What can we do when God seems silent? In the garden Jesus prays to his Father, seemingly with no reply, and yet he still obeys. What can we learn from Jesus’ reaction to God’s seeming silence, and how can we engage with God in those times when he doesn’t seem to be speaking?
Why did Jesus give us communion? This is a chance to teach about the symbolism of the bread and wine, the importance of the new covenant and the links to the Passover and Jesus being our sacrifice.
Application - what purpose does communion have in the modern, global church, and what impact does it have on us as individuals?
As the saying goes, ‘dress for the job you want, not for the job you have.’
How often do you try to do everything in your own strength and fall flat on your face? The good news from Colossians is, we can step into a new set of clothes.
Colossians 3:1-17
'The world says we can have everything now; but is it truly everything?'
In a world that promises instant gratification, can we have everything we want now? Paul encourages the Colossians to put down roots. When we give Jesus everything, he doesn’t give us back religion, tradition, or teaching. When we give ourselves to Jesus, we receive Jesus Christ himself. He is everything now.
In the book of Colossians, Paul addresses problems the Church faces and encourages believers to remain devoted to the exalted Jesus. In Jesus, the hope of heaven has already broken into earth. It’s all about Jesus - it always has been, is now and always will be.
‘Live a life that brings pleasure to God. That’s how we can truly thrive.’
How does knowing God more, and staying connected to Jesus, allows us to live a life where we can thrive and impact those around us?
It’s been said that ‘we are what we read’. What we fill our minds with will inevitably affect the way we write the story of our lives. What’s on your reading list?
Giving is at the heart of what it is to be a follower of Jesus. Why give and how should we go about it? Watch out for the cracking mother-in-law joke!
Prayer is key to a Christian life. How can we prioritise it more and how can we get better at it? Are we as good at listening as we are at talking?
Matthew 6:5-15
What are your priorities at the start of this New Year? In Matthew 6, Jesus talked of three priorities for believers and they are ones for us to embrace in 2018. What role does fasting have in modern day discipleship? And hear about Sam's plans to fast from clothes during Prayer Week!
In the Old Testament story, human kings feature large. But they all served to point towards the true, perfect, humble King. This Christmas, how can we recognise again the kingship of Jesus in our lives?
What are we doing talking about Temples two weeks before Christmas?! What significance does the Temple have in the story of God's relationship with humanity, and how is it relevant to Christmas? Oh, and, do you think we've really been putting something in the coffee?
The story of Jesus is the story of God’s true son. When Jesus is born as we prelude the Christmas story we see the one coming who resonates with the story of the nation of Israel but who is the one who will fulfil God’s heart to bless all nations.
Who is my neighbour?
The Old Testament gives extraordinary teaching about ‘who is my neighbour’ (not just my family, clan, tribe) and what it means to love our neighbour, throughout its pages. Ultimately the Old Testament ties together love for God with practical living and love toward other human beings, most perfectly taught and demonstrated in the life of Jesus.
The ten commandments can be summed up (as Jesus sums up the Law) in ‘Love God, and ‘Love your neighbour’. Human beings thrive when they know God, shun idols and embrace worship (and rest from the pursuit of material/spiritual idols) at the core of their lives.
For many people the Old Testament is literally a closed book. Yet for Jesus himself, and the early Church, it was their scripture. Jesus quotes the Old Testament often, as do Paul and the other New testament writers. Yet for may of us today there seems to be a disconnect between ‘the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ and the requirements of God as he appears in the Old Testament. How should we read this book?
Prayer is a defining habit of a follower of Jesus. Disciples say ‘teach us to pray’. John has a confidence in prayer that God hears us. Does this sort of confidence in God inspire more prayer which gives rise to more confidence?
