Christmas 2018 Eve – The Birth of Jesus … So What? What is your quintessential image of Christmas? God sends an angel to Mary The problem – we don’t recognize the problem The solution Jesus at the temple So what about us?
Christmas 2018 Eve – The Birth of Jesus … So What? What is your quintessential image of Christmas? God sends an angel to Mary The problem – we don’t recognize the problem The solution Jesus at the temple So what about us?
What does it mean to BE a Christian? God’s good gifts of A new life, a new identity, in Christ A promise of a hope for the future Partnership with and in the Church • Looking inward … what should a Christian community look like? Be like minded Be sympathetic Love one another … with compassion & humility • Looking outward ……
1 Peter 2:1-10 – The People of God 1) Checking in from last week … Being renewed by God’s word leads to transformed behaviour 2) Identify Images Unpacking some familiar Christian clichés You are born again You are living Stones You are a chosen people 3) So who am I? Does my life reflect my identity in Christ? ……
Amos 9 – Stop Running A people with nowhere to hide – Amos’ vision strips away any thought of escaping the judgment to come. A God of fierce judgment “I will keep my eye on them for harm and not for good.” – Israel does not understand the power of God A God who gives hope in darkness – The last word:…
Prepare To Meet Your God Amos 4 Israel on trial… time for the verdict “Hear this word” – Speaking to those in power and privilege about how they’ve used it. – This is the behaviour that led to the exile. Empty worship (Amos 4:4-5) – Bethel and Gilgal as places of worship – Equivalent places of worship for the modern church? This…
Please visit The Bible Project for a short video overview on the book of Amos Amos 1:3-2:5 – The Problem of Guilt The circle of judgment – God speaks to the neighbours What’s happening in Amos 1 and 2? – Starting with the words that Israel wants to hear – Who are these people? Getting to know Israel’s neighbourhood, starting with 6…
Please visit The Bible Project for a short video overview on the book of Amos Amos 1:1-2 – The Message The Lord roars from Zion … Verse 1: Meeting the cast: Uzziah, Jeroboam II and Amos History matters because these are real people and our real God Reading the Old Testament From Genesis to 2 Kings, a story of people who reject…
Jesus, Man and God Matthew 14:1-36 Jesus: A prophet without honour Herod and John the Baptist A very ‘human miracle’: Feeding the 5000 – Jesus’ desire and need for rest – Jesus’ compassion as a model for us – Food … a very human need A very divine miracle: Walking on Water – Jesus comes out to the disciples – Jesus the…
Why Jesus Spoke in Riddles? Matthew 13:1-58 If you were building a kingdom … “The kingdom of heaven is like …” – The chapter: A collection of related parables – What are parables? – Why does Jesus use them? The kingdom parables in Matthew 13 … – The Sower – The Weeds – The Mustard Seed – The Yeast – The Hidden…