5th Annual Reformation Addresses
By Gerry Straker, 17 Oct 2022
These Reformation Day Addresses are our annual celebration of God’s work through Church history as we look at two saints from the past.
We all love a good story, and we especially love it when we can see God’s hand in someone’s life and how God has been at work through them. We celebrate the grace of God and his Sovereign care for his Church and are encouraged in our walk with Christ. Through a person’s life you can learn all sorts of other things about theology, history, politics, philsophy, geography and so on.
Commenting on Hebrews 11, John Piper suggests that if we asked the author of Hebrews, how we might ‘stir one another up to love and good deeds’ (Hebrews 10:24), the author would reply:
'Through encouragement from the living and the dead’ (10:25; 11:1-40). Christian biography is
the means by which the ‘body life’ of the church cuts across the centuries.[1]
Piper says that, like Abel in Hebrews 11:4, ‘through his faith, though he died, he still speaks’, so saints speak us today by their stories.
As we learn together some Church history, we find we are part of something much bigger than Church by the Bay, or even the Church in the UK. We are part of the body of Christ made up of saints living and dead. We are part of a bigger story of God bringing ‘all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.’ (Ephesians 1:10).
As we hear the stories of saints that have gone before, we see God bringing good from seemingly impossible circumstances – when the world’s powers have looked unbeatable. We are encouraged to keep trusting him.
As we hear of examples of courage, we are strengthened to imitate our forebears in the faith (Hebrews 6:12) and persevere through hardships.
As we hear of God’s glorious gospel changing lives, so we are remotivated for the great gospel task given us of reaching Morecambe and beyond for Christ.
As we hear of how they loved people are inspired to love our Church and our families better.
As we meet Christian preachers and writers we hear examples and ideas of how to express our faith and joy in the Lord beautifully.
As we hear about God being glorified, we join our older brothers and sisters in giving God glory for his work.
So join us on Wednesday 2nd November at 10:30am or 8pm (Come early for a hot drink) to listen and be encouraged.
(If you still need convincing, read last year's article here.)
[1] John Piper, 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy, 9.