For more information of what’s going on in the church, take a look at our new calendar page.

For more information of what’s going on in the church, take a look at our new calendar page.

If there are any items you think should be included on the church calendar, please use the contact form or email Jim (pastor) directly.

“Voltaire died in 1778, and his passionate defence of freedom of expression is legendary. However, in Britain today, Voltaire’s once firmly-held ideal is eclipsed by the all-conquering anti-discrimination agenda. In the light of that, Rod Badams considers the importance of the recent retention of the free speech clause in current legislation.

Assisted suicide has been a prominent issue in recent months, and Dr John R Ling looks at the implications of the guidance issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions in connection with the likelihood of criminal proceedings against those who help others to die. Dr Ling also takes us on a bioethical world tour, touching on issues which have arisen in China, Korea and the USA.

Sheila Stephen challenges us to find ways of encouraging Mums to relate better to their children, and of helping to protect vulnerable adults oppressed and isolated by social pressures and stresses.

The Bulletin also reveals that local authorities all over Britain are opposed to moving voting from Thursdays to week-ends. The government is due to pronounce on this any day now.”

It was a privilege to share with our brothers in Christ from around south India.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
Romans chapter 11 verses 33-36

Preaching
1st November – am: Selwyn Morgan, pm: Matt Emerton
8th November – Jim Grindell
15th November – Jim Day (WEST Student)
22nd November – am: Selwyn Morgan, pm: Matt Emerton
29th November – Bill Steed

Sunday
10.30am Morning Service
6.00pm Evening Service

Monday
2.00pm Various ladies meetings

Thursday
7.00pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting: Time of informal bible study and discussion followed by prayer

Other Notices

The Life Exhibition: We have been invited to attend an exhibition on the life of Jesus at the Gospel Hall, Minerva Street, Bridgend. Several schools will be visiting and if you would like to see for yourself, public opening times are as follows:
Wed 4th, Fri 6th, Sun 8th and Tues 10th November, 7.00pm-9.00pm and Sat 7th November, 10.00am-12.30pm.
Visit the website for more information: www.lifeexpo.co.uk

Bridgend Foodbank have invited us to attend their open day on Tues 10th November at The Well Christian Centre, Nolton Street. See poster for more details.

Joint churches prayer meeting: we will be meeting to pray as Bridgend churches on 11th November. The focus of this prayer meeting will be to pray for each other and for our various Christmas programmes. Please make every effort to support this important shared meeting (time and venue to be announced).

Thursday prayer meeting and bible study on 12th November will be a missionary meeting where we will be welcoming William Brown of UFM to speak. Broadlands will also be joining us for this meeting.

The Word: the next youth event will be on Friday 13th November at 7.30pm in the Vine Christian Centre. See Jim for more details.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 16 and 17

Preaching
4th October – Jim Grindell
11th October – Hayden Dennis
18th October – Jim Grindell (Harvest services)
25th October – WEST Student

Sunday
10.30am Morning Service
6.00pm Evening Service

Monday
2.00pm Various ladies meetings

Tuesday
Christianity Explored Course (arranged as required)

Thursday
7.00pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting: Time of informal bible study and discussion followed by prayer

Other Notices

Thursday prayer meeting and bible study on 15th October will be at the home of Frank and Pat Ward (address on request) at the usual time of 7.00pm.

Harvest thanksgiving services will be on Sunday 18th October. We will be collecting some dry food to give to Support for Romania before this date (by 11th October). Any other produce given will be donated to WEST students.

Joint prayer meeting: we will be joining with Broadlands Evangelical Church for a prayer meeting on 22nd October at 7.30pm in the Ogmore Labour Club at Bryntirion. Lewis Holland and Lowri Iorweth will be reporting on the EMW camps that were held over the summer.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 23

Preaching
6th September – Jim Grindell
13th September – Jim Grindell
20th September – Jim Grindell
27th September – WEST Student

Sunday
10.30am Morning Service
6.00pm Evening Service

Monday
2.00pm Various ladies meetings

Tuesday
Christianity Explored Course (arranged as required)

Thursday
7.00pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting: Time of informal bible study and discussion followed by prayer

Other Notices

Deacons meeting will be held on Tuesday 8th September. Time to be announced.

Females@Fellowship: Saturday 12th September at Brackla Tabernacle and starts at 9.15am. The speaker this year is Barbara Isaac and the title for the day is “More to life… Proverbs 31 Mission Impossible.”

Thursday prayer meeting and bible study on 17th September will be at the home of Frank and Pat Ward (address on request) at the usual time of 7.00pm.

WEST Dedication Service for the new academic year will be on Saturday 19th September at 2.30pm in the college grounds. The speaker is Rev. Stuart Olyott. See www.west.org.uk for more details.

Induction of Phil Grubb into the pastorate of Quedgeley Baptist Church will be on Saturday 26th September. If you are intending to go, please let Jim know as there may be the possibility of sharing lifts to ease travel arrangements.

Thank you to all who provided items for the Blythswood Care “Buckets of Love”. Thanks also to Beryl and David for coordinating this. If you want to know more about the “Buckets of Love” campaign or about Blythswood, visit their website at: www.blythswood.org
Details of the Blythswood shoe box appeal for Christmas ’09 are also now available (www.shoeboxappeal.org)

You can download the printed sheet in PDF form (16Kb) if you prefer to print it yourself or just view the notes below.

Study 6 – Giving

This is a challenging subject because our money and how we use it is something that is usually considered a private matter and so we don’t like to discuss it (especially in a way that challenges us!).

Giving financially is just one example of giving that should form part of our Christian life. If we are commanded to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut 6:4-5), it surely follows that we must be giving people (not just with money). But this study is particularly focussed on giving financially. Your attitude to giving of money may well be a barometer for how you are obeying God in other areas of giving.

How does God want you to view money?

Foundational to how you feel about giving will be your view of money. So first we will do a quick fly over the bible to answer our first question. We need to start at the beginning. If God made this universe and all it contains, then it follows that EVERYTHING belongs to him. That is foundational, and yet God has given us a place in his creation and has graciously allowed us to own things, to possess them for a time. From the earliest time, God’s people have owned things and nowhere are we commanded or expected to automatically give up or get rid of all that we have.

On the other hand, there are plenty of warnings about the dangers of money.

Heb 13:5-6 – These verses capture what other verses of the bible highlight in their own way. What is big problem with money? It is the love of it, the reliance on it, the trust we inevitably place in it as the solution of our problems. That verse gives as the reason for rejecting the false trust of money the truth that God has promised to be with his people ALWAYS. It is HIM we are to trust and love, not money.

1 Tim 6:6-10 – These are strong words but borne out by many in their experience.

There are dangers with money, but it is worth noting that bible is not against rich people. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, King David, Daniel were all wealthy men and yet commended as men of faith.

Money is transitory and temporary. Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 graphically makes that point.

Proverbs 11:28 and Proverbs 23:4-5 both reinforce this. How does God want you to view money? As given to you, entrusted for a time, useful but not to be relied on, trusted in, loved or lusted after. The dangers are real and devastating. Treasures in heaven are infinitely more valuable than treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).

How does God want you to give?

Loving God means making all our resources subject to our King. It should be obvious then that God DOES want you to give. But how? Three accounts in the bible will help us to answer that question.

Exodus 25:1-2, 35:4 and following. The character of the giving for the materials of the tabernacle was emphatically voluntary. It is those whose heart prompts them and those who are willing. 2 Cor 9:7-8 tell us that our giving must be voluntary.

Luke 21:1-4 – this powerful account of the widow with her two pennies being commended above the rich and their bags of money shows us that our giving is not only to be cheerful and voluntary but also sacrificial.

“The subject before us is peculiarly heart-searching. On no point perhaps do professing Christians come short so much as in the matter of giving money to God’s cause. Thousands, it may be feared, know nothing whatever of “giving” as a Christian duty.” (JC Ryle).

2 Cor 8-9. 9:3ff – in these verses Paul urges the Corinthian church not to embarrass him when he comes but to be ready with a prepared gift. Giving is not only voluntary and sacrificial but also planned, deliberate, orderly. In these verses, Paul uses the example above all others (the giving of Christ for their salvation, 2 Cor 8:9) as a strong incentive to Christian giving.

How does God want us to use the money given?

OT tithe was used in a number of ways – to support the ministry to God (worship), the ministry to God’s people (nurturing) and ministry to world (gospel and social care). We don’t limit ourselves to a mere tenth (we want to give ALL to our Lord and King) but principle of tithe use is helpful.

Money should be used by church to support the worship of God, to maintain the ministry of the word, to take the gospel to the world and for caring for others.

The church needs to continually check that the money is being used to support the aim of the church – to glorify God. Those three areas are helpful to keep in mind – ministry to God, to church and to world. Are there imbalances in our giving as a church? Are we using the money God has given us to do the work God has given us?

How will you obey God in your giving?

Final question is a challenge to us all to provoke us to think through this issue, to test our hearts, to hear God’s word and to act on it. God doesn’t need your money, that much is clear. But giving is a Christian grace that we are to excel in.

You are to give willingly, joyfully, sacrificially, diligently and then the church is to use that money to glorify God. Read these verses as a final word of challenge: Malachi 3:6-12 and pray that God might have the glory as we honour him with our giving.

As Phil Grubb preached this part of our series, the notes are in a slightly different format from the others. They are designed to be used while listening to the sermon Phil preached. As such, they are only available as a PDF file to download (14Kb).

Why not print them off, and then listen to the sermon Phil preached as you read them?