the God talks: Recent Episodes

Duane

God still speaks today - through His perfectly sufficient written word. 'the God talks' is dedicated to that truth. The Word of God is always dynamic and relevant going straight to the human heart and satisfying our souls. These talks show the love and truth of God from His own words in the Bible. When God's word is opened and explained, His voice is heard.

Home group questions:

To clarify the doctrine of Jesus as both God and Man The Chalcedonian Creed (451) says this:
Following the holy fathers we confess one and the same our Lord Jesus Christ, and all teach as one that the same is perfect in Godhead, the same perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man; the same of a reasonable soul and body; consubstantial with the Father in Godhead and the same consubstantial with us in manhood; like us in all things except sin; begotten before the ages of the Father in Godhead; the same one in these last days, and for our salvation, born of Mary the Virgin Theotokos [Godbearer] in the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, unique; recognized in two natures, unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the difference of natures being by no means taken away because of the union, but rather the distinctive character of each nature being preserved, combining in one person and hypostasis; not divided or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only Begotten God, Word, Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets of old, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself, have taught us in his regard, and as the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

Does this help you in your understanding of how Jesus is both God and man? Why or why not? There are some doctrines that are hard to understand, like hypostasis or the Trinity or God’s sovereignty vs man responsibility or how our sins are transferred to Jesus but do you have to have 100% understanding to have faith? So what is our faith based on? See Romans 4:19-25; Hebrews 11:1-3

What do you think it means to be “hostile in mind” and how does that present itself in different people? (Consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son - both mistreat the Father) How are evil deeds both the result of a hostile mind and also the cause of a hostile mind? Consider Romans 1:18-25 & 28-32.

Paul says Jesus will present us holy (set apart for God), blameless (without sin) and above reproach (un-accusable) before God. This is speaking of the day when we are presented before God but these must also be a part of our present reality. How and why should we aim to be these even now? Consider 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-30, Philippians 2:12-15, Romans 6:12-16

Paul says that Jesus has reconciled us to present us before God… “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” What is the best indication that a person has a true faith in the true gospel? Consider Luke 8:6&13; 1 John 2:18-19, 24-25; John 6:60-71. How is the teaching that you can simply say a prayer and be saved a dangerous message? What do you think it means to not shift from the hope of the gospel?

In verse 23 the word ‘you’ is plural, addressing the whole church. What is Paul telling the Colossian church and how does it apply to the church today?

Home group questions:

1) What does Paul mean when he says that Jesus is the ‘image of the invisible God’?(v15) Hint: see John 1:18, Hebrews 1:3. Some of the Colossians may have been teaching that through visions and the worship of angels they can get a better understanding of God. If we need new or different revelation about God, what does that say about Jesus?

2) How do you think Paul would expect us to increase in the knowledge of God (as he prays in verse 10)? Does that mean that we should spend most of our time reading the gospels which speak specifically of Jesus’ time on earth? Hint: Luke 24:27&44-45, John 5:39, Acts 1:1, Revelation 1:1.

3) Jesus is described as ‘the firstborn’ in v15a. Jehovah Witnesses think this means that Jesus was created, whilst Mormons believe that Jesus was actually the result of a union between a divine father and a divine mother. Firstborn can obviously mean born first but it is also tied with rank and status. Look at what the Bible can also mean by the word ‘firstborn’ by looking up Psalm 89:24-28, Exodus 4:22, Hebrews 1:1-3. How do we know Jesus wasn’t created and therefore the firstborn in that sense? John 1:1-2 & 8:58. (Also consider that he is called the ‘firstborn from the dead’).

4) How does the knowledge of Jesus’ supremacy over all “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” bring comfort and reassurance? How do you feel about the influence of the powers of evil over Christians and your life? Consider 1 Peter 5:6-11.

5) What does it mean that Jesus is the “head of the body, the church”(v18) and how should this influence the way we ‘do’ church?
The word preeminent means “to have first place”. What is the scope of Jesus’ preeminence and how should that effect our Christian life?

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Shamgar

31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

1) Can you put in a sentence or two the journey of the Colossians from unbelief to faith based on vs1-8, e.g. like a testimony of their journey to faith and its effect on their lives. When you read through Colossians 1:1-8, what does Paul indicate as the turning point or the pivotal thing that changed the lives of the Colossian believers?

2) Read 1 Corinthians 15:8-10. What effect has the grace of God had on Paul’s life and how would you describe his attitude towards God’s grace? What is your understanding of grace and how would you define it? (See Psalm 51:1-3; 103:8-13) How does grace set Christianity apart from all other religions? (Ephesians 2:8-9)

3) Why does an understanding of grace bring forth fruit and growth in believers? Why is salvation by grace a greater motivator for a life of purity and piety than salvation by works? How do people who claim to be Christians and yet don’t live a life of obedience to Jesus fail to grasp the grace of God? Why is the knowledge that we are constantly saved by grace through the gospel tied to the hope laid up for us in heaven? (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)

4) If you were asked “What is the gospel?” how would you respond? Why is it impossible to separate the gospel and grace? Do you agree that the gospel should be the core of teaching within the church? What happens when a church becomes embarrassed or unimpressed with the gospel message? How does this affect the church?

If you have time -
5) Why is it so important for the church to make sure it centres around word of truth/gospel ministry (preaching and teaching the Word) rather than programs and teachings focused on earthly ‘betterment’? (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:17). On the flip side why is it important to include programs which are beneficial to people’s earthly life? Which programs within a church would be beneficial to both the church and the wider community and how could they be used for the glory of God?

Home group questions.

How would you explain to a new Christian what mature Christianity looks like (e.g. what should be the goal of our Christian journey)? How would you encourage/mentor a new Christian to pursue those things?
Someone once asked me, “Why is faith so important to God?” How would you answer that question (see Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9)? What are some ways God grows our faith? How can we work toward growing in our own faith, in both the invisible aspect (our relationship with God) and in the way we display our faith? How does Hebrews 11 help us understand faith?
Love for our Christian family is of utmost importance to God (see John 13:34-35; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:14-18). How have you experienced love from your fellow believers and how did/does that effect your faith? We display love in different ways; how do you feel you best display your love for your fellow Christians? In what ways do you sometimes show a lack of love for others? How do you think you could change that?
Paul uses the triad of faith, hope and love numerous times as a short hand for Christian maturity (see 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:5-6; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:8; 1 Tim 4:10-12). How would you describe the interrelationship between faith, hope and love?
Alexander Maclaren wrote, “hope [in Colossians 1:4] is best taken as meaning not the emotion, but the object on which the emotion is fixed; not the faculty, but the thing hoped for; or in other words, that it is objective, not subjective." Why is hope as an objective reality as well as the feeling of hopefulness so important to keep our faith strong? How would you explain Paul’s statement that a “hope laid up in heaven” creates love for all the saints?
Discuss how Jesus is the ultimate display of faith, love and hope (hope as an objective reality not a feeling, i.e. He knew His destination). Consider Hebrews 12:1-2; Luke 23:43,46; Matthew 20:18-19 & 26:29,39,42. Although you may not be able to recall specific verses, what can you recall of Jesus showing faith, hope and love?

** Unfortunately due to technical difficulties the beginning of the sermon was missed

In summary Ewen spoke about some of the greatest difficulties Christians he has known have faced. He spoke of having to watch a mother turn off the life support for her child and a pastors wife being overcome by dementia in her 50s.Home group questions:
Questions were taken from Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Psalms 51–100 © Copyright 2020 by David Platt, Jim Shaddix, and Matt Mason.
B&H Publishing Group
Nashville, Tennessee
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5359-5213-2

Why is there often a disconnect between what we know about God and how we feel and act?

Consider the psalmist’s exchanges with God—the “I/you” statements. How do these statements reveal what is happening in the writer’s soul? If you were to make a list of “I/you” statements, what would they be during this season of your life? During a dark season of your life?

Is it possible to have faith and feel that God is hiding his face from you? Why? Does right knowledge about God always yield sustaining belief? What makes the psalmist keep asking when his prayers were going unanswered?

What happens when we use our feelings (instead of our knowledge of God through his Word) as an indicator of our faith and trust in God?

When you feel like God has hidden himself from you, what choices are in front of you? Why should you choose to turn to him in prayer even though you may feel like he is not listening?

If your faith is weak right now, how does the truth that Jesus was forsaken so you never will be forsaken encourage you to pray? (For personal reflection - Is there someone with whom you can share what you’re going through so that he or she can pray with you over your suffering? When will you share your struggles with them?)

Home group questions:

How is thanks to God one of the goals and blessings of our restoration and reconciliation to God? (Romans 1:18-21; 1 Thess 5:16-18) Why must our thanksgiving be centred around Jesus? (John 14:6, 17:24-26; Ephesians 2:13-18; Hebrews 7:22-25)

How do you think thanks to God should be expressed in our individual life and in our corporate church life as well? Why do you think other people’s faith should be a reason to thank God?

Jesus says in Matthew 6:7-8, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” We do not ‘change God’s mind’ when we pray (if we did He would not be omniscient), so why do we pray and why do we pray to God for the sake of others? (Mark 1:35; Philippians 4:6-7; Col 1:3-4; 2 Cor 1:11; James 4:2, 5:13-16; 1 Tim 2:1-4). This article may help: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-pray-if-god-has-already-determined-everything/
Prayer can be difficult for people. If you have time discuss your practise of prayer.

Why is it necessary for us to recognise Jesus as both Lord (God and Master) and Saviour? (Job 9:30-34; Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 4:9-15). If faith is evidence of your belief (Hebrews 11:1) in what ways do we show that Jesus is both our Lord and our Saviour?

Home group questions.

1) How do you understand the term ‘in Christ’ (sometimes “in him” i.e. 2:6)? Why do you think it was important for Paul to remind the Colossians, which is also a reminder for us, that we are ‘in Christ’?

2) Do you agree that the greatest threat to the stability of the church (or a church) comes from people within the church rather than those from outside?

3) Bishop Stephen Neil wrote - “The false teachers came in with the claim that they would complete and perfect the simple and elementary faith to which the Colossians had been introduced by Paul and his friends. This is what the false teachers always do. ‘What you have is quite all right, and a good foundation for faith. Now let us just finish it off for you, and you really will be Christians”. How would the health, wealth, prosperity teaching be an example of this? Why do you think this kind of teaching appeals to Christians? Why do you think some Christians try to add Jewish practises to their Christianity while some other Christians follow teachings about personal spiritual breakthroughs and dream interpretations? How should the knowledge that we are ‘in Christ’ and have fullness in him prevent us from following such teachings?

4) Francis Bacon said: ”Prosperity is the blessing of the old testament, adversity is the blessing of the New” Do you agree? (Consider Lev 26:3-12, Romans 5:1-5; 8:17-18; 1 Peter 4:12-13) How can suffering be a blessing and how do churches who teach that you can have your best life now (aka one devoid of suffering and full of wealth) weaken peoples faith?

5) How should churches protect themselves from the internal threats of Christians wanting to have a syncretistic kind of religion which combines worldly values and beliefs with Christianity? How can the church ensure that the teaching within the church doesn’t stray from the gospel message?

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Colossians 1:1-2

Throughout Colossians, Paul talks in various ways about ‘the message’ or ‘the word of truth’ they heard from Epaphras wanting to reassure the Colossians that the message they received is true. For Paul it is important that they stay faithful to that original message, the true message. Straying from what they heard and believed put them at risk of being deluded by plausible arguments (v2:4).

1) In the same way today, how does a degradation of the belief in the authority, infallibility and inerrancy of scripture lead to doctrinal compromises within the church? (consider Ephesians 2:19-22) How should a church guard itself against this? How would you answer the objection that the meaning of scripture is open for interpretation and one person’s interpretation is just as valid as another’s even if they don’t agree?

2) Epaphras is a great example of someone who heard the word and took it to ‘his people’. How do you feel about sharing the gospel with ‘your people’ (friends, family, work colleagues etc)? What makes you hesitate or what gives you the boldness to do so? Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. How might this passage help us overcome some of our fears of sharing the gospel? Why do you think the church is growing rapidly in places like Iran and China where Christians are persecuted and sometimes even killed for their faith? How does this make you feel about your effort in sharing the gospel?

3) How do the words “in Christ at Colossae”(v2) remind us of the ‘now and not yet’ reality of our Christian faith. (See Phil 3:20, 1 John 3:12, Ephesians 2:5-9 & 6:12). It is a reminder that we are in the world but not of the world so how do we keep from letting the ‘at Perth’ part of our life become of more importance to us than the ‘in Christ’ reality of our life?

4) Discuss how “Grace to you and peace from God our Father”(v2) is one of the greatest desires/wishes/goals you could have for yourself and also your loved ones. How might this phrase shape the way we parent our children, treat our spouses, relate to our family members? (When Paul says peace, it’s not just the absence of conflict; it reflects the Old Testament prophetic hope for an era of ‘shalom’, a time of spiritual and physical wholeness and well-being because our enemies have been destroyed and we experience the presence and blessing of God.)

13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring for ever.”

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

The Great Day of the Lord

4 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

Homegroup Questions

How do you feel about the fact that it is possible for us to weary the Lord or as Ephesians 4:30 states, “grieve the Holy Spirit”? What is it in Malachi 2:17 and Ephesians 4:25-32 that causes God to feel this way?
Like the Israelites and Asaph (Psalm 73) do you sometimes question God and wonder why He seems to let the evil and the wicked prosper and yet His people suffer? How do you deal with such feelings and thoughts?
Notice the order in which God works; He sends a messenger, He refines and then He judges. How is this a display of God’s kindness? Why do you think God’s fire and purifying comes on His people before judgement on the wicked? (See James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Romans 5:1-5). Are there times when you feel the imagery of Mal 3:2-3 has occurred in your life? What was the result to such refining and purifying?
“Martin Luther said, ‘“There are only two days on my calendar. This day and that day.”’ For the Israelites, there were only two days on the calendar: today and the Day of the Lord. In the same manner, there are only two days that should matter to believers: today and the day Jesus returns to test our worth.” How should the Day of the Lord (Jesus’ return) and passages like 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 effect the way you live ‘today’?
We know from scripture that when we are redeemed by Jesus we are fully accepted by God and our sins are remembered no more and yet God says that even we as Christians will stand before His judgement seat where our works will be judged. What do you think is the purpose behind God judging His people? (See 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15). How should theses verses effect your every day life?

To the church in Philadelphia

7 ‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars – I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant[e] of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union?[f] And what was the one God[g] seeking?[h] Godly offspring. So guard yourselves[i] in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,[j] says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers[k] his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Questions:

In a passage that is mostly about faithlessness between people, why do you think Malachi starts it by mentioning that they have “one Father” and “one God”? (v10) How does our faithfulness to our fellow members of the covenant of God indicate our relationship with God? (See 1 John 4:7-21)
Why does honouring God above all else benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ and how does it benefit both partners in marriage? (See John 13:31-35; Ephesians 5:22-33)
Why do you think marrying the daughter of a foreign god profanes the sanctuary of God? (By sanctuary I am referring to the temple of God.) Do you think the same applies to God’s covenant people, the church, today? Why? (Consider 1 Cor 7:12-16 & 2 Cor 6:14-18) What advice would you give to a Christian who is contemplating dating and/or marrying an unbeliever?
Malachi says, “the Lord [is] witness between you and the wife of your youth” (v14); what does that tell you about the seriousness of the promises given in the marriage covenant? If you are married, how does it make you feel about the seriousness of your relationship with your spouse?
From this passage and from others in scripture it is clear that God is against divorce and yet divorce is not an unforgivable sin (consider how Jesus speaks to the woman at the well in John 4) and God does give permission for divorce in some instances (Matthew 19:8-9; 1 Cor 7:12-16). Why do you think God allows divorce even though He hates it?
Why do you think God does not “regard the offering or accept it with favour” (v13) from a man who is faithless to his wife? (see also 1 Peter 1:7)

Malachi 2:1-9
2 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Questions:
1. This passage can be divided into 3 sections. What short description (title) would you give each section?
2. What do you understand about why it is so important for God to have people honour His name, which could also be stated as why is it good for people that God is jealous for His glory?
3. Why do you think God's punishment for the priests and their offspring is so shocking? As the priests of the new covenant, how does it make you feel about your personal responsibility to honour God's name seriously? (see 1 Pet 4:17; Rev 2:5 & 3:19; 1 Cor 11:32-35). In what ways do we honour God's name?
4. If verses 4-7 describe the perfect priest, what does it tell us about what is important to God when it comes to being His representatives? How is Jesus the perfect example of this priest? What does Hebrews 6:19 - 7:28 tell us about Jesus' priesthood compared to the Levitical priesthood?
5. What do verses 6-9 tell us about our how we, as the priests of the new covenant, should handle God's word? Do you think it applies only to the teachers of the church or do you think it applies to everyone? (Consider Col 3:16-17 & 4:5-6; 1 Pet 3:15)

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

Questions:
Malachi 1:6-14

God commanded sacrifice in Leviticus and Deuteronomy yet He says in Isaiah 1:11-15 that he has had enough of their sacrifices and offerings. What does Isaiah 1:15-17 tell us about God’s reason for not wanting Israel’s sacrifices? How is that different to what we read in Malachi?

Why does the failure to recognise God as Father and Master effect Israel’s worship? How might the same attitude effect Christians’ worship of God (by ‘worship’ I mean our daily relationship with God and His worth to us)?
Lee Gatiss said that you will get the best from people when they know that the best is yet to come. How does that relate to verse 11 and what effect should it have had on the Israelites? Although verse 11 is no doubt talking about the gospel spreading to the ends of the world, there seems to be a close parallel and an extension to it in Philippians 2:10-11. How does the Philippians passage encourage you to give your best to God?
Jesus is both the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice and thus gave us full access to and reconciliation with God. How does Hebrews 10:19-25 help you understand what Jesus has given us and what our response should be?
Read Romans 12. What does it teach us about being a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God? Read Philippians 4:14-20. What does it tell us about how we as a church can offer sacrifice to God and what does Paul say are the results of such actions?
If you have time, read Hebrews 13:1-19 and list the ways we offer sacrifice to God.

1. a What do the Pharisees of Jesus day and all religions (excluding Christianity) today have in common?

b What does Christianity teach that sets it apart from all other religions?

2. How has the term “Born again” been wrongly used in today's culture to define what it means to be a Christian?

3. In verse 5 we read: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Catholics, as well as many bible believing Christians, believe that being “born of water’” in this verse is talking about baptism. They will refer to verses such as Mark 6:16 , 1 Peter 3:21,and Acts 3:23 to support their argument. How do we know from the passage in John 3, and other scriptures that this is not what Jesus is referring to?
(Helpful verses: Titus 3:4-7;John 1:12;John 5:24;John 11:25;Romans 10:9-11)

4. Why should we never attempt to harmonize God's sovereignty in salvation vs man's responsibility?

5. Luther describes John 3:16 as the “gospel in miniature”, what is the expanded view of the Gospel, and how does the “World” as expressed in vs 16 deepen our view of God?

Leaders Guide
1.a. They all believe you get to God by way of human achievement.
Discuss some examples of this false system of belief both present and historically and the practices involved (seeking to appease false gods by child sacrifices
etc)
b. We are saved by faith alone.

Open discussion
1 Peter 3:21
“While water baptism is clearly in the apostle’s mind, not the baptism by the Holy
Spirit, for he speaks of the waters of the flood as saving the inmates of the ark, and in this verse, of baptism saving believers he goes on to says that it saves them only as a counterpart. That is, water baptism is the counterpart of the reality, salvation. It can only save as a counterpart, not actually. The Old Testament sacrifices were counterparts of the reality, the Lord Jesus. In other words, a symbol. They did not actually save the believer, only in type. It is not argued here that these sacrifices are analogous to Christian water baptism. The author is merely using them as an illustration of the use of the word 'counterpart.'" Dr. Kenneth Wuest

Mark 16:16 Jesus here mentions a condition related to salvation (baptism) But a related condition should not be confused with a requirement. Nowhere in the Bible do we find a statement such as “whoever is not baptized will be condemned.”

Acts 3:23 There is an important difference between a condition of salvation and a requirement for salvation. The Bible is clear that belief is both a condition and a requirement, but the same cannot be said for baptism. The Bible does not say that if a man is not baptized then he will not be saved.

Requiring anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works- based salvation. To add anything to the gospel is to say that Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation.
Helpful verses: Titus 3:4-7;John 1:12; 5:24; 11:25;Romans 10:9-11

“These two truths, I do not believe, can ever be welded into one upon any human anvil, but one they shall be in eternity: they are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the mind that shall pursue them farthest, will never discover that they converge; but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring.” Spurgeon.
Remember, by saying “world”, Jesus is not referring to a quantity, rather he is referring to the quality of humanity, the fallenness of man. It is not that God's love isn't big enough for the entire world, but that God's love is powerful enough to love this broken fallen cond

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country’, and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry for ever.’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Questions:

Paul was undecided as to who to send to take Titus' place (v12); what does that say about the quality of the two men Paul was going to send? If either man could take Titus' place, what does it say about how God distributes His gifts in the body of Christ?
People can tie their 'church identity' to a role they have in the church (e.g. "I'm the morning tea lady" or "I'm the sound guy"); how might verse 12 help us think differently to that? Also, people can sometimes think that the way they do a particular job in the church is the only way it should be done; how does this verse speak against that?
Both Artemas and Zenas are simply names to us - we know nothing else about them - but what can we understand about them from these verses? (Consider what they were doing and the attitude they must have had in order to undertake those tasks).
Titus was instructed to speed Zenas and Apollos on their way and to see that they lack nothing (v13). What does that instruction tell us about where Christian churches should use some of their resources? Do you think it is right or wrong for churches to spend large amounts of their budgets on buildings, programs, production equipment etc? What example does 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 give us about church giving?
Why is it so important for people within the church to help cases of "urgent need" (v14) of both their fellow congregants and of the worldwide body of Christ?
Do you think it is enough to give money to churches in need (and para-church organizations who support the poorer churches) or do you think it is important for 'better off' churches to partner with poor churches in a more meaningful interpersonal way? Why?
Thinking back over the book of Titus, has anything challenged you? Has anything encouraged you? Did anything stand out for you? What have you enjoyed about Titus; is there anything that you didn't enjoy/struggled with?

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.Home group questions:

Paul contrasts that which is profitable (v1-8) and that which is unprofitable (v9). What are the profitable things and why are they profitable for people (all people not just people in the church)?
In a church situation how do you think we should judge what makes a controversy (debate) unprofitable and worthless?
Paul tells Titus to shun, to turn away from, the worthless and unprofitable things like fictitious stories (e.g. bible code) and theological quarrels (v9). Sometimes it’s important to respond to these things but at what point should we turn away?
Theological discussions (end times, prophecy, biblical theology, baptism, the age of the earth) are good to have but at what point do you think they become unprofitable?
What do you think are the things that we should “die on a hill” for, meaning what things do you think we shouldn’t turn away from but should stand firm on and argue about?
At what point would you call someone divisive within the church? How do we know that they “are warped and sinful; he is self-condemned”(v11)?
Some people would say that Paul’s process for dealing with a divisive person is too harsh, especially where Paul says to “have nothing to do with them”(v10). What are your thoughts? Why do you think Paul and Jesus (Matthew 18:15-17) give this approach when we as Christians are supposed to be forgiving and peacemakers?
What is the highest priority in church discipline for the church and for the individual being disciplined (1 Corinthians 5, 1 Tim 1:20)? How can we make sure that priority is achieved?

Titus 3:1-8
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Joshua Brown the WA representative of Voice of the Martyrs introduced us to the work of Voice of the Martyrs Australia as they support the persecuted church around the world.

In the presentation Joshua plays two videos which can be found by clicking on the following links.
Introduction to Voice of the Martyrs
Sejun International Day of Prayer

Following the sermon is the recording of an interview introducing Joshua and his work.

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things,

What elements of Christian belief can you see when you read Titus 3:4-7? (keywords and concepts)
What is it about this passage that shows that Christianity is different to other religious systems and philosophies?
What is it about this passage that gives you the most joy and/or comfort? Is there anything in this passage that you find difficult or that you would like to find out more about?
Some people object to the term "once saved always saved" (also known as 'perseverance of the Saints'). How does this passage point to that reality (also read John 10:27-30)?
When Paul talks about the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, do you think he is talking about baptism or some other reality we don't see, or both? How is regeneration and renewal both a present reality and a future one when Jesus returns? (See John 1:12-13; 1 John 1:3; Ephesians 4:20-24; 1 Cor 15:50-53)
If we are regenerated (a new creation) why do we still struggle with sin and why aren't we instantly holy? Renewal is a continuing process; in what ways do Christians need to be renewed, especially those who came out of a pagan background like Crete?
How could you use this passage to witness to people?

3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Home group questions

Some have suggested that the parable known as the prodigal son should be known as the parable of the loving father. Discuss as a group.
Why does God not stop the son from sinning? Why does God allow people to wander in sin, when He knows the son will return?
Is there a lesson in the younger son receiving the blessing of an inheritance before he was ready?
How does this parable speak to God’s unconditional love for the lost who repent?
Discuss this passage from Jeremiah 2:12-13 and the definition of evil:

Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Can you relate to the younger son? Can you relate to the older son?
What lessons can we take from the older son in the parable?
The parable of the Prodigal Son ends and we don’t know what happens with the older son and the relationship between the two sons. Why do you think Jesus abruptly ends the parable where He does?

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Home group questions:

Paul tells Titus to "declare" these things, referring to the proceeding verses from 1-14. How would you sum up all that Titus is to declare?

Verses 11-14 have a focus on the heart of the gospel message. Titus, as a leader in the church, is to declare this all important message but who else, if anyone, would you say is responsible for declaring this truth and why?

How do you feel about sharing the gospel with people? Is there anything that makes you hesitate to speak the gospel openly?

Not only is Titus to declare he is also to "exhort", which means to encourage expecting a response. Would you say exhorting is less important, more important, or equal to declaring in a church? Why?

What are some good ways that a church family might exhort one another and why is it important to do so?

In regards to rebuking, who do you think has the right to rebuke another Christian and what gives them the right to do so? (see Col 3:16; Luke 17:3; 1Tim 4:2)

What are your thoughts on who should have authority within the church? What dangers might arise with people in authority? What are good ways to ensure that one person doesn't have too much authority?

How can rebuking be done well and how could rebuking be received well? (see Heb 12:5; 1 Cor 16:14)

Jesus gave us an example of service when He washed His disciples' feet (John 13:1-20). How do you believe this servant leadership should be displayed by church elders and pastors?

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 **waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Home group questions.**

Christians speak of living in the 'now and the not yet', what does that terminology mean to you? (see Colossians 3:1-4)
- Fill in the blanks to get an understanding of what is now but not yet.
  already ___________ in Christ (Romans 8:15), but not yet __________ (Romans 8:23);
  already ___________ in Christ (Ephesians 1:7), but not yet ___________ (Ephesians 4:30);
  already ___________ in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet ___________ (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24);
  already ___________ in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet __________ (Romans 5:9);
  already ___________ with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), but not yet __________ (1 Corinthians 15:52)
  (taken from David Briones article https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet).
How is the reality of the 'now but not yet' expressed in Titus 2:11-14?
The Westminster Shorted Catechism asks the question - What is the chief end of man? The answer is - to glorify God and enjoy him all the days of our life.
1. What does it mean to glorify God?
2. How does the idea of glorifying God and enjoying him impact your every day life, or how do you think it should?
3. How, where, when do you find enjoyment in God? Can you think of ways that we can encourage one another to enjoy God?
How do you feel about Jesus appearing in glory? Does his second coming have an impact on your life now?
Jonathan Edwards would meditate on/about heaven. He said it made him a better and a more impactful Christian in the present age. How might this be the case? How do you feel about heaven? Does the thought of heaven have an effect on your life today?
How do you feel about the fact that Jesus purchased you (1 Cor 6:19-20) to be his own possession and to make you a slave to God (Romans 6:17-23)?
No one likes to show up to a formal event with a stain on their clothing or in tatty, old, smelly, worn out clothing. Yet this is a description (though far far worse) of how our sin makes us look before God. How does the thought of Jesus purifying you, 'giving you a new garment' make you feel (see Zechariah 3:1-5)?
How does waiting for Jesus to appear in glory, and Jesus giving himself for our redemption make us zealous for good works? What good words do you think Paul is referring to?

Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,Home Group questions:

Discuss why some people say that the God of the Old Testament is angry but the God of the New Testament is kind and nice.
How would you answer someone who believes this?

Take a mental journey through the stories that you know from the Old Testament and consider how God's unmerited favor is displayed?

How is Ephesians 2:8-9 such an important verse when if comes to grace based salvation compared to works based salvation?

Bryan Chappel wrote an article in 1998 saying that there wasn't a great deal of difference between the values and morals of the culture and the values and morals of the church. Over 20 years later do you think the church has progressed in a positive way, a negative way, or remained roughly the same? Why do you think that is the case?

Discuss what Dr Martin Lloyd Jones means by the statement: "One of the reasons we have such superficial Christians in the church today is because we have a superficial view of the Cross of Christ."

How could a misunderstanding of grace contribute to Christians failing to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions?

Read Romans 6:1-14. What does it teach us about a Christian's relationship with sin now that we have been saved by grace?

It is grace that saves us but what is the continuing role of grace in our lives? See 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:9-11.

How does grace train us to live in these three areas of our lives:
self-controlled lives
upright lives (in relation to the world around us)
godly lives (in relation to God)

Lastly, how does Spurgeon's quote help give us the right perspective in regards to sin in our lives: "If Christ has died for me, ungodly as I am, without strength as I am, then I cannot live in sin any longer. I must arouse myself to love and serve Him who has redeemed me. I cannot trifle with the evil that killed my best Friend. I must be holy for His sake. How can I live in sin when He has died to save me from it?"

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.Home Group questions

Slaves/bondservants are mentioned in Eph 6; Col 3; 1 Tim 6; and 1 Pet 2. Why do you think there is such a focus on slaves and servants in the New Testament? How might this effect the focus of our evangelism personally and as a church?
Paul often refers to himself as a slave or servant of God/Christ/Jesus (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5 & 4:1; Galatians 1:10). Why do you think he refers to himself that way? As a servant of Jesus how is he similar to servants of earthly masters? How is he different to servants of earthly masters?
Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. Why do you think Paul would be willing to suffer so greatly as a servant of Jesus? Why do you think God would allow Paul to suffer so much? When you think about all that Paul suffered because of his love for Jesus how does it make you feel about your relationship with Jesus?
Scripture also refers to Jesus as a servant, to whom was he a servant according to the following scriptures; Matthew 20:26b-28; Romans 15:5-9a; Philippians 2:4-8; Acts 3:12-13,26 & 4:27-30. What do these passages tell you about the love and humility of Jesus? How do you feel when you read the passage about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-17)?
According to D.B. Davies a first century servant was someone who was "another’s property, so that they may be bought and sold; their will is subject to another’s authority; and their labour is obtained by another’s coercion”* Often the servant was oppressed, mistreated, stuck in their situation with little hope for a better life and yet Paul tells servants to be submissive, well pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering (holding back from) and showing all good faith (trustworthy). How difficult do you think it would be for you to handle such instruction if you were in their situation?
Does this challenge you to consider your behaviour when you are at work (or if you don't work when you have to deal with difficult realationships)?
When you read Colossians 3:23 how does it effect your attitude toward work?
When we think of how we are called to live as servants of Jesus does the thought of Jesus being the servant to all encourage you, make you feel guilty or a bit of both? If there is any guilt how does it feel to know that Jesus was the servant who gave his life so that you might be free of guilt?
When Paul addresses the slaves his advice isn't for the sake of their well-being rather he has a higher priority for them, adorning the doctrines of God. In our day to day lives, what ever that might be, how can you adorn the doctrines of God? What is, or should be, the motivation to do so?
When life feels out of control and it's difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel of your suffering how could the words "God our Saviour" be an encouragement to you? How could those words also be a way to adorn the doctrines of God before nonbelievers (especially when they are suffering)?

*John R. W. Stott, Guard the Truth: The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 142.

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Home Group Questions:

2 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

But as for you, teach what accords with sound[a] doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Home group questions

Some texts to help with your study: Ps 133, Matt 20:17,18, Deuteronomy 16:16, Ex 30:30-33, Leviticus 8:1-30, Mt 17:1-8, John 17:17-23, Heb 9:11-14, Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1-3, Acts 10:38-40, Eph 1:9,10

Questions:
1. What are some things that you think are great in life? What are two things that David thinks are great? What does he compare to those two things?

When was this song sung (Ps 133) and who was it sung by?
David says unity is both Good and Pleasant. What things in life are good but not pleasant? What things are pleasant but not good? How does the first (good) relate to God? How does the second (pleasant) relate to us? cf Ps 135:3 and 147:1.
The oil was for consecration. What does that mean? Who were some types of people who were consecrated with oil?
Leviticus talks about the sacrifice of the bull and two rams at Aaron's consecration. What was the sacrifice for? What is the significance of the blood on the priest's head, hand, and foot?
There is a theme of clouds on mountains representing God's presence. Can you think of examples in the Bible?
Jesus prays for our unity so people will see and know who Jesus is. How does unity help our witness? How does disunity hinder it?
How does knowing you are cleansed by the blood of Jesus help you be unified with other Christians?
How does loving the same thing (Jesus) help you be unified with other believers?
How does being consecrated for the same job, the same purpose(reaching the lost) help you be unified with other Christians?
In what areas do you feel disunity with other believers and how can preaching the gospel to yourself help you overcome that?

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Some Texts: Gen 9:1, 10:8-11, 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-13, 2 Cor 5:18-20, John 6:35, 12:32, Rev 21:1-2.

What was God's command to people in the beginning?
Why/how was what the people did at Babel sinful?

The people were trying to "go up", to put themselves in God's right place, to define their own right and wrong. How do people today try to do these things? How about you?

What is the significance of God "coming down"? How has Good come down to you?

Sin causes a fracturing and splitting in our lives, in our world. Where do you see that? How can the gospel break that and bring unity? How can you be an ambassador for reconciliation thru the gospel?

Jesus promises to draw all people when he is lifted up. When was he lifted up? How can we still lift him up?

People seek their identity in many different ways. How does God define us, name us, give us identity, in the gospel? In what ways have you found identity (good or bad)? How can you find meaning and identity in the gospel of Christ?

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Home group questions.
Take the time to read Colossians 1-2 together.

Discuss any initial questions you might have from reading it.

Focus on 1:24-2:5

What gives Paul the ability to rejoice at suffering?
Note on v.24 - What is “lacking in Christ’s afflictions” is not power, but reach, as Paul makes clear by what he does - evangelism. By making the word of God fully known, he is “filling up what is lacking.”

Focus on 2:16-23

In what way do Christians pass judgment on each other today? Think of some examples.

Optional:
What is the most significant decision you've had to make in the past and how did you navigate it? Would you have done anything different if you were/weren't a Christian at that time?

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Why do you think Paul's instruction to Titus was to 'teach what accords with sound doctrine' rather than simply 'teach sound doctrine'? Do you think that teaching in the church should be more weighted toward doctrine or what accords with sound doctrine or should there be a balance between the two? Why?
There is a teaching called antinomianism; an antinomian sees themself as under no obligation to follow any type of moral code. i.e. good works aren't a necessary part of the Christian life. How would you argue against that from Titus? What other places in scripture could you turn to to speak against that way of thinking?
When you read Paul's description of the expectation of older men and women what does it tell you about their role within the church? Why?
From your experience do you see a congruence or an in-congruence between what Paul expects and what we see in the modern church today? Why do you say that?
Has your faith been shaped by an older Christian(s)? How?
How could the church best take advantage of the experience and wisdom of older Christians?
Read 1 Peter 5:1-5
Discuss what it tells us about the role, motivation and heart behind the elders' service as overseers? Discuss how the younger believers are supposed to respond? What are the rewards for obedience?

Titus 1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Home group questions:
1. In Titus Paul contrasts belief in the God of the Bible with the pagan (Greek Gods - Zeus etc). What are some of the gods you think our culture worships? How do these contrast to God?
2. In verses 5-9 Paul describes the qualities/requirements of an elder? Do you think these are aspired to in our churches? Are we raising Godly men to lead? Could we do this better? How?
3. Paul contrasts those “who love doing good” v8 with those “unfit for doing what is good” v16? What beliefs, actions/behaviours would be characteristic of each group?
4. V1-5 Paul talks of the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness? What does this look like in your own life?

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

**13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Whenever we read the Bible we ought to be asking, 'what does God want us, individually and as His church, to learn from this passage?' How would you sum up what God wants us to learn from 1 Corinthians 13, in your own words?

What are your thoughts as to whether faith and hope continue on into eternity?

If someone were to ask you why love is the greatest what would you say?

Read 1 John 4:7-12.
a. What is our motivation to love others?
b. How has God revealed His love toward us?
c. John wrote, "In this the love of God was made manifest among us". Why do you think he wrote "among us" instead of "toward us"?
d. What has God's love done for us?e. What do you think John means in verse 12 (see also 1 John 2:4-6)?

What is the greatest display of love we can show to other people? Why is that the greatest way?**

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Home group questions:

From your current understanding of the spiritual gifts of tongues, prophesy and knowledge (in other words don't feel as though you have to do research) what do you think they are?

Once the church had been established and the cannon of scripture had been completed with the penning of the book of Revelation, do you think there was still a need for tongues, prophecy and knowledge?

Paul says that when 'the perfect' comes the 'revelatory gifts' (gifts that reveal something about God) will cease. When do you think that will be, or has it already happened, based on your reading of the text?

Reading that we know in part and prophecy in part while we await the perfect to come, how does this make you feel? Are you encouraged or discouraged by the fact that we live in the partial?

What do you think Paul's purpose was in talking about moving from a child to a man? Why do you think Paul used the words "I gave up childish ways" which has an active, purposeful connotation.

In verse 12 Paul compares the now with the then. Putting the two "nows" together and the two "thens" together what do they tell us about our relationship with God now compared to then. How does the thought of the 'then' make you feel?

How do you feel about the thought of living for eternity? Did Isaac's explanation of what happens in heaven make you feel any differently?

How does it make you feel to know that you are fully known by God?

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.
Romans 8:35a & 38-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? .... For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 There are a couple of ways that this sentence is translated, 'Love never ends' or 'Love never fails'. If you were to talk about the power and permanence of love which would you choose and why?
2 Read and spend time considering Psalm 136.
a How did this Psalm make you feel?
b Did anything stand out to you?
c Do you have a favourite part?
d How would you summarize this psalm in a sentence or two?
e How is this psalm applicable today? (remember that Israel were God's chosen people just as we, His church, are God's chosen people)

3 John writes in 1 John 5: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.How does John describe the interplay between our love for God and our love for our fellow believers?

4 Paul's words are "Love never fails." How does it make you feel when thinking of it as describing God's love for us? How does it make you feel when you think that Paul is talking about our love for other believers? How might remembering God's love for us (see Romans 8:31-39) help you with your love for other people?

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Home Group questions.

How would understanding Jesus as creator change the way we read Genesis?
“thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” what do these four things have in common? Think of some examples.
How accurate is v.21 as a description of our non-christian friends l family?
Why did Jesus have to die in order to reconcile us? Would he still have to die if my only sin is lying?
What things in life can be described as being stable/unstable? Do the same principles apply to our Christian walk?
How can we tell when we’ve shifted from the hope? Notice it doesn’t say abandoned the hope but shifted from the hope.
Complete the sentence with a verb of your choice:
Jesus _____ me.
Jesus has _____ me.
Jesus will _____ me.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 **Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Home Group Questions:

This verse can make it look as though Christians are gullible and we give people license to walk all over us and mistreat us because we are weak. How is living in accordance with this verse actually a display of strength and trust in God? How is Jesus our example of this kind of strength? (Consider Matt 26:53 and John 10:17-18)

What are some things that we may have to bear and endure from our fellow Christians?

Charles Spurgeon once said "I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages". What do you think he meant by this?How does bearing all things and enduring all things help you in your relationship with Jesus?

How can bearing all things and enduring all things help build other people's faith?

How does our love for God help us live out this verse and more importantly how does God's love for us help us to live out this verse?

How should trusting God make living out this verse possible?

What do you think might help you overcome the natural propensity we all have for self protection and self preservation?

The NIV translates 'bears all things' as 'always protects', which is another way to translate the word Paul uses. What are some of the ways love ought to always protect within the church?

How does Galatians 6:1-2 and Matthew 18:15-17 add more dimension to our understanding of loving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?**

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,

“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Jesus Wept!

Please read John 11:1-44.

Jesus knows
Jesus cares
Jesus saves
Jesus releases

1 Corinthians 15: 51-55
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

2 Corinthians
1:3b-4 the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Study Questions:

The word 'wrongdoing' points towards actions committed but what are the underlying beliefs and thoughts behind wrongdoings, not only in the world but also among Christians? How do these beliefs relate to righteousness/unrighteousness?

How do you understand Brian Borgmann's definition of God's righteousness:

“His commitment to uphold the worth of his own glory, and then to act in perfect accord with that which maintains and promotes his glory.”

What is your understanding of God's glory is and why is upholding the worth of His glory so important to Him?

How is God's glory related to righteousness?

The Westminster Catechism says that "the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever" and Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: 31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God".

Why should God's glory be of utmost importance to a believer? If God's glory is our highest priority how should that effect the way we treat other believers?

What does it mean to be jealous for God's glory and if we are how does this effect our relationship with other believers?

What are some of the ways that Christians might rejoice in unrighteousness in their own lives and in other people's live?

How is rejoicing in wrongdoing/unrighteousness unloving?

How did the sermon shape your understanding of "the truth"? (See the following verses as a reminder; John 8:32, John 14:6, John 16:13, John 17:17, John 18:38, Ephesians 1:13, 2 John 4)

How are truth and unrighteousness opposites? How does believing and following the truth guard us from unrighteousness?

Paul's says "rejoices WITH the truth". Why do you think he said "with" instead of "in"?

In what ways might you rejoice with the truth, at home, at work, in church, when with friends etc?

How is rejoicing with the truth loving?

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Home Group:

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Home Group Questions:

God is in Control: God’s plan has not changed and neither should our response

Philippians 2:1-16a

Small Groups Discussion Questions:

What does it mean to be made in the image of God:
1. For the believer?
2. Related to the dignity of all humans?
3. Related to how we as Christians should interact with both Christians and Non-Christians?
How do we know that, even after the fall, that we are still in the likeness of God (though marred)?
How does Christ help to restore the image of God in a human?
How should we as God’s people react when the media and those in politics slander us as unloving?
How weird would it be for the Roman ears to hear the teaching of the equality of humans?
How much weirder would it be to the Roman ears to hear of a God that would allow himself to be sacrificed for His people?
Tom shared two stories (1) the man who gave him a Bible tract and (2) the friend he invited to church. Are there stories you can share where you have done well, or not so well, have not loved as you should have or wished that you would have said something differently.
It is often said that the Bible states in 1 Cor 5 that we should not associate with the sexually immoral but the Bible also speaks of a prostitute coming to Christ as well as many others in sexual sin. Read 1 Cor 5:9&13. How does this bring clarity on how Christians ought to deal with people involved in sexual sins as well as other serious sins?
Why do you think Paul instructs the Corinthians to judge those inside the church but not those outside the church?
Read Romans 8:26 and share how that makes you feel in a time of distress.

But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is Patient

But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Discussion questions:

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4 -13:3

From your reading of 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 what conclusions can you draw about the issues the Corinthian
church was struggling with?

Have you ever witnessed those kinds of issues in a church before? If so how did the leaders of the church address the situation?

In 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul says "earnestly desire the higher gifts". What would you consider to be the 'higher gifts' and why? If spiritual gifts are given by God it means that they can't be earned nor can they be taught, so what do you think Paul means when he says 'earnestly desire the higher gifts'?

Different denominations seem to 'pedestal' or put greater value on different gifts. Some may prefer the more 'charismatic' gifts (tongues, prophecy, gifts of healings, gifts of miracles) others prefer the more 'academic' gifts (preaching, teaching, wisdom, knowledge). Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being on either side of the gift pendulum.

In chapter 13 verses 1-3 Paul says "but have not love" 3 times. Who is the focus of the love, God or man or both? Why do you say that?

What makes the gift of tongues, expressed without love, like a clanging gong or a crashing symbol? How could the gift of tongues be 'used' with love? If you feel like entering into a well debated topic, do you think the gift of tongues still exists today? (remember we are Christians so be nice :D )

How can prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, the understanding of mysteries, and great faith be expressed without love? How can someone who has all these great qualities be 'nothing'?

Paul says that even if he gives all he has to the poor or gives his body to be burned, without love he gains nothing. Is it ok to have a reward or the thought of gain as a reason to do things out of love? Why?

Are there any areas in our church or in your own life where you think love is lacking? How might you be able to use your gifts in a more loving way within the church?

Please note.
The beginning of this sermon was not recorded.
Posted below is the manuscript of the beginning of the sermon. Many thanks to Tom for preaching and for supplying the manuscript.

The question I have for today is this.
How can sinners serve a Holy God?

That’s a very heavy question isn’t it?

For those of us who follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, God has called us as Christians to be Holy. To be set apart from the world, to live for Jesus and to serve God in all that we say, think, and do.

1 Peter chapter 1 verses 15 to 16 says: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

We are called to be a holy people, for God is holy.

We are called to be Holy because we are a chosen people. We are a royal priesthood of believers. We are God’s special possession.

And as God’s people, we are meant to be reflecting the nation that we belong to: the Kingdom of God.

The Apostle Peter later says in 2 Peter 1 verses 5-8 to:

make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Goodness, Knowledge, Self-Control, Perseverance, Godliness, Mutual affection, Love.

All good things. All Holy things. But does doing all these things make us Holy? Is that how sinners serve a Holy God? Well, let’s go back to Haggai, let’s see what he says in today’s text....

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

In this final talk in this series we get to see the glory of God - that is, the weight, value or substance of the beauty of God. What is the 'glory' of God? True, everything about God is amazing: His power, His holiness, His wisdom, His eternality - all of these things are His glory.
However, there is a special glory of God that we see so clearly in Jesus Christ. The glory of God's grace and truth.
The Bible is the accurately recorded history of God displaying the glory of His grace and truth. We focus on Exodus 33 to see God's glory just as Moses did. But, unlike Moses, we get to see God's glory even more clearly as we see the glory of God 'in the face of Jesus Christ.'
Our only response can be to stare at the glory of the Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, and be filled with wonder and awe. We humbly receive it and live a life that expresses gratitude to Him for being so exquisitely delightful.

And 'dwelt' amongst us. This is astonishing - God not only become flesh, but chose to live amongst us! Who would choose to leave the eternal bliss of a perfect relationship of love and come and live in this loveless world? Answer: God. Because that's what love does.

In this third talk in this series we trace the story of the Bible and see how it was always on God's heart and in His plan to save a people in order to live with them.

The Word became flesh and did exactly that - lived amongst us. But that was 2000 years ago. So we also see how Jesus promised that God lives within His people through the Word and the Spirit until that day when we will see Him face to face and we shall be 'forever with the Lord'.

Christianity, like all relationships of love, is an engagement before the wedding day. It is a foretaste and not the full thing, and therefore we await the consumation of all God's dealings with us - when we will live on perpetual honeymoon with our Beloved Bridegroom!

This is our second talk exploring what are probably the most profound words ever written: "the Word became flesh". In this talk we look at the next two words 'became flesh' and we see how God can't change, but that the Second Person of God, was conceived as a human being by the power of the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary, and was born. Jesus was fully God, fully man, two natures, in One Person.
Humanity didn't reach up towards divinity, Divinity reached down and became human.
Then we saw why this truth is the best news ever. Once again, the soul can't be satsified with truth alone. Truth and love must coalesce into one for the human soul to be content. The fact that the Word became flesh is the best news ever. It can be summed up in the word: Mediator.
We saw how God and humanity are re-united in Jesus and how this leads to freedom from the Law's judgement, and solid hope as we look forward to being raised from the dead just as Jesus was.
In short, 'the Word became flesh' means everything.

"The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

This talk begins a four part series looking at the most profound and unique sentence in history: "The Word became flesh."
- what does it mean?
- is it true?
- does it really matter?
- is it good news?

In this talk we explore just two words, 'the Word'.
1. The Word is eternal, God Himself, and yet distinct from God
2. The Word entered the world
3. The Word achieves everything God decides

This chapter graphically contrasts the different life-choices and ultimate outcome between people who cling to what their hands can hold on to, and those who let go of things in order to cling to God's chosen King - the Christ.

the fool in life and death, holds on to whatever his hands can grab
the wise person lets go of the things of this world and holds on to God's chosen King

Its only when we let go of whatever gives us a sense of status or significance that we can have open hands in order to grab hold of Christ and receive from Him our worth, dignity, status, comfort and joy.

The problem with entrusting your life into God's hand is that His hand is invisible. And we are proud. And we think we see things more clearly. And we think we have our own interests at heart more than God does.

And so we 'carpe diem' - we reach out and seize, grab, grasp what God seems so reluctant to give. Just like Adam and Eve did.
But David wouldn't do that.
And Jesus didn't do that.

In this talk we see 1. David would not grab the Kingdom unless God gives it to him, and 2. God promises David the kingdom.

Then we see how this teaches us about Jesus and how this presents us with an option: either bite the hand that feeds, or entrust ourselves into the Lord's right hand and He will lift us up in due time.

If you gave Jesus a performance review based on His self-entitled job description, 'church builder', what would your appraisal of Him look like? From our perspective the 'church' is a colossal public relations disaster. Day after day the 'church' is plagued by sex abuse scandals, financial scandals, divisions, splits, fighting and apostasy. It sure looks like Jesus is doing badly.
But all of this misunderstands what Jesus means when He says 'I will build my church'. In this talk, on the occasion of our first year anniversary, we pay close attention to what Jesus says and we end up seeing what the church really is; how much Jesus is personally invested in His church; what the foundation of the church is; and how Jesus promises to build His church.
When we take Jesus words seriously, we will end up in awe of the amazing job He has done as He continues to build His church.

The wicked rage against the righteous, the righteous sometimes suffer and even die at the hands of the wicked, but through it all, God remains totally in control. The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that death is also under God's control.

Despite the Anti-Christ being powerful and having allies...
Despite the Anti-Christ raging against God's people...
God remains totally in control.
A remnmant will be saved - those who hide themselves in the life of the rejected Christ.

No matter what kids do on a school bus - some will doze off, some will go nuts, some will be eager to get to the destination while others are very reluctant passengers - the bus driver decides the outcome. Sure, the kids have lots of freedom on the bus but the journey and destination is up to the Bus Driver. God is the Driver of History and though there is freedom within history and the choices we make are real, God alone steers it all and He does so in order to bring His people to Himself. This can be seen in the life of David and in particular in the chapters under consideration in this talk.

God saves His people through the love of the Crown Prince (ch 20)
God saves His people even though sometimes they distrust Him (ch 21-22:2)
THEREFORE - stay with His chosen King! (22:3-5)

Why is Jesus Christ so divisive?
What does it look like to be subject to Him?
How does God protect His Chosen King and what does it all mean for us?
And what's Master Yoda got to do with all of this?
Explore these questions in 1 Samuel 18-19.

Faithful people love God's chosen King - it leads to great joy
Autonomous people hate God's chosen King - it leads to great suffering
No matter what we decide, God protects His Chosen King... and those who love Him.

We are not God's chosen King. We are not David. None of our problems are 'Goliaths' - most of our problems, however serious, are not there to kill us but to make us grow. We do not have to find a modern technique that equates to David's sling and his five stones.

So how is the historical event of David vs Goliath relevant to us today?

God's people were overwhelmed
God's chosen King was mocked by God's people and the other nations
God won a decisive victory through His chosen King
God's people plundered their defeated enemy

This talk begins our series 'God's Beloved - the life of David'.
In this talk we see that God chooses His King.
1) God rejected the impressive but disobedient Saul
2) God chose the unimpressive but obedient David
3) God gave His Spirit to David
4) God's chosen servant served others

And all of this points us to David's Greatest Son - Jesus who was unimpressive but chosen by God to rule the Universe. Jesus was perfectly obedient to the Father. Jesus served us by laying down His life for us in order to chase evil from us. And above all else, Jesus was perfectly obedient on our behalf!

In this Psalm of Ascent, we see how a believer on a journey going through sweat and tears, rejoices in the absolute confidence that God will restore the fortunes of His people. As Christians, we look back to the 'great things the Lord has done' and we know that He will restore all things - because He has already begun in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our dream of restoration is tied to reality - we know God will do it because of what He has already done, and we know it'll happen because He will bring our dreams to fruition - and not us. So we do the little we can do, sow, knowing that one day we will share and rejoice in His great success!

This is part 2 of these three points:
1. Today, hear His voice
2. Today, don't harden your heart
3. Today, enter God's rest.
From what the Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 3:7-10, we go to God's people in the Old Covenant and we see that the way they hardened their hearts was in these three ways:
a) Hardships can harden our hearts so that we don't hear God's voice
b) Lust for pleasure can harden our hearts so that we don't hear God's voice
c) Presumption can harden our hearts so that we don't hear God's voice
The reason God wants us to soften our hearts is because His heart is so soft to us! Knowing that we can't do this, He sent Jesus, the Perfect Israel, the Perfect Obedient Son, and Jesus perfectly fulfilled a, b and c. In the wilderness for 40 days he was tested in all these three areas and in each case, Jesus listened to the voice of God in His written words.
We didn't get to 3. but to enter God's rest simply means that the human heart arrives at the peace and wellbeing that God designed us to enjoy when we hear His voice and obey.

Hebrews has shown us that Jesus is the Superior Word of God. Jesus is God's full and final Word to humanity. It is a living and active Word (4:12) that still speaks today. What God said 'in the past' is what God the Spirit says today because there is no past or future with God. He is Eternal and everything is 'at once' with the Eternal God.
For this reason, all that matters spiritually is that we hear His voice today. In this talk we explore the first of these three points:
1. Today, hear God's voice
2. Today, do not harden your heart
3. Today, enter God's rest

Consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: when it comes to Apostleship, the Word that God speaks in Jesus Who is the Word, eclipses all other words that came through other prophets. And Jesus is not just a talker, He is a doer, hence He is also the High Priest.
In this passage the two houses that Moses and Jesus built are compared and we see that only the house that Jesus builds lasts - if we hold fast to our confidence (Jesus), and boast in our hope (the things we will inherit in Jesus one day.)

Moses and Jesus were both faithful house-builders
Moses was a faithful servant in God's house but Jesus is a faithful Son, over God's house
Moses' house didn't last, but we are God's house if we hold fast to Jesus.

When God send Jesus to us, God the Father was giving us everything we could possible want or need as regards a relationship with Him. And, as time will show, a relationship with Him is all we could ever want or need. All the treasures of God are in Jesus Christ. He is a Perfect and totally-Sufficient High Priest. This talk explores why Jesus is such a Perfect Priest.
1. He became like us in every respect.
2. He is merciful and faithful.
3. He made propitiation for our sins.
4. He always helps us every second, every moment, in every situation in our lives.

= consider Jesus, our Apostle and High Priest.

God has 'brought many sons to glory' by uniting us to Jesus. The way God gets us to glory is that...
1. Jesus sanctifies us through His suffering to bring us TO God (10-14)
2. Jesus delivers us through death FROM slavery to death (15-18)

Hebrews 3:1 THEREFORE, holy (point 1) brothers (point 2) who share in the heavenly calling (bringing us to glory), CONSIDER JESUS!

Hebrews 2:5-18 has this logic: God has subjected the disobedient and dying world to the True Man (5-9) AND God has united us to the True Man so that He delivers us from lifelong subjection to disobedience and death. (10-18) This talk only deals with 5-9.

As regards the first point, we see that God subjected all things to humanity but we failed miserably. This is why we don't see everything in subect to him, but instead we see a different 'Him' i.e. we don't look to ourselves, but to Him who was subjected to death and now risen and reigning in glory forever: Jesus.

We also see how special a human being is. God is mindful of human beings and He cares for them. The context for every human being is the mind of God, and God's care.

To know what a True human being is supposed to be, we must look not at ourselves, but 'see Him' - Jesus. But Jesus is not just a model human being, He also did something for us. He became subject to death in order to deliver us who are in slavery to death and decay.

We have heard an extremely reliable message from God about Jesus. If we don't cling to that message we will drift into the just penalty that comes to those who drift from that message of salvation. This talk explores why the message we have heard is so reliable, what drifting looks like, what the just penalty looks like, and how we are encouraged to cling to God's message about His Son.

Only God can bear witness to Himself - logically. Otherwise we'd have more confidence in people who change and are fickle, than the Eternal Unchanging God. Thankfully, the Truth is that God is One Being in Three Persons. There are always Three Persons who bear witness. The Father, in the Spirits Words, testifies to the Son. The Son, who came into our world, bears witness to the Father in the power of the Spirit. And the Spirit speaks through the words themselves - they are His Words - testifying to the Father and the Son. This is what the Bible is. Hebrews 1 5-14 consists of the Father's witness to the Son in the Spirits words of the Bible. This talk looks closely at what the God the Father says about God the Son, and why it means absolutely everything!!!

In this fith and final talk on the first four verses of Hebrews we continue to see how much God has given us in the Son. We have already seen that the Son is the Final Prophet (1-3a); the Son is the Perfect Priest (3b) and in this talk, we see that the Son is the Absolute Divine Ruler who conquered His enemies in order to rescue His people (3c-4a).

It has often been said that in order for the human soul to be truly satisfied, we need truth and beauty to collide. In order for an object to make us truly happy, we need it to be both true and at the same time beautiful. In our study of the opening paragraphs of Hebrews we have seen that Jesus Christ is Ultimate Truth. In the past, God spoke truth in bits and pieces to the prophets. But the Son is an exact representation of God's being - the Son is True Truth. In this talk we examine why He is also beautiful. We see that the Son provided purification for our sins. In short, Jesus Christ is the One Person who can satisfy the human soul because He is the culmination of both Truth and Grace.

In this third talk exploring the densely packed opening paragraph of Hebrews, we see why it is that the Son is such a perfect, complete and therefore, final, revelation of God. And, its not just that we learn the Truth about God from the Son, we begin to see that the Truth about God in Jesus, is also indescribably beautiful. Jesus is the glory of God's grace and truth. What the Son reveals is all we need to know about God and all we could possibly want to know about God. Only those who love darkness because of their evil deeds - deeds which are taking way their life and joy - would continue to choose darkness instead of the Light of the Son.

In this second talk on Hebrews we 'zoom' into the Son and examine what makes Him so special and why God's Word spoken through the Son is the full and final revelation of God. The chiastic structure of Hebrews 1:1-4 helps us see why the Son is the Centre of the Universe and all history.

This talk introduces the book of Hebrews. We examine the reason for the book of Hebrews and how its so relevant for us today. Because it is an introduction to the whole book, we focused on only the first two verses.

We compared and contrasted God's word to us in the prophets with His word to us in His Son.

"In the past God spoke to our fathers in many times and in many ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son whom..."

People often think that certainty and faith are different things - as if, where certainty ends, faith steps in. But faith that isn't based on certainty is superstition, or simply being gullible.

Biblical faith is believing in the certainty that...

God is really there
- some things are not here yet
- some things just can't be seen
God is really worth seeking
- God is the great reward for those who seek Him

This is part 4 of 4 in a series on Psalm 22.
In this part, we do post-match analysis as we consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the victory of God's love over death and evil. God's love wins. Using the language of Ephesians 3, we explore,
1. the breadth of God's love: Jesus' resurrection was for all His people everwhere
2. the depth of God's love: Jesus resurrection changed the apostles and changes us deep within - our hearts are won by God's love and love is what keeps the heart going forever...
3. the length of God's love: God's victory will be spoken of forever.

So, what was His victory? It wasn't just life over death, love over sin, but it was God's righteousness. The resurrection of Jesus Christ establishes God's righteousness once and for all - to our infinite advantage.

On Good Friday, we focus again on Jesus Christ's crucifixion, by looking at it through the description in Psalm 22:12-21. Amazingly, we see again how Jesus traded places with us. In short, Christ suffered physical and spiritual anguish on behalf of us sinners! It is madness to refuse such an outpouring of love.

God forsaking God?!? Who can get their head around that? How does it work? What's going on? Does it really matter? This is talk 1/4 on Psalm 22.
Be careful. This passage may well change the way you see all your suffering.

the Son was forsaken by the Father
the Holy Father rescues all those who trust in Him

THEREFORE - the Son was forsaken by the Father in order to rescue those who trust in Him.

Unbelievers may say, 'I have good works, why do I need God?' Sadly, many Christians will think, 'I have God, why do I need good works?' James shows us that faith and good deeds are inseparable.
People who don't have faith in God, put their faith in their good deeds to make them good. Christians don't have faith in our good deeds, and we trust God alone to make us good. He does this because of what Jesus achieved for us in His life and death.
However, if we trust in God alone to make us righteous, we will always end up doing good deeds because the faith we put in God is never alone - it is always accompanied by good deeds.
We are saved by faith alone, but faith that saves, is never alone. Faith without good deeds is defective and dead.
What are 'good works'. Works done out of self-disinterest and entirely for the good of another. Like the way Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. The only thing acceptable to God is faith in Him expressing itself in love for others.

Why did God create anything in the first place? How does Genesis compare to the many creation myths around the world?

In this final talk in this series on Genesis 1:1-4, , we look at the third of these three points...

God creates order
God is the Good
God seeks relationship

As usual, we look at the text of Genesis, follow what we learn through the Bible to reach Jesus who throws light on it all. And then we end with the question, 'so what?'

All advancing societies have anti-discrimination laws and yet discrimination is everywhere. This is because laws can't change the heart, they can only regulate the body. God's 'perfect law of love' is better than this.
In this section in James we see how it is sinful to discriminate against people. The way to deal with discrimination is to get a new set of values. Because Christians value Jesus more than anything, we 'judge' people by God's values. And God is love and commands us to love our neighbour.
The way we are empowered to love is because we have been shown such incredible mercy by God. Mercy we did not deserve.
So, those who value Jesus Christ above everything are set free to obey the law of love.
1. Value Jesus above everything
2. Don't discriminate but instead love indiscriminately

Most people will allow that if there is a God, He is powerful, immense, and at least creative. Far fewer will believe that He is good. The brokeness of the world around us calls into question whether He is good... in this talk we think more about this and, as always, when we get to Jesus we see that God is most definitely good - 'gooder' than we can even imagine.

This talk is the second of these three points that flow out of Genesis 1 1-25

God creates order out of chaos - how does Jesus show us this? - so what? Why is this good news?
God is The Good - what is 'good' anyway? Creation gives us glimpses of this even though it is now broken - Jesus incontrovertibly proves God is good - this means that the good we seek and the corresponding enjoyment of it, is all found in God.
God seeks relationship

Until we are set free from ourselves, we will never truly be able to love the way our Father has loved us.
God's law of liberty is His command to love our neighbour. Only free people can do this.
Unless we actively obey His law of love, we deceive ourselves into thinking that hearing His word is enough. James then gives us practical examples of what love looks like.

Hearing God's word without obeying is self-deceit
Like your Father, speak and reach out in love

Just do it!

'Order' sounds horrible. Like 'regimented' or 'straight jacket'. Actually, 'order' is more like harmony. Blurring distinctions in an attempt to create unity cheapens unity. Unity is beautiful if it is a diverse unity - like God. Unity isn't uniformity. Chaos hurts. Disorder disrupts and produces disharmony. Perfect order is achieved in Jesus Christ. All these things are considered in this talk...

The first of three points that flow out of Genesis 1 1-25

God creates order out of chaos - how does Jesus show us this? - so what? Why is this good news?
God is The Good
God seeks relationship

God, the Good Father who gives us everything, implants the Word of truth into our dead souls in order to recreate life - just like when He first created life through His word. BUT, just like planting seeds into soil, only the seeds planted into good soil will produce fruit.

God implants the word of truth but only humble listening will produce life
So, humbly receive the word of truth
And, get rid of angry speech and sin

The way to cultivate a fertile heart is by practicing in our relationships with others. As we learn to listen to others, be slow to speak, not get angry with others etc. so we show we have the right heart for the Word of Truth to produce fruit. Anyone who is quick to speak, slow to listen, angry and defensive, may fool themselves that they are listening to God, but if we can't listen to our fellow people we will not be listening to God either. After all, it is God who commands us to be slow to speak and quick to listen and not get angry etc.

In this talk we considered the third of these three points:

1. God is self-existent - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this means for us?
2. God wills what is - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this mean for us?
3. God is Tri-Personal - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this mean for us?

Without Jesus we wouldn't know that God is a Triunity. In this talk we see how Jesus does this. And, we see some of the reasons why it is such good news that God is One Being in Three Persons.

Why is evil so attractive? If God didn't want me to do this or that, why did He make it in the first place? Why doesn't he just get rid of temptation? Maybe the Devil tempts me?
All these excellent questions are answered as we study the next passage in the book of James.

Our own evil desires lure us to death.
God only ever gives good things.
God became our Father when He gave us new birth through the Word of Truth.

The only way to be cured of slavery to our evil desires is to have a brand new heart with new desires - and this God has done for Christians through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our desires will consume us and eventually, kill us. Loving God leads to life.

In this talk we considered the second of these three points:

1. God is self-existent - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this means for us?
2. God wills what is - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this mean for us?
3. God is Tri-Personal - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this mean for us?

Creation shows us that God wills what is. This means that God is Absolutely Sovereign. Because human beings created in His image also have wills, life on earth is about two wills colliding, our will and His will. We are suspicious of God's will because we're not sure whether He has our best interests at heart.
But as we follow through and see how God's will is accomplished through His word, we end up at Jesus, the Word made flesh, and we see how God's will is achieved by Jesus.
It turns out that His will for us is better than we could possibly hope for ourselves. His will for us is nothing less than being united to Him - this is what Jesus achieved: Atonement, At-One-Ment.
We end up in Revelation 5 seeing how Jesus effects God's will by taking the scroll, and all evil is conquered through His death, and we are reconciled to God in Him.

We derive status and value from outside of ourselves... so let it be from the God who truly values you.

Contrary to modern thinking, human beings were designed to derive their value from outside of themselves. We can only think highly of ourselves when others, whose opinion we value, think highly of us.
Before sin entered the world, men and women built each other up and above all else, we derived our status as human beings loved and valued by God, made in His image. Since our rebellion against God, and the subsequent breakdown in relationships with others, we still need affirmation from others, but this affirmation is flimsy, unreliable, selfish and never enough.
Money is one way we seek to gain acknowledgement from others and therefore the self-esteem we crave. Society gives people status according to their financial 'worth'.

In the book of James 1:9-11, God turns this thinking up side down.

God exalts the humble
God humiliates those who derive status from riches

Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you. James 4:10

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." So what? Who cares? In this first talk of a series exploring how everything leads to Jesus, we begin by thinking how these words not only make sense, but how they are such good news. Without this truth we are nothing more than ungrounded, minute particles of chaos - in short, we are irrelevant.

We looked at the first of these three points:

look not just at things, but along things to where they point
the origin or source will 'locate' you and explain your context
and knowing your context/situation/'location' will tell you how to live wisely
God is self-existent - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this means for us?
God wills what is - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this mean for us?
God is Tri-Personal - how does this lead to Jesus - what does this mean for us?

Taking a break from our series in James, we are considering what Jesus really says about vaccinations. The word 'vaccination' isn't in the Bible but the word 'love' is nearly on every page. This talk focuses on the one thing Christians must do: love. Love is only truly tested when we disagree with others. The whole vaccination debacle is a wonderful God-given opportunity for Christians to learn to love each other and the world, even where we may disagree.
WITHOUT LOVE, even if...
1. ... I have excellent arguments and speak 'spiritually', it is of no value.
2. ... I know the real truth and understand everything, I am nothing.
3. ... I make serious sacrifices, I don't achieve anything.

The love Jesus commands, is the love Jesus demonstrates:

Jesus, 1. Had the best arguments in the world, was the most spiritual Person in the world, but He gave it all up for us. Jesus, 2. not only knows the Truth He is the Truth, and yet He died for the ignorant. (Father, forgive them, they don't know...) And Jesus, 3. made the Ultimate Sacrifice and achieved heaven for us, even though we were wilfully wrong.

All our choices in life flow from what we really love. When sin disorders our loves, our lives are characterised by instability and we become victims of various passions - like someone tossed by waves and wind. Wisdom begins with an undivided heart that loves God. If we love God above all else, our lives will be characterised by choices motivated by love for Him. This is wisdom. It leads to stability, peace and joy. Since we all lack wisdom, James invites us to go to God and ask Him for wisdom. God loves to give. Above all else, in Jesus Christ God has given us all the riches and treasures of wisdom. In Jesus we have everything we need for a life of godliness.

The letter of James is written on Jesus Christ's authority by His brother James, with the aim of curing us from being spiritually double-minded and unstable. Jesus said that we are to love God with all our heart. Love for God flows over into love for others. However, sin disorders our loves and creates within us unhealthy spiritual fragementation as different desires pull us in different directions. The result is that we end up unstable, unfruitful and in the end we give our love to things that are less than God. The cure is to remain close to God, because He is the endless source of all our strength, joy and spiritual nourishment.

Longing for God may not be your thing... but God alone will satisfy the longing soul. However, David doesn't just long for God because nothing else satisfies - even though that's true. There's another reason why he longs for God...

David longs for God because we do not have it within us to get free from the enemy (1-4)
David trusts, rejoices and sings because of God's bountiful goodness (5-6)

Cultivate a longing for God because experience and reason prove that even the longing for God is sweeter than the actual having of anything else we may long for.

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

the Bridegroom is blessed forever because of His triumphant grace (1-9)
the Bride is beautiful forever because of His triumphant grace (9-17)

THERFORE... just say Yes!

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

In the context of the failure of human government...

God will make light shine in darkness (1-3)
God will rescue His people from their enemies (4-5)

3. God gave us the Godman to govern forever (6-7)

THERFORE... surrender to the Godman!

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

God's majesty is seen in creation (1)
God's majesty is seen in God defeating the enemy through weakness (2)

3. God's majesty is seen in Man ruling everything (3-9)
- man is the outcome of God's mind (4)
- man is the object of God's care (4)
- man is the recipient of God's honour (5)
- man is the centre of God's purposes (6-9)

BUT... we don't see man ruling anything. Man is not in the state in which God made them.

Instead, we see THE Man, Jesus! (Hebrews 2)

THERFORE... in Jesus we find our true humanity and in Jesus we become all that we were meant to be

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love. Keep it simple, silly.

the peace that comes from God (3:17-18)

double mindedness causes a war within (4:1)
double mindedness causes a war with others (2)
double mindedness causes a war with God (3-5)

BUT God the Spirit gives even more grace (6)

THEREFORE... humble yourselves (7-10)
- submit to God
- resist the devil
- draw near to God
- cleanse your hands
- purify your hearts

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

People exchange the glory of God for created things (Exodus 32:1-8)
God partially shows His glory of grace and truth to Moses (Exodus 32:30 - 33:5, 33:12-23)

3. God fully shows His glory of grace and truth in Jesus (John 1:16-18)

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love. Keep it simple, silly.

James 1:27 - 2:26
Our faith is in Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory who loved us so much He became poor in order to make us rich in faith (2:1)

THEREFORE...
1. Do not judge according to the worlds standards (1-7)

Do love according to Jesus' standards (8-13)
Do not think faith without love is saving faith (14-26)

Religious people love out of fear - afraid they won't be saved or loved.
Christians love out of love - knowing they are already saved and loved.

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

Joseph was rejected by his brothers
He came to His own people but His own people did not receive Him
Joseph was betrayed into the hands of foreigners
Jesus was betrayed for pieces of silver into the hands of the Romans
Joseph was tested yet without sin
Jesus was tempted in every way yet without sin
Joseph though innocent, was condemned and imprisoned
Jesus was innocent, was condemned and sentenced to death
Joseph was exalted to the right hand of the majesty as lord over all
God has exalted this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be Lord and Christ over all
Joseph gathers his family to himself and saves them from death
Jesus gathers His family to Himself and saves them from death
God brought evil out of good
through the death of Jesus Christ, God brought the greatest good out of the greatest evil

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)
"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."" (Acts 2:37-38)

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love. Keep it simple, silly.

James 1:19b - 27
Verse 18 - Your Father, of His own compassionate will, chose to give you new birth through His word so that you would be His holy child. Therefore, be like Him.

Receive with meekness the implanted word (19b-21))
Persevere in obeying the perfect law of liberty (22-25)
Reach out to those who are vulnerable (26-27)

Love like your Father!

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

God curses the Serpent (14-15)
- for deceiving the woman
- until the evil one is crushed
- women will suffer in procreation
God curses the earth (17-18)
- because of man's disobedience
- until the earth is recreated
- men will suffer in production
God sentences humanity to death (19)
- but God promises the Serpent Crusher (15)
- but God promises life through substitutionary death (20-21)

= God did not curse the man and woman. Instead God sent Another Man, Jesus, to bear the curse as our substitute. 'pain', 'thorns', 'sweat of your brow', death. Jesus took it all for us.

"Christ redeemed us from the law by becoming a curse for us- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.' (Galatians 3:13)

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love. Keep it simple, silly.

James 1:12-19a

our loves direct our lives either to life or to death

the person who loves God will receive the crown of life (12)
the person who is deceived by his/her desires will die (13-16)

know that God is the most generous Father (17-19a)

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Psalm 2

Why wouldn't anyone want to be a Christian?

1. People say that serving God is slavery (1-3)
2. the Father says that He has appointed His King to judge (4-6)
3. the Son says that He will inherit everything (7-9)
4. the Spirit says 'kiss the Son' (10-12)

Blessed are Christians! (12)

And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, vwhom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:24-28)

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love.

James 1:9-11 and James 2:1-7

See your self as valued by God - do not get your sense of self-worth from money.

God exalts those the world thinks of as lowly
God humiliates those who are 'rich' - those who derive their sense of worth from money

"You can't love both God and money" Matthew 6:24

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

John 10:22-30
I know that I am a Christian because...
1. Today I hear Jesus' voice
2. Jesus knows me
3. I follow Him

I know I can never lose my salvation because...
1. Jesus is the Christ
2. Jesus was sent by God to save me
3. the Father's will can't be undone

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts... (Psalm 95:7-8)

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Revelation 1:9-20
1. Jesus is the Universal High Priest
2. Jesus is the Divine Judge
3. Jesus is the Eternal Ruler

so what?
= Jesus is everything you need
= do not be afraid

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love.

Simply see that in everything God is doing you good (2-4)
Simply pray that God will help you love Him only (5-8)

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Luke 4:31-37
1. Jesus' words show that He is the Holy One of God
2. Jesus' words destroy the evil that destroys people
3. Jesus' words set people free

= engage with Jesus words to be set free from the Penalty and Power of evil
= engage with Jesus words in order to let your words be shaped by His words

is God worthy of love by Himself?
is Job's love/faith genuine?
what about suffering?

God:
1. I create and control all of inanimate creation
2. I create and control all of animate creation
3. I create and control life and death and the one who HAD power over death
4. I gave my Son to suffer and die to destroy death and give life, because I love you.

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

John 8:12 - 20
1. We are in the dark when it comes to judging Jesus
2. We are in the dark when it comes to knowing the Father
3. We will remain in the dark until Jesus 'hour' comes

= Jesus reveals the truth to us
= Jesus reveals the Father to us
= Jesus is the light of truth for the mind, and the light of love for the heart

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Matthew 11:25-30
1. The Father and the Son share the same knowledge
2. The Father and the Son both rule over everything
3. The Father and the Son reveal each other
4. The Father and the Son share one will

= the Father and the Son are two Persons in One Being
= this is why Jesus, the God who promised rest throughout the Old Testament, is on earth: to deliver on His promises. Come to Jesus, obey Him, learn from Him, He gives us the rest our souls need.

inanimate creation shows us we are out of our depth
animate creation shows us we are out of our depth
3. death and destruction show us we are out of our depth

THEREFORE let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19)

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 10
Genesis 32:22-32

When triggered by danger or unknown, do we flight, fight, freeze, flop or... make friends?
Jacob spent half his life in flight. Now he will fight with God...

Jacob lost his idols
Jacob lost his self-reliance
Jacob wins God's friendship
Jacob wins God's blessing

Call His name Jesus, Immanuel, God with us! God for us!
At the cross, Jesus wrestled for us and won all God's blessings for us.

Job, you're wrong, God does speak
Job, you're wrong, God is just
wicked people are happy, wicked people are rarely punished, innocent people suffering call out to God who does nothing, THEREFORE... there is no advantage in serving God.
3. Job, you're wrong, God doesn't owe anything to anyone

But, Jesus was treated more unfairly than anyone, ever... for our sakes!

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 9
Genesis 32 and 33 excluding 32:22-32

Guilty Jacob seeks for grace...

... from his brother relying on payment of a sacrifice of atonement
... from God relying on His promises to do him good
God lavishes grace on guilty sinners by giving His Son as a sacrifice of atonement

This is what Job says:
1. I had everything (ch 29)
2. I have lost everything (ch 30)
3. But I am innocent (ch 31)

Exactly what happened to Jesus, in order to make us innocent.

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 8
Genesis 31-32:1

God provided for His beloved according to His promises
God protected His beloved according to His promises
God called His beloved home according to His promises

Romans 8:31, 37-39 ... if God be for us, who can be against us. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I'm innocent but God is against me! (1-12)
I'm innocent but God isolates me! (13-20)
1 + 2 = Hell.
the Innocent Jesus suffered Hell instead of guilty sinners

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 7
Genesis 30:25 - 31:3

Jacob decided to go to the promised land
Laban tempted Jacob to stay
God called Jacob to go to the promised land

Hebrews 11:13-16: These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed hto be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

1. Why do you oppress me knowing that I'm just a man (3-7)
2. Why did you make me knowing you were going to destroy me (8-17)
3. Why can't you let me just die in peace (18-22)

" For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4)

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 6
Genesis 29:30 - 30:24

Jacob craved Rachel's beauty
Leah craved Jacob's love
Rachel craved Jacob's children
God gave Another Son!

No one has any claim on God
Nothing can go against God
No one can see or examine God
So... do we a) grin and bear it? b) try and be very good? or... c) find Jesus Christ the Mediator

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 5
Genesis 29:1-32

Jacob's desire for Rachel led to servitude
Laban's desire for gain led him to exploit others
Rachel's desirableness led her to be exploited
Leah's undesirableness led the Lord to have mercy on her

The life of Jacob in Genesis part 4.
Genesis 28:10-22

God can only be found in one place
a place where God can be found
a place where heaven and earth meet
a place where God comes down
a place where God promises us the whole world
a place where God says 'I am with you always even to the end of the age'
= John 1:43-51 Jesus is that One Place; the Cross is that ladder
God is the only Treasure you need to find
He provides us with what we need, accompanies us on the journey until we reach Our Heavenly Father's house in peace (John 14:1-3)

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Genesis 27 - 28:8
After watching how Jacob 'squeezes' the blessing out of his father Isaac, we learn that:
1. We won't get blessed by our Father unless the Blessor dies - thank God, Hebrews 9:16 tells us that without the death of Jesus, the new covenant would not come into effect.
2. We won't get blessed by our Father unless we are the Firstborn - thank God, Jesus is the Firstborn and the Heir of everything. Thankfully, He shares everything with us. He is the Perfect Favourite Son who makes us co-heirs together with Him.
3. We won't get blessed unless we impersonate Someone else - thank God, we are treated by the Father in the same way as He treats His 'beloved Son in whom He is well pleased.' In fact, He even clothes us with His robe of righteousness!
4. We won't get blessed unless we offer a Perfect Sacrifice - thank God, Jesus is the Perfect Sacrifice well-pleasing to God.
Bottom line: we don't need to 'get our Heavenly Father to bless us,' He has already blessed us fully in His Son Jesus Christ. We look forward to receiving our inheritance, the whole earth.

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Genesis 26:1-35 Struggling with God, the life of Jacob part 2

God's promises make us a distinct people (1-5)
God's promises make us immigrants in this world (6-33)
THEREFORE... Choose your family! (34-35)

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob from Genesis Part 1
Genesis 25:19-34
1. God's promises overcome impossibilities (19-21)
2. God's word divides people (22-28)
3. Esau despised God's promises (29-34)