Positively, annoyingly, able

On Sunday night i preached my first sermon at my new church.

It went pretty well, thanks for asking, getting positive feedback (even extending into the church council meeting last night). From pretty much the start of the sermon i abandoned my notes and it made a massive improvement from what i was expecting to deliver.

So, whilst i was preaching "without a net," the final point i was making made a personal impression. We, at least it did over the next day or so...

I asked the congregation during church, if they viewed God the same way Paul did. A "God who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, by His power working within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

Did they come before a God who is able to be active and moving in a surprising manner? If people evaluated the petitions they made to God, what would it say about the God they were asking? Do they actually expect God to work in their lives, churches, schools, universities, workplaces, families and amongst their friends?

As i read water meters, i was struck with the reality that the God of the Bible is able.

Lately, I've underestimated the way that God will work in churches. Despite staffing, despite church histories and despite obstacles, God will still work... In spite what i might think.

It's positively annoying (meaning annoying... but in a good way) when your own sermon speaks to you...