Summer Series – Exposing Our Blind Spots – Intimacy = Sex How many friends do you have? … who are your friends who know you intimately? The problem is … Our society has linked intimacy and sex as the same thing. – 2 Samuel 1, “I grieve you Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me. You love for me was…
If It Makes Me Happy “If it makes you happy…” What shape should the Christian life take? – Doesn’t God want me to be happy? – Where’s the line between caring for ourselves and indulging ourselves? – Jesus’ approach: Hebrews 12:2 Loving God, loving God’s law – Psalm 19:7-9… God’s law reveals his heart – Psalm 19:10-11… Joy is not in whatever…
Exposing Our Blind Spots – The Model Family Blind spots … adopt unhelpful and unbiblical thinking that impacts how people understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The average family! Old & New Testament changes OT … family and children are tied to covenant blessings. NT … getting married and having a large family is still good but it…
Exposing Our Blind Spots – Misplaced Identity 3 questions Do you want more people to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour? Do you want your family and friends to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour? Do you want the next generation of church people to remain faithfully following Jesus as their Lord and Saviour? If we take authentic Christian living…
Dealing With Discouragement What will 2018 bring … ? … BOTH times of good and times of hardship. What is discouragement? = “the loss of confidence or enthusiasm”. … different reasons …with different levels of intensity… for different lengths of time … at different times throughout the year. What causes discouragement? Endless difficulties Fatigue and overwork Loneliness in life Past failures and…
Christmas Day 2017 – God With Us John 1:1-14 Christmas traditions John tells the Christmas story … What matters? The Beginning v1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” “The Word” = “Jesus” John’s audience was familiar with the Old Testament Contrast – Light &…
Christmas Eve 2017 – The Gift Of Jesus Bursting forth in song? What caused Mary to sing… a) Mary is excited – v 46-47 “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour”. “Blessed are you Mary among women, and blessed is the child you bear” … a spirit inspired exclamation b) Mary is blessed – v 48-49…
Ephesians 6:10-24 – Good Works God Prepared – How To Beat The Devil 5 ways to walk Eph 4:1 … walk or live life worthy of the calling we have received Eph 4:17 … not to walk in the ways of non Christians Eph 5:2 … walk in the way of love following Christ’s example Eph 5:8 … walk as children of…
Ephesians 6:1-9 – How to Honour Your Parents How has Ephesians been shaping you? Example 2 – Walking carefully within your family Eph 6:1, “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right”. …a commonly held world view. … directly linked to the commands God gave his people Two radical things Firstly, this command is addressed to the children. Secondly…
Ephesians 5:21-33 – How To Love Your Spouse A dangerous passage Misunderstood and misused by Christians like us Context of passage Eph 5:15 … “walk carefully” 3 explanations of walking carefully 1) verse 15 … being wise 2) verse 16 … knowing what God’s will is 3) verse 18 … being filled with the Spirit. a. speaking God’s word, b. singing and…