What is the cross-Why is it part of Easter?

There are some things that are hard to disguise by gift wrapping, a squeeze or a shaking of the package will easily reveal what is inside.  A cross is something that cannot be hidden by clothing it in pretty paper.  The shape is very distinctive and seems to refuse to be hidden.  In the christian faith the cross is very prominent, but why is this?

The cross was a gross instrument of torture which was used by the Romans as a form of capital punishment.  So it was not unique to christianity.  What makes it special to Christians is that Jesus Christ the Son of God was put to death on one of them.  Following his death he was buried for three days.  On the third day he rose from the dead.  At Easter time Christians celebrate the death of Christ but they also celebrate his coming back from the dead.  This also gives hope to Christians that after they die they will live again just like Jesus did.  The gift of eternal life is for everyone that believes in Jesus.  That is the message of the cross.


New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is Easter all about?

The story of Easter unfolds in a room that had been hurriedly booked.  If you where a fly on the wall on that day, what you would see is thirteen friends gathered together for an evening meal.  Just picture the get together, where someone mentions what should remain unsaid. The dreadful ripple of disquiet spreads, and the tone of the party is ruined forever! Someone has disturbed the old wounds, it is not going to be a quiet evening.  Jesus is the one whose words are to spoil the evening. He announces that he knows that one of the twelve people  he has trusted is about to stab him in the back!  There is hurt embarrassment and denial in the nest. No more friendly back slapping.  No more eating too much and crashing out on the couch.  All eyes are wide open now, appetites have vanished.  Jesus further underlines that death is in the offing with a symbolic act known as The Last Supper Mark 14:23 "He took a cup of grape juice, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they drank it.  And he said this is my blood which ratifies the new covenant which is being poured out on many".  The spectacle of death is now clearly fixed in each persons

Where does the Easter Bunny comes from?

Just about now the shelves of supermarkets and confectioners are beginning to fill up with Easter eggs and Easter bunnies.  But have you stopped to think about where the Easter bunny comes from?  Well the Easter bunny is also known as the spring bunny in the U.S.  The Easter Bunny is a mythical creature on par with Santa Claus.  Both the Easter bunny and Santa bring gifts at the relevant time of year...apparently.  The Easter Hare is supposed to secretly bring eggs and hide them in the home or in the garden for children to find on Easter day.  As we know Hares and Bunnies do not do this. This is a cute cuddly story but it is not true....I can hear the tears already as Santa and the Easter Bunny are fired!!!  Alas, the truth is very painful.

The true story of Easter though is a heart warming message about Gods' love.  It surrounds the account of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who came to earth to reveal Gods' love for human beings.  There is one merit in the bunny story though, the eggs that the furry jumper brings is symbolic.  Just as the chick emerges from the egg when it hatches, Christ emerged from the grave to give us the hope of eternal life.     This is summed up beautifully in St John 3:16 in the Holy Bible.  It says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that who ever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life".

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)

244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

Why Do Christians Worship on a Sunday?

What makes Sunday the day of Christian Worship?  Do I have to Go to Church on Sunday! Sunday is the only day I have to do what I am doing.  These are some of the comments that you may hear when it comes to talking about church on Sunday.  Well the first thing to say is that Christian worship is an everyday thing which is not limited by days.  However, Sunday is significant and here is why:

1. Sunday is significant for Christians because it marked the Birthday of the modern church.  The church was born on the first day of the week.
2. Sunday is significant because whenever the resurrection of Christ from the dead is mentioned , it is mentioned as taking place on the first day of the week St.John 20:19,
3. Sunday is significant because following the resurrection Jesus breathed on his disciples and said “receive the Holy Ghost”. John 20:22
4. Sunday is significant because it was the day that Mary Visited the tomb of Christ to find that he was not there but had risen from the dead. John 20:11-18

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)

244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

Welcome to Handsworth NTCG

This our first blog so if you are looking in for the first time you are welcome.  We want you to feel free to join us in the discussions and questions that we are going to have.  Have you ever wondered what Christians believe or what is behind the things people do in church, or if you have ever said to yourself: "church what is the point of that?"  Keep on coming back we hope to cover the areas that your itching to ask about. Bye for now.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is a Church 1 ?

The word that is transalated church comes from a greek word ECCLESIA it means called out and is not strictly a religious word.  It can refer to a group or gathering that have set themselves aside for a specific cause.  Birmingham City Football Club supporters are very ecclesiastical especially after winning the Carling Cup recently, there will be lots conversations from this group about their victory for years to come!

When it comes to church in the religious sense, it is a group of people who gather to celebrate Jesus Christ.  Jesus said in response to Peters statement about his (Jesus) identity, "...upon this rock I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".  Jesus announces his church as a distinct contrast to what was the general use of the word.   Here is a list of  four other things the Bible says about churches:

1. Churches preached the good news about Jesus 2 Corinthians 8:18
2. Churches have Angels Revelation 1:20
3. Churches are places where God speaks to people by the Holy Spirit Revelation 2:7
4. Churches are called the body of Christ Ephesians 5:23 

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358

http://www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

Church and Football Do Mix!

Since we did mention Birmingham City Football Club in our first blog...It is only fair... we will mention  Aston Villa FC.  Did you know that Aston Villa Football Club was started on the site that the new George Street Building now stands.  Well it started under the street light outside the old church doors actually, when former members of the St Domingos Bible Class formed a football team way back in 1874.  Not only that Aston Villa were the founders of the football league and later the premier league.  So there it is great things can come out Bible Study! 

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
http://www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/