The wonder of legacy
What do you do when the future looks uncertain…or even impossible? In a land full of giants, Caleb and Joshua saw a promise—not a problem. While fear paralysed others, they moved forward in confidence—not in themselves, but in the God who had proven faithful time and time again.
The wonder of a new identity
A relationship with Jesus brings us a brand new identity: one not based on the things of this world—power, position & popularity—but instead one simply based on being His child.
The quiet faithfulness and assurance Ananias had from his identity as a child of God was used by God to help give Saul a brand new identity and turn his life upside down for the good. What would your life look like if you could truly grasp your identity coming just from your position as God’s child?
The wonder of discipleship
The things we meditate on and fill our minds with are reflected in the person we become. To become more like Jesus—and understand what He meant when He said that by knowing Him we can have life and have it to the full—we must spend time with Him. How do we rediscover the joy of personal discipleship, a hunger to engage with God’s word, and encourage one another to do the same?
From weary to wonder
Out of our prayer and fasting days in January, there was a sense of weariness and a need to reawaken our relationships with God.
We’ll read about the early church in Acts, looking to see what happens when the excitement stops, when tough times come and when we feel weary. How do we find a fresh perspective on life and a relationship with God?
What is our mission?
So we know Jesus as King. He has all the power and authority in the world and in our lives. We have seen the ways he has claimed the victory on our behalf—but now what? Turns out, we have a part to play as well. Jesus gives us a clear mission, one that requires faithful action and steadfast obedience. Will we accept it?
Welcoming the King
Jesus is the King of kings, and yet the image we have of him riding into the city on a donkey doesn’t feel very valiant. Matthew records Jesus stating that the kingdom of heaven is near, and every kingdom needs a King. But what kind of King is Jesus really? Are we prepared to lay down our cloaks and cry out “Hosanna, save us”? Or subtly, has the notion that we are the king of our own lives crept in?
What is the cost?
Following Jesus is the best choice anyone will ever make, but it does come at a cost. Jesus models a life of sacrifice and service where he puts others first. What if we are faced with choices where we need to decide whether we have the stuff we’ve been dreaming of, or we lay it down to follow the servant King Jesus? Perhaps we will discover there is a greater treasure than what we previously had our hearts set on.
When I’m weary
There is an expectation that we always have more to do, that resting is lazy, and that taking time out can be seen as failure. What if the Kingdom of God offers an alternative lifestyle to the constant capitalist wheel that never sleeps? God himself was the author of resting in the creation narrative. Is chilling on the sofa with endless streaming options enough? Or is there something more fulfilling out there for when we are feeling weary and exhausted?
Who is the greatest?
All of us will have tried to aim high and achieve greatness at some point in life—it’s conditioned into us from a young age. The teaching of Jesus often goes against the ways of the world—the last shall be first and the poor and meek are blessed. The status quo is flipped upside down by Jesus throughout his years in ministry. And children, who were seen as nuisances at the time, are elevated as the “greatest” perhaps without even trying. So instead of aiming for the crown, should we aim to bow down?
When we get tempted
The Bible says that we won’t be tempted beyond what we can bear, but that doesn’t mean we get to go through life without any temptation. Jesus himself was tempted physically and emotionally in the wilderness with desire, power and control. He uses his knowledge of scripture to counter the words of the devil. When we are distracted with other gods, kings and powers of the world, what can we learn from Jesus in how he fights temptation?
The interior life
How much of our lives are for show? It’s not uncommon in church to feel the need to present as ‘good’ or ‘righteous’. And yet, how often to we fall short of the expectations we put on ourselves? What if Jesus isn’t as interested in what we are showing externally, but instead wants full commitment from our inner lives? Fasting is a useful personal discipline of abstinence which can help us grow closer to King Jesus—do we need to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons?
Where is the fruit?
In a world where world leaders, on public stages, are seeking to build their own kingdoms—where do you go and what kingdom do you want to be part of? John the Baptist knew a different King and a different kingdom were coming. He prepares the way for that new King by giving one simple, and often misunderstood, direction: repent.
Ruth Chapter 4
When life seems hard or circumstances seem challenging, what do you do when God seems to be hidden or not present? In the closing chapter of Ruth, we’ll see that God is not only present—he was there the whole time, working in the meanwhile.