Listooder Youth Fellowship

It was a pleasure to welcome Pastor David Scott back to Listooder, with a message on the importance of having a Pure Doctrine. David began by defining the word doctrine as simply 'teaching', explaining that Christ's doctrine which He brought while on this earth was simply a revelation of what God had to teach us through His word. "My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me." (John 17:6) Our doctrine and teaching, therefore, should come from the Bible itself, where "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16). Before going into some of the specific doctrines of Scripture, he warned against the dangers of bad doctrine, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). THE DOCTRINE OF GOD God is eternal. He had no beginning, and He will have no end. Psalm 90:2 - "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to

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

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 t

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 falla

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, dre

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 Redeem

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

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.

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 Go

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 ev

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.

Although we sometimes view the Christian life as a playground, Ian Wilson reminded the young people of Listooder that is is really a battleground, a constant battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. It is the devil which occupied our attention as we met for the first meeting of February. A created being, the devil was a cherubim at the beginning, the anointed cherub and top angel in heaven, until pride came in (Ezekiel 28:17) Asking the question ‘Who is Sovereign?’, Ian reminded us that the devil’s power is limited to what God will allow him to do. In Job 1, the he approaches God to ask for permission to attack Job. Just as with us, he ultimately wants to destroy one thing in Job’s life, and that is his spiritual relationship with God. Then looking at the ‘Schemes of the Devil’, Ian shows, from Scripture, the character of the devil as a roaring, devouring lion (1 Peter 5:8), as a hindering force (1 Thessalonians 2:18), a provokation (1 Chronicles 21:1) and a constant temptation (Mark 1:13) to us in o

George Speers explores the lessons that can be learnt from this deep and dark experience of King David, an experience that could be all too relevant for any Christian. The circumstances of David’s temptation King David had sent his men to war, but did not go himself, despite Kings generally leading their men into battle. He had neglected his duty, and perhaps as a result of his recent successes in battle, he had taken his eyes off the Lord. His zeal for the work, and enthusiasm for the battle had been dampened. Surely it is under circumstances such as these that we are most susceptible to sin. The progress of David’s enticement King David saw, then he sent and then he lay. At each step of the process, he could and should have dealt with his sin. He should have stopped and considered his circumstances, he should have gone into a quiet place with the Lord. But sin doesn’t take time for thought, sin moves quickly and takes over the entire thought-process. King David had, at times, been closer to the Lord tha

Since 2005, Dave and Libby have been serving the Lord in Southern Asia. As missionary workers with New Tribes Mission (NTM), their aim is to learn the language and culture of native tribes, ultimately finding themselves in a position to present the message of the Gospel to the people for the first time. Now home in Northern Ireland for a period of rest and recouperation, they hope to return later in 2011, to continue their language training, medical work, and general practical assistance to the people. Building this relationship of trust with the people, in the midst of their spirit worship, immorality and frivilous life style, is vital as they continue learning the language to the extent that they can systematically and chronological teach the message of Salvation in their mother tongue. Through much prayer and by the mighty hand of God, they have already secured the trust of the tribal leaders, and been granted residence within the village, a major step in the long journey that God has brought them on. Le

In the final Listooder meeting of 2010, Alistair Crawford questions the adage that ‘every man has his price’ by looking at one individual in Scripture who never sold out. Despite the Babylonian pressure to conform, Daniel never abandoned his principles. Similarly, it is the desire of the devil to conform us to the ideas of the world, but as Believers, we have been given the responsibility of taking a stand for Christ. The Babylonians sought to change Daniel’s Godly attitudes by first changing his surroundings. He was given a new home, new environment and new influences to turn his attention away from his God. Many young Christians find that, once they leave the familiar, safe surroundings of home, the ‘bright lights of the world’ become too great a temptation. They also attempted to give Daniel a new knowledge, exposing him to different beliefs, opinions and standards. Believers today are faced with many things that are legally, culturally and fashionably acceptable, but which are contrary to the Word of Go

Maurice Warburton brings several years of experience in online media to Listooder as we consider the influences the media has on our Christian lives. As co-founder of the website EternityWhere.com, Maurice has seen the positive impact that online communications can have for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The dangers, however, are many, and this is the focus of Maurice’s message tonight. In Ephesians 2:2 we see the devil described as ‘the prince of the power of the air’. It has pleased God to allow the devil to have dominion over the air, the atmosphere, that which we breath, see, hear and speak through. Whether it be mobile phones, television waves or the internet, every form of communication travels through the air at some point along its journey, through the devil’s domain, and so it is not surprising to see his control and his influence upon these things. The media is being used by the devil to lie. The deity of our Lord is questioned in the media. So too is the authority of Scripture, the creation of the

Tim McIlwrath explores the contagious characteristics of the Apostles, on a superb, highly-attended night at Listooder Youth Fellowship. Defining the word ‘contagious’ as:tending to spread from one to another, Tim highlighted many examples in Scripture when the apostles had a massive impact on the world around them. Accused of ‘turning the world upside down’ and ‘ filling Jerusalem with their doctrine’, the apostles had something special about them. So what was it? What was this special formula which each of them possessed? In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul describes himself as first coming to the Corinthians in fear, weakness and trembling, yet many souls were saved and a church established. It was not the men themselves that were special, but rather it was the Spirit within them that enabled them to wreak havoc on the heathen world. And today, when so many around us are living in darkness, our desire should be that we also would possess this Spirit. A gift of God at the point of our Salvation, we must allow the Sp

The fifth Saturday of the month provides an opportunity for the familiar faces of Listooder to take leading roles in the meeting, and this Saturday, 30th October, was no exception, as a crowd of over 30 young people gathered. First up was Victoria Hanna who brought a report of the six weeks she had spent serving the Lord in Central Africa. After much prayer, and as a result of the Lord’s clear leading, Victoria used her free summer months of 2010 to travel out with F.A.M.E. to the land of Kenya. Dressed in traditional Kenyan clothes she reported on her time among underprivileged Kenyan families, opportunites to distribute Gospel tracts, and spoke of the general enthusiasm among children and older people for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Following the report, Stephen and Barbara Hanna split the hall in two with a highly contested battle in which the two sides answered questions on general Biblical knowledge for a chance to earn points on the dartboard. The Right (from the front) easily defeated the Left, as th

Victoria Hanna brings a report to Listooder of the six weeks she spent serving the Lord in Central Africa. After much prayer, and as a result of the Lord's clear leading, Victoria spent her free summer months of 2010 with F.A.M.E. in the land of Kenya. Dressed in traditional Kenyan clothes she reporting on the time spent among underprivileged Kenyan families, opportunites to distribute Gospel tracts, and the general enthusiasm among children and older people for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pastor William Creighton explores various passages of Scripture to provide a deep, practical and instructive message on what God has given us to guide our relationships. From conception, each of us become part of a relationship. A relationship that we cannot choose, yet a relationship that will form the foundation (good or bad) for every future relationship that we have. As we go on through our lives, the experiences and relationships that God brings us through will shape who we are. These experiences will mold us into the future husbands and wives that we will become, thus the importance of ensuring that the company which we keep is befitting of a believer living for Christ. In marriage itself, it is critical that both man and wife leave the old relationships behind, forming a new, unique bond in marriage, where every blessing, every failure, every trial, every joy is discussed and shared within a loving relationship with God and with each other. This message is a true blessing to all young believers, reg