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.