Year: 2016

Kenya

I have been invited by Vision Ministries Canada (VMC) to go to Kenya this month to be one of the presenters at a pastors – church leaders conference in Nairobi. VMC has been building a relationship with the fledgling Vision Ministries Kenya (VMK) over the last few years. I have already met the director of VMK, Ishmael Ochieng, at the last couple of VMC conferences.

I am looking forward to this stretching trip. I will be speaking 9 times (1 plenary session; 8 workshop/seminars) over 4 days, as well as in churches on both Sundays.

We will be gone from August 11-23. The Conference is in Nairobi, August 15-18; then we will be heading west to Kisumu on Lake Victoria

If you want to be added to my prayer list for this trip – email me

If you want to donate toward the cost of the trip which includes

  • partially underwriting the cost of the conference
  • providing travel subsidies for Kenyan leaders
  • & leaving behind some funds for church planting

you can give here. Designate your gift “Africa 2016: Michael Bells”

 

reading through Corinthians

Beginning August 8, we are reading through Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth. By reading 1 chapter a day, 5 days a week you will read through some of Paul’s answers to questions of practice and ministry.

As you read, you may want to jot down a word or phrase that reminds you of a key thought.

Share what you are discovering at
occweb.org/ news-and-updates/reading-through-Corinthians/

You can get a copy of the reading list

here: Reading through Corinthians
here: facebook.com/occweb
or a physical copy at the OCC welcome centre

questions

Next Sundayquestions
31 July
we will look at some questions raised
during this series entitled:
heaven | hell | angels
post your question in the comments
or email me at mike@occweb.org

Reading Through Romans

Beginning July 11, we are reading through Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. By reading 1 chapter a day, 5 days a week you will read through Paul’s most detailed theology of who we are in Christ and how we live those truths out in our daily lives.

As you read, you may want to jot down a word or phrase that reminds you of a key thought.

Share what you are discovering at
occweb.org/ news-and-updates/reading-through-Romans/

You can get a copy of the reading list

here: Reading through GEPC
here: facebook.com/occweb
or a physical copy at the OCC welcome centre

July ONE

July’s ONE at OCC is
shampoo and/or conditioner
for Couchiching Jubillee Housejuly one

spiritual maturity

I am sometimes asked for recommendations on books, podcasts, or Bible studies for spiritual growth. These things can help us learn more about our faith, but real spiritual maturity is about your connection to Jesus. It’s not about books, podcasts, how many Bible studies you have done or how many years you’ve been a Christian, it’s about how much time you spend with Jesus.
Mark Batterson wrote “… growing into spiritual maturity is becoming less self-conscious and more God-conscious.” You want to grow?
Then I suggest spending more time with Jesus by reading all four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
That’s how we learn about Jesus – what he said, did and thought.
So, how will you attach yourself to him – today, this week?

Reading through GEPC

Beginning June 13 and continuing through July 8, we are reading through the four short, but packed letters that Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi and Colossae. By reading 1 chapter a day, 5 days a week you will cover some of the vital truths about who we are in Christ and how we live those truths out in our daily lives.

As you read, you may want to jot down a word or phrase that reminds you of a key thought.

Share what you are discovering at
occweb.org/ news-and-updates/reading-through-GEPC/

You can get a copy of the reading list

here: Reading through GEPC
here: facebook.com/occweb
or a physical copy at the OCC welcome centre

Heaven, Hell & Angels

I am planning to do a short series this summer on:Heaven Hell

  • Heaven
  • Hell
  • Angels

There is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding around these subjects.

So, in order to prepare, what are your questions about

  • Heaven
  • Hell
  • Angels

You can post them, as comments here, or you can email them to me.

Reading through Acts

At the end of April we finished reading through the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

We are going to move on over the next 6 weeks to read through the Book of Acts.
We will use the same format, 1 chapter a day, Monday through Friday. Weekends are catch-up days in case you missed a day or two during the week.

I encourage you to join us as we read… It is by being in the scriptures, that we give space for God to speak to us: to challenge us, to encourage us, to teach us.

I will get back to preaching/teaching from the book of Acts on 15 May 2016.

This week we are reading Acts 1-5
A printed copy of the reading list will be available at OCC this week.
Downloadable versions are available on our facebook page, or you can get it right here.

Gospel of John tweets

John
1 The Word was before everything, became flesh & blood & moved into the neighbourhood, and reveals God, calls disciples #Jn1 #gospeltweet
2 Jesus turned water into the best wine; purpose of the Temple & the new temple #Jn2 #gospeltweet
3 Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about life, meaning & hope; link between believing in & obeying Jesus & eternal life  #Jn3 #gospeltweet
4 Jesus & Samaritan women: worship in spirit & truth, she introduces people to Jesus; Jesus heals an official’s son #Jn4 #gospeltweet
5 Jesus heals a lame man; breaks the Sabbath, calls God his Father; the Scriptures don’t have eternal life – they point to Jesus #Jn5 #gospeltweet
6 Jesus feeds 5000+; walks on water; “I am the true bread that came down from heaven”; many desert Jesus #Jn6 #gospeltweet
7 Jesus does not follow standard self-promotion ways; questions about Jesus being the Messiah, belief & unbelief #Jn7 #gospeltweet
8 Woman caught in adultery. Light of the world. No longer a slave, now a child of God. Glorifying the Father. #Jn8 #gospeltweet
9 Jesus heals a man born blind; then there is spiritual blindness #Jn9 #gospeltweet
10 The sheep know the shepherd’s voice. Jesus came to give them a rich and satisfying life. #Jn10 #gospeltweet
11 Lazarus raised from the dead; everyone who lives in Jesus and believes in him will never die; plotting to kill Jesus #Jn11 #gospeltweet
12 Jesus anointed at Bethany; triumphant entry; another announcement re death; unbelief #Jn12 #gospeltweet
13 Jesus washed his disciples feet – you do the same, he will be betrayed, Peter will deny him #Jn13 #gospeltweet
14 Jesus: trust God, trust me, I am the way to the Father; love me, do what I say; I will give you the Spirit #Jn14 #gospeltweet
15 J: be in me & I will be in you, you produce fruit as you are connected to me; remain in my love even as you are hated #Jn15 #gospeltweet
16 I will send the Spirit to be with you & guide you into all truth. The Father loves you. You will have trials, but I have overcome the world #Jn16 #gospeltweet
17 Jesus prays for his disciples & us, that we would be holy, rooted in truth, living in oneness so the world would know God #Jn17 #gospeltweet
18 Jesus is arrested, taken to the High Priest’s house, Peter denies Jesus, brought before Pilate #Jn18 #gospeltweet
19 Jesus is sentenced to death by Pilate, crucified, as he is dying he declares “It is finished”, then is buried #Jn19 #gospeltweet
20 Dark. Resurrection! Jesus appears to Mary, disciples, Thomas. By believing you may have life in his name #Jn20 #gospeltweet
21 Jesus cooks breakfast; restores Peter–feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep; this is only a part of the Jesus story #Jn21#gospeltweet