Miraculous Victory - 2 Kings 6:8 - 23

Elisha drove the King of Aram nuts by predicting his military movements. Having had enough, the King of Aram sets out to capture Elisha. Once located an army is duly dispatched bring him in.

[OUT] Do you see doom or deliverance?

Challenge: Learn to see the spiritual, not just the physical

Miraculous Healing - 2 Kings 5:1 - 19

Just as if you had been to the doctor, they examined you but told you to just go home and eat some biscuits, Naaman was pretty miffed at the advice to go and dip in the River Jordan. At that point his pride got in the way. Yet how much do we load expectations onto God, and prescribe how He should work? When it comes to the crunch, do we let God be God?

[IN] On a scale of 1 – 10 how much do you let God be God?

Challenge: Listen and act on God's prompting

Miraculous Back to Life - 2 Kings 4:18 - 37

For any one of us life can change very quickly, within in instant. It would just take one bit of news, a phone call from school for example, and our world might suddenly be very different

Miraculous Fertitlity - 2 Kings 4:11 - 17

Have you ever had a longing, a deep desire, or a life goal or ambition? Do you look ahead to fulfilment, dare to dream that the possibility may come true?

[UP] Do you dare to believe the best is possible?

Miraculous Provision - 2 Kings 4:1 - 7

Like the fishermen following Jesus, Elisha gave up his prize belongings and work as a farmer to follow closely Elijah who called him. He stuck close to Elijah, and would not let him out of his sight. At the end of the day he wanted a double portion of the Spirit he saw on Elijah's life, and this was no bad thing.

New Series - Stories of Elisha

We will be telling some of the incredible stories of Elisha between now and Christmas - each week understanding how God powerfully moved through this servant.

Suggested reading is 2 chapters a week, starting in 1 Kings 17 (Elijah), continuing to 2 Kings 13 (the death of Elisha). See how Elisha started as a mentee of Elijah, and clung to him closely as a disciple - eager for a double portion of the Spirit to fall on him. Do we have the same kind of attitude in our discipleship?

Elisha then lived by the Spirit with God working remarkably through his life, giving rise to the various stories that make up this series.

New Life, New Lifestyle - Mini-summary

A graphical mini-summary for the New Life, New Lifestyle series.

New Life, New Lifestyle 5 - 2 Cor 13:5 - 10

Paul draws his second letter to a close with the simple instruction: 'Test yourselves'. How do you measure up? How is your own faith in Jesus?

[OUT] Does your discipleship help bring others towards Jesus Christ?

Key Challenge: Talk through your own discipleship with another person

New Life, New Lifestyle 4 - 1 Cor 6:12 - 20 and 2 Cor 5:11 - 6:2

We love new stuff, and society relentlessly urges us to buy even more new stuff. That programs us to think that existing things lose their value, that the old has no purpose.

New Life, New Lifestyle 3 - 1 Cor 5:1 - 8 and 1 Cor 6:12 - 20 - Part 2

We have to ask are these lines of morality just about our sexual behaviour? Churches can seem so pre-occupied with sexual sins, do they become blind to other issues? Does God have different 'levels' of sin?

New Life, New Lifestyle 3 - 1 Cor 5:1 - 8 and 1 Cor 6:12 - 20 - Part 1

Any group standing for a cause will inevitably have to sanction one of their own if a member's behaviour contradicts that cause. The Corinthians had such a case, and an extreme one at that. The bottom line is that our behaviour matters - if we are no different to those around us then we show no obvious signs that we have been saved from anything, and we set no contrast to society.

[IN] Is God calling you to greater purity?

Challenge: Name one area of your life to 'live better' going forward

New Life, New Lifestyle 2 - 1 Cor 10:23 - 11:1

We all know the pressure to conform - people or things vying for our attention. The problem is of course that things done wrong leave us entangled, caught up, potentially in lifelong patterns that we cannot break. We end up like a puppet on a string.

The good news is that Jesus can set us free. Free to say no, free to be who we are truly intended to be. This freedom is a wonderful thing, theoretically it gives us the right to do anything, but as Paul says not everything is helpful - either to ourselves or those around us.

There are some things we obviously will want to steer clear of. Yet there might well be 'grey areas', or things that are more subtle. A mobile phone is good to use ... but do we end up letting our technology control our lives? Maybe some things we have to intentionally abstain from because they are an issue for someone we are with. That 'helpful to others' aspect can be more important than we might think.

So our freedom comes with responsibility, a choice to avoid things unhelpful, to be discerning of things that might affect us, and to deliberately self-limit for the good of others. In crude terms this all means setting ourselves 'rules', either individually or maybe as a family or group to help ourselves live better together.

Such rules are not imposed from on high, but us limiting our own freedom to enable ourselves and others to thrive.

New Life, New Lifestyle 1 - 1 Cor 5:9 - 13 and 2 Cor 5:1 - 10

There is a clear call in Paul's letters for Christians to live differently. That immediately triggers questions and tensions of how we do this while remaining in the fallen world around us.

The 2 Corinthians 5 passage sets the backdrop: we live in anticipation of our resurrected-at-home-with-the-Lord bodies, but meanwhile we must live out our lives in the current world. The resurrection is made possible by the work of Christ - God's action in our lives. As believers we have responded to God's love initiative, literally falling in love with Him which initiates a desire to please Him. So having been born into new life with God, we now pursue a new lifestyle.

This lifestyle sets an example for others, especially as we show natural concern for friends in their own situations. Yet we should not be surprised if genuine offers of help are not always welcome, since our example may simultaneously be leading our friends to realise the broken-ness of their own lives. Our lives are therefore a contrast to the world, shedding light on it rather than simply conforming. Whereas others hide, we can live 'real life' because in Christ we can face our own personal regrets, know forgiveness, and move forward.

This is not just an individual effort, but something we do in Christian community. This inevitably leads to questions of what ongoing behaviour is acceptable in that community - the 1 Corinthians 5 passage speaks into this. To follow Christ, to live differently, will doubtless mean giving some things up, not simply going with the flow of others. Not easy, but part of the demands of staying close to Christ.

In a culture where almost 'anything goes', the challenge is to be distinctive, and to do that in a way that is positive. Growing closer to Christ helps us understand who we really are, which enables us to be true to ourselves and God's desires for us rather than being pulled any which way. This is not about laws or rules but being free to live for Christ - that growing desire to please Him.

Hence this week the key question and challenge:
Key Qn: [UP] Are you living to please Him?
Key Challenge: Name one area of your life to 'live better' going forward

Yet note the 1 Corinthians passage makes clear that it is not for us to judge non-believers who embrace every and anything around. To be distinctive is not to be pointing the finger, nor simply isolating ourselves! Paul actually advocates a 2-standard system: one applied to non-believers, and then higher requirements within the Christian community.

We stand now, and will be raised some day with new bodies, because of Christ's work in us. How are we living up to that right now, and going forward?

[UP] Are you living to please Him?

Challenge: Name one area of your life to 'live better' going forward

Resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15

Near the end of the first letter Paul suddenly jumps back to the basics - the basic gospel that they first responded to. He gives a superbly concise version of the gospel in v3-4. Its always worth us having such a crisp view in our minds ready to share when needed.

Yet the brevity of words opens huge concepts. The resurrection of the one man Jesus Christ shows the general principal of resurrection for the many. The converse logic is true also (v12) - no resurrection of people, then surely Christ was not raised either. In this case we should all pack and go home, its futile (v14-19). For Paul everything hangs on the physical resurrection of Jesus: without it we are still in our sins (v16-17).

That ought to make us curious - for didn't Paul start the letter with a resolve to know nothing other than Christ and Him crucified (2:2)? Is it not in the cross where there is the power to save? The answer is that you can't have one without the other: cross with no resurrection leaves just a dead body with holes in, and no cross means no possibility of resurrection!

Paul is emphatic: v20 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. He has led the way, and from this all else now makes sense. In fact it radically changes our understanding of death, the end of our current lives. Death is not something to be feared, in fact it can even be embraced. It is not the end of the road, but more the point of take-off, like an aircraft leaving the runway. As Christians we should live in the comfort of this reality.

Further it is important to understand (v44f) that Paul is talking of physical resurrection. We don't leave our old bodies behind and become floating spirits - Jesus appeared with a changed-but-physical body, so will we. God renews creation, rather than simply binning it. He takes it forward to its fulfilled purpose. That raises lots of questions of course, which Paul admits (v35), but is content to sum up in v52 as 'we will all be changed'.

Of greatest importance is to understand that Christ is raised first because He is Lord - He reigns! Now everything, bit by bit, is being brought under His Lordship. For that reason we can now expect signs of this breaking in to the now. This is why we should not settle for situations being stuck in decay, despondency or despair, but rather pray in the Name of Jesus for His transformation to be seen. We may not see all the transformation immediately, but rather than just giving up let us resolve to get even closer to Jesus.

So as the term starts, and we discover broken life scenarios through our church's activities, let us live and act in the light of the risen Lord, praying expectantly for signs of resurrection life to appear in lives across the city.

Commended for Ministry - 2 Cor 2:14 to 3:6

Imagine you are hiring someone. Candidates cvs roughly match and meet the job requirements. Who do you choose? Probably the person you already know ... because relationship trumps the other factors. You can't beat getting to know people. The Zambia trip is about that - seeing, hearing first hand their story, their work.

Every time you meet someone, you can influence them - point them to a better way, even point them to Christ. In that sense we are all leaders, because we can all influence others. Of course every organisation has recognised leaders, certain positions. Yet we must not forget that such leadership is enabled by relationship - one person influencing another.

Paul hits on this principle in chapter 3. Positively influenced people become a letter of recommendation for others to read: people might now see Christ because of Paul's original ministry among the Corinthians. As we seek additional leaders we legitimately ask who might be commended - the answer lies written in lives of people around us!

We are all invited into new covenant ministry - setting people free in Christ. It is an invitation that we can see from scripture applies to women and men alike. Father, Son and Holy Spirit all desire, commission and empower for this to be so. The invitation works through us in the various ministries and initiatives of the church. Whether it is a regular children's club back at base, or a potential new work at St. Johns, Stour Green, or even aspirations at Ely North, we are to be in the business of leading people to freedom in Christ.

Paul says this new covenant ministry is not bound in Old Testament law, but finds freedom in the Spirit. Let us not be tempted to read Paul's writings as some kind of rule book: that leads to tablets of stone and risks our hearts becoming stone. Rather live in the confidence of Christ which brings grace and freedom.

If we are to be bound in any way, it is only to Christ: let Christ take us captive as per 2:14. That makes a good acid test for a possible new leader - are they sold out for Jesus, led in His procession, being an aroma that might draw others to be captive to Christ too? The answer to that for any one person lies not necessarily in cvs or checklists, but by knowing them and the evidence of letters of recommendation. Such letters, I suggest, have probably already been written on the hearts of many people in our congregation.

Giving - 1 Cor 16:1 - 4 and 2 Cor 8,9

In Paul's dialogue with the Corinthians he calls on them to plan to give in the first letter, and then follows up on those plans in the second letter. Regular planned giving is a good thing. It is especially useful for charities and churches since it brings stability and enables good budgeting. As a church we are dependent on God bringing gifts through his people. This year we were slightly worried that giving may be insufficient, but praise the Lord because our financial year end show a modest surplus of £197 - He meets our need!

Regularly giving and being able to give when special collections are called for is a spiritual discipline. Yet regular standing order giving (which with gift aid is the simplest and most efficient way for the church to receive gifts) should never be seen as simply automatic, with no heart connection. We give because everything we have is a gift from God in the first place. God has entrusted each of us with resources - do we hoard them or deploy them?

The invitation to give is an invitation to release and enable. Additional giving to the church general fund could ultimately release additional people to minister, adding to and enhancing the diverse ministry of volunteers. Giving to our hall refurbishment project releases us to turn concept plans into actual plans and enable an attractive environment for various ministry to take place for decades to come.

This releasing and enabling always has an outwards ripple effect, bringing blessing far beyond the original imagination. From the amounts given or pledged this weekend we will send off 10% to build a classroom and toilet block in slum areas of Lusaka - freely giving as we ourselves have received.

In the second letter Paul does not give a command, nor does he specify how much people should give. He simply says give from the heart based on the principle of abundance of God. The word in 9:7 is the Greek word for 'hilarious' - God loves a hilarious giver: someone who is so abandoned to God's love that they release resources with joy and generosity, celebration and dancing, electrified with the possibilities of what God can do ... all because God Himself gave in the first place.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Leadership through 'given lives' - 1 Cor 9:15 - 23

Paul was free in Christ. Yet he strategically gave up his freedom in order to enter the world of different types of people in the hope of bringing them the gospel. He accepted limitations and embraced inconvenience for this purpose.

So who is God calling you to bring good news to?

How can we do that in the mix of all the other stuff in our lives. Our family, our work etc. pose legitimate calls on us. Can we be 'given over' to God's call without trashing these other life departments?

Christians have offered answers, for example suggesting a pecking order of God - spouse - children - and then church stuff. There is good reason for this: sadly there have been casualties in churches from time to time. Yet is that simple? If we put God as number one, then doesn't that compel us to serve ... and won't we do that with our faith community (i.e. do 'church stuff')?

Perhaps better to consider balancing a ball on a tray. The tray has various things on it that call for our attention, yet tip only in one direction and the others are neglected. Plus things change - family members get sick, redundancy at work comes along ... many things that change the landscape, requiring a re-balancing. Life is one long balancing act!

A couple of tips.

1. Let your relationship with God permeate all departments, don't compartment off different aspects of life. Let your children see your faith in action ... even in the struggles of life.
2. Work out your calling - what is your life (your 'tray') supposed to be about? Maybe there is stuff that shouldn't even be on your tray, or you can sit light with. If you honestly and prayerfully balance with your calling in mind, you can trust into God's hands the important factors in life (e.g. your children's longterm wellbeing). In other words, honour God and He will honour you.

An application of these tips is to bring your children to serve with you. Not always easy, and sometimes the source of conflict to be prayed and worked through.

Paul dialogues with the Corinthians about how they relate and view leaders. Paul makes it clear that it is not about rights but about 'given lives' - lives given to God's call and the ministry work. A church can only function with such lives operating at all levels (from the routine tasks up to strategic leadership). In Seeking to Worship, Seeking to Serve we will try to ensure what we do makes sense in terms of our mission purpose, simplifying where possible, re-arranging and re-distributing where that helps. Yet the bottom line is that each ministry area of the church can only happen if there are given lives.

We have different roles to play, but as per 1 Cor 3 it is God who brings the spiritual change, doing it through our efforts. Its not all about who has the most 'up front' personality, but who can God use through their character, gifting, and giving themselves to God's call. Hence the key question and challenge this week:

Key Qn: [OUT] Who is God calling you to bring good news to?
Challenge: Adjust your life balance to reflect this

How are you challenged, what do you need to adjust, to balance the tray that represents your life?

[OUT] Who is God calling you to bring good news to?

Challenge: Adjust your life balance to reflect this

Spiritual Gifts II - 1 Cor 12:27 - 31 and 14:1 - 5

Acts 19 gives a story of some earnestly seeking believers who somehow seem to be missing something. They had John's baptism but not the overwhelming experience of receiving Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Receiving prayer they start speaking in tongues and speaking the words of God.

How many Christians live an earnest life yet seem to be missing something?

Any tradesman who comes to do a job will turn up with their toolbox - proper tools for the job. Recall from last week that to each one is given the Spirit for the common good. Some are given the ability to supernaturally know, others to speak God-directed words, others incredible Spirit-given faith, others see God work miraculously. These are like tools in the toolbox - why go out and try to serve with an empty toolbox?

I suspect the reason we often don't receive is that we are British - we like to be in full control. To receive and operate in the spiritual gifts means letting the Spirit work through us, i.e. surrender, allowing, risk and letting God be God. Yet the Spirit longs to empower us, each differently as He determines. Hence the key question and challenge:

Key Qn: [IN] What is God placing in you to play your part?
Key Challenge: Eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy → have someone pray with you

We hope to take God given life across the city, where people are broken and hurting. For this we need the Spirit to be empowering us with tools for the task.

A sensible suggestion for starters is to seek God regarding the gift of tongues - it can be viewed as an entry level gift, just as it signified the Spirit's first outpouring in Acts 2, initiating the Gentile church in Acts 10, and the Acts 19 story. It gives Christians a tangible experience of the supernatural. It is also uniquely a gift that individuals can use at their will.

The most common objection I hear is that people don't see the point. Yet that is because they are British - they want to be in control.The real point is to let the Spirit be in control, and pray through us. When I'm in a tight-spot I need God-prayers, not my own inadequate words!

Beyond tongues Paul clearly stresses prophesy, because it goes beyond the individual to benefiting the whole group by revealing the mind of God. For believers and even un-believers it can become very apparent that God is among you when the Spirit enables people to speak God's thoughts into the situation!

Whether you experience the Spirit in a whacky experience, an over-whelming sensation, or just a gentle breeze doesn't matter. Paul repeatedly says 'eagerly desire' ... so go on, take the challenge, step up and be open to receive.

[IN] What is God placing in you to play your part?

Key Challenge: Eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy → have someone pray with you

Spiritual Gifts I - 1 Cor 12:4 - 14

New life in Christ for every Christian is a Spirit-animated life. It is no longer just a biochemical reaction, no longer just to consume. It is filled with God given purpose, and God given enabling and ability to strive towards that purpose.

The important words are often the little words. In Paul's letter it is quite clear that each one has a part to play. The Spirit gifting is not just for a select few or for some keenies, but for every believer. The parts will of course be different, and operate to varying degrees, but all have a role nonetheless.

The other important phrase in this passage is for the common good. The Spirit enables for God's purposes that build up everyone and reach out. As a church we want to take this God given life out across the city - God will do this by His Spirit working in each and every one of us.

You may feel God cannot possibly work through them, perhaps looking at how you have messed up so much in the past. Yet it is not about you, nor your mess. God has already come down in Jesus Christ to put that right, allowing the people of the day to consume and discard him, but in so doing setting down life as we know it. God raised this Jesus to new life: a Spirit-animated life which we can all now participate in.

Our past mistakes, the brokenness and fractures that result from them are all taken on that same cross. If we are prepared to let him, that old way of life can be washed away, drowned, lost for good. It is replaced by new life, with the Spirit working in us, giving us a whole new perspective, a purpose. Not just for us to feel better about ourselves, but to help restore a hurting world.

Love - 1 Cor 13

The way of Christ is the way of love, and is the 'most excellent way'. It lays down human strength and power. It waits for God to raise up.

Human strength will bash its way through, drawing attention to itself, boasting and being proud. It will pick on weaknesses, re-surfacing past incidents in the other and capitalising on opportunity to do the other down. It will quickly and easily flare up, horns ready to be locked in combat.

Even apparently helping and serving others can carry these traits of human strength, undermining the very thing being offered. With such traits operating underneath the way of love is not seen.

Yet with all our pretence laid down, with kindness patiently holding out for the best in others, looking for truth, hoping and persevering for what surely 'can be' with God, the way of love becomes visible. God and the love that He had for the world that caused Him to come down, to die, to be raised to new life, is brought into view through our own actions.

This way of love is the most excellent way. It does not fail.

Wisdom of Christ - Teaching Resources

Here is the full resource pack of teaching resources on Love, Spiritual Gifts, Leadership, Giving and New Life New Lifestyle that were used with this the Wisdom of Christ Part II message.

Wisdom of Christ - Part 2 - 2 Cor 1:3 - 11

Last week we considered the incredible power dynamic that God uses: laying down power in human terms - going even to death on a cross - for God to raise up again. This confounding principle runs through both letters and is seen here in the first chapter of the second letter, only this time seemingly in Paul's own life.

Paul talks of sharing in the sufferings of Christ for the benefit of the Corinthian Christians and others, and yet also the comfort from God. Paul is no stranger to hardship. Later in the letter he will spill out a whole list of times, many of which taking him close to death.

Yet each time God brought him through, and Paul is convinced that it all has a purpose: to show the world the power of God. Paul is a living parable, a story-told-through-life, telling the story of power-laid-down-for-God-to-raise over and over. This is for the benefit of others, so that they may come to believe. They can then share in the sufferings too, i.e. also become living parables.

So the Key Qn introduced last week remains pertinent. If we are not prepared to lay things down, even through suffering, we will not be able to live the story, and thus not tell the story.

This is why this principle underpins every aspect of teaching we can get from these important letters. Whether it is love, spiritual gifts, giving, leadership, or living the 'new life' in Christ, all of it is informed by this same principle of life laid down for God to raise. For it is in this principle that the power of God is revealed, i.e. the ability to 'get things right' in all the various departments of Christian life.

The Wisdom of Christ - Part 1 1 Cor 1:18-2:5 and 2 Cor 10:1-18

The King of Denmark stands out in World War II as one who quietly defied the Germans, by riding un-guarded through Copenhagen each day, and by suggesting that should the Jews be required to wear badges then all Danish people should wear the same badge too. This was simple non-violent opposition, laying down power.

This and other examples echo the principle Paul writes of in Corinthians: that God came down and allowed himself to be taken to death, even death on a cross, to be raised again by God alone. This is the power of God - totally different to the power of the world.

Its a nonsense message for most ('foolishness' 1:18). For Greeks and Jews alike it just didn't compute. Today, for Secularists and Muslims to name a few, it also simply does not add up. Yet this is the power of God all the same. So much so that Paul resolved to nothing but this power (2:2). He didn't need clever words, just this basic power (2:4-5).

We too must return to this principle in our churches. Like us the Corinthian church had various issues - the pair of letters makes this clear! Yet see Paul's approach - in the 2nd letter he appeals with the 'meekness and gentleness of Christ' (10:1). He will not use the world's ways, but instead looks again to the power of God, i.e. the power of Christ crucified-yet-raised (10:3-4).

Rather than wading in with fists, law-suits, tribunals, or plain institutional authority, he lays his apostleship on the line, seemingly prepared to give it all up ... in the hope that the church members can be 'built up' rather than torn down (10:8). Don't forget Paul had every right to lay into them, but instead he lays down his right to power.

We must surely do this too. Its not about appearances (10:7), or cleverness. In fact as per the 1st letter chapter 1 God is pleased to use the 'lowly, despised' for His work (1:26,28). So no matter how uneducated, how messed up you feel, you have a role to play. God laid down everything for you, so that you can be raised with Him in His purposes. Hence the key question:

Key Qn: [UP] Where is God calling you to lay things down and trust Him?
Key Challenge: Offer to pray for someone, knowing the power is from God

Let us resolve to know nothing but God's power made available through Christ crucified and then raised. Paul urged the Corinthians to be a spent people, lives laid down for others. Let us be the same for Ely and whoever we meet. As we encounter people, we do not bring our CV, our cleverness, our strength ... but our own experience of the risen Christ. We can offer this for people, praying in their situation to know this same power - the power of the Spirit made available when human power is laid down.

[UP] Where is God calling you to lay things down and trust Him?

Key Challenge: Offer to pray for someone, knowing the power is from God

New Series for this Term

Studying in 1 and 2 Corinthians:   "Key Values - Learning from Paul's dialogue with the Corinthian Christians"

 Read two chapters a week starting this weekend - through 1 Corinthians first and then the 2nd letter. With a couple of break weeks you will be done by the end of August.

The teaching will be picking themes, which draw from both letters together.

Pots of Joy - Luke 24

Easter encapsulates the full range of emotions. For example see things from the viewpoint of Mary (mother of Jesus) - the pain and anguish of seeing her son killed, the confusion of his claims seeming to have come to nothing. Then she is met with an awesome sight on the Sunday morning, finding the tomb without the body yet a radiant angel telling her 'He is not dead, but alive!'. With tears of confusion and yet joy she tries to tell the others that Jesus is alive.

Our culture offers us many things or experiences that claim to give us joy. What in reality brings absolute joy? Is it that bigger house, the new car, the promotion?

The irony in the gospels is that the reality of Jesus being alive was right there in front of them, yet at first they completely missed it! Jesus stood in front of the Mary Magdalene, walked with the pair on the Emmaus road and then stood in a room among the disciples.

Yet when the reality hit the over-riding emotion for all of them is joy. Not a momentary joy, not something that they just consumed and was then gone - but a joy that would last.

The Emmaus road pair realised that their 'hearts burned with joy' because Jesus had been with them. Thats a joy that their hearts could pump through their veins, filling their whole being so that whatever bad times may come (and they surely did) they could now respond differently, bearing the joy of the risen Lord.

Many since have had the same experience - Wesley famously wrote in his journal that his 'heart was strangely warmed'. This is not a consumer experience, but a life-changing lasting reality.

We become infectious when we let that over-spill. Who needs a script when we are simply filled head to toe so it just oozes out of us? Our current key question and challenge are:

[OUT] How can you share the story of Jesus' death & resurrection with others?

Key Challenge: Use the Try Praying booklet and then give it away

 If the reality of Jesus being alive has been injected into our hearts, if the indescribable joy that goes with this truth is flowing through our veins, then we should find ourselves naturally shining, able to tell the story, and encourage others to meet the risen Lord for themselves.

[OUT] How can you share the story of Jesus' death & resurrection with others?

Key Challenge: Use the Try Praying booklet and then give it away!

Be Prepared - Luke 12:35 - 48

We all make special preparations for an important visitor, getting everything ready and in order ... hopefully with time to spare so that when the doorbell rings we can show our guests straight in.

Discipleship Rebooted - Luke 10:1-24 - Part 3

As in Luke 9 Jesus sends the disciples out to proclaim the Kingdom and heal the sick. They go and get on with it, learning as they go!

Discipleship Rebooted - Luke 8:22 - 56 Part 2

In the story of the ruler's sick girl interrupted by the woman with the bleeding we see:

• In the ruler's moment of desperation Jesus goes with him
• In the lady's moment of desperation Jesus affirms her
• When the ruler gets bad news Jesus leads on in faith
• Yet in going into the house Jesus gets the right people around him
• And finally Jesus has power over life and death

Discipleship Rebooted - Luke 8:22 - 56 Part 1

Ever wondered how Jesus was able to sleep through the storm? The panicking disciples awoke him, and then he commanded the wind and waves to be silent. Not only did Jesus have power over creation, he also had peace, resting safe in the love of the Father.

[IN] What aspect of your discipleship is God challenging you about?

Key Challenge: Start changing/improving one aspect of your discipleship by Easter

Ask! - Luke 11:5 - 13

What are the stories of our children? Sadly in many ways the evidence suggests a general lack of well-being, a sense of 'not being good enough', 'not worthy'. Any thought of God is lost in the suggestion that God would not be interested in them anyway. It's a story that can also be repeated in adults, even older people. Has society turned us into commodities, so that we simply feel we do not count?

Path of Suffering - Luke 9:21 - 62

The disciples had seen amazing things. Jesus had sent them out to do as they had seen him doing, going in his power and authority. And they went! They proclaimed and they prayed for those in need ... and saw God work. It must have been incredible and fantastic, seeing God work in the same way through them - a real high. For them the reality of Jesus and his Kingdom was now surely sinking in.

Go Proclaim! Luke 9:1-6, 10-13

Think how you learnt to do various tasks, like riding a bike. The reality is for many things we learn by doing - perhaps after a bit of a demo or advice we then have to get on with it. Jesus understood this: having prepared for ministry, announcing his Kingdom, and then demonstrating it, he then commissioned followers to go out and get on with it.

[UP] Do you know the King more deeply by going about the King's business?

With Key Challenge: Offer prayer directly for someone who is in need

Prayer Resources

Here is the information about prayer resources that was put out for people to browse this Sunday.

Retreat! Luke 6:12

We know deep down that the most important thing we can give our children is our time and focussed attention - communicating to them that we love them because.

Of course distractions cram in and threaten to undermine our ability to give this attention and love. Ironically it is the same deal with our relationship with God - yet in this case it is again us who are distracted, with a myriad of things crowding in stopping us from simply 'being' and receiving the love that God our Father longs to pour into our lives.

Jesus prioritised time spent with the Father, deliberately withdrawing to pray. See in Luke how many times this happens, see how most precede a major new phase of ministry. Shouldn't we take a hint for our own lives? Hence the key question:

[OUT] Does my living for God out in the world flow from resting in Him?

Rather than giving God the answers, or doing some kind of super-broadband upload of info that we call prayer, maybe God just wants us to allow Him to gaze on us, to quietly let us know that He is in control, that He loves us because.

Getting this right is crucial. Thats why in our strategic thinking about corporate prayer we talk about rhythm and diet so much. Thats why key groups in the church are invited to hold a prayer retreat once a term.

The ministry of Jesus flowed from his relationship with the Father. It can only be the same for us. Anything else degenerates to our works, or leaves us burnt out. If we are to sustain reaching out, if to reach further or deeper we must return to Him to receive afresh. There are different practices, resources and ways of doing this [4 examples were given in the Sunday service]. But the bottom line is that it is down to each of us to make it happen.

What practice of being still before God will you give a try going forward, so that you can gear things to work and minister flowing from your rest in Him.

[OUT] Does my living for God out in the world flow from resting in Him?

Luke Reading Challenge - Times Jesus Prays

As you read the gospel of Luke (suggest two chapters a week, with a few catchup weeks, and you will complete this term) make a mental note of the different times Luke records Jesus as praying. Especially withdrawing to pray.

For bonus points think about the flow of the story following these prayer times. What do the prayer times precede?

To the Needy - Luke 5:12-16, 27-32 Part Two

In another seemingly random encounter Jesus sees the tax collector. Another social outcast, a collaborator with the enemy Romans, a Sinner with a capital S, someone locked in an oppressive system. Another a person seen by society as good as dead.

Yet somehow Jesus has faith in this person, that he could turn around, that he could be friend. To this the person replies 'YES', bold font, large letters! He will have to leave a lot behind, his weasel dealing for one thing.  But that doesn't mean abandoning his friends! Having been welcomed by Jesus he now welcomes Jesus to his home for a party, which is a place full of dodgy characters.

Jesus seems to go with the flow - but we don't know the outcome. There is little evidence of church growth (or even moral reform) involving these others! That's an important lesson about Kingdom work: we seek God's Kingdom first and foremost, not simple addition or conformance to our church. We do the Kingdom work as Jesus did, but cannot ourselves guarantee church growth.  That work is for the Spirit in due course.

An example is our work through the Foodbank. We interact with people who are struggling, sometimes messed up with addictions and the like, people for which society has all but written off with no answers. Yet what do we do? Ring-fence them off, ensure we protect ourselves? Or do we stay on the lookout for Kingdom possibility, holding out for that 'YES' in God?

Life out there is messy. We do not have all the answers. As we get involved we will have disappointments and setbacks. Yet our call is to go anyway with Jesus' Kingdom 'YES'. To let Jesus' Kingdom fill our thinking and vision so that we never let ourselves believe that anyone is unreachable, too far gone, unable to be touched by the transforming power of God.

We must therefore go out, quite likely having to leave some of our own stuff behind (as Peter did, as the tax collector did), being ready for those seemingly arbitrary moments when we are faced with incredible need or hurt. Ready to pronounce the 'YES' of Jesus Christ over their lives.

To the Needy - Luke 5:12-16, 27-32 Part One

Some of the gospel events seem to start with a random/chance encounter. The leper is one example. He would have been outcast, pronounced perpetually 'unclean', which in reality meant he was seen as good as dead. Yet somehow he had enough faith to throw himself before Jesus and say 'If you are willing ...'.

Jesus answer to this was 'YES'. Bold font, big letters! Jesus identifies with him (touching him), i.e. puts himself with the one who was dead and restores him to life. That is the Kingdom vision right there: in the randomness of ordinary life being faced with the most hideous and broken, yet saying 'YES - God has life for you, be clean, get back on your feet'.

Note how Jesus also works in tandem with the ordinary systems of society. In his day it was to present to the priest as final arbiter. Today of course it would be to confirm your healing by going back to the doctor.

Yet Jesus then does something interesting - he goes to a solitary place to spend time with his heavenly Father. The 'yes' of Jesus flows from his relationship with God the Father. We need to go out seeing Kingdom possibility ... but not with our own cleverness or zeal, but flowing from our relationship with the Father. Specific time spent close to God will have a direct correlation to what we see and the Godly influence we have on those around us.

Kingdom Deal - Luke 4:14 - 44

What does the word 'Kingdom' mean to you? Since as Christians we talk about 'The Kingdom of God', do we know what we are talking about?

Jesus starts his ministry with a Kingdom proclamation: Jesus is the new king in town bringing a message of hope, a new order which is good news particularly for those oppressed/suffering/bound up. It makes sense for us to look for this Kingdom breaking in wherever people are down-trodden and in difficulty (remember that bias to the poor from last year).

A new king comes with authority: verses 32 and 36 are examples of this. Demons are uncomfortable when Jesus shows up because they are part of the old regime, and as with any regime change the former oppressors are surely to be dealt with. Yet Jesus pays attention foremost to the person, not the demon (who is simply told to 'Shut Up' and to depart). In the new Kingdom the person is affirmed and set free.

The Kingdom proclamation turns to action and healing breaks out (v40). Yet this is not just for one place, but elsewhere too - Jesus must take the message and demonstrate his Kingdom all around. That 'taking the message and demonstration' continues with us. As a Christian, we are a Christ-in person, someone in Christ, in other words in His authority. That means we can act in His authority, e.g. speak healing in the name of Jesus.

Do we get that? And act on it? Hence the key question this week:

[IN] Do we let Jesus' Kingdom fill our thinking and vision?

Our 'seeking to serve' is explicitly going out with this Kingdom message and demonstration. A key strategy area 'Community Impact' is fuelled by this. 3 ways we work this out are:

1. demonstrate Kingdom values, e.g. by bringing a community together at a special event
2. support joint initiatives that help set people free (such as Foodbank, CAP)
3. look for where we can develop relationships, e.g. our work with the hostels, people at 2x2, Messy Ch etc.

Luke 4 shows Jesus ministry gathering steam - pouring himself out in each community he went to. Let us learn to pour ourselves out, with confidence and boldness since we go in His authority.

With Jesus as the new King, His Kingdom is any place/thing/person where things to start to line up with His grace and purposes - with God breaking in to change things.

[IN] Do we let Jesus' Kingdom fill our thinking and vision

Get Baptised - Luke 3:1-22 - part two

John not only pointed towards Jesus, he also told us that things would change gear significantly when Jesus came on the scene. John would baptise in water. Jesus would do it with the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that the Greek word 'baptise' means to be totally sunk in (hence our preference for full immersion!). With Jesus we can be sunk in all who God is: Father, Son and Spirit.

Recently we've seen river and tidal flooding across the country. Its a scary thing: furniture or even cars are swept around, things dislocated. The Spirit's coming can be like a flood: when He comes it can seem disconcerting, things happening we wouldn't normally expect, surprising us, maybe even worrying us as to what is actually taking place.

Yet whilst we have seen on the news how a water flood leaves destruction and ruin, the flood of the Spirit is quite different. When things have settled back down we find that the coming of the Spirit has brought healing, restoration and good things to a person's life. The moment of that work can bring out stuff deep within us, occasionally in a noisy fashion, but the result is release, peace and purpose.

So the baptism of the Spirit is not something to be afraid of. Quite the opposite, in fact, something to be welcomed and invited. Let us look for Jesus and his baptism just as John did.

Get Baptised - Luke 3:1-22 - part one

John calls people out in the country to baptism, urging them to change their minds and look to God and His ability to forgive. By changing their minds they would become a 'new people' ready to receive the person of Jesus Christ.

Crowds joined him in the river and we get the idea that many were baptised. Yet all we know is that baptisms occurred. We don't know if John actually tipped people back, dunked them down or forwards, or even poured water over them as they responded to his call (neither do we know the age range).

We do know that they asked John how to live, and he replied with a neat summary of all our teaching from last year (!): share with others and live justly.

John's deal was to point towards Jesus. Yet when Jesus turned up he asked John to baptise him just like the others. Odd that - Jesus didn't need to change his mind, didn't need the Father's forgiveness for anything ... but he identified with all of us who do.

There was nothing magic in the water, nothing magic in John, but Jesus led us all by his own example. That is why churches nearly universally use water baptism as the mark of entering the global collection of people who desire to follow Christ (known more simply as 'The Church'). Virtually all denominations follow this logic, and therefore require that anyone wanting to formally be a member of a local church be baptised first. They may differ on how that baptism takes place (e.g. can young children be baptised, must it be full immersion and so on), but they agree that baptism is the outward sign that signifies the person joining the company of 'new people'.

Or to put it more simply: if it was good enough for Jesus, then it ought to be good enough for us!

Luke Reading Challenge - Affirming Women

As you read the gospel of Luke (suggest two chapters a week, with a few catchup weeks, and you will complete this term) see how many times Luke affirms various women. So far in our Sunday series we have only got to the end of chapter 2, but already several women have been mentioned and affirmed ... see for yourself who they are up to and including Anna the female prophet (i.e. a woman who speaks the words of God ... ).

Get Up Close - Luke 2:22-40

We don't do waiting very well in our culture. Everything tells us things can be instant, guaranteed next day delivery and so on. Yet in real life there are things we must wait for. Perhaps a healing, a breakthrough, a job, the right partner ...

Luke's Purpose - God's Purpose Luke 1:1-25

Luke was deliberate in writing his gospel - he wanted to get the facts down in an orderly account. He did his research and consulted eye-witnesses. Luke was conscious of a Big Thing going on, and he wanted to record it: the person Jesus Christ had changed things, Big Time.

[UP] Do we dare to not believe what God tells us?

Take the Luke Challenge - Read the Whole Gospel

The reading challenge this term is to read the whole of Luke's gospel.

24 chapters, with about 15 weeks in the term before Easter. So at two chapters per week there will be some weeks 'spare' to catch  up!