity while releasing life?

  • Sometimes Church planting makes a 'mother church' feel pruned. How can we make that pruning something that is positive not a source of damage (bad pruning can hurt a plant)?

  • How can we be fruitful in transforming our City and region? How has our strategy been affected by Covid-19.

Fruitfulness: Planting | Tim Dobson & Jess Wilson at 11am | 26 July 2020

26 July 2020 - 11am Service

Fruitfulness

This Sunday we will be finishing off our FRUITFULNESS series, looking at John 15. Sammy and Jasper Savage are hosting and Tim Dobson and Jess Wilson will be preaching together on the topic of planting. We've got some great worship recorded live by April and our Woodlands worship team. Plus Rachel caught up with Ziju and Cornelia, who lead our prayers. We also say goodbye to two of our team, Zoe Germain and Joey Mitchell. Thanks for all your hard work guys!

Remember, our new 7pm service is being live-streamed from Woodies tonight! So do be sure to tune in later...Dave Mitchell will also be preaching on the topic of planting

STUDY NOTES

Read John 15:14-15, 20-21, 26-27. These verses speak of disciples carrying on the master's business, through the power of the Holy Spirit, spreading the gospel. It is an opportunity for us this Sunday to reflect on what it means for us to be a Church that is a Church planting Church, wanting to see fruitful reproduction of Church all over our City.

  • What does a fruitful Church community look like?

  • How important is 'connecting' for us a Church planting other Churches to maintain fruitfulness? How do we guard unity while releasing life?

  • Sometimes Church planting makes a 'mother church' feel pruned. How can we make that pruning something that is positive not a source of damage (bad pruning can hurt a plant)?

  • How can we be fruitful in transforming our City and region? How has our strategy been affected by Covid-19.

Woodies Kids | Splashdown Holiday Club

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.


This week is our Holiday Club

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SPLASHDOWN

Adventures with Jesus

This week we are looking at ways in which we can keep our eyes on Jesus knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us. Jesus wants to help us and will change our lives.

Find the following stories in your bible:

The miracle of the fish - Luke 5

Jesus walks on water - Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus turns water into wine - John 2:1-11

TIME TO THINK

Take time to listen to the song.

One of my favourite lines is “If You can hold the stars in place, You can hold my heart the same”. Isn’t it amazing that the God who made the stars cares about you and every single part of your life. Think of a part of your life you would like God to help you in this week.

Perhaps you would like more courage to talk to a friend who you’ve no spoken to in a long time, or more patience with your broth or sister. Or perhaps you just want to feel that God is with you when you feel anxious or afraid.

God can do all of these things and more!!!

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Dear God,

Thankyou that you care about me and want me to be confident in knowing you. Help me to include you in my daily life, I want to have more adventures with you.

Amen

Fruitfulness: Abiding | Matt Dobson at 7pm | 19 July 2020

19 July 2020 - 7pm Service

Fruitfulness

We're continuing our FRUITFULNESS series during July and Matt Dobson will be sharing a special message on abiding from John 15. April and the Woodlands worship team lead us in some great live worship and Nigel and Amy host the service.

STUDY NOTES

To go deeper with the topic of abiding, our 7pm team have come up with some resources for our 'take two’. This week, Tim Stephenson from the student community shares some thoughts on abiding in a short video along with some additional questions for you to take into your group. You can also look at Dave's study notes below…

Introduction 
Here are some questions you might want to reflect on about 'fruitfulness' - read John 15:4-12.

Spiritual connection is vital to spiritual health, just as relational connection is vital to relational health. Jesus had such a strong understand of abiding in the Father and 'only doing what I see the Father doing'. He calls and invites His followers to have that sort of relationship with Him.

  • How do I remain in Christ, or rather what might cause me to cease abiding in Christ, as a Church community or an individual? ( For the early Church their Christ Centred, Cross Centred 'abiding' focus was key to them not slipping back into fruitless legalism. But modern Churches can become centred on a cause rather than centred on Christ and like the Church in Ephesus in Revelation 2, lose their first love).

  • As an individual how do spiritual disciplines help me live out a moment by moment abiding, connecting with Christ?

  • How does the work of and presence of the Spirit keep me abiding in Christ?

  • Can good things be the enemy of the best, or can temptation and idolatry pull me away? The parable of the sower is a metaphor for abiding; the good soil 'retains' the seed.

  • Abiding sounds peaceful. How can meditation and Christian mindfulness play its part in an abiding life?

  • How can we abide when things are busy, crazy or scary?

New Wine | United Breaks Out (30 July - 3 Aug 2020)

New Wine will be gathering the family together online this summer!
And you’re invited and it’s completely free! 

New Wine - United Breaks Out
30 July – 3 August 2020

New Wine have been working closely with inclusion teams to ensure the event is as accessible as possible. 

Here's a taste of what you'll be able to enjoy, for free, from your sofa, a tent in your garden, your local park or even your bed!

In the mornings, Bible Teaching will be led by Pete Hughes and Bishop Jill Duff.

Pete leads KXC, which has been described as 'one of London's most innovative churches'. His recent book All Things New is about God's relentless passion to redeem lives, heal the nations, rewire the culture & bring renewal to all of creation.

Bishop of Lancaster Jill Duff will be speaking in Impact, the urban venue, on Friday, Saturday and Monday mornings. As bishop, she oversees mission, evangelism & church planting in the Diocese of Blackburn. Previously she was the founding director of St Mellitus College North West and served as an urban parish priest, school chaplain & pioneer minister.

Evening sessions will be led by a different guest speaker each night. Confirmed so far are Miriam Swanson of Fusion, Gary Haugen of IJM, leadership coach Jo Saxton (pictured), author, speaker & advocate Danielle Strickland, Chris Lane of St Mellitus North West and New Wine National Leader Paul Harcourt.

Each afternoon will be TED-style seminars led by experts in topics that are relevant and important at this time: grief, loss & lament; Holy Spirit ministry; leading in changing times; race; mental health & well-being; apologetics; creation care; parenting; and prayer. These will be followed by sofa sessions, Q&As & webinars for further discussion and questions.

Each morning at New Wine Kids: Space Agency, 0-11s & their families will encounter God through songs, challenges, stories, teaching & gunge! In the afternoons, join Stomping Ground live for fun, games, challenges & general craziness. New for 2020 is an Augmented Reality App packed with stories, games, crafts, activities, prayer & worship. 

Luminosity is an exciting programme for 11-18s including breakfast time devotions and chat; challenges; afternoon workshops on mental health & anxiety, evangelism, apologetics, calling, leadership, social media & the world we could create; Evening Celebrations with high energy worship & guest speakers; and After Parties. For more info go to weareluminosity.org

Members of the New Wine Leadership Network will be able to access a programme of 1-2-1 prayer slots, mission consultations & international gatherings via Zoom as well as discussions with special guests about 'What’s next for the local church?’, 'Leading & well-being' and 'Mission & planting'. 

Throughout the event you can browse our online Resource Venue where you’ll find St Andrew’s Bookshop and other shops including Christian Gift Co and Wee Sparrow, and opportunities to connect with Christian organisations including BRF, CAP, Open Doors and Hope for Justice. Using our interactive map you can also access charity experiences from Mercy Ships, MedAir, Compassion and MAF.

Over 300 people have volunteered to be United Breaks Out Community Makers, tasked with modelling the same fellowship and connection in homes and communities that is seen across the campsite each summer. 

Sign up to Event & Resource updates at new-wine.org/sign-up to find out more. 

Woodlands is having a New Wine Takeover on Sunday, 2 August at 11am!
Instead of having our normal morning service, we’re asking our Woodies church family to tune into United Breaks Out as they broadcast live at 11am. You don’t have to sign up, just tune in live to New Wine’s YouTube Channel:


Fruitfulness: Abiding | Stephen McEwen at 11am | 19 July 2020

19 July 2020 - 11am Service

Fruitfulness

Today we are looking at FRUITFULNESS and John 15. Dave and Jo are hosting and we are excited to welcome Pastor Stephen McEwen from E5 to share a message on abiding with us. We've got some worship recorded live Colse, April and our Woodlands worship team. Plus we're having communion, so do have some bread and wine/juice ready.

Remember, our new 7pm service is being live-streamed from Woodies tonight! So do be sure to tune in later...Matt Dobson will also be preaching on the topic of abiding.

STUDY NOTES

Introduction 
Here are some questions you might want to reflect on about 'fruitfulness' - read John 15:4-12.

Spiritual connection is vital to spiritual health, just as relational connection is vital to relational health. Jesus had such a strong understand of abiding in the Father and 'only doing what I see the Father doing'. He calls and invites His followers to have that sort of relationship with Him.

  • How do I remain in Christ, or rather what might cause me to cease abiding in Christ, as a Church community or an individual? ( For the early Church their Christ Centred, Cross Centred 'abiding' focus was key to them not slipping back into fruitless legalism. But modern Churches can become centred on a cause rather than centred on Christ and like the Church in Ephesus in Revelation 2, lose their first love).

  • As an individual how do spiritual disciplines help me live out a moment by moment abiding, connecting with Christ?

  • How does the work of and presence of the Spirit keep me abiding in Christ?

  • Can good things be the enemy of the best, or can temptation and idolatry pull me away? The parable of the sower is a metaphor for abiding; the good soil 'retains' the seed.

  • Abiding sounds peaceful. How can meditation and Christian mindfulness play its part in an abiding life?

  • How can we abide when things are busy, crazy or scary?

Woodies Kids | Love (Fruits of the Spirit week 1)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog


This week we are thinking about…

Fruits of the Spirit: LOVE

Do you know what the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ are? You can read about them in Galatians 5:22-23.

These fruits aren’t actual fruit, they are ways of acting or being that is pleasing to God. When we spend time with God by praying and reading the bible the Holy Spirit helps grow these fruits within us.

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TIME TO THINK

How can you show love to someone this week? Perhaps there’s someone you’ve not seen in a long time, could you write them a letter. Can you help your parents out with a job or be extra kind to your brother or sister.

There are many ways we can show love to people, did you know Jesus even said to love people who are unkind to us. That is pretty difficult sometimes. Maybe you could think about someone who you find tricky to love, could you ask God to show you ways you can be nice to them!?

Join Ruth and Lydia this week for a fun-packed episode. We chat to Claire about how we can grow our love


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Dear God,

Sometimes I find it hard to love people if they have been unkind to me. Help me to show them how much you love them by my actions

Amen

Fruitfulness: Pruning | Rachel Riddall at 7pm | 12 July 2020

12 July 2020 - 7pm Service

Fruitfulness

We're continuing our FRUITFULNESS series during July. Joe and Hannah will be hosting tonight and Colse and the Woodlands band are leading worship. Rachel Riddall, one of our pastors, will be sharing a special message this evening on pruning from John 15.

STUDY NOTES

Introduction 
Here are some questions you might want to reflect on about 'fruitfulness' - read John 15:2.

A gardener prunes a tree or a bush to enable it to be fruitful, not to waste nutrients and growth in producing leggy stems or branches. Fruitfulness, not size is the goal. Pruning looks like a painful process- equivalent perhaps to 'discipline' in Hebrews 12: 11, a discipline that feels unpleasant at the time but produces a 'harvest' (fruitfulness). What elements of pruning might we be experiencing individually and corporately?

  1. Pruning helps us prioritise; the vital over the urgent or extraneous. In your life where is the 'urgent' getting in the way of the 'vital'?

  2. Pruning simplifies where life gets over complex. What could you helpfully simplify in your life?

  3. Pruning humbles, where we have grown over-confident in size rather than fruitfulness. What has this season helpfully challenged for us as a Church as well as individually?

  4. Pruning leads to growth. (In church life it energises and gives capacity for people). What do you have renewed appetite for right now?

Fruitfulness: Pruning | Clare Thompson at 11am | 12 July 2020

12 July 2020 - 11am Service

Fruitfulness

Today we are looking at FRUITFULNESS and John 15 with a message about pruning from pastor Clare Thompson. Tim and Izzy are hosting and we've got some special worship from April, Colse, Jo and our Woodlands worship team. It's Global Partners Sunday and we'll be taking our monthly offering, so Tim caught up with Dennis & Charmian in Peru and Joy leads our prayers for the world.

Remember, our new 7pm service is being live-streamed from Woodies tonight! So do be sure to tune in later...Rachel Riddall will also be preaching on the topic of pruning.

STUDY NOTES

Introduction 
Here are some questions you might want to reflect on about 'fruitfulness' - read John 15:2.

A gardener prunes a tree or a bush to enable it to be fruitful, not to waste nutrients and growth in producing leggy stems or branches. Fruitfulness, not size is the goal. Pruning looks like a painful process- equivalent perhaps to 'discipline' in Hebrews 12: 11, a discipline that feels unpleasant at the time but produces a 'harvest' (fruitfulness). What elements of pruning might we be experiencing individually and corporately?

  1. Pruning helps us prioritise; the vital over the urgent or extraneous. In your life where is the 'urgent' getting in the way of the 'vital'?

  2. Pruning simplifies where life gets over complex. What could you helpfully simplify in your life?

  3. Pruning humbles, where we have grown over-confident in size rather than fruitfulness. What has this season helpfully challenged for us as a Church as well as individually?

  4. Pruning leads to growth. (In church life it energises and gives capacity for people). What do you have renewed appetite for right now?

Hands at Work Danceathon Raises £1k

Our Woodies Kids team recently organised a Zoom Danceathon for Hands at Work in Africa, one of the charities that we partner with as a congregation.

Hands at Work in Africa is providing frontline support in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic and are seeing increased need in the communities they serve.

We are excited to announce that over £1,000 has been raised, but could we as a Church give more?

There's still time to make a donation to support this amazing charity:

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Woodies Kids | Hope

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.


This week we are thinking about…

Hope

Hope is a confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God.

Let's think about some of the promises of God:

  • God loves you no matter what you have done

  • God is always with us so we don't need to be afraid

  • God will give us strength

  • God will provide for us

  • God has gifts for us, these are also called the fruits of the spirit

  • God has planned our future

  • God listens to us

  • God is good

  • God sent His son Jesus to earth, He died on a cross so that someday we can be in heaven with God

  • God knew you before you were even born and thinks you are perfect!

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TIME TO THINK

Isn't it amazing that even though our minds cannot grasp all the things that God is he cares so much about us! The bible says he even knows how many hairs are on your head (Matthew 10:30) and he loved you before you were even born (Psalm 139).

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Sometimes in life things can seem hard, when we feel sad or something bad happens sometimes it feels like it will go on forever. Remember God has promised to be with you so whatever you are going through whether it is a happy time or a sad time God is right there.

Take a moment to pray and ask God to remind you that no matter what, he is always with you.

Dear God,

Sometimes I feel sad, afraid of nervous.

Please help me to feel that you are with me, help me to know your love.

Amen

Fruitfulness | Hannah Mitchell at 7pm | 5 July 2020

5 July 2020 - 7pm Service

Fruitfulness

This evening we re-launched THE SEVEN PM service, which will be live-streamed from Woodies each Sunday evening and feature heartfelt worship and complimentary messages to build on the preaching series. For July, we’re looking at FRUITFULNESS and John 15. April and Matt are hosting, worship is with Mark and our Woodlands team, Dave popped to introduce the series and Hannah shared a special message with us. You can go deeper with this topic using the study notes below.

STUDY NOTES

Introduction 
God created human beings to be fruitful. His first words to humans in Genesis are 'Be fruitful and multiply'. Jesus says to his disciples in John 15, 'I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit'.

A basic human need is to feel fruitful, useful and productive. Here are some questions to think about…

  1. How would you define fruitfulness? What specifically makes a Christian 'fruitful' in the eyes of God do you think?

  2. Dave Mitchell talks about fruitful 'both ands'. There is fruitfulness around activity and 'multiplication' There is fruitfulness in 'becoming', in personal growth, the fruit of the Spirit. There is fruitfulness as an individual, and fruitfulness as a community.

  3. How does your personal fruitfulness contribute to the fruitfulness of the whole Church community? In what ways has being part of a community in midweek group or wider Church helped you to be fruitful?

  4. Which of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 have you seen growing in your spiritual journey? Which might need some spiritual 'gardening' to help their growth?

  5. What does it mean for us to 'reproduce the life of Jesus'?

  6. How has our personal and corporate fruitfulness been affected by Covid-19?

  7. How do different seasons of life enable us to be fruitful? What season are you in now and how has your capacity for fruitfulness changed?

Fruitfulness | David Mitchell at 11am | 5 July 2020

5 July 2020 - 11am Service

Fruitfulness

Today we begin our new preaching series for July, looking at FRUITFULNESS and John 15 with a message from Dave Mitchell, our senior pastor. Mel and Rachel are hosting and we've got LIVE worship recorded at church from April and our Woodlands worship team. Hannah got to catch up with Azeem, our caretaker and Ella leads our prayers.

STUDY NOTES

Introduction 
God created human beings to be fruitful. His first words to humans in Genesis are 'Be fruitful and multiply'. Jesus says to his disciples in John 15, 'I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit'.

A basic human need is to feel fruitful, useful and productive. Here are some questions to think about…

  1. How would you define fruitfulness? What specifically makes a Christian 'fruitful' in the eyes of God do you think?

  2. Dave Mitchell talks about fruitful 'both ands'. There is fruitfulness around activity and 'multiplication' There is fruitfulness in 'becoming', in personal growth, the fruit of the Spirit. There is fruitfulness as an individual, and fruitfulness as a community.

  3. How does your personal fruitfulness contribute to the fruitfulness of the whole Church community? In what ways has being part of a community in midweek group or wider Church helped you to be fruitful?

  4. Which of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 have you seen growing in your spiritual journey? Which might need some spiritual 'gardening' to help their growth?

  5. What does it mean for us to 'reproduce the life of Jesus'?

  6. How has our personal and corporate fruitfulness been affected by Covid-19?

  7. How do different seasons of life enable us to be fruitful? What season are you in now and how has your capacity for fruitfulness changed?