Church Actually - God's brilliant idea
We’ll answer some of the big questions that get asked about the Church by exploring four of the pictures used in the New Testament to describe it – the People of God, the Community of the Spirit, the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. We’ll look at the mission of the Church in our culture and our calling as God’s people.
Each day we will look at a ‘brilliant idea’ involved in God’s founding of the church:
Day 2 - God’s brilliant idea - ‘Shine through them!’
God chooses to shine his light through human beings, and since Pentecost this has meant the church - the People of God. We will look at the connections between church and mission, and just how it is that God shines through his people.
Day 3 - God’s brilliant idea: ‘Give them power!’
God does not only ask us to shine for him, he empowers us to do so. The ‘shining’ of God’s people comes from the infilling and in-fuelling of the Holy Spirit. We will look at the New Testament description of the church as the Community of the Spirit, the very dwelling-place of God and explore the Holy Spirit as God’s gift to the church.
Day 4 - God’s brilliant idea: ‘Help them love!’
As we engage with God’s mission in the world, we follow the lead and the example of Jesus, whose self-giving love is the very basis of our faith. Servant love is to be the mark of the Christian community. We will explore the calling of the church to be the Body of Christ, called by him to continue his ministry in the world.
Day 5 - God’s brilliant idea: ‘Make them one!’
The church the New Testament foresees is multicultural, multi-national and multi-lingual. The name given to this people in the Bible is the Bride of Christ - beautiful, sparkling and deeply loved by God. We will explore the joy of our diversity; embracing the call of God to reach every tribe and culture and escaping cultural captivity to express love for the ‘other’.
Over these four days the threads of church and mission will be woven together. Our vibrant, practical programme will get you thinking more, loving more and doing more. Spring Harvest 2012 is a celebration of the most life-changing, world-shaking community in history. Join us in April and bring your family, friends and your church!
What you can expect
Spring Harvest is an enormous gathering of Christians of all ages, denominations and backgrounds, for a 'week' (5 nights, 6 days), with the same programme repeated at two resorts, over 4 weeks.
There's a full programme of activities, including Bible teaching, worship celebrations, seminars, workshops, sports, recreation, debates and late-night entertainment. For children, we run programmes for Under fives, 5-7s and 8-11s, and there are youth programmes for 11-14s & 15-18s.
Spring Harvest 2012 dates
- Minehead 1: Saturday 31 March - Thursday 5 April
- Minehead 2: Thursday 5 - Tuesday 10 April
- Minehead 3: Tuesday 10 - Sunday 15 April
- Skegness 1: Tuesday 10 - Sunday 15 April
Our theme on every level
A unique aspect of Spring Harvest's programme is our theme which is worked out at every level from adults, through to young people, children and toddlers. Everybody will be looking at the same daily theme, whether young or old, which gives you great opportunities to discuss what you've learned, as a family, with friends or in your group.
Find out more about the programme by following the links on the left, and sign up to receive monthly news and updates about Spring Harvest at springharvest.org/email-news
