Connect the dots. We've all done one. It's a form of puzzle that contains a sequence of numbered dots. When a line is drawn connecting the dots the outline of an object is revealed. Our life and our stories are like a dot to dot puzzle. Each dot is a circumstance, an encounter, a memory, a decision made, a value held, a moment celebrated, a failure experienced, a dream crushed. Unconnected, they are random dots. Disconnected, they make no sense. But connected with the lines of our life, they tell a story. The only problem is they are not numbered. Today the risen Jesus comes to connect the dots, to craft his story of love in our life as he reveals his purpose. That's what we'll explore and experience today.
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THEME VERSE:
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. John 21:17
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Jesus believes in you more than you believe in yourself. He comes to transform your emptiness into abundance, your darkness into light, your failure into blessing, your rejection into acceptance, your weakness into strength, your endings into new beginnings, so you can live every day in his presence for his purposes.
FAITH TALK
1. What's your best fishing story?
2. What do you consider your biggest failure in life?
3. What's your purpose in life?
Have you ever just needed to clear your head? To go for a walk to process things? Ever jumped into the car and driven, not sure where you were going, but just needing to escape from life? Has your life ever been turned upside down, leaving you dazed, confused, shattered or wrestling with questions like what’s next? Where do I go? What do I do? Have you ever felt fatigued or frustrated, and can’t see Jesus and can only think of everything wrong with your life. Instead of sensing God you feel like he’s gone or like he’ll talk to anyone but you. When you can’t see God or sense Christ’s presence it can be a dark place. Our vision becomes blurred and our memories become selective. If you are at that intersection in your life, right now, Jesus comes to reveal his presence to you in three life-giving ways that re-awaken passion, renew life and transform the story of your life. We will explore and discover again His presence in your life today.
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THEME VERSE:
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 31-32
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Regardless of how it seems or how you feel, you are not alone in your journey. Christ will catch up with you and is present with you. Invite him to stay and let him transform the transit into a dwelling!
FAITH TALK
1. Where do you go when you're trying to esape from life?
2. What are running from today whether physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually?
3. When has it felt like your heart was burning within you? Share.
“I forgive you”. These words might be three of the hardest words we ever speak or hear. The truth is we’ve all been on both sides of that sentence. We’ve been the forgiver - hurt, disappointed, betrayed. We’ve been the forgiven - embarrassed, guilty, ashamed. What happens in us when Christ forgives and then offers us our very existence as a gift? What does it mean to cancel the debt someone owes you in your relationship because all your debts have been cancelled by Jesus’ death & resurrection? The words “I forgive you’ are incredibly powerful words, capable of re-writing the narrative of a life or the story of a relationship. They are words which bring freedom, restoration, and release, transforming hearts, minds and attitudes. We’ll explore and experience that together today as we celebrate the Reformation truth that Jesus has already written you into his story of life, love and joy with his forgiveness.Read the Weekly News here
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THEME VERSE:
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Forgiveness gives you a blank page on which to write the next chapter of your life. When you have been forgiven, all that is left is gratitude. When you forgive others, all that's left is freedom and possibility. Forgiveness is the ultimate miracle of God's grace alone.
FAITH TALK
1 Are you a person who forgives easily or do you tend to hold a grudge and struggle to let go of past hurts? Why?
2. How has forgiveness rewritten a story in your life or of your life?
The Healing power of Touch. We know it. We crave it. We were made for it. The tender touch of compassion, the embracive hug of comfort or welcome, the caring touch of support and healing. For many isolated in this time of COVID -19, whether in quarantine or stuck overseas, touch has become the rarest quarantine provision. Without it, we don't feel so human. It drains us of life, it robs us of hope, it diminishes our joy and isolates us from community. Jesus came to save, heal and restore; his entire life on earth was characterised by touch. To those who feel isolated, vulnerable and alone, know there is power in touching Jesus. It's a touch that cares, heals, embraces, lifts up and restores. Come and receive the power of his healing touch again today.
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THEME VERSE:
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
When you feel drained of life, let the touch of Jesus restore and heal you.
FAITH TALK
1 When has someone's touch brought healing to your life?
2. Where do you long for the healing touch of Jesus in your life today?
Storms are a part of life. They come in many shapes and sizes. We have all encountered them. They hit us unannounced, blow us off track and into unfamiliar territory, beat against us with a ferocity and power that is unrelenting, cause us to feel like we are drowning and going under. That's what storms do. They make us vulnerable, leave us powerless, deplete our energy and cause us fear. Perhaps you are in the midst of a storm right now. When you turn the page of your life and encounter a storm, God wants you to know that the Spirit of God within us is more powerful than the wind that howls around us, the power of God is stronger than any waves that batter against us, the love of God is deeper than any water which wants to drown us. For when your story is connected to God's story, whatever storms you encounter in life, you can experience the peace that comes from his protection. We'll explore that today.
#2 in series: His Story, my life
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THEME VERSE:
Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Jesus doesn't promise smooth sailing in life but he does promise safe passage.
FAITH TALK
1 What's the biggest storm you have been in or through in life?
2. When is a specific instance that you have felt God's protection in your life?
THEME
Have you ever felt like an outsider? Small, insignificant, ignored, misunderstood and of little importance? Have you ever felt like you don't measure up or are not enough? Do you sometimes feel like you are constantly trying to prove yourself, not just to others, but to yourself and maybe even to God? Do you feel stunted in your growth, that life has cut you down to size? If you do, then your story mirrors that of many in the world who feel like they don't belong and don't have a place, who are crying out to be accepted and noticed. Whatever you see in yourself, or feel about yourself today Jesus wants you to know that he wants to be a part of your story. He will not pass you by. Today the story of Jesus intersects with your life, writing a new chapter in your story, so don't miss his call.
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THEME VERSE:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Whatever has made you short in stature, whatever has cut you down in life, Jesus sees more in you that you see in yourself. He comes and makes himself at home in your life and calls you into a new life filled with acceptance and love.
FAITH TALK
1 When have you felt insignificant or like an outsider in life?
2. When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see reflected back? Share.
Good foundations are important in all aspects of life whether it is buildings, family, theology, learning, or relationships; they are the base upon which everything else is built. Relationships need a solid foundation of trust, the early years of learning needs a basic knowledge in a given subject to provide a foundation for further learning, a good foundation provides structural integrity to the building that is erected on it. Strong foundations anchor our lives in changing times, protect our lives in all conditions, are load bearing when we most need support and give confidence in moving forward. That's Jude's final reminder to all Christians today. Faith matters because faith in God is the foundation on which the Church together can build strong, secure lives which reveal to the world what we truly believe. Today we'll explore that as Jude points out "What you do!"
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THEME VERSE:
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
A foundation built on the holy God enables us together to:
Live obediently
Love completely
Pray boldly
Hope eternally
Serve purposefully.
FAITH TALK
1. What hope does your faith bring to you?
2. How do we as a Church keep ourselves in the love of God?
Counterfeits, fakes, knock-offs. To the unwary traveller or online shopper they can be a dangerous trap as they end up with cheap imitations of the real thing. But here's the truth - every good and valuable thing God has given to humanity has a knock off or cheap imitation. Jude says the same thing happens with the Gospel. So Jude, who knew the real thing and had spent a lot of time at the feet of Jesus who was the real thing, knows a counterfeit when he sees it. He can spot the fake, the knock-off in the Church, and calls out those who say they are Christian yet peddle a poor copy of the real Gospel. There's no substitute for the original and Jude reminds us today that Faith Matters as he points out what we're up against. Anything less that the real thing will leave you shipwrecked, dry, barren, dirty and wandering aimlessly through life.
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THEME VERSE:
For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jude 1:4
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
The better you get to know the real thing, the easier it is to spot the counterfeit! Spend time with Jesus today.
FAITH TALK
1 How do you know if someone is teaching the truth or teaching a lie?
2. What good things created by God have had cheap imitations substituted for the real thing.
A well-timed and well-delivered pre-game speech or pep talk can have the power to motivate and inspire individuals and teams. Athlete's use them to get into performance mode, to get their game face on. Teacher's use them to motivate their students. Coaches use them to inspire the team to unite around a common goal. Military leaders use them to rally their troops and send fearful and hesitant soldiers courageously into battle. Jude, one of the early Church leaders, goes from an at ease stance to high alert in seconds. An enemy has infiltrated the camp and Jude delivers an urgent pep talk to all Christians to put them on high alert, to remind them of their foundations and to inspire, galvinise and rally God's people around one central truth - that faith matters. Today Jude reminds us of what we have.
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THEME VERSE:
I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Jude 1:3
REMEMBER THIS WEEK:
We have identity, purpose and security in Jesus. That is the one truth worth fighting for. Anything that seeks to erode, diminish, dilute or rob people of the freedom and joy this Gospel brings needs to be called out and fought against.
FAITH TALK:
1 What does it mean to you to be “called” by God?
2. Are there times when your faith in Jesus is at odds with a common attitude in the world? Share.