Listooder Youth Fellowship

New Tribes Mission - Norman & Angela McCready

New Tribes Mission (NTM) is a global missionary organisation whose primary focus is to plant churches among 'new tribes' who have yet to hear the Gospel. Norman and Angela McCready spent many years working with NTM in Papua New Guinea, before they returned to Northern Ireland in 2001. In 2009, they accepted an opportunity to run Summit Teams for NTM, taking groups of people out to NTM sites for several weeks to assist in the missionary work there. This work involved laying of pipes, digging foundations and building facilities for the missionary families and local tribes. Before showing a video of some of the most recent trips, Norman read from Luke chapter 5, challenging the young people to 'thrust out a little' from the shore (verse 3). He wanted them to consider leaving the comfort zone of home and take part in one of the trips. From experience, he expressed the need to obey the call of the Lord, whether that be to missionary service or any other career path. Just as the disciples responded when the Lord commanded them to 'let down the nets' (verse 4), so we must respond to the guidance of God in our lives. We must also forsake all the things that would hold us back from accomplishing the will of God (verse 11), abandoning our fears (verse 10) and trusting fully in Christ and in His leading. God has a plan for each of our lives, and it is only when we submit ourselves completely to His will, that we will see that perfect plan fulfilled. So let us not be as those in Colossians 2:8, who chased after the 'rudiments of the world', but instead follow after Christ.

Need or Greed: The Secret of Contentment

The secret of true contentment is something that has eluded many men and women over the centuries. William Causby, in his first visit to Listooder, takes a look at what the Bible has to say on the matter. Reading from Matthew chapter 6, he conducts a simple verse-by-verse Bible study entitled Need or Greed. Here is a brief summary: Verse 19 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: Treasures stored on the earth will corrupt. Consider the latest gadgets, which so many of us set our hearts upon: they will eventually break down, become outdated, get lost or even stolen, as will every other material possession. Everything in this world decays, and it is only the heavenly things that will last. Verse 21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Whatever we consider to be of value in our lives, that is what we will fill our thoughts with, and focus our attention on. To value the material things of earth above the heavenly things of God, results in a desire for greed, rather than a desire for God. Verse 24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. It is impossible for a human to serve and love riches (mammon), yet still love God. That's not to say that an owner of money, cannot be a lover of God, but according to Scripture a lover of money cannot be a lover of God. In fact, the Bible tells us that 'the love of money is the root of all evil'. Verse 25 - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? A Christian should not worry. It is completely unnecessary. According to God's Word, the things which we need will always be provided exactly when we need them; and anything we don't need, clearly isn't worth worrying about anyway. Verse 27 - Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? When has worrying about anything ever changed the outcome? According to the Bible - never. Verse 28 - And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: Think about nature around us. The flowers don't work, the flowers don't worry, and yet they are taken care of every day. They are provided with the most beautiful covering, the perfect combination of food and water and the strength to stand. God provides it all to every single one of them. Can He, and will He not do so much more for us, His own children? Verse 30 - Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? If we worry about the things that are needful, we show a lack of faith that God will provide, and if we worry about things that are not needful, we show a lack of trust in God's decision making. O ye of little faith. Verse 32 - (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. At the time, the Gentiles were those who did not know God. The unbeliever worries. He does not know of a God who has promised to provide every need that we have. But we do, and so we should not worry like the unbeliever. Verse 33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. This is the answer to the great question of contentment. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. It is only when we fully place our attention, our motivation and our desires upon Christ, and His work of salvation in our hearts, that He will add to our lives every need that we have. But greater than that, He has promised to bestow upon us many gifts which are above and beyond anything that we have need of, or deserve.

The Testimony of Danny Roberts

Danny Roberts made the journey to Listooder, from his home in Liverpool, to relate the testimony of what God has done in his life. His words proved to be a huge blessing and a challenge to the young people of Listooder, as his testimony differed so much from those often heard in the rural areas of Northern Ireland. Danny was born and brought up in the Walton area of the City of Liverpool, an area in which two young people lost their lives this month as a result of knife attacks. His family was no stranger to crime, with his father involved in dubious money-making schemes in the locality. Alcohol had also played a big part in recent family history, with no-one in the family surviving past the age of 65. Things changed dramatically for the family, while Danny and his brother were still young, when the home received a visit from the Jehovah's Witnesses. Infuriated by their words, Danny's father set out to in search of information to use against them. However, in his search, and having already exposed the fallacies of the Jehovah's Witnesses he was brought into contact with a bunch of tracts explaining his need of Salvation and  the truth about God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Challenged by what he read, the family began to attend church, hearing, on a regular basis of their need to turn to Christ for Salvation. Within a short period of time, both of Danny's parents had put their trust in Jesus Christ, having had their sins forgiven and received assurance of a home in heaven. The Roberts home changed drastically after that. The criminal activity was gone, the drinking was gone, and the parties were gone. Although the change in the home had a profound affect on Danny and his brother, the fact that his parents were now Christians did not mean that Danny himself was saved. It was only when young Danny, forced to listen to one church service after he forgot his colouring book, was startled by a dramatic illustration of what it would be like to spend eternity in hell, that he too began to realise that he must be saved. That evening, with the help of his father, Danny turned to Christ for Salvation, receiving immediate forgiveness of sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. His life, as a Christian, would not be an easy one, considering he would be the only Believer in his school of around 2,100 people. The opposition, both verbal and physical, that he experienced resulted in a strong conviction that he would live to serve Christ in whatever he did. In doing so, God blessed Danny in many ways, bringing many of his school friends into church, and exposing them to the Gospel of Christ. Today, Danny is working among the young people of Liverpool, encouraging them to work and play together in the community, developing skills and attitudes to counteract the criminal mindset of so many young people today. But more importantly, he is seeking to take every opportunity to speak for Christ his Saviour, and to show them that the change God has made in his life, can be experienced in the lives of others if they just simply come to Him.

Christian Maturity - David Smith

The Listooder meetings began again with the visit of David Smith, considering the subject of Christian Maturity. David began by likening a mature Christian to an established tree, producing fruit, standing strong and fulfilling its purpose. He was, however, very quick to point out that a mature Christian was not necessarily an older Christian and that it was more than possible for a young Believer to show signs of maturity in the Christian faith. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12

Speaking from 2 Corinthians 5:7, David defines a mature Christian as one who realises his position in life, and one who allows this to dictate everything in his/her life.

For we walk by faith, not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7 A Mature Christian knows their Foundation A sign of maturity is the knowledge that our lives, and everything in them, is built upon Christ. Without Him we are nothing. All our hopes, dreams and desires are worthless unless they share the same foundation. A mature Christian will build every decision, every relationship and every pursuit upon the Word of God, ensuring that it is in His will. A Mature Christian knows their Practise In verse 7 above, the phrase 'walk by faith' indicates the manner in which a mature Christian should journey through life. Walking is the most natural, common way for us to get from one place to another. It is second nature, requiring little thought or effort. In much the same way, doing the right thing as a Christian will be natural for those mature in the faith. Our Christian walk should be consistent, always making progress, with our minds clearly focused on our destination, which is Christ. A Mature Christian knows their Expectation As Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 5, the thoughts of a Christian should not be limited to the things of this world, but rather on things beyond. Although we have been given this opportunity to live on earth and to enjoy the short time the Lord has given us here, there is a far greater plan for us as believers, and that is to enjoy God's glory in heaven forever. A mature Christian will constantly be reminded that no matter how enjoyable this world can be, it will never compare to the wonder of heaven, and the eternal joy of Christ's presence. A Mature Christian knows their Certainty Every Christian has the same assurances from God. The assurance of God's presence with us; the assurance of our sins forgiven; the assurance of a home in heaven. However, it is a mature Christian who will allow these certainties to direct their life. The knowledge of God's presence will eliminate fear, the knowledge of sins forgiven will remove guilt and the knowledge of eternal security will banish doubt. A mature believer then is one who is driven by God's certainties in Scripture, who is not distracted by the pleasures of the world, who is consistent in their walk and who is sure in their foundation. It is fairly certain that, regardless of how long we have been saved, not one of us can claim to have reached full maturity. But let us strive to be more mature, and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - 2 Peter 3:18.

The Altars of Life - Bobby Mackay

For the final meeting of the Spring season, Listooder welcomed Bobby Mackay to speak on the Altars of Life. The life of an individual can be separated into various different stages, including childhood, school life, careers and relationships. The journey of a believer, through the Christian life, is no different. The various stages of the Christian walk can be seen in the life of Abraham, who built altars to God after each special experience with His heavenly Father. The Altar of Corruption Like each of us, Abraham was born with sin in his heart. This, then, is an altar that every man and woman builds without God. It is an altar of corruption, and an altar that can lead only to destruction and a life without Christ. The only solution is to turn away from this altar and turn to Jesus Christ for Salvation. The Altar of Conversion Although we do not read in Scripture of the specific time that Abraham came to know God, we know that at some point in his life he must have turned to Christ the Redeemer for Salvation (Isaiah 29:22). It doesn't matter when or where this altar was built, but it must be built for a man or woman to see the kingdom of God. It is here that we meet with Christ. The Altar of Cleansing God brought Abraham out of his home, out of his comfort zone (Genesis 12:7). It was a journey of cleansing. Abraham's conversion was not the end of his journey with God, but the start. God had many lessons for Abraham to learn, often bringing him through firey situations where he was forced to rely solely upon the Saviour. Likewise, in our lives, God will often bring us through troubled times, as gold refined in the fire, so that He can shape us into His image, and fully experience His blessings. The Altar of Communion In Genesis 12:8, Abraham called upon the name of the Lord. The altar of communion is where we meet with God in the place of prayer. A symbol of our faith in God is the new desire He gives us to speak to Him in prayer. When Abraham went down into Egypt, symbolic of his fall from the presence of God, he forgot about the place of prayer. Yet God graciously brought him back, for in Genesis 13:4 we read that he returned to the altar of communion, where, once again, he called upon the name of the Lord. The Altar of the Covenant Following God's delivery of the famous covenant to Abraham, we read that Abraham again built an altar. The altar of promise is a special place in the life of a believer. Nothing should be so precious to us as a clear promise from God concerning our lives. It is something that we can bring back to God time and again, knowing that He is faithful to do it. But we must remember that God's timing is not our timing. Often we are called to be patient. Abraham waited until he was 100 years old to see the promise fulfilled. The children of Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the promised land. The promises of God never fail, but they won't always happen as soon as we want them to. The Altar of Consecration In Genesis 22 we see the story of the sacrifice of Abraham's son, Isaac. It was here that God tested Abraham's faith. A change had taken place in his life. Before he met with God, Abraham could not have gone through this situation. Yet here, he obeyed God even when it meant he could lose everything he held dear. He showed faith in God, believing that the covenant of God would be fulfilled through his son, Isaac, as God had promised him. Faith is a gift from God, given to every believer the moment they put their trust in Him. The Altar of Crowns A believer in Christ has many privileges in life. But in death, we experience surely the greatest privilege of all. It is then that we will meet our Saviour face to face, and stand before the altar of Him who died for us, and bow before Him. It is also here that we will take that crown of life, the crown of righteousness that God has placed upon the heads of those who turned to Him for Salvation, and will cast them at the feet of Christ, a symbol of our ultimate surrender to Him for all eternity. The altars of life. The various stages in the life of a believer. And although each one of us is currently experiencing a different altar with God, the vital question is: has there been a point in our lives when we have left our altar of corruption behind and turned to Christ's altar of conversion. If not, we can never know what it is to have a true relationship with the God of heaven, nor the assurance of an eternal home. Without Him, this life holds no joy for you, and death has no comfort. Trust Christ, and experience the altars of life with Him.

Time Management - Colin Murray

Every day, God credits our account with 86,400 seconds. We have 24 hours to use them, and once they are gone, they have gone forever. But of course, the very next day God gives us another 86,400. The question is: How do we use those seconds? How do we use our time? These questions are particularly important for Christians. Those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ have a responsibility to use their time to bring glory to God. Whatever is done, it should be done to the glory and honour of God, our Father. In managing our time, we must decide what is important in our lives. What are the key things that we must make time for? - We must read and study the Word of God. - We must spend time in prayer. - We must serve in the work of the Lord. - We must work. - We must eat. - We must sleep. - We must spend time with friends and family. - We must rest. These are things that we simply have to allow time for, and we need to responsibly balance our time between these various tasks. For example, a person who spends every moment in the study of God's Word, but who does not allow time for practical service for Christ, is not using their time wisely. Likewise, someone who spends 80% of their time resting, and only 10% working, does not use their time wisely. Our time must allow for each task, and we should give a fair balance to all of them. We are accountable for our time, and as such we should not be seen to waste the time that God has given us. We should consider the message that we send out to unbelievers by the way in which we spend our time. It is, however, possible to over-use our time. In the work of God, being busy does not necessarily equate to being obedient. God may have a single task for us to do, a task that we perhaps lose sight of, because we are too busy engaging ourselves in other legitimate pursuits. Maybe even doing jobs, serving the Lord, in areas that God has reserved for others. That is also a foolish use of our time. It is therefore imperative that we discover what it is that God wants us to with our time, and stick to it. God, in His will, will always ensure that there is adequate time for rest, adequate time for family, adequate time for work, adequate time for study, adequate time for prayer and adequate time for the church. Not following His will, regardless of how good the intent is, and how spiritual the task is, could lead us into poor management of our time, to such an extent that we could squeeze out the vital tasks like reading the Word and praying. A simple guide, in relation to the management of our time, is surely that, as believers, we should not spend time doing things that we couldn't ask the blessing of God for. It doesn't have to be a 'spiritual' task, but if we were ashamed, in prayer, to ask God's blessing and help as we pursue it, then it seems clear that it brings no benefit to our lives. Let it go, and free up time for the daily work that God has given each one of us to do.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Colin Tinsley

Listooder favourite, Colin Tinsley was back to bring a simple, yet vitally important message on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Colin began by breaking down the word itself, revealing the truth contained in this wonderful Biblical word. G - God is the author of Salvation. O - Ordinary People: No special talent or intellectual ability required. S - Sinners: You must realise your need of Salvation. P - Persecution: Following Christ will not always be easy. E - Everyone: For all have sinned; we all need the Gospel. L - Lost: Without the Gospel, men will be eternally lost. The Gospel has Power Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The Gospel alone, has the power to remove sin, through the blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed on the cross of Calvary. The Gospel must be Believed Mark 1:15 - The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. It is not enough to know Gospel. Sadly, many men and women have died with a knowledge of the Gospel and have been lost for all eternity. The Gospel must be believed. To accept Salvation is to believe that all have sinned, that God hates sin. To accept that sin must be punished, and Christ is the only one who can save us from sin, having already taken the punishment for our sins. Only then can we turn from our sin and call unto Christ for Salvation. The Gospel should be Shared Mark 16:15 - Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Every one who accepts the wonderful gift of Salvation, receives also the responsibility of sharing that same Gospel message with others. We receive a burden from God for lost souls; the desire to see our friends and family brought to Christ. The Gospel is not a message to keep to yourself. 2 Corinthians 4:3 tells us that 'if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost'. It is a message that must be shared. The Gospel brings a Change 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A true Christian, a person who has placed their full trust in Christ for eternal salvation, will be changed by the Gospel. The Spirit of God will enter in and every decision in that person's life will be directed by the Spirit. As a believer in Christ, you will have new desires to serve Him and live for Him. Your life will never be the same again, and you will be filled with the blessed hope of Christ, looking forward to the day when you will meet Him face to face in Heaven. Titus 2:13 - 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ'.

Should a Christian go to War? - Jonny Rice

As reports reach us daily of battles and conflicts in the world, we ask the question: Is it right for a Christian to go to war? Although seemingly more prolific than at any other time in history, the existence of these wars is simply evidence of the divine will of God and a reminder of the prophetic words in Matthew 24. So as Christians, what should our view be to the ongoing wars in which our nation is engaged in? Opinions on this matter are strong, and yet are often based on a poor understanding of Scripture. Those who oppose war on the grounds of religious beliefs will state that God is a God of Peace, who would not condone war. However, we read in Romans chapter 13 that God puts men and women into places of authority, to ‘execute wrath upon him that doeth evil’. As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:8 there is a time when war is necessary, to eradicate evil regimes. But should a Christian be a soldier? No Christian should take on a career that it is not led of God. Therefore, if a person has been directed of God, by the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) to become a soldier, then that is not for any other believer to question. That person then comes under the authority of his/her superiors (Romans 13:1-4) and, if called into battle, must be prepared to go. So is it ever right to object to a war? The Scriptures are very clear regarding this question. In Luke 14:31-32 we learn that only a fool would enter a conflict with insufficent resources. Therefore a war begun without appropriate planning and sufficient resources, is a war that should not go ahead. And in James 4:1-2, we learn that a war started by reason of greed is also wrong. Whether greed for power, wealth or possessions, a conflict on these grounds is one that should not be supported. But how do we know? Surely only the Lord knows the true motives of any conflict. That is true, however, He has given us the great privilege of being able to ask. James 4:2 reminds us ‘ye have not, because ye ask not’. If it ever becomes absolutely necessary for us to know the true motives of war, and therefore to know what our own views should be, we should pray. 2 Corinthians 10:4 reveals the real power of prayer – ‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.’ – We have a mighty weapon against evil, whether on a personal or a global scale, and that is prayer. Let each of us pray that God will preserve our land from evil, and protect those faithful believers who have followed the call of God into the armed forces, and even now are fighting to ‘execute (God’s) wrath upon him that doeth evil’.

Why Worry? - Bob McConnell

In the recent installment of Listooder’s popular ‘Amongst Ourselves’ format, where the regulars take part in the meeting, a terrific crowd came out to the hall to enjoy the fun. Ably led by Faith Dane, the meeting was first handed over to Ruth Dane who gave a word of testimony, focussing on the faithfulness of God in her life. Ruth’s testimony was followed by a cotton-wool inspired challenge, in the form of George McFadden’s quiz, assisted by Philip and David Pentland, once again pitting the left side of the hall against the right. Once the comotion had died down, Bob McConnell brought the meeting to a close with some simple, yet fundamental thoughts on the subject of Worry. Reading from Matthew chapter 6, Bob considered the command of Christ in verse 11 to request our daily bread. Despite the acknowledgement in verse 8 that God already knows our thoughts and needs, He still commands us to request this daily provision. As Believers, God will provide our every need, without fail. Yet we still worry about every little thing. We worry about money, we worry about work, we worry about our health, our looks and our future. But in Matthew chapter 6 we are reminded of the birds, the soul-less creation of God. They don’t work. They don’t worry, yet they survive. They have a heavenly provider who cares for their every need, and as we read in verse ‘are ye not much better than they’. If God can take care of the birds, then surely He can take care of us, who were created in His own image. Three times in the chapter, the Lord commands us to ‘take no thought’, to have no anxiety regarding these things, no worries, no fears. It is a command we should all obey, and yet we fail time and again. A lack of faith in what God can do for us is what leads to our anxiety, and where a weak faith leads to worry, worry leads to discontentment. In Philippians 4:11, the apostle Paul declared ‘I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content’. It was not something that came naturally to Paul, it is not something that comes naturally to us, but we must learn to be content. We must pray for that understanding of true contentment. In Luke chapter 10, Martha fretted as she considered all that needed to be prepared for her guests. In the meantime her sister sat down at the feet of Jesus, seemingly oblivious to the work that needed done. As Martha complained to Jesus, the rebuke came back plainly and simply: ‘Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part.’ So what is it to be content? As verse 33 of Matthew 6 says, it is to ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God.’ Putting the things of God first will massively reduce the signifcance of the other things in our lives. If we put God first, then we can rightly claim the promise that ‘all these things shall be added unto you’. God first, denying our own selves, and our own desires. Learning to be content, praying for contentment and for the faith to fully appreciate what God has already given us. So what should we worry about? Firstly, we should worry about our eternal security. Are you saved? Have you taken the step in faith, whereby you have put your faith trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Secondly, if you are saved, then how is your walk with God? It is only by walking close by His side that we will fully experience the blessings and provisions that God freely gives to His children. ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’. 1 Timothy 6:6

Testimony of Ruth Dane

Listooder regular, Ruth Dane, speaks of the blessings the Lord has given to her. Saved at the age of 3, Ruth related her experiences in life were she has seen God's faithfulness to her, guiding her safely through situations outside of her control.