Better than Batman…

Jesus Christ: No more, no less

12-14 JANUARY 2009

THE HAYES, SWANWICK

The Mainstream Conference

Packed with stimulating teaching, vibrant worship and revitalising ministry. There are plenaries and seminars, opportunities for feedback. It’s packed with men and women in church leadership roles. Ministers come, whole leadership teams come; elders, deacons, worship leaders, prayer ministry team members – they all come for refreshment, inspiration and fellowship. It’s a great way to start the year!

'Better than Batman'

Puzzled by the title? You must have heard that children’s classic ‘Jesus you’re my Superhero’, sung in so many churches while the adults join in (or not) with varying degrees of enthusiasm?! It’s one thing to teach the children that Jesus is ‘better than Batman, better than Spiderman, better than anyone’ – but another for disciples, determined to take Jesus into our communities and culture, to turn the theory into practice.  

At one Mainstream leadership meeting we were fired with the vision that had so captured Paul in Colossians “We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created …everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. … And when it comes to the church, he organises and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone.” (Colossians 1:15-18, The Message)

This is where Paul sums up the gospel as being ‘Christ: no more, no less’. That’s what we want to open up together: to be revived, inspired and invigorated by Biblical truth as we explore exactly how that is worked out as individuals and churches passionate about God, real in relationships and get stuck into God's mission.

Jesus Christ: no more, no less

“You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7, The Message)