Re-Image: Reflecting the Image of God in our work

As follower’s of Jesus Christ, our life purpose is to accurately reflect the image of God in all we are and in all we do. One very important aspect of that is to reflect the beauty of God in our work. The God of the universe is not a passive or distant God. He actively engages in work that is very good. Therefore the work we do, no matter what field of work we are in should reflect the goodness and beauty of God’s Work.

In fact our work and our worship should be an interwoven pursuit. This week we will look at how David blended his worship and his work together as one in reflecting the image of God both as a Shepherd and as King. We will also look at Bezalel, a very interesting person we read about in Exodus 35. Join us this week as we explore reflecting the Image of God in our work.

Re-Image: Made in the Image of God

We are exploring the relational attributes of God that we as followers of Jesus are called to reflect.  There is no attribute more central to an accurate view of God than "holiness."  God is absolutely holy in all of His nature.  And His holiness permeates all of His other attributes.  We cannot understand His love apart from His holiness.  We cannot understand His justice apart from His holiness either.

And yet holiness is rarely talked about in the modern church, as a result our witness has greatly suffered.  Many confuse holiness with self righteousness and they could not be more different.  

Join us for this important study and let us all pray that we as the church of Jesus will be holy.  The world needs to see an accurate reflection of Jesus, one that is filled with the beauty of His holiness.

Faithfulness is the New Normal

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Everything we hear these days tells us the pandemic will be with us for a long time. How are we to remain faithful to the Lord when it seems there is no end to such a challenging situation? The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to some of Israel’s people who had been exiled from Jerusalem, and they were told to prepare for a long exile. Even though their exile was due to their rebellion, they were still God's people and he still had a purpose for them being in that place at that time. This letter from Jeremiah can help us consider how to be faithful to Jesus during these challenging days, no matter how long they last.

What Does It Mean to Wait for the Lord?

We know what it is like to wait—we are caught in circumstances often beyond our control and we may not have a clear sense of what is next, how it will turn out, or how the Lord is involved. Especially in this season, we wait—for restrictions to ease, for return to work, for life to return to normal. We sometimes wonder if we’re going to make it. The promise the Lord makes in Isaiah 40:31 is that those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. What does it mean to “wait for the Lord”, and how can we find new strength from day to day until we see the things for which we long?

Re-Image: Called to Reflect Jesus

God not only tells us we were created in His image, but that we were created for his glory.  

Isaiah 43:7 (ESV) 7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

God has a beautiful purpose for each of our lives that brings Him honor and us a deep significance.  That truth holds the key for understanding ourselves, seeing others properly, discovering our purpose and fulfilling our destiny.  Our true identity and life purpose is flows from an understanding of what is being created in the image of God means. But most of us have very little understanding of how that reality should shape our lives. 

Over the next few weeks we are going to explore what the significance of being created in God’s image and how that points to God’s plan of restoration and ultimately to the purpose for our lives that brings true meaning.  

This Sunday we will explore the purpose God has for us as His image bearers from Isaiah 43:1-10.

Join us online Sunday Mornings as we explore Re:Image - What it means to be made in the image of God.

Re-Image: What it means to be made in the image of God

God says you were made in His image.  What does that mean?

Genesis 1:27 (NIV) 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

That truth holds the key for understanding ourselves, seeing others properly, discovering our purpose and fulfilling our destiny.  Our true identity and life purpose is flows from an understanding of what is being created in the image of God means. But most of us have very little understanding of how that reality should shape our lives. 

Over the next few weeks we are going to explore what the significance of being created in God’s image and how that points to God’s plan of restoration and ultimately to the purpose for our lives that brings true meaning.  

When we understand this concept of what it means to be created in the image of God, the pieces of life’s puzzle begin to come together.

Join us online Sunday Mornings as we explore Re:Image - What it means to be made in the image of God.

His Name Shall Be Called - King of Kings

Jesus advent at Bethlehem was to save us and prepare us for His return as King. As King, Jesus calls us to live under His authority and reign.

He also calls us to live expectant that He is working now and will return to reign. Luke chapter 2, describes two faithful people Simeon and Anna. Both lived lives of expectancy. They waiting for God's timing and were rewarded for their faithful obedience. We have much to learn fro Simeon and Anna.

His Name Shall Be Called - Prince of Peace

Jesus the Prince of Peace Peace is something we all hunger for. Life is filled with conflict and division. Jesus, the Prince of Peace not only resolves conflict, He brings wholeness (Shalom) to our lives and relationships. the announcement of the Angels in Luke chapter 2 of "Glory to God in the highest, peace on God and with one another.

Join us this week online as we explore Luke chapter 2, and discover how Jesus fulfills the name Prince of Peace.

His Name Shall Be Called - Everlasting Father

Jesus is Everlasting Father

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus is described as…

WONDERFUL: Jesus gives us JOY for the weariness of life.

COUNSELOR: Jesus gives us HOPE in the questions of life.

MIGHTY GOD: Jesus gives us STRENGTH for the impossibilities of life

EVERLASTING FATHER:Jesus gives us  LOVE for the relationships of life.

PRINCE of PEACE:Jesus gives us  PEACE for the problems of life.

For many people the title, "Everlasting Father" for Jesus is confusing.  It seems to contradict His being the Son of God.  But this title for Jesus points to the very heart of Jesus deepest passion,  He came to show us the Father.  What is more "Everlasting Father". Can also be translated "Father of Eternity," meaning Jesus is the source and author of eternal life.  That certainly fits with who He is and what Jesus has done.

Join us this week online as we explore the heart of Jesus passion from John chapter 1, and discover how Jesus fulfils the name Everlasting Father.

Chapters:

0:00 Announcement Slides

10:00 Countdown

15:00 Worship

39:37 Christmas Around the World

44:36 Message Drew Stephens

1:18:50 Sharing Christmas Joy 

1:21:37 Announcement Slides

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His Name Shall Be Called - Mighty God

This Sunday we will explore the theme of Jesus the Mighty God as recorded in the Song of May in Luke chapter 1.

Luke 1:46-49 (ESV)
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

The Rise of Hope – Jesus the Wonderful Counselor

Week One Advent Devotional
The Rise of Hope – Jesus the Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:1-2 1
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.

God chose Nazareth of Galilee to announce to Mary that she, virgin would give birth to God’s Son, Jesus. The peoples of Galilee, where Nazareth is located reflects the hope of all nations for God to step into the darkness and light our lives with His salvation.

Isaiah 9:6 6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A child born + a Son given.
Child in Hebrew is “Yeled” = male child. God announced ahead of time that His Son was coming to be born as a human child. Fully human experiencing all that we do in both joy and sorrow.
But He is also the Son of God who already existed who was given for us. For God so loved you and so loved your family, and so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

The Son who is given is both God and Everlasting therefore his identity can only be Divine. Only of Christ Jesus can it be said that neither his birth nor his conception in the womb signaled the beginning of his existence. Prior to His birth, he had existed for all eternity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus, with the Father and the Sprit is everlastingly the living one.

Long before the manger, Jesus the Wonderful Counselor, created the universe in all its vastness, and continually sustains it by his own mighty power.

This prophecy was an announcement 700 years in advance that God was doing something incredible. He promised to come to us, to be with us, to rescue us and make us His own.

Hear the promise of the Lord, our hope…
Psalms 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Today we light the candle representing the hope we have in Jesus Christ. May the truth of God with us, Immanuel bring hope to our hearts and empower us to live a life of faith and obedience.

Light the candle representing Jesus our Hope
Pray Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Face to Face - Almost Empty Tomb

This week we explore how three people, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and John, were dramatically changed by their encounter with the Almost Empty Tomb and the Risen Jesus. What we see in the tomb gives us powerful evidence of Jesus resurrection from the dead. What is more what Jesus left behind in the tomb points to deep spiritual truths.

In our last message in our Face to Face Series we will see how lives are transformed by the risen Savior into new creations that are born again, through faith in Jesus' resurrection.

Join us this Sunday online as we enter the Almost Empty Tomb.

Face to Face - Man in the Middle

This week on our face to face encounter with Jesus, we explore how Jesus interacts with the two thieves who are crucified with him. The two thieves represent all of us and how we respond both to suffering and more specifically to Jesus Christ. Join us this week for a very important study on the "Man in the Middle" from Luke 23.

Face to Face - The Unjust Trials of Jesus (pt 2)

Jesus' face to face encounter with Pilate shows the heart of God for us. Jesus takes an interest in Pilate even though he knows that Pilate will condemn him to death. For Pilate, he must answer the question every human faces. "What will you do with Jesus?" Join us this week as we explore this key question at the center of Jesus' encounter with Pilate.

Face to Face - Unjust Trials of Jesus

We live in a world filled with injustice. But the greatest incident of injustice is the betrayal, trials, scourging, and crucifixion of Jesus. This week Pastor Drew will explore the trials of Jesus in our face to face encounter. Last week Dan and Preston did a great job exploring what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. We pick up this week with the arrest and trials of Jesus. There is so much going on behind the scenes. But as we explore this monumental event we discover how God turned the greatest act of injustice into Gospel justice for us!

Join us this week for an in-depth study on the Unjust Trials of Jesus.

The Garden of Gethsemane

The Garden of Gethsemane is where Jesus prayed on the night of His betrayal and arrest ( Mark 14:32-42 ).

1. What do you notice in the passage?
2. What blessed or encouraged you? What did you find difficult to understand or accept?
3. What do you think the original audience understood from this?
4. What does this text tell us about God, or more specifically, about Jesus? About us, and our relationship to him?
5. What other Scriptures might help us understand this passage?
6. What is your takeaway from this? How has God spoken to you through this? What will you do differently based on this text?
7. Whom do you know that needs to hear this?

Face to Face - We Are Never Alone, part 3

In the final segment on Jesus' teaching on the Holy Spirit, we will explore how the Spirit speaks to us and learn how to separate the conviction of the Holy Spirit from the condemnation of the enemy.

Join us as we look at Jesus' words in John 16 on the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember in Christ we are Never Alone, the Holy Spirit is with you right now.

Face to Face - We Are Never Alone, part 2

This week we will further explore the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in Never Alone part 2. This week we will begin with John 15 and then explore how the presence of God's Holy Spirit has been displayed in symbols throughout the Bible. Each Symbol or sign of the Holy Spirit teaches us about how He works in our lives. The presence of the Holy Spirit was displayed as a mighty rushing wind, a fire, and an earthquake.

Join us as we learn about our constant companion who is more beautiful, more powerful, and closer than we can truly imagine. Believer in Jesus, we are never alone.

Face to Face - We Are Never Alone

As Prague returns to a state of emergency it can increase the sense of loneliness.  ICP will be meeting for Worship service Online for the next few weeks due to the increase in the virus and the prohibition against singing together.  For many the circumstances are stressful.  But we are not alone, even if you are the only human in your flat.  We have one another.  Our small groups will still be meeting either in person or online or a hybrid of both.  If you need anything please give Drew, Becky, or one of the elders a call or email.  We are here for you.

What is more significant is that this can be a season of great spiritual growth in developing your relationship with God through His Word and with the Holy Spirit. 

In John 14 Jesus promises his followers that they will never be alone and that they are at home with the Holy Spirit wherever we are.  The setting of this chapter is an intimate meal together with Jesus' disciples.  The way to best with what Jesus says is to envision that you are right there at the table.  Jesus is speaking to you and to all believers with incredible promises.  Join us this week as we encounter Jesus' promise that in Him, "We are never alone."