Freedom In Christ
Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course
To find out more, please contact Revd Matt Hird:
01902 341238 / matthew_hird@hotmail.com
What is it?
Freedom in christ is a 12 week discipleship course, with an away day. It is designed to help Christians take hold of the truth of who they are in Christ, and equip them to live in the freedom that Jesus brings.
Each session includes a simple time of worship, some teaching material, and opportunities to pause for thought as individuals, and in small groups, in a safe, no pressure, environment.
Prehaps the best way to describe the course is from the people who has been on it here at St Barts.
AM I A SAINT? By Mel Flavell
I am a saint. Four months ago I would never have believed it to be true, but now I know it to be so. Many people who know me would laugh at such a statement, but that is because they do not understand, or even know the truth. I do and I want you to know it too.
Each Sunday I would sit in church, listen to the sermon, sing the hymns, and say the prayers. I would then go home and for the next 22 hours and six days I would work towards my goals to achieve a healthier bank balance, a bigger house, and a better lifestyle. How is it that for so many years I have failed to perceive how true riches are achieved?
I had, however, felt a pull to develop my faith. This was hardly surprising given the growth and movement of our church recently, and when I saw the Freedom in Christ course advertised I was excited at the opportunity to learn more. At least, I thought I may learn more; I had not anticipated quite how much my life was about to change.
On the first night I looked around at the ensemble nervously. The age range was vast, and we were from all walks of life. Some could locate a lesser known book of the bible in seconds, others flicked through as though it were still written in Latin.
As the weeks progressed, new friendships were formed and together with a shared bond of support, love, and tears as we have undertook a journey of discovery through Him and His amazing word which has been taken for granted for so long but now seen so clearly. We have shaken off our bondages, unburdened our sins and forgiven our adversaries. We have found freedom through His love and opened our eyes to His truth.
Tonight was the final session, but it felt like the beginning, not the end. We have been cleansed by His grace and prepared by His words; dressed in His armour and blessed by His love. Our Father God loves us, he could not love us more, will not love us less, and delights in our love for Him. Our goal now is to serve Him.
I talk to my Father God and thank my Lord every day for all He has provided for me. I think of Him as I speak, work, and rest. He is with my every thought and guiding my every move. My earthly being is still far from perfect, and I still cannot find my way around the Old Testament without using the index, but I am significant, accepted and secure in the eyes of the Lord, and my maturity in my faith is growing fast as I strive to please Him in all I do.
For a life of happiness, peace and true riches, enrol on the next Freedom in Christ course, and may you discover the truth to become the YOU God intended.
The Quest for Freedom. Matthew wragg
Jesus only asked a few things of us, to love God, to be his disciple (a follower and teacher of Christ) and to “love thy neighbour as thyself”. But how can we even begin to do this when many of us have issues from a lifetime of upsets or deeply ingrained insecurities from our childhood. We make the same mistakes over and over again. We know God forgives, but do we really feel forgiven? For many of us we have been taught that we are sinful unworthy creatures and are unable to break free from the cycle of repetitive transgressions. So how can we leave that trapped feeling behind us and know we are truly forgiven to walk proudly at Jesus’ side? Can this poor soul be set free?
A short while ago I had the great fortune of being part of a new Christian educational class at St Bart’s called “The Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course”. The 12 week course with an away day called “The Steps to Freedom” was run by Rev Matt Hird and his wife Jess. It set out to break the barriers we build that prevent us from moving forward with our faith and enable us to have a closer connection to God by showing practical ways to positively change the way we approach life. Not only to help ourselves, but the people we meet daily.
Rev Matt welcomed us into the Oak Room, and started proceedings with an introduction to the course, followed by a short prayer, and then a DVD lecture presented in an entertaining and thought provoking way. At intervals the Video was paused and with the help of a workbook we were invited to discuss in small groups the issues raised in the film.
Matt and Jess were perfect together to help people feel at ease and keep the small discussions moving and on track. A cup of coffee and a biscuit midway through kept you going as your brain absorbed all the new enlightening information.
I have to admit, I doubted if this course would have anything to offer me, believing I knew where I stood in my faith, but I was soon proved wrong!
As Christians we try to be humble but adversely manage to convince ourselves we are insignificant, making us feel vulnerable and rejected. The first session sets out to assure you are Significant, Secure and Accepted “in Christ” using statements from the Bible. Some on the list we found difficult to believe were “I am a temple of God”, “I am a saint, a holy one” and “I am free forever from condemnation” Now; it’s hard to accept as true, but the Bible repeats these typical sayings about us over and over. So who are you going to trust? The Word of God, or your own insecurities? I was reminded of the Disney film - Pollyanna who played the “Glad” game with the townsfolk and converted the “Fire and Brimstone” minister...
POLLYANNA: There are eight hundred happy texts, did you know that?
REVEREND: No, I didn't know that.
POLLYANNA: Yes, well there are. And do you know, my father said that if GOD took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, he must have wanted us to do it.
Each session focused on a different topic and was designed to challenge the way you think about yourself, faith and God. Unlike the Alpha course the group discussions are kept short (5-10 mins), Just enough time to clarify the points made on the video.
The Steps Away Day again used a series of DVD lectures to guide us through a gentle process to effectively tackle emotional personal issues such as “How to forgive”. Matt and Jess were so kind and caring and helped keep things in perspective. Each barrier is very cleverly dealt with on a personal level and NOT shared as a group; no one is under any pressure to confide in anyone.
We found this day to be particularly beneficial with the end result awarding you with a fantastic boost of self confidence and showing how to live every day with Jesus (God is for each day of the week, not just Sundays!).
I don’t want to give too much away about the rest of the course as it’s something you must try for yourself, except to say it has a great deal to offer everyone.
Overall the Course is educational, fun and most importantly, something practical to use, as it equips you with the knowledge and techniques to overcome the problems life throws at us. As with Alpha, I have made some close friends, some of the group have been notably released from their shackles of self doubt and anger and now put their trust firmly in Jesus.
Personally, I got more out of this course than I expected. It encourages you to choose between good and evil, what is true and what is not. I enjoyed finding the truth in this course and feel my faith has deepened as a result. I have put my trust in Jesus as a logical option to enhance my own and my family’s life and by doing so, I have discovered an inner peace, a deeper spirituality, and by being a follower and teacher of Christ and putting my life in God’s hands, I find myself strangely liberated, unburdened and confident... a kind of...
Freedom ... in ... Christ.
"The Freedom In Christ" course has helped me to see that God's Truth really can set us free. I feel refreshed and restored and able to work on my anxieties.Through the Grace of God I hope to grow on my path of faith."
Gillian Pithers
The course sets out to:
• Explain the amazing truths of what Jesus has done in a way that Christians can “connect” with and integrate into their daily life
• Help believers understand the nature of the spiritual battle they are now in and equip them to overcome the world, and the evil in it.
• Help believers take hold of the authority they now have in Christ to resolve personal and spiritual conflicts
• Equip Christians to take personal responsibility for continuing to live in the freedom gained so that they go on to maturity and bear fruit.
COST - The course materials cost £6 per person so participants are invited to make a donation, though we are keen to emphasise that cost should not prevent anyone from taking part.
