Counterslip Church: Recent Episodes
Counterslip Church
We're a group of people in South Bristol (UK) seeking to live as disciples of Jesus: Together being with Him, learning from Him, and becoming like Him.
This week we saw that the Spirit of God was at work in David's life teaching him and showing him that "just because you can, doesn't mean you should", there is often a better way - The way of the Lord. That same Spirit is given to those who turn to Jesus, and teaches and shows us that we too can live in the better way, the Lords way.
This month in our Bible Q&A we tackled your questions on the books of Judges & 1 Samuel.
You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:
(00:30)Judges 19:29
Why did he cut her up into pieces rather than just burry her, she had been through so much already?
(10:04) Den: 1 Samuel 7:2
Why did the Ark never return to the tabernacle at Shiloh? In 2 Samuel 6:2 it still isn't with the tabernacle.
(26:34) 1 Samuel 7:17
Was it right for Samuel to build an altar at Ramah?
(34:33) Den: 1 Samuel 9 & 10In these chapters there seem to be a number of high places where people sacrificed. Weren't the people only supposed to sacrifice at the tabernacle?
(45:32) 1 Samuel 11:6
How come the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he was such a bad person? Surely this flies in the face of 1 Samuel 19:23
(1:01:33) 1 Samuel 15:10-11
What does God mean by "grieved"?Is there a difference to the word used in other translations "regret"?
(1:24:59) 1 Samuel 16:14
What does it mean that an evil spirit came from the Lord?
Also in 1 Samuel 18:10.
This week we talked about the concept of fear, something we experience when we encounter things that are bigger or more powerful than we have ever encountered before. But the Bible invites us not to fear, and to turn our worry into wonder by shifting our hearts gaze to Jesus.
Today, from the opening stories of 1 Samuel, we discovered that even in our unfaithfulness, our brokenness, and our struggles, God is faithful and is pleased to call us His own.
This week we discovered that in Samson we see our own story and struggle, but also we see the hope of Jesus who offers us life like no other.
Heidi encouraged us to trust God's goodness and His ability to bring about good in every situation. She asked us if, on this Pentecost Sunday where we remember the Holy Spirit descending on the believers, we need to lay ourselves before God again and ask him to change us from the inside out.
Emmanuel draws on Joshua's final words to Israel and encourages us to "be very careful to love the Lord your God" (Joshua 23:11), to dwell in the good land the Lord has promised us, but also not to stop there... to press onward into more of God's calling; encouraging us to love one another and to read and obey scripture.
This week Matt shared with us from Joshua 6, the story of how God led the Israelites to bring down the walls of Jericho. This story spoke to us of how God wants to bring down the walls around our hearts, and restore life, hope, joy and peace to the hard, hurting and hidden areas of our lives.
This week Lindsay Caplin, one of our regional ministers from the West of England Baptist Network, came to share with us. She spoke on the life and hope that God offers his people in the Bible and how we today can choose to live in that.
Last week Andy challenged us to look back, take stock and move forward. This week Matt built on that message by asking how do we move forward and using Deuteronomy 11 to help us find that answer.
This month in our Bible Q&A we tackled your questions on the books of Leviticus & Numbers.
You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:
(1:21) Leviticus 12:1-8
Please explain this chapter:
- Why is it longer for the birth of a daughter than a son?
- why is the woman unclean, isn't birthing new life an amazing thing to do?
- why does she need to offer a sin offering?
(20:26) Leviticus 23:42-43
Why a temporary shelter?
Why is it so important that the descendants know that God had them live in shelters?
(29:18) Leviticus 27:1-7
Why are males valued more than females?
(34:30) Leviticus - Numbers
Which sacrifices are for individuals, which are for families, tribes and the nation?
(46:00) Leviticus
When were the laws and offerings in the book of Leviticus given to Moses?
(54:43) Numbers 3:11-12
Why did the LORD take the Levities from among the Israelites and say "they are mine"?
(1:01:04) Numbers 3:38
Is there a significant reason why Moses, Aaron & sons were to camp to the east of the Tabernacle, toward the Sunrise?
(1:04:30) Numbers 5:11-31
Please explain these verses, why does a woman have to go through this is she has done nothing, why is there not a chapter for the test of an unfaithful man?
Today Andy shared with us from Deuteronomy 8, encouraging us to reflect on all that has been, discovering that God has been working in it; take stock of where we are now because of Him; and look to the hope and promise that God has for our future.
Today we looked at what we can learn from the book of Numbers about living as the people of God in a wilderness culture.
Today we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, and discovered why this is the most important day in the Christian calendar, and in the history of the church.
This week Emmanuel wrapped up our time in the book of Leviticus by showing the parallels between Leviticus and books of the New Testament, like Hebrews, revealing that it all points to Jesus as our great high priest - the one who makes everything possible.
This week we explored the theme of Holiness and God's call for us to be holy... Only we discovered that holiness isn't a test or a hardship, instead it is something that out of love God Himself makes us by His very presence. This is the heart and the good news of Leviticus and the entire bible.
This month in our Bible Q&A we tackled your questions on the books of Genesis and Exodus.
You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:
(1:06) Genesis 42:36
Why did Jacob say "you have deprived me of my children" are they not his children?
(2:42) Genesis 42:38
Did Joseph not have 11 brothers, why would Jacob say that Benjamin is the only one left?
(14:23) Exodus 4:24Why would the LORD go to kill Moses when he had asked him to help free his people from Egypt?
(20:43) Exodus 7:22 / 8:7 How did the Egyptians manage the same miraculous signs as God?
(27:10) Exodus 10:12
Aaron seems to have been the one using the staff until now. Here is seems to be Moses. Why? Is this because Moses now believes himself, or that God is no longer angry with him?
(38:31) Exodus 22:2-3
Why does the sunrise make a difference?
(43:14) Exodus 24:9-11
What does it mean that the leaders saw God when Exodus 33:20 says no one can see Gods face and live, and 1 John 4:2 it says that no one has ever seen God?
(54:51) Exodus 29:10-19
What is the significance of the laying hands on the head of the sacrifice?
(1:05:41) Exodus 31:1-5Why is there a high standard for who makes things for the tabernacle? Why only those God has chosen by name and filled with His Spirit? Is it important to have God's person in the God's work?
This week we started reading the book of Leviticus and Matt shared with us why he loves it so much and how it reveals the heart of God to be with us. From there we looked at what it looks like today for us to be a people who create space for God to dwell in our midst.
This week Matt unpacked one of the most famous passages of scripture - The 10 Commandments. But today we saw that there is so much more going on here than simply a list of rules. Right here in the law we see the father heart of God for us revealed.
This morning Emma unpacked some key moments from the Exodus story, and along with sharing from her own journey, explored how when we put our trust in God we discover that He loves us and His plans are for us are good.
This week Matt wrapped up our time in the book of Genesis by looking at how the story of Joseph, both in the overarching narrative and in the smaller details, reveals how Gods heart has always been towards us, wanting to bless us and transform our brokenness into life.
This month in our Bible Q&A we tackled your questions on the books of Genesis and Job.
You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:
(00:54)
Genesis 1:26
If God created people then who created Him?
(07:53)
Genesis 3:14-15
Who or what is enmity?
(13:57)
Genesis 5:21-24
Why is the wording regarding Enoch ("He walked with God…. And then he was no more") different to everyone else listed in the genealogy (Who just lived x year and died), and what is the significance?
(24:37)
Genesis 22:24
Why did they have concubines?
(34:17)
Genesis 36:15
Why are these men listed as chiefs?
(47:01)
Job 1:6 and Job 2:1
Who are the "sons of God"?
(1:02:46)
Job 13:12
What does this mean?
This week Matt finished off our time in the book of Job, looking at the climax of the story - the moment God speaks. From there we talked about the impact of the word of God in our lives today.
This week Matt shared as we carried on our reading through the book of Job. We discovered that while Job experienced all kinds of trials and difficulties pressing on his life he was not crushed! The secret to Job making it through all this can be found littered through out his words in the book, but is summed up in the New Testament where it reminds us that we have a treasure in jars of clay which is the power of God.
This week Dennis began unpacking the book of Job for us. Setting it in its context and time and opening up one of the books main themes - suffering.
This month in our Bible Q&A Dennis and Matt went head to head offering different theological perspectives on some of your questions from the books of Daniel, Revelation & 2 Thessalonians.
You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:
Daniel 9:24What does it mean by "Seventy Sevens"
(03:07 – Answer 1)(15:16 – Answer 2)
Revelation 1:18
What is Hades?
(23:01 – Answer 1)(28:10 – Answer 2)
Revelation 2:13Where does Satan live?
(31:34 – Answer 1)(36:38 – Answer 2)
Revelation 6:3-4
Why would the lamb give the red horse rider power to take peace form the earth and make men slay each other, rather than give peace to the earth and make men love each other?
(40:48 – Answer 1)(46:20 – Answer 2)
Revelation 12:7 / 12:14 (Daniel 7:25)
What is the meaning of time, times and half a time?
(53:12 – Answer 1)(56:40 – Answer 2)
Revelation 20:2What does it mean that Satan is bound for 1000 years?(1:03:53 – Answer 1)(1:10:37 – Answer 2)
2 Thessalonians 2:3Who is/was the man of lawlessness?(1:22:31 – Answer 1)(1:23:43 – Answer 2)
This week, after catching us up on the story from Genesis 16-34, Matt took us through God's call for Jacob to meet with Him at Bethel - what that journey meant for Jacob's story, what it means for our story and how to make that journey home to the House of God.
This week we looked at the story of Abram, Sarai and Hagar, and we discovered a God who is always looking to bring us hope and promise. But we have a choice to trust him or trust our own way, which as we saw from the story doesn't always work out like we might hope. And yet even then our God continues to be committed to bringing us hope.
This week we kicked off our bible in two years chronological series, and Matt unpacked where it all begins, and how the Genesis story reveals to us something of Gods heart for us and our place in His creation.
This week we looked at the over all structure of Revelation and saw how every part is pointing to the end, which actually is not the end at all but a very hopeful new beginning.
There are slides and a handout that go with this talk. To find them go to: www.counterslip.org/revelation
This week in Revelation 12-13 we discovered how Heaven saw the Christmas story, how it was more than a baby in a manger, it was a cosmic event that impacted all creation, and still affects our lives today.
This week Matt kicked off a series of a few weeks in the final book of the bible: Revelation. This book is rather strange of often leaves people confused about what on earth is going on, but this week Matt walked us through the first chapter and showed us that the main point of this weird book is actually rather simple, its key objective is to give us a bigger vision of Jesus so that we might have hope.
This week Barb shared with us from Daniel, looking at how he was devoted to prayer and how we can deepen our own prayer lives.
This week Matt spoke from Daniel 1-5 looking at how, like Daniel, we are to live distinctive lives in the midst of our culture and that when we do God is able to move powerfully through us.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Ezekiel and Jude. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
(1:01) Ezekiel 3:1-3 - Did Ezekiel actually eat the scroll, is it metaphorical (meaning he took in the words), or was it a vision/dream?
(8:00) Ezekiel 11:5 & 7 - Why does one verse say “this is what the LORD says” and the other say “sovereign LORD”?
(16:00) Ezekiel 20:25 - Were God’s laws good or bad?
(21:24) Ezekiel 21:21 - Why will the king of Babylon examine a liver before moving down a road?
(30:35) Ezekiel 28:11-19 - Is this about the King of Tyre or Satan?
(44:18) Ezekiel 38:1 - Who is Gog and where is Magog?
(1:05:23) Jude 20 (Group discussion) - What does it mean to “pray in the Spirit”
It was great to have Maki, the Pastor of Cairns Road Baptist Church, with us this week sharing from 1 Thessalonians, and reminding us again that if the good news, is good news, then it really can transform lives, starting with us.
This week Matt spoke from Ezekiel 37 (The valley of dry bones) and we saw how the life giving God of Genesis is still working in the darkness, calling forth light and bringing life.
This year at our weekend away we had Mike Williams (Pastor of One Church Bristol) come to share with us about Kingdom Culture in the church.
This year at our weekend away we had Mike Williams (Pastor of One Church Bristol) come to share with us about Kingdom Culture in the church.
This year at our weekend away we had Mike Williams (Pastor of One Church Bristol) come to share with us about Kingdom Culture in the church.
This year at our weekend away we had Mike Williams (Pastor of One Church Bristol) come to share with us about Kingdom Culture in the church.
This week Emma kicked off our time in Ezekiel by reflecting on the message Ezekiel had for God's people to obey, even though they kept choosing not to. She unpacked how obedience isn't just a rule, but the place of discovering the very heart of God.
This week as we dedicated baby Caleb, Matt talked about Jude's father heart for the church he was writing to and his longing for them to know, and not be robbed of, mercy, peace and love. Ultimately through this we're led to see the Father heart of God for us all.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Jeremiah. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
(1:31) Jeremiah 1:1Did Jeremiah ever take up his role as a priest?
(14:09) Jeremiah 4:10 & 20:7The Lord does not deceive his people, what is going on and why would Jeremiah think this?
(23:39)Jeremiah 4:23This makes me think of the garden of Eden before it was formed. Could this be when the Lord takes Heaven and earth back to the very start. Like the potter to start afresh?
(36:46)Jeremiah 22:24 & 30If no one from Jehoiachin's (A descendant of David) line would ever be ruler of Judah or sit on Davids throne, how could the promised Messiah later claim to be from Davids line?
(57:56)Jeremiah 31:29-31Does this mean that God did punish children for the sins of the parents at one time?
(1:14:4)Jeremiah 36:30Was this a failed prophecy as Jehoiakim's son Jehoiachin succeeded him?
Today we saw from Jeremiah how obedience to God's word is the key to understanding His plans and will for us. From this Matt shared again with the church about what we have been sensing God speaking to us with regard to the future of our church and building ahead of our church meeting at the end of the month.
This week, following a baptism, Matt spoke to us from Jeremiah 2:13 and talked about how God is the only one who can truly fill our lives and satisfy our needs. All He asks us to do is to come home to Him.
This week Dennis unpacked the history and context into which Jeremiah received his call to serve God.
This week we wrapped up our time in the Psalms by reflecting on how the psalms (both individually and as a collective) tell us a story that stirs us to the declaration of praise "His love endures forever". Then we heard some stories from our own church family about God's enduring love at work now in our lives.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Mark, Psalms & Isaiah. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
(1:26) Mark 11:14 - Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?
(16:55) Mark 16:7 -Why is Peter mentioned separately? Was he no longer a disciple? Was this because he denied Jesus 3 times?
(22:18) Mark 16:16 - Does this imply that baptism is necessary for salvation?
(35:16) Psalm 78:65 - What does it mean that the Lord awoke as from sleep? Were all the verse before a dream? Did He actually sleep and then wake with a change of heart?
(42:19) Psalm 109:6-20 - Is it right for David to be praying these awful things over these men? Should he not let God be their judge?
(52:36) Psalm 116:13 -What does it mean to lift up the cup of salvation? Is this referring to the last supper?
(57:20) Isaiah 37:3 - Why is not having strength to deliver a child the same as what the field commander has said?
(1:02:02) Isaiah 53:10 -Surely the word "pleased" in this verse cannot possibly have the same meaning in the original Hebrew as it does for us today? Wouldn't that be horrendous?
(1:13:14) Isaiah 65:15 -
What does it mean that God tells the people they will leave their name to be used in curses? And why would God say this to them? Are we not told to love and forgive and not curse?
(1:20:30) Group discussion around anger and forgiveness
This week we saw from Psalm 112 that our own relationship with God, and obedience to God, can have a direct impact upon our world. So we discovered that if we want to bring peace, hope, love, joy and so much more goodness to our world, we start by making sure our own relationship with Jesus is in a good place.
This week we looked at a Psalm that Moses "the man of God" wrote, and discovered how it was that Moses kept going through so many struggles.
Mark 13 is a passage that often leaves people confused, worried or unsure. But we believe that all scripture points to Jesus and reveals who He is. This week Matt took us on a deep dive into Mark 13, the language it uses, the language it doesn't use, and the events that Jesus talked about verse by verse. We discovered that Jesus is true to His word, and that things happed just as He says they will. We also discovered that this passage is not so confusing and it actually points us really clearly to the truth that Jesus is king of all, right now, and seated on Heavens throne.
This week Matt shared with us from Mark's gospel, looking the story of a man who asks Jesus how to get eternal life.
This week Chris was honest with us about how as humans we experience suffering, but he also shared with us that we follow a king who gets our suffering, a king who suffered Himself, and a king whose suffering leads us to hope and a new life giving way.
This week David took us through Mark chapters 1 - 3 and shared with us some of the inspiring, encouraging and amazing things that these chapters had showed him again about who Jesus is and what He is like.
This week we hung out in the last section of the book of Isaiah where, having shown us how bad things are and revealing to us that we all need hope, Isaiah tells us that there is a God who loves us and offers hope to us in the form of Jesus - God himself, become a man, to die in our place and give us life.
Today Matt talked through some of the passages in Isaiah that talk about judgement and showed how they reveal more of God's heart for us than maybe we first thought.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Song of Songs, 1 Peter and 1 John. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
1 - (1:27)
Song of Songs 3:1
Why would it take her all night to look on her bed for the one she loves? Would this have been a dream or was this that she was looking from her bed outside for him or something else?
2 - (5:05)
Song of Songs 3:7-11
Do these verse mean that King Solomon is the lover?
3 - (8:33)
1 Peter 2:6
Where is Zion? Does it have a broader more significant meaning that just being an actual place?
4 - (23:02)
1 Peter 4:8
Does this mean that if you sin, as long as you love you get away with it
because your sin is hidden?
5 - (34:00)
1 Peter 5:12
Who is Silas and what does he do?
6 - (51:10)
1 John 1:5-10
If we claim to be without sin we lie and the word is not in us, but if we walk in darkness/sin then we cannot have fellowship with God. How can both be true?
7 - (59:17)
1 John 2:7-8
Is John writing a new command and an old command side by side, or an old command in a new way, or something else?
This week we hung out on Isaiah's encounter in the heavenly temple, found in Isaiah 6. Matt talked about how Isaiah came to have that encounter, and looked out how we too might have such an encounter that changes not just us both the lives of people around us as well.
This week Matt spoke from Isaiah 1, where we see the Fathers heart breaking over the brokenness of his children, and all this was because of the brokenness of the kings that reigned over them. But we discovered that God is king over all kings and no matter what negative influences there over our lives He is speaking hope to us.
This week Barb shared with us from 1 John 1, and reminded us that while we didn't see Jesus as John did, we have indeed seen and heard Jesus at work in our lives and it is in sharing what we have seen and heard that our joy and the joy of others is made complete.... Following this we had a time of people sharing stories of where they had seen Jesus at work in their lives.
This week we've been reading Solomons' song of songs. In it we find a love story of a man and a women. This week Matt shared how he felt God was inviting us as the man invites the women, into new hope, and how God was speaking over us a new story of love and beauty, transforming our old stories of brokenness and pain.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Colossians. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
(1:28) Job 1:6-7
Who is Satan and why was he there with God?
(23:37) Job 1:8
Why would the Lord put Job forward to Satan? Was he teaching Job a lesson? Was God showing Satan that He was in control not Satan?
(34:40) Job 31:26-28
Is it wrong to throw a kiss from your mouth?
(47:45) Proverbs 10:1
Why does the wise son not bring joy to both his Father and mother? And why does the foolish son only bring grief to his mother and not both parents?
(52:44) Proverbs 10:26
What is a sluggard?
(54:27) Ecclesiastes 7:3
Why is sorrow better than laughter, and is a sad face really good for the heart?
(59:30) Colossians 1:15
What does it mean that Christ is the firstborn over all creation?
(1:06:35) Colossians 1:20
By "all things" does this mean that everyone will be saved?
(1:25:45) Colossians 1:24
Does this mean that Jesus death on the cross wasn't enough, that Paul found Christ afflictions lacking?
(1:25:23) Ecclesiastes 10:19 (Group Question)
How can money be the answer to everything, when it is said to be the root of all evil?
This week Matt unpacked how in Peter's letter to the churches he was helping them to see that the very challenging situations they found themselves in were actually part of the very purpose to which God has called them. As those who belong to Jesus we too have this same, sometimes challenging, purpose about which Peter's letter encourages us not to give up.
This week we've been reading the book of Ecclesiastes. Today Matt talked about how Ecclesiastes gives us some insight, from king Solomon, as to the experience we will have of reality if we choose to be king of our own lives rather than letting Jesus reign.
This week Emmanuel shared with us from Colossians looking at how we only find our completion, fulfilment and perfection in Jesus and in no other place. Nothing we can do on our own, and nothing the world can offer us, will bring us wholeness. Only Jesus can satisfy.
This week Matt unpacked the book of proverbs and we saw how the structure of the book, and many features of the text, mirror the story of creation in Genesis one. Proverbs is part of God's continued call for people to come back to, and live in, the beauty of His creation order where we find peace, joy, love and hope.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was 2 Chronicles, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Job and 1 Timothy. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
-
(1:09) Do these two verse contradict each other with God reasons for who should build the temple? 1 Chronicles 28:3 & 2 Chronicles 6:8-9
-
(6:25) In Zechariah 6:5-6 we read about the four different coloured horses. Three of them go out to the North, South and west. But there is no mention of what happens to the red horses. Where did they go?
- (15:50) Zechariah 10:8 says that the Lord will "whistle" (NASB / KJV). Is this as we understand a whistle?
- (19:44) Nehemiah 12:31-39a) Why were there so many gates?b) What was the tower of Hananel and the tower of the Hundred?
- (27:46) Nehemiah 13:25 - Why did he pull out the men's hair?
- (38:26) Is there significance in the numbers in the opening chapter of Job (7 sons, 7000 sheep, 3 daughters, 3000 camels, 500 yoke oxen, 500 donkeys)?
- (48:44) Job was in the east, and we understand "east" to be not good and away from God. Was Job therefore good or bad?
- (59:01) Can you explain 1 Timothy 2:15
- (1:16:46) How do we "take hold of eternal life" as 1 Timothy 6:12 tells us?
- (1:28:16) Group: What commandment must we keep without stain or reproach as 1 Timothy 6:14 tells us?
This week we have been reading through the letter to the Philippians. Today Matt highlighted how obsessed Paul is with Christ Jesus, how he mentions Jesus on almost every line. Paul thinks everything if for Jesus and about Jesus, and Paul challenges the believers in the Philippian church, as his letter challenges us, to make our whole lives about Jesus.
Many people struggle with the book of Job, it really does raise some difficult questions. But today Matt encouraged us to see beyond the questions to, what he believes is the main point of Job, the revelation that Job receives of God and how his response to that revelation is the key to changing everything.
This week Matt shared with us how the gospel message of Jesus is shown in every book of the bible, and how the power of the gospel has been work in every generation and is still the power today to change lives and bring hope to our world.
This week Heidi took us through the book of Esther looking at how we each have a choice either to live for ourselves and our own gain, or to trust and take part in the bigger unfolding story of God at work in His world.
This week we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. On this weeks podcast we've included a little flavour of the rest of our service as well as Matt's talk from Malachi where we saw the message of the gospel spoken through the prophet Malachi.
This week Matt unpacked the short book of prophecies from the prophet Haggai, looking at how relevant the message of God to His people then is to us now. How in a culture where we are constantly looking to be fulfilled we will only find that fulfilment when we make space in our lives for God.
This week Emma took us through the letter to Timothy, showing us that the goal underneath everything Paul writes to Timothy is love, which is actually the main theme of the bible over and over and over.
This week we've been reading the books of Ezra & Nehemiah (which were originally all part of one scroll), and today we discovered how Ezra saw what was happening in his day as a new exodus where the God of the exodus was still at work setting people free, drawing them to Himself, speaking life giving hope in to them and establishing them as his people. And we discovered that even today, because of Jesus' death on the cross, we too are invited to make the exodus story our story and live in freedom with our God.
This week Matt took us through Chapter One of the prophecy of Nahum and we discovered how woven into the text were clues that while this was a prophecy for the people of Nineveh the author always intended it to be a message that spoke the heart of God to all people, everywhere, in every generation, even today.
This week Matt unpacked some of the deeper layers hidden in the story of Jonah that reveal to us God's heart towards the world, and his call to us to be a part of that.
This week Chris took us through the story of Manasseh, which taught us that no matter how bad things get Gods' heart is to reclaim and transform us, and make us right with him again.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Hebrews & 2 Kings. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
(1:14) Hebrews 2:9 - Hebrews says that Jesus is greater than the angels, what does it mean then that he was made lower than the angels?
(10:38) Hebrews 7 - Melchizedek ?
(25:38) Hebrews 10:14 - How can we be made perfect but still be being made holy?
(41:06) 2 Kings 2:11 - What actually happened to Elijah?
(1:08:52) 2 Kings 2:23-24 - Isn't this a little over kill towards some children?
(1:19:37) 2 Kings 6:1-6 - What is the significance of the axe head? How does this speak prophetically?
(1:26:43) 2 Kings 3:27 - Did human sacrifice actually work?
Toady Emmanuel reminded us that, through faith, we are now the people who are called by "the name" of the LORD. And that means that when we humble ourselves and seek His face He will hear our prayers from heaven and step in and work to save us and heal us.
This week we read through the letter from James to the church and looked at how James puts our faith on trial against the teachings of Jesus, and how He also does it so that we would see our need of Jesus more and more and so press in and abide in Jesus more and more, becoming a better church.
This week Matt explained how the long list of names at the start of 1 Chronicles actually tells a story that would have been such good news to the people that first heard it read aloud and then explained that this same story is still being told to us today, and that we are invited to make this good news story our story as well.
Our world offers us many ways to make ourselves feel whole, and the reality is that most often these things are imperfect and are never really a lasting solution to the deep unease that we all at times feel. The author of the letter to the Hebrews picks up on this idea, but he offers a much better solution and this week Matt explored with us how the letter to the Hebrews might speak to us today about how we can discover a wholeness like no other.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was 1 Kings, Joel, Zephaniah & Habakkuk. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
1) 1:04 - 1 Kings 14:19 - What is meant by the "book of the annals of the kings of Israel"?
2) 13:24 - 1 Kings 18:40 - why did Elijah kill all 450 prophets of Baal?
3) 20:33 - Joel 1:15 - How could Joel say the day of the LORD was near when different prophets over the centuries all talked about it and it was still being talked about in the New Testament?
4) 27:00 - Zephaniah 3:16 / Joel 2:31 - Is the day of the LORD something to be feared or not?
5) 40:23 - Micah 6:6-8 - Do these verses imply either:
A) External worship (sacrifice) is not what God requires and it is all internal faith
B) Salvation through righteousness (good deeds/acts)
6) 56:48 - Habakkuk 1:5-6 - Why does God use pagan nations to judge his people?
7) 1:08:23 - Habakkuk 3:16-18 - How can Habakkuk rejoice when all is doomed?
This week we walked through the opening of the letter to the Hebrews looking at how each line shows us something of how God, and all his goodness, his love, his forgiveness, his peace, his joy and so on, are revealed in no better place than in Jesus Christ. If we want to discover God and all that He longs for us to know then we simply need to look to Jesus.
The kings of the book of 2 Kings shaped the lives of their nation by allowing, accepting and introducing all kinds of practices and cultures that ultimately stopped the people of God truly encountering their God. This week Matt asked us if there were things our lives, and even in our church, that may be stopping us from knowing and experiencing the fullness of the gospel in our lives.
This week Dennis launched us into the new year by inspiring us with the stories of faith and power from the life of Elisha, and reminding us that we, in Christ Jesus, are now children of God who are also called to walk with that same faith.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was 2 Samuel, Amos & Ephesians. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
1) The Character of David - We read of David as a man after God's own heart….
(01:53) A) Why then was it ok for him to have multiple wives and concubines?
(17:23) B) Why did he confine his 10 concubines in 2 Samuel 20:3
(23:52) C) Why was it acceptable for him to kill so many people in battle? (2 Samuel 5, 8, 10)
(32:04) 2) In 2 Samuel 6:6-7 Uzziah tries to stop the Ark from falling to the floor, but God kills him for this. Why?
(39:42) 3) Does God cause evil? (Amos 3:6)
(46:55) 4) Ephesians 1:10 - Does this verse imply universalism?
(55:11) 5) Ephesians 1:11 - What does predestination mean?
(1:30:07) 6) Ephesians 6:5-8 - does this mean that the bible agrees with slavery? (Group Question)
As a church we are reading through the bible over a two year period. In the coming weeks we will be reading from these minor prophets and so today Matt gave us an overview of their message and how they are part of the on going story in the bible to reveal the good news of Jesus for our world.
This week Matt talked us through the story of Solomon from 1 Kings and revealed that when we look a little deeper, we start to see that the Hebrew authors were telling us more than the story of a human king. As we went through, we discovered that there are hints and clues all over the text that show us that Solomon was actually part of a much bigger story involving all creation: the heavens and the earth. And we too are part of that story.
This week Anna took us through Pauls' time in Ephesus, looking at how Paul always made space for the Spirit to work, and she challenged us about the ground we give to God in our lives so that the Spirit can be at work in and through us. All of this, of course, Paul was able to do because he was rooted in the message of good news that he shares with the Ephesians in his letter to them, and we to need to be rooted in this if we also want to be able to see God's Spirit at work in us.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Judges, Ruth & 1 Samuel. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
1) 01:25 - (Ruth 3:4) Why would Ruth be told to uncover Boaz feet when he is asleep and lay down by them without saying a word?
2) 13:48 - (Ruth 4:13) Ruth gives birth to a son, but in verse 17 it says, "Naomi has a son", why is the baby known as Naomi's and not Ruth's?
3) 24:31 - What is your view on the witch of Endor bringing Samuel back from the dead (1 Sam 28)?
4) 47:15 - Why would David want to fight with the Philistines (1 Sam 29)?
5) 58:06 - (1 Samuel 16:4 /19:9) Why would the Lord send an evil Spirit when the Lord is not evil but good?
6) 1:09:26 - What is the significance of the ephod in 1 Samuel 23:6 & 9?
7) 1:17:03 - Why should Jephthah make such a crazy pointless promise (Judges 11)?
This week Matt took us through the closing chapter of 2 Samuel and asked what the story would reveal to us if rather than looking for it to speak to us by finding ourselves in the story instead we looked for Jesus.
This week Matt took us through the book of Amos and unpacked how God's heart for His people back then was, as it is for us today, to know Him and live.
This week Chris shared from the opening chapter of 1 Samuel with us, using the story of Hannah and the priest Eli to ask us how far are we willing to go to live a life in the presence of God? How long will we stay there? And how bold will we be?
This week Emmanuel unpacked the gospel message that Paul urgently tries to reiterate to the Galatians again - that we are free in Christ, not because of what we can do, but because of what He has done, and how through faith in Christ we are now new creations - the old has died and there is resurrection life for us.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Joshua, Acts and 1 from the Psalms. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(1:39) What is the book of Jashar mentioned in Joshua 10:13?
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(14:00) In Joshua 18:7 it says the Levites get no inheritance, yet in Joshua 21:1-3 the Israelites give them pasture lands and livestock as their inheritance. Have they gone against what the Lord said, or did He change His mind?
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(19:01) Joshua is such a G! Why is he not thought more highly of in the church compared to characters like Moses, Paul and others?
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(27:32) Why were Paul and his companions kept from preaching the word in the province of Asia by the Holy Spirit in Acts 16:6-7?
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(36:15) Psalm 23 says "Your rod and staff they comfort me" how can they bring comfort? What does this phrase mean?
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(45:36) In Acts 19:1-7 did all who had received Johns' baptism need to be baptised a second time?
(This question led to some further discussion and questions around the topics of repentance, sin and the holy spirit).
This week Matt took us through Paul's letter to Titus and talked about how Pauls' heart was for the church in Crete to grow in faith that resulted in godliness. In his letter Paul gives some tips on how Titus was to set things up in the church so that this could happen, and we looked at what we could learn from Pauls' advice to Titus so that we too can grow in faith that results in godliness.
It was great this week to welcome back to Counterslip Dave Hewitt, who was pastor here from 1978-89. This week Dave shared with us from Judges 13 looking at the character of Manoah's wife, and how God used her to achieve His purposes, taking points from this story about the kind of church/people we need to be to make a difference in our world today.
This week Emma unpacked how Paul was convinced that the whole Old Testament was pointing to Jesus, and the new covenant that He would bring. This was a shock to some of the people of the Old Covenant, but Emma explained that it shouldn't have been. She used the narrative arch of scripture to show how God is the same yesterday, today and forever, but He does not do the same things yesterday, today and forever. However He does choose to use people who are in relationship with him, and obedient to Him, to steward the things He is doing. Her encouragement and challenge to us was that - to be in relationship with God, to be obedient to God, and to steward well the things He gives us to do in the world.
This week we looked at what we could learn from Acts 1 about preparing ourselves so that we can be the kind of church God longs for us to be, as we see in Acts, a church full of the Holy Spirit.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Psalms. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(2:07) What does Selah mean?
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(9:13) What is a song of ascent?
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(14:15) Are we really sinful at birth (Psalm 51:5)?
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(23:09) Who was Asaph?
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(28:06) Does God practise deception (Ps 18:26)?
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(35:17) Does God hate all who do wrong (Ps 5:5/11:5)?
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Follow up:
A. (45:20) - Comment about Bible translations
B. (49:45) - What does the word psalm mean?
C. (53:31) - Provocation & hatred discussion
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(58:09) - Does Ps 51:16 contradict what is taught in Leviticus?
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(1:04:15) - What does Ps 74:13-14 mean when it talks about monsters?
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(1:15:00) - Were psalms sung corporately like we sing to Jesus today?
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(1:21:34) GROUP QUESTION: We think of Psalm 22 as a messianic Psalm, meaning about Jesus, but is that what it meant to David when he wrote it? If not is it right for us to make it about Jesus?
This week Matt walked us through Joshua 7 and the issues that arise there, asking why. We discovered that there are certain things in the world that we can be drawn towards to find our worth, value and identity, but the only place we truly find these things is in God.
This week Matt took us through Joshua chapter one, a story that begins with loss, and unpacked how we, as Christians, can remain strong as courageous at all times because of Jesus.
This week Matt took us back to the very first Psalm and looked at how it teaches us to discover the nearness of God in our lives.
This Sunday we had Nigel Coles (Team leader - Webnet & Counterslip pastor from 1991-2000) come and share with us from Psalm 50. Nigel reminded us again, than contrary to our societies cultural view we as the individual are not lord, judge or god, and that we will only find the hope we need when we truly turn to the one who is Lord, judge and God - Jesus.
This week Jo took us through Psalm 31 and the journey of pleading, praising and lamenting that David went on and how it led him into deeper relationship with God.
This week Heidi took us through Psalm 27, looking at the context of the life of David and how in the midst of many things he was able to hold on to and remain confident of the goodness of the Lord.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Luke's gospel. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(2:45) Can you explain Luke 22:38 in view of Matthew 26:51-52?
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(14:34) In the Gospels there are many miracles we can relate to and identify with, but who can when it comes to the demonic man in chapter 8, how would we know the difference between him and those who have ill mental health, which of us has experienced the horrors of this story?
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(42:19) Please can you explain Luke 12:8-10 (especially verse 10). Does this mean that when we see the Spirit move, but deny that it is God, are we not forgiven if we repent of that?
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(50:53) Follow up comments and questions
As Christians we believe that Jesus is coming again, and his return will usher in our hope of evil and sin being removed and love, joy and peace reigning forever. But should that hope effect our lives now and shape how we live? This week Matt unpacked some of the teaching Jesus gave to his disciples about how they should live between the resurrection and the return.
This week we heard 4 testimonies of how God led people through unexpected storms, and Matt shared some key ideas from Luke 8 about how we can trust Jesus to lead us through the storms we experience.
This week Barb took us through some of the healing miracles of Jesus, showing us how Jesus healed from a place of love, compassion, peace and authority. Following this Jesus sent out the 12, and the 72, to go and do the same and she challenged us that we too are called to become like Jesus bringing healing to our world.
This week Matt took us through Luke 2 and unpacked how, like in Mary's life, there is often more going on in our difficult situations than we might at first realise, and he shared some thoughts from the passage on how we can discover what God is up to.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was 1 Corinthians. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(0:46) 1 Corinthians 11:20-21 & 33. In these passages it says we should eat and drink of the body of Christ together as one and not as individuals. Why as one family do we not bring our bread and wine back to our seats and wait for each other, sharing and remembering the Lord together as one body?
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(14:58) 1 Corinthians 7:29 - Does this mean that if a man has a wife he should live as if he is single? Is this not wrong, should he not honour his wife and a wife honour her husband?
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(21:29) Paul and Women:
A. (22:45) Man is the head of women: 1 Corinthians 11:3
B. (34:14) Women is the glory of man: 1 Corinthians 11:7
C. (45:30) Authority - 1 Corinthians 11:10 (intro) - Main answer starts at 47:19
D. (56:06) Women should remain silent: 1 Corinthians 14:33-34
This week Dennis took us through the covenant God made with Israel and the blessing and the curses that would follow if they listened to and obeyed the Lord.
We know that our God is good. We know that we live in His abundant grace and blessing. Yet we Christians still face problems. This week Matt unpacks some things we can learn from the Israelites' story about living in the promises of God while facing all kinds of problems, whether on the inside or on the outside.
This week it was so great to have Wit and Helen, our BMS mission partners, with us from Thailand. They shared with us all that they have been doing there and their plans now to plant another church. Following this Wit brought Gods word to us. This is the word that Wit brought to the church about how to live as a Christian through life's struggles.
This Sunday, which happened to be Pentecost, we found ourselves reading 1 Corinthians 12 as we journey through the bible over two years. So this week Matt took the opportunity to lay some basic foundations about the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives to His church.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Romans & Numbers. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(1:58) What does it mean that Christ has become a servant of the Jews? - Romans 15:8
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(8:55) What does it mean that "all Israel will be saved"? - Romans 11:26
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(21:32) Explain the meaning of Romans 14:22-23
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(34:49) Is there a link between Numbers and the reason that the Lord Jesus refused the wine mixed with myrrh in Mark 15:23?
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(38:53) Are the tabernacle, the tent of testimony and the tent of meeting, all found throughout Numbers the same thing?
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(46:31) Why was God angry with Balaam for going with the men when He told him to the night before? - Numbers 22:18-22
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(59:25) Follow up comments and questions
Group Question:
- (1:06:08) Why did the Israelites moan about not having meat to eat when they had a herd? They used the 1 year olds as sacrifices but the rest was given to them as food in Deuteronomy 14:4 - Numbers 11:4-5
The people of God in Corinth, like the people of God in Numbers as we discovered last week, had the presence of God in their midst - "They were SO close". Yet they kept looking back to, and living in, the culture they had been called out from and they were failing to live in the fullness of all that God had for them, failing to walk in step with the Spirit - "They were SO far".
This week Matt unpacked some of the culture of the city of Corinth and the challenges that Paul presented to the church there, making parallels between them then and us now, challenging us as a church not to live in the "so close, yet so far" and instead to run in to all that God has for us.
This week Chris brought us a word from Numbers 22-23 looking at the story of Balak and Balaam. There we discover that while we have an enemy who wants to break us, we also have a God who wants to abundantly bless us and lead us on into His promise.
What does it really look like for the church to be the church, to be the people of God, with the presence of God in their midst, sharing that with the world around them? This week Matt unpacked some things we can learn about this from the start of the book of Numbers, the first time God send His collective people out into the world literally carrying His presence.
Romans opens by showing us all that God has done for us in and through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 12 calls this "God's mercy" and says in light of that there is something more for us to step into. Why would we not want to know more of all that God has for us? This week Matt unpacked what we discover from these two well known verses about how we can know more of God's good will for our lives.
Each month we've been taking your questions about the sections of the bible that we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month it was Leviticus. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(1:23) How frequently were these offerings made/required?
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(6:49) Lev 21:16-23 - Why were all these people excluded, and for generations to come? / Leviticus repeatedly emphasises the need for physical perfection both in priests and sacrifices. Why was this so important to God?
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(17:10) What is the salt of the covenant?
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(24:11) Lev 3:16 - What does it mean "all the fat is the Lords" and why?
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(28:23) Why kill anything in order to act as a sacrifice/substitute? Why does there have to be death?
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(35:53) What was the grain offering for?
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(42:02) Blood is sprinkled on the sides of the altar in most offerings but in chapter 4 it is put on the horns of the altar. Why is this different?
Follow up Questions on the night:
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(48:43) Why was the blood sprinkled on the sides of the altar in the other offerings?
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(52:04) In modern day Jerusalem do non Messianic Jews still make sacrifices?
Group Question:
- (57:41) Why males for some offerings and females for others?
This week Emmanuel gave us an overview of the gospel that is outlined in Romans 1-8, and how there is forgiveness, hope and new life, not because of anything that we have done or can do, but simply because of all that Jesus has done, and that the Spirit is doing.
This Sunday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, and Matt reminded us again that His resurrection is also our resurrection, and we are called out of the tomb and into life.
Last week we talked about how Leviticus starts with a call out of slavery and into relationship with God. In this weeks talk we looked at the rest of Leviticus and discovered that even through all the weird rituals, laws and rules the heart of God is still for His people to know freedom and the fullness of life.
Leviticus is one of those books that can often tie us up on knots, get us a little confused, or even cause us to question most things we've ever thought about God and our faith. It's a weird book. But as we read through the bible we want you to see that there is more going on than maybe you first realised, and that God is still the God of hope, love and grace that you've always known Him to be. So this week Matt gave us an intro into the opening chapters of the book of Leviticus, so that we might truly grasp the heart of God for His people through this book of the bible. And what we discovered is that Leviticus is actually the gospel (the good news) of the Old Testament, and that God has always been a God of good news.
Each month we are taking your questions about the sections of the bible we've been reading and then spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month was Exodus & Matthew. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
**1,2 & 3. Answered together. (1:50)
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Why were there two altars in the tabernacle?
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Is the veil of Exodus 26 the same veil that was torn from top to bottom when Jesus was crucified?
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Do the article in the tabernacle have spiritual significance? Is the order they are place in significant?
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(14:55) What is the significance of 40 days and 40 nights?
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(21:26) Exodus 33:20 - Can we now see God's face and live because of Jesus? Or have we not seen His face?
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(31:07) Does God directing Moses to build a sanctuary, so that He might dwell with His people, come from his desire to restore what He had with humans in Genesis 1 & 2?
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(39:46) Exodus 4:24 - why was God about to kill Moses?
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(46:16) Exodus 20:8 - How should we as believers today be using the Sabbath?
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(55:21) Exodus 28:35 - Do the bells here have any connection with the church tradition of ringing bells when people come in and go out of church?
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(1:00:34) Matthew 11:12 - What does this mean?
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(1:03:33) Matthew 12:46 - Why does Jesus reply as though he doesn't know them?
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(1:08:11) Matthew 7:6 - What is the meaning of throwing pearls to pigs?
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(1:12:08) Matthew 11:11 Why is John the least in the kingdom?
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(1:14:59) Matthew 16:28 - What does this verse mean?**
This week we looked at a passage where Jesus says there's more going on in the feeding of the 5000, and the 4000, than we first realised. As we looked more closely at these passages we saw how, in all things, Jesus is showing us that only He is the way the truth and the life.
This week Matt took us through the miraculous stories in Matthew 8-9, and unpacked the thing that links them all together - Faith. But then asked "what is faith?" and "faith in what?"
As a church we want to be people that are seeking to become like Jesus. This week Anna shares with us from the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and opens up for us more about who Jesus is and what we can learn from Him, for our own lives, as He stands up to the devil and stands on the word of God.
This week looking at Moses and the Israelites in Exodus 24, Matt shared with us some practises that help us to follow God and encounter Him more and more in our lives.
This week Dennis took us on a journey through the Old Testament story starting from Exodus 23 where the people are called to follow the presence of the Lord and obey Him. From this point on we see how things unfold in times where they are faithful to that call, and where they aren't, and the implications and effects of their actions.
This week Matt unpacked the back story to the Exodus, showing how God is at work in His creation to bring about blessing and life but at the same time satan is also at work scheming to undo that blessing and in the midst of that, each and every day, we have a choice to make - to choose God and His way and His blessing, or to choose something else that opens us up to the lies and deceit of the enemy.
This week Matt spoke from John 2, that well known story of Jesus turning water into wine. But he showed us that there is way more going on here than turning water into wine, it's not just a miracle but a sign through which the gospel is revealing so much more to us about Jesus.
Each month we are taking your questions about the sections of the bible we've been reading and spending some time talking through some possible answers. This month was the book of Genesis. You can jump through to the questions at these points:
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(2:40) Is the flood story a literal account or a poem?
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(11:00) Was it Hagar and Ishmael being sent away that led to Islam being brought into the world?
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(19:16) Genesis 38 (Judah & Tamar) is in an odd place in the middle of the story of Joseph, why?
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(29:53) How is the story of God testing Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac compatible with Him being a loving God?
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(42:45) How did people calculate the ages listed in the various genealogies, and what is the significance of peoples ages?
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(42:45) Why does God change people's names, Abraham for instance?
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(50:41) The tree of life (Genesis 2:9), do we hear about it again anywhere? If not why not? Does it refer to Jesus?
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(56:26) Does "our image" in Genesis 1:26 refer to the Trinity?
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(1:12:28) - Group discussion, comments and further questions
This week Matt took a look at the story of Joseph and what we can learn from his life about how we create space for the Holy Spirit to form Christ in us.
This week Emma took us through the life of Jacob, pulling out 4 key stories and lessons that he learned and that we can learn from God being at work in the life of Jacob.
This week Matt used to the story of Abraham (one of the first disciples) to talk about how we learn from God, and about God, by trusting in His word and what He calls us to.
Matt kicked off the new year, and our new bible in two years journey, by looking at the idea that what is created in Genesis 1 is actually a temple and why that is important and what that means for us today and how we connect with God and understand our world.
This last year a group people with a prophetic gifting got together to encourage one another and to listen to God for His church here at Counterslip, and so to encourage us for the coming year. This is the word they felt the Lord has given them for us, His church here, for this coming year.
As we draw our first two year trip through the bible together to a close Jo asks us to join with the psalmist, to look back and to remember that the loyal love of our God endures through all things and at all times.
The people of God so easily forget all that God has done. This week Anna joined king David in reminding us of what might have been "if the Lord had not been on our side" and encouraged us to look to the future with hope remembering the goodness of God that we have already seen.
This week Heidi led us through Psalm 118, showing us how the psalmist journeyed the difficult times by focussing on "who" was with Him, and this being a reason to choose to rejoice.
The bible tells us that our God is not a god of confusion, and yet so often when we read Revelation many of us end up confused! However, last week Matt showed us that to those who received John's letter (the book of Revelation) it made perfect sense through the lens of the Roman culture of their day. In this weeks talk Matt unpacks the other culture that these people were a part of and it's influence on the language of the book of Revelation - The Old Testament story. We'll see how when we know the OT like the early church did suddenly Revelation makes a lot more sense and isn't so weird.
Revelation was written to reveal something to the churches that John led, but so often today when we read Revelation we're left feeling some what confused or weirded out. In the first of a two part talk, today Matt unpacked some of the context of the day which helps us to see that when the churches received this letter from their pastor they knew exactly what it was talking about - and as we discover that we also discover the great message, encouragement and challenge of the letter of Revelation.
This week Matt unpacks the context surrounding these letters from John and Jude to the churches in the New Testament and explores how some of the issues, and counter gospel messages, they were addressing 2000 years ago are still around in the church today, encouraging us to remember and hold on to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This week Dennis kicked off our time in Revelation by bringing us some teaching and context around the seven letters to the churches and inviting us to consider how Jesus is still speaking to His church today through the writing of John.
Today Matt used 1 & 2 Peter to talk about how the New Testament letters give us insight in to what it really means to be the church of Jesus.
This week Emmanuel brought us a word from the letter of James, showing how with the Spirit of God it is possible to live a different kind of life, one that bears fruit.
This week Matt takes us through the rest of the letter to the Hebrews, giving us an overview of the authors key theme that Jesus is better than anything, anywhere or anyone else we could place our hope in.
Hebrews 1 opens with an announcement that the way God speaks to people has changed... in these last days he speaks through His sin. This week Matt explored with us what that means and how we can hear God speak to us today.
In this weeks service Matt shared with us from Paul's letter to Titus, looking at how it is possible for us to live the Jesus way and discover the fullness of life that Jesus came to give us, not just in the age to come but even in this present age.
In this weeks podcast Matt has included two parts:
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the first 15 minutes are a little added extra to help explain some of the more difficult passages from Timothy that have caused people all kinds of issues with Paul's writings over the years
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the second part is the recording of this Sunday's preach from 2 Timothy
This week Matt unpacks the idea of the day of the Lord - the future hope of the gospel, and how it shapes our lives today.
We are now meeting back in person, and so our services are no longer pre-recorded but live again. This means that our sermons will now be available via our podcast usually on the Monday after the service (this week was delayed due to the bank holiday).
In this weeks service Matt brought us a message from the letter to the Colossians and talked about how Paul always brings everything back to the good news of Jesus, for this is the root of all love, joy, peace, hope and more.
In today's service Matt brings us a word from the letter to the Philippians in which Paul talks about taking hold of "that" for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us. Matt explores what it is that Jesus wants us to take hold of and how we can actually embrace all that He has for us.
This week Anna draws out the encouraging and challenging message that runs through these Psalms and encourages us to trust God and look to Him as we enter into the beginning of a new season.
There are 150 Psalms in the book of Psalms and so as we journey through the bible in two years, rather than reading all 150 back to back, which would've taken a few months, we decided to spread them out over the two year period. This week we are back in the Psalms and Emmanuel brings us a great word from Psalm 75
As we journey through the bible together over two years, this week Emma Duncan brings us a powerful challenge to live in the power and presence of God from the letter to the Ephesians.
This week Jacob is bringing us a message from Galatians about the word gospel, what it means, and avoiding false gospels in favour of Jesus'.
As we journey through the bible over two years together today Matt brings us a word from 2 Corinthians about living in hope through challenging times.
We're journeying through the bible over 2 years. This week we have been reading 1 Corinthians, which seems to cover A LOT. But as you'll see, in today's message Matt explains that at the heart of it all Paul is simply wanting the church to bring its focus back to Jesus - He is what it's all about.
We've been journeying through the bible over a two year period. This week Matt unpacks the message of Romans and the reason why Paul calls us to offer our whole bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2)
As we journey through the bible together we have now reached the letter to the Romans. This week Glenys kicks off our two week stop in Romans by asking "where are you standing?" as she draws us back to the grace of God.
As a church we are journeying through the bible together over two years. This week we are hanging out in the books of Acts and Matt brings us a word about living for something more from the life of a guy called Stephen.
"The Kingdom of God" is a phrase that is used in so many different ways in the modern church. Todays Matt unpacks some of the opening chapters of the book of Acts and asks how can we see the Kingdom of God, that Jesus talked so much about in Acts Chapter One, be established in us and in our church today.
As a church we have been journeying through the scriptures over two years. This week are in the gospel of Luke.
As a church we are reading through the whole bible together over two years. Right now we are in John's gospel. Today Matt brings us a word about the power of Jesus in our lives from John 4-6
As a church we are reading through the bible over two years. This week Matt brings us a message exploring the amazing gift of God's Grace and it's implications for our lives from John chapters 1-3
We're journeying through the bible together over two years. This week Matt brings us a word from the gospel of Mark
We're journeying through the bible over two years together as a church. This week, as we read through the gospel of Matthew, Matt brings us a message about how the truth of who Jesus is can transform the whole experience of our lives.
As a church we are journeying through the bible over two years. Today we have reached the New Testament and so we get to the part we all know and love, but today Matt shows us how now that we've read the Old Testament Jesus is even more amazing to us than before.
As we journey through the bible together over two years this is our final week in the Old Testament as we transition into the New. And we're really excited to have Wit, one of our BMS mission partners, bring God's word to us today from the book of Malachi (and Luke).
This week, as we journey through the bible together over two years, Matt brings us a surprising word from chapter 1 of Zephaniah. When we look at the scriptures, at first, sometimes we can be left with questions like "what is God up to?" and "Why is God doing that?" but when we dig in a little deeper we see that from Genesis to Revelation God remains the same loving, gracious and compassion God whose heart is always bent towards us.
As a church we are journeying through the bible together over two years. In today's service Emmanuel brings us a challenging and encouraging word from the book of Obadiah.
Today is Easter Sunday.
Here are some snippets from our Easter Sunday service: A reading taken from the gospels, a talk from Matt & Jacob, and some testimonies about how Jesus has helped some of our church to overcome.
As we journey through the bible together over two years this week Matt brings a word to us from the book of Daniel, and asks us to consider what, and how, may be influencing and shaping us and our faith.
Part 3 of our series about the Holy Spirit from Ezekiel as we journey through the bible together over two years.
We are reading through the bible over the course of two years. During March '21 we are hanging out in the book of Ezekiel discovering more and more about the Holy Spirit. This week Matt shares a word about the power of the Spirit to transform our lives and bring us to life.
In our journey through the bible over two years we have reached the book of the prophet Ezekiel.
Today Matt brings us a message from chapter 1 and starts to look at our need for the Holy Spirit in our lives.
As we journey through the bible together over two years this week Matt brings us a message from the book of Lamentations
We're journeying through the bible over two years. This week we're wrapping up our time in one of the major prophets: Jeremiah. This book has some pretty stark statements and judgements in it about the people and all that they did. BUT it also is one of the loudest books in the bible about the hope of God and it comes to a conclusion with a story that tells us that no matter what situation we find ourselves in God always holds out hope for us to hold on to.
We're reading through the bible together over two years. Today is our second week in the book of Jeremiah, a book that challenges us to open our eyes and do something.
As we read through the bible together over two years this Sunday we land at the start of the prophet Jeremiah. Matt brings us a challenging word - are we tuned into the our own story of the world or God's story?
As we journey through the bible together over two years today Matt bring a word from the end of the book of Proverbs for us about the out come of choosing to live in line with the word of God.
As we journey through the bible together over two years, today Matt brings us a word on faith and a prayer from Proverbs that will help us to cultivate space for faith in our lives.
As we journey through the bible together over two years, today Matt brings us a message from the book of Proverbs
As we journey through the bible together over 2 years at the start of 2021 we find ourselves in the book of Proverbs.
Today Matt unpacks this strange phrase that the bible says is the key to all wisdom and life in all of it's fullness: The fear of the Lord.
On this first Sunday of 2021 Matt brings us a message from the prophet Micah and challenges us to pray "fill us with your Spirit Lord"
This Sunday is our Carol Service, you can find the full service through our website www.counterslip.org
But here is the short talk from Matt & Jacob about the amazing list of names that Jesus was given.
This week Nathan and Jacob share with us as part of our Ark and Fusion (Children and Youth) led Christmas service.
This week Matt brings us a message from the final part of Isaiah, as we journey through the bible together over two years.
As we journey through the bible together over 2 years, today Chris brings us word from the next section of Isaiah
We're reading through the bible together as a church over two years. This week we're on part two of Isaiah with Nigel Coles bringing us an encouragement to Trust God and build our lives around Him.
As a church we're journeying through the bible in two years.
Today Jacob brings us a word from Isaiah 11
We're journeying through the bible together, as a church, over two years.
This Sunday we're stopping off in the book of Song of songs where Anna draws out some amazing truths about human love, hope and longing, and how all of that is met in Jesus.
As a church we're journeying through the bible in two years.
This week we have reached the book of Ecclesiastes "meaningless, everything is meaningless"....
...Well, not everything, Glenys Lewis brings a very meaningful word from the Lord for us today.
We're reading through the whole bible together in two years. Today Matt brings us part two of a word from the book of Job.
Backing music from: www.bensound.com
As we journey through the bible together in two years today we land in the book of Job and Matt shows us that the scriptures invite us to trust God and see that there is way more going on in our world than meets the eyes.
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt brings us a word from the book of Esther.
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from the books of Ezra & Nehemiah
As we journey through the bible together in two years, today we hear a message from 2 Chronicles 25, a message of the God who has SO much more for us.
We're journeying through the bible together over two years.
Today Matt brings us a word from 2 Chronicles 13
As we read through the bible together in two years, today Matt brought us a word from 2 Chronicles 3:1
Matt brings an encouraging word from 2 Chronicles 1:1-7 as we journey through the bible in two years
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Judges 6:1-24
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Joshua 11-19
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Joshua 1-10
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Chris Duncan is speaking from Deuteronomy 16
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Deuteronomy
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Deuteronomy 4:5-8
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Numbers 24:1-11
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Numbers 14:1-11
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Glenys is speaking from Numbers 8:1-4
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Leviticus 11-14
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today we have guest speaker Antony Wareham, pastor of Clevedon Baptist Church, sharing with us from Leviticus 6
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from the book of Leviticus
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Exodus 20
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Exodus 12 & 15
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Exodus 1
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years. Today Matt is speaking from Genesis 33-34
We're journeying through the bible, as a church, in two years.
Today Matt is speaking from Genesis 26
We're journeying through the bible together over two years.
Today Matt brings us a word from Genesis 6
As we launch our bible in two years series Glenys Lewis kicks us off "in the beginning..."