“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.
On your own. Three small words that contain a range of emotions. Fear. Excitement. Dread. Anticipation. Loneliness. Freedom. On your own. Three small words that cover a range of transitions. From dependence to independence, from needing your parents to drive you everywhere to driving on your own, from living at home to living on your own, from being in a relationship/marriage to being on your own. From having someone do things for you to making it on your own. From a house full of kids to being just on your own. From being connected and having a purpose to feeling like you are on your own. From sharing a lifetime together to being on your own again. From having a faith passed on from your parents to believing the claims of Jesus on your own. Life is full of 'on your own' moments that can either halt you in your tracks or launch you into new adventures. So how do you thrive when you’re on your own. We'll explore and discover that today.
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THEME VERSE:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
REMEMBER THIS WEEK:
You are never alone, when you on your own.
For in God's presence, you have an abiding home.
FAITH TALK
1 When do you feel most “on your own/alone?"
2. When has God been especially present to you in a recent “alone” time?”
Covid-19 has dramatically changed the way we live and work, affecting every element of life, from family and community to even how we socialise. Work has seen one of the greatest shifts, from in person meetings to zoom meetings (with kids banging on the door wanting to see mum or dad), from workers commuting to offices and flying internationally to putting on the tracksuit pants and walking to the home office in 20 secs. For some the change has brought better work/life balance, for others it has created incredible stress as they have had to upskill in new technology, pivot in different ways, and adapt to flexible environments. But the changing nature of work has been in evidence for several decades with the sandwich generation and early retirees, caring for ageing parents while supporting their children and becoming the new generation of unpaid baby sitters! How do you thrive when your work is different? How do you find purpose and significance when your work and life encounter new terrain? The Apostle Paul invites us to do a heart pivot in which we discover a new purpose, a spiritual significance and a deep fulfilment that enables us to thrive even when work changes.
#3 in seres: New Terrain
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THEME VERSE
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
What you do each day becomes an act of faith that brings the presence of Christ into ordinary moments to bless others.
FAITH TALK
If someone asked you, 'Why do you work?' how would you respond?