Open Heaven Church: Recent Episodes
Open Heaven Church
‘Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You’ll rule the nations, your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to you—and with it, the Morning Star!’ (Revelation 2:26-28). In the second half of our series on the Book of Revelation, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into the second and third chapters of the book, also known as the Letters to the Seven Churches.
‘This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.’ (Revelation 2:8b-9).In the second half of our series on the Book of Revelation, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into the second and third chapters of the book, also known as the Letters to the Seven Churches.
You walked away from your first love—why? In the second half of our series on the Book of Revelation, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into the second and third chapters of the book, also known as the Letters to the Seven Churches. In these seven letters, Jesus gives his specific perspective from Heaven, transforming our view of Himself and the church. In this symbolic book, the number seven is a sign of completeness. As Jesus speaks to the seven churches of Asia, he is, in turn, speaking to the whole church in every place and every age. As we understand Jesus as portrayed in Revelation, we turn our attention to our loving response. How are we, despite the turmoil of the times, to keep our love for Christ and the church from going cold?
One day, Jesus will return and set everything right forever. On that day, every tear will be wiped away. The final pages of the Bible echo its first chapters in the Book of Genesis. The story ends in a garden city, a restored and expanded Eden. The Book of Revelation presents a heavenly perspective of history, the climax of Old Testament prophecy and expectation. It’s a symbolic vision that brings hope, reveals historical patterns of empire and celebrates God’s ultimate promises. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set ‘eternity in the hearts of men’. The Book of Revelation teaches us to live hope-filled with what is inevitable in the light of eternity.
One day, Jesus will return and set everything right forever. On that day, every tear will be wiped away. The final pages of the Bible echo its first chapters in the Book of Genesis. The story ends in a garden city, a restored and expanded Eden. The Book of Revelation presents a heavenly perspective of history, the climax of Old Testament prophecy and expectation. It’s a symbolic vision that brings hope, reveals historical patterns of empire and celebrates God’s ultimate promises. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set ‘eternity in the hearts of men’. The Book of Revelation teaches us to live hope-filled with what is inevitable in the light of eternity.
The Book of Revelation presents us with a war in which Jesus is the ultimate victor. In the book's last chapters, we read of a final battle. As the nations arrive on the battlefield, we see Jesus arrive, not dressed in armour but in kingly and priestly robes, riding a white horse. But He’s covered with blood before the battle begins. Armageddon never takes place, Jesus has already won through His blood poured out on the cross. Although Revelation doesn’t give the details, it does give the destiny of the cosmos.
Will we trust in human structures and powers, or will we worship Jesus? At first glance, Revelation is a truly terrifying text. And yet it inspires us with a first-hand look at the future work of Christ. John, the author, is revealing a drama, a tale of destruction. When you build a city on weak, human foundations, it will always fall to the ground. The historical empire of Babylon fell, and now Jesus reveals to John the unthinkable fall of Rome. In combining metaphors and prophecies from the Old Testament, John creates an archetype of military and economic power, a nation which rebels against God. “This isn’t something limited to the past or the future,” the Bible Project suggests, “it’s a portrait of the human condition.”
The Book of Revelation includes many symbols and numbers. Whilst John, the author of Revelation, worshipped, God showed him a series of dramatic images of praise in progress. A door to heaven, a lamb sitting on the throne, and a scroll to be opened; these three images demonstrate deep truths. First, through Christ, it is safe to go through heaven’s door and approach the throne. Second, the secret of history is that God wins through sacrificial love through Jesus. And third, we reign with the ruler sitting on the throne when we participate and join in worshipping Him.
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus transforms our view of Himself and the church. For the first time, the church gathering is described as ‘ecclesia’, a word reserved for when the King or Emperor summoned people to gather about the city's business. As we understand Jesus as portrayed in Revelation, we turn our attention to our loving response. How are we, despite the turmoil of the times, to keep our love for Christ and the church from going cold?
In this seminar, Phil Knox outlines the importance of connection and community in our daily lives, reflecting on the life of Jesus and allowing this to influence our approach to friendship.
In this first session, our guest speaker Phil Knox reminds us that in order to have open doors we must also have open hearts. Phil lives to see people come to know Jesus and see Christians inspired and equipped to share their faith. This session explores how Phil outworks this and how we can do the same.
Where has our view of Jesus diminished? Through the Book of Revelation, what new aspects do we discover about who Jesus is? As we pull back the curtain on this pastoral letter written by Apostle John, we unveil a dramatic vision given by God. John exhorts the Church to see and hear the ‘Voice’ at the centre of everything, and that Voice is a person - Jesus Christ. To listen to this Voice above all the world’s many voices is to hear and see Jesus and to become oriented to the great unseen reality of His rule and reign. In looking to Christ, we experience a true apocalypse - the revelation that we do not need to fear the future or the turmoil of our present circumstances.
On Vision Sunday we outlined the vision for Open Heaven for the year ahead, and beyond. Focusing on our three goals to go deeper, further and wider. Listen to find out more about what these goals mean for our community, how God has already been moving and how we plan to outwork them together in 2023.
What impact has prayer had on your life? What do you pray for? 'Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.' James 5:13-15
What are you hopeful for? How do you stay patient? We live in the now and not yet. A time when we must patiently wait for Jesus to return to make all things new. During this time, James invites us to 'stay steady and strong.' In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos, a first-century pastor, has a vision. 'And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,' and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4.
We live in the now and not yet. A time when we must patiently wait for Jesus to return to make all things new. During this time, James invites us to 'stay steady and strong'. In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos, a first-century pastor, has a vision. 'And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,' and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4.
How do you use your power? How do you measure success? 'You don't know the first thing about tomorrow.' Today, perhaps more than at any other time in our lives, we know this to be true. Instead of chasing the changing winds of success or progress, we work to live by the will of the Lord. James warns the arrogant and well-off. The accumulation of wealth, luxury indulgences, unfair wages, and the oppression of the powerless; will lead to terrible times.
The apostle Paul famously wrote in Romans 7:15, 'I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.' Do we understand our wants? Are our desires misaligned? Instead of flirting with the world, James gives us two instructions. 'Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God, and he'll be there in no time.'
How would you define wisdom? Do you want to be counted wise? "This may well be a word for our day, when so many people across the world are fed up with the way their country is run, with the way their police force behaves, with the way the global economy functions... But the challenge then for God's people is to be able to tell the truth about the way the world is, and about the way wicked people are behaving, without turning into a perpetual grumble... There is still, after all, a vast amount of beauty, love, generosity, and sheer goodness in the world. Those who follow Jesus ought not only to be celebrating it but contributing to it." N.T. Wright
"This may well be a word for our day, when so many people across the world are fed up with the way their country is run, with the way their police force behaves, with the way the global economy functions... But the challenge then for God's people is to be able to tell the truth about the way the world is, and about the way wicked people are behaving, without turning into a perpetual grumble... There is still, after all, a vast amount of beauty, love, generosity, and sheer goodness in the world. Those who follow Jesus ought not only to be celebrating it but contributing to it." N.T. Wright
Do you say what you mean? 'You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue – it's never been done. The tongue runs wild.' The tongue is a mercurial muscle. It blesses and curses. It can create harmony or chaos, make or break reputations, heal the world or send it up in flames. James calls for consistency in how we use our words. Psalm 141:3 says, 'Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.'
How do you outwork your faith? 'Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?' James is clear; we must practically outwork our faith through good works. But we cannot separate the two; faith and works are intricately linked. The challenge is to make sure our faith is the real thing. How often do we talk about things and never move into action?
Do you favour some more than others? How do we welcome those different from us? James states things plainly; don't have favourites, and don't judge those who do. Treat everyone with love. James challenges us in how we discriminate against those that are rich or poor. N.T. Wright says, "Mercy isn't the same as… an 'anything goes' attitude to life… 'Anything' includes arrogance, corruption, blasphemy, favouritism, and lawbreaking of all kinds. If God were 'merciful' to that lot, he would be deeply unmerciful to the poor, the helpless, the innocent and the victims. And the whole gospel insists that in precisely those cases His mercy shines out most particularly."
Are you a good listener? Do you act on the instruction of others? In this passage, James urges us to listen humbly. He compels us not to act out of anger but to rid ourselves of evil. When we read God's Word, we need to do something about it, allowing it to shape and form our actions and decisions. Isaiah 55:11 says, 'So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'
Are you a good listener? Do you act on the instruction of others? In this passage, James urges us to listen humbly. He compels us not to act out of anger but to rid ourselves of evil. When we read God's Word, we need to do something about it, allowing it to shape and form our actions and decisions. Isaiah 55:11 says, 'So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'
Do you crack under pressure? What prayers do you pray in hard times? 'Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy'. So starts the letter of James, a leader in the early church. There's nothing easy about being a follower of Jesus. But through trials and tests, prayer can transform our surroundings and mature our faith. "The question is, what is going to last?" says N.T. Wright "One day, God's Word will transform the whole creation, filling heaven and earth with His rich, wonderful light and life. Our lives, transformed by the gospel, learning to look at the world differently, standing firm against temptation, are just the start of that larger project."
How do you celebrate? In the Gospel of John, we read of Jesus’ first miracle. Along with family and friends, Jesus attends a wedding. As the celebration runs on, the wine runs out. Jesus is called upon to intervene, or else the party end. He proceeds to turn water into wine. Jesus starts as he means to go on, lavish in love. ‘In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.
How do you give thanks? What are you hopeful for? In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus transforms five loaves and two fish into enough food for five thousand. This miracle echoes stories and prophecies in the Old Testament. But the meals of Jesus also point to a future hope. The banquet is a description of God’s coming Kingdom, of its plentiful provision. ‘The meals of Jesus are a sign of hope’, says author Tim Chester, ‘It is hope for a renewed creation with bodies and food… In the meantime, every meal is a picture of God’s goodness and a reminder of his coming world.’
When did you last do the dishes? When did you last clean food off the floor? At the table, we encounter the reality of our relationships, with all their disagreements and complications. We’re provoked to love beyond our abstract or idealised idea of family and community. “At a time of deep disconnection and dislocation, it is so important that we contend and fight for relationships,” says Tim Hughes, pastor of Gas Street Church, Birmingham. “All around us, we’re surrounded by division, conflict, chaos, at both a macro and a micro-level. All around us, we’re aware of a breakdown in friendship.” So how do we bring Heaven’s reality into our relationships?
How do you react to God’s extravagant grace?
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares three stories in which something lost is found. These tales about a sheep, a coin and a son explain his approach to hospitality. Characters in the parables are shocked, surprised, and even angry as they reclaim what was once lost. Each story ends with a party. Each story demonstrates the scandal of God’s grace. Jesus says in Luke 5, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.
What traditions can we create as a community? Who can we invite?
Traditions are rhythms of life that remind us of past, present and future events. They may celebrate joy, share sorrow, or simply mark a moment. Creating regular moments of celebration around the table can form our habits, lifestyles, and memories. As we look at scripture, we see an example in the Gospel of Luke. ‘Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’, Luke 22:19-20.
Do you hide in the kitchen? Or do you allow others to see you as you are? 'Many people love the idea of the church as a community. But when we eat together, we encounter not some theoretical community, but real people with all their problems and quirks,’ says author Tim Chester. A table is a place where we can be our authentic selves. We have heard it said that Jesus welcomed sinners, but so too did sinners welcome Jesus. As Jesus accepted and received hospitality, he graced his hosts with honour, restoring their humanity.
Do you struggle to welcome others into your life? Do you believe that God can transform your feelings, motives or capacity?
In scripture, ‘the table’ is often portrayed as a place of lavish excess. From the banquets in Esther to the hospitality of Lydia in Acts, a table is a place of generosity. Hospitality is grounded in generously giving to others and receiving the blessings they offer in return.
Who is my neighbour? What obstacles might they face in joining ‘the table’? What tables need to be overthrown to make space for those excluded? Luke 5 tells the story of a meal with a seemingly disreputable guest list. God is sitting down and eating with his enemies. ‘When persons were estranged’, says scholar Scott Bartchy, ‘a meal invitation opened the way to reconciliation.’ In the Gospel of Luke, meals become a form of enacted grace. We can create patterns of exclusion or inclusion through the invitations we make to our tables or into our homes. Are we conscious of the impact of our choices?
What is your approach to hospitality?
There’s an art to engaging with one another. There’s power in a good question. In his interactions with Samaritans, leaders and tax collectors, Jesus tailored his conversation to the unique situations and people around him. ‘Hospitality involves a willingness to adjust our plans to suit specific needs’, says author Carolyn Lacey. This allows depth and openness in our relationships. And where there's an honest conversation, good things can happen.
What traditions can we create as a community? Who can we invite? Traditions are rhythms of life that remind us of past, present and future events. They may celebrate joy, share sorrow, or simply mark a moment. Creating regular moments of celebration around the table can form our habits, lifestyles, and memories. As we look at scripture, we see an example in the Gospel of Luke. ‘Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’, Luke 22:19-20.
Who is my neighbour? What obstacles might they face in joining ‘the table’? What tables need to be overthrown to make space for those excluded?
Luke 5 tells the story of a meal with a seemingly disreputable guest list. God is sitting down and eating with his enemies. ‘When persons were estranged’, says scholar Scott Bartchy, ‘a meal invitation opened the way to reconciliation.’ In the Gospel of Luke, meals become a form of enacted grace. We can create patterns of exclusion or inclusion through the invitations we make to our tables or into our homes. Are we conscious of the impact of our choices?
The table can be a place of profound encounters with God and each other. The table becomes the venue for daily habits and life-changing moments. Characters encounter Jesus at the table throughout the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was available to them, interested in them and honouring to them.
The table can be a place of profound encounters with God and each other. The table becomes the venue for daily habits and life-changing moments. Characters encounter Jesus at the table throughout the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was available to them, interested in them and honouring to them.
In the Gospel of Luke, we meet two such troubled disciples. As they walk along the road, they open their hearts to a stranger who listens to their tale. They invite him into their home. They sit at the table, and the stranger breaks bread with them. Their eyes are opened, and they recognise the stranger as the risen Christ.
Is there a way to truly love our enemies? When is it hardest to ‘turn the other cheek’?
You cannot do justice without recognising how power has been used to exploit and abuse, but you also cannot do justice without exerting power yourself. The gospel shows us a Saviour who does indeed exercise authority over us, but who uses that authority and power only to serve us, and who was willing to lose it and suffer in order to save us. Christians have intellectual and heart resources to use power in a way that does not exploit. We must never stop struggling to walk in our Saviour’s steps.
Where around you do you see environmental injustice? Could you give, act, or pray to make a difference in this situation? We recognise that living sustainably is not always easy. For the Leads, the starting point has been trying to educate themselves and make an informed decision based on what they think is best for the world. There is always a cost involved; it is just where or who that cost is. We’re delighted to have Ally Lead sharing their journey with us this week in OH1.
Environmentalist and theologian, social activist, and author, Dr Ruth Valerio is the Director of Global Advocacy and Influencing at Tearfund. This role allows Ruth to inspire and equip Christians with a whole-life response to poverty, bringing lasting change to the issues that impact the poorest and most vulnerable. Previously Ruth helped to launch the Eco Church scheme - Open Heaven is currently working towards its bronze award.
Take a moment by yourself. Are you willfully blind to the racism around you? Does your support of those marginalised by racial inequality come from a place of selflessness, or has it ever been for prideful gain? When faced with the opportunity to learn about a topic that could lead us to confront some uncomfortable personal realities, it’s an easy choice to opt out. Equally, the temptation can creep in to utilise the cause of another to further our ambition. There are both mindsets we can be caught in regarding racial justice. As part of our life-long discipleship, we need to take time to sit alone with these possibilities and ask God to search our hearts for any presence of them.
Do you choose to 'ally' yourself with others to benefit them, or because it will further and promote your own ambition? Talking about being an ally is a hot topic in today's society. We have to be careful that our allyship doesn't become something that benefits ourselves when those we're standing in alliance with don't actually benefit. When we do see people being performative in their allyship, we have got to be prepared to say 'this has got to stop because it is not the purpose of God'.
The image of God is on all races and yet racial injustice has been a challenge in biblical history as well as human history, from the Jews and the Gentiles through to today. Races should not merely ‘get along,’ but must become a new humanity in which the old divisions no longer prevail. This is an ongoing mission for the kingdom of God.
There is always a cost; we just need to decide who’s paying for it. Are we willing to pay it, or do we just want someone else to do it? What does that say about the way we see other people? The first aspect of biblical justice is radical generosity. While secular individualism says that your money belongs to you, and socialism says your money belongs to the State, the Bible says that all your money belongs to God, who then entrusts it to you. Jesus calls us to be wise stewards of our wealth. This is a guided meditation that considers and reflects on three of the parables of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke.
There is always a cost; we just need to decide who’s paying for it. Are we willing to pay it, or do we just want someone else to do it? What does that say about the way we see other people? The first aspect of biblical justice is radical generosity. While secular individualism says that your money belongs to you, and socialism says your money belongs to the State, the Bible says that all your money belongs to God, who then entrusts it to you. Jesus calls us to be wise stewards of our wealth.
Does Jesus’ example tell us anything about how we’re to treat others? What can we learn from Him that would help bring justice to our lives? Are we willing to let Him shape and mould our lives? Following on from the prophetic words of the law and prophets in the Old Testament, Jesus is the fulfillment of what they spoke of. He is the embodiment of God’s will on the Earth. His life was the perfect description of the upside down kingdom, were the last shall be made first and those who are persecuted will inherit the kingdom of Heaven.
What can we learn from those who’ve gone before us? What do they have to teach us about our present-day circumstances? Much of the Old Testament prophecy was about God’s judgement on Israel for their unjust practices in treating the poor, the foreigner, the widow and the orphan. The Ten Commandments point the Israelites towards justice; they establish just principles for living.
What does it mean to be made in the image of God? How can we see the character of God in others? God made humanity to be like God, representing Him on Earth. Our value is at the heart of the creation story. If we made in the image of God, so too are our neighbours; migrants crossing the channel or CEOs of billion-dollar companies. We are citizens of heaven. This is our identity.
What does divine justice look like? What does the hope of heaven mean for the oppressed or victims of injustice?
Heaven established on Earth means justice on Earth. At his second and final coming, Jesus will end all evil. But at His first coming, He came not to bring judgement but to bear it so that we could be forgiven and accepted. Jesus is already present in the world to change lives, but final justice is waiting for us at the end of time. We are called to balance patience with hope.
Open Heaven is part of a larger network of Churches called Pioneer. Pioneer is a relational network of churches that exists to inspire, connect and equip churches as they seek to take the gospel of Jesus into new spaces and places.
How does faith shape your thinking and feeling? Where have you stepped out in faith recently? The Christian life compels us to live by faith and not by sight—faith for today, faith for miracles, provision, growth, discipleship, and Christlikeness. Faith for friends and family, colleagues, and coursemates to come to know Jesus.
Have you ever got your hopes up about something? How did you respond to experiencing an outcome you weren’t hoping for?
The Gospel of Mark ends abruptly. Appearing suddenly, Jesus announces the joyful news that the kingdom is near. Christ is risen! And yet, the kingdom is still to come in all its fullness - when every knee bows before King Jesus. It’s both exhilarating and something of a puzzle.
Hebrews says, ‘now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’. We will not obey God because of willpower or because doctrine tells us. We do it by faith and in the confidence of who He is. And when we are filled with faith, it will spread beyond us into the lives of those around us.
Have you witnessed someone ‘strong’ fall apart? Did it change your perspective on what it means to be strong? Jesus’ disciples never expected the cross. They could never have foreseen Jesus dying in such a way. And yet God was on the move. The mysterious strands of His saving plan revealed through the centuries were coming together in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Faith invites us to look beyond what we can see and experience. It keeps us from limiting God to our understanding. How do we maintain a healthy closeness to God alongside a healthy embracing of mystery?
Do you feel in charge of your life? Who or what do you follow? How do you protect yourself against unhelpful influences and idols? God rules all things through King Jesus. In our society, inclined to be suspicious of power, this goes entirely against the grain. How often we’ve seen power misused and abused; voices silenced or sidelined. However, Jesus is a king like no other.
What does it mean for us to proclaim to live out the Kingdom of Heaven? How does this get outworked practically as individuals and as a church?
The basis of the Kingdom of Heaven is community - we all do what we do and go where we go as part of our own lives, but we then come back to the community to share, rejoice and recommission.
As we then advance the Kingdom of Heaven, we do so in humility. Not arriving in a place or situation as a benefactor, but simply coming alongside people in everyday ways. Share food together, open up your homes, reach out to the hurting and broken in our local communities.
For God so loved the world. Through the everyday decisions we make we can choose to love the world as well. We are connected to creation, we share a common home. If the gospel is good news for God's earth, how can we care for the planet?
How can we understand our creativity as a display of the Kingdom of God, whether that's in arts or in the way we express and negotiate our normal lives?
Do you love the way your faith and science enhance each other? Or do you struggle to deal with the tension between the two?
What is 'Kingdom'? How does God's Kingdom differ from the kingdom of the world? How do we live out the call to be 'in the world but not of it'?
The Kingdom of God is where God rules. From the glory of the Heaven above, through the beauty of creation, and down to human society, God's Kingdom is found because He rules. His rule is marked by salvation, miracles, healing, social justice, and cultural renewal.
What was the last thing you were conflicted over, whether right or wrong? Who did you go to for advice? Do you feel like they helped? Although we don't have physical statues of gold, idolatry isn't absent from our culture. Idolatry can be defined as the things we look to for hope, meaning, fulfilment, confidence, safety, and the security that only God can provide. Faith in God is counter-cultural. We’re saying 'no' to putting our trust, hope, and security in anything other than God.
What assumptions do you make about others? Do you know if they are a true reflection of that person? Identity matters. Our sense of identity profoundly impacts our capacity to flourish. The Bible starts from a different place in tackling who we indeed are by asking: who is God? Answering this question unlocks our complete identity and humanity: who we are concerning God Himself.
When was the last time your hope let you down? How did that feel, in the moment and where you are now? Did it stop you from trusting again the next time hope was raised? We don’t understand why some of our prayers go the way we expect and others don’t, or why sometimes it seems like the kingdom breaks out on earth and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s hard! That’s mystery. While getting what we desire can be an excellent thing, we must not allow the pursuit of fulfilment to become a temptation to sin. Waiting is an opportunity to tr
Whose authority do you trust? Has that trust come from words, actions or both? Do you feel empowered by those in power around you? In subduing the sea and wind, Jesus demonstrated His power to the disciples and revealed Himself as God's saving and sovereign presence amongst them. The forces of nature submit to Him, just as they did to the God of Israel when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea in the exodus from Egypt.
What is hope? How is it different from expectation? In John Piper's sermon called 'What Is Hope?', he explains that biblical hope does not mean, ‘cross your fingers’, but rather ‘expect great things from God'. Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future; it expects it to happen. It not only expects it to happen; it is confident that it will happen.
The British theologian David Wenham proposed "The revolution is here!" as a contemporary equivalent for Jesus' announcement of the "Kingdom of God". Not conforming to expectations, Jesus was as disruptive as He was dramatic. Through Jesus, God was indeed doing a new thing. This was news, and it was very good.
What do you place your confidence in? Who are you allowing to shape your hope for the future? When did you truly put your faith in something or someone? Jesus is the first cause of our faith. He blazed the trail of faith, showing us what it means to trust our heavenly Father with our whole lives. Faith is precisely what sets us apart from the world. Faith lifts our eyes heavenward and onto the Kingdom of God, it sees what’s possible, not what’s impossible, it's the source of Hope and the fuel for advancement.
The Gospel of Mark invites you to immerse yourself in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and to consider his life-changing announcement that the kingdom of God has come. Hope-filled and healing, disruptive and demanding, love-growing and fear-beating, this is the way of King Jesus we’re called to live, Monday through Sunday.
What could you share for the benefit of others? Who was the last person you opened your home to? Hospitality is just as much an attitude of the heart as it is a meal on the table. When we practice hospitality we show kindness toward others in practical ways. It all boils down to this: just how valuable are other people to you?
What does it look like to live in union with the people around you? How could you make a change in your life to bring about peace and wholeness?
When we think of peace we think of the absence of war, times of tranquility and calm. But peace isn’t an absence, it’s a wholeness. Living at peace and harmony with others and our environment takes effort. It isn’t going to happen on its own.
Hospitality is just as much an attitude of the heart as it is a meal on the table. When we practice hospitality we show kindness toward others in practical ways. It all boils down to this: just how valuable are other people to you?
Who in your life do you need to forgive? How could you allow God to help you forgive others? God is big on forgiveness. Every last one of us needs God’s forgiveness in our lives. Scripture also emphasises how necessary it is to forgive others if we intend on following Christ. Forgiveness is crucial to our growth as Christians.
God hears your prayers, he is moved by your petitions. When we pray for others we are asking God to move in their lives, we asking Him to do the miraculous. When we become a praying community we make ourselves available to each other.
We are a people who have been blessed to be a blessing. Our gifts and talents are not ones to cling onto, but, rather, to give away with an open hand. Serving one another out of love reflects the example Jesus gave us when he died for humanity on the cross. Submitting to the one who submitted Himself to us convicts us to do likewise for others.
Who’s needs could you put before your own wants? How have you been invested in by others, and how could you thank them? To honour someone is to regard them with admiration and respect. When we go out of our way to honour people for their actions or who they are, we are saying ‘I see your best self’. We need humility if we are to consider others before ourselves.
When was the last time you called out the good in someone? What are you doing to build friendships? Our small actions can have a big impact on those around us. Each time you interact with someone you have the opportunity to affect their day. Speaking encouragement over a person can build up their confidence in an instant. Encouraging is a personal choice. We must be purposeful in communicating our appreciation for others.
Friendships and relationships without commitment are like a house built on sand. At the first sign of trouble they’ll come crashing down. Finding the right people to commit to enables you both to journey through life together well, supporting each other as you go. The act of commitment builds a solid foundation of trust that allows both parties to flourish.
What does it look like to live in union with the people around you? How could you make a change in your life to bring about peace and wholeness? When we think of peace we think of the absence of war, times of tranquility and calm. But peace isn’t an absence, it’s a wholeness. Living at peace and harmony with others and our environment takes effort. It isn’t going to happen on its own.
Are you carrying a grudge? Who are you struggling to get on with? The call to action to ‘love one another’ is the core message of the Bible. Love can sometimes be thought of as a feeling - and in a sense that’s true - but love is a choice we have to make each time we think, act and speak. When we choose to love those around us we start to see them as God sees them. Love helps us frame each decision we make.
Looking back at the start of Autumn 2021, where have you noticed God this year? How have you changed this year? The time that has gone before us has been like no other. We’ve experienced a global pandemic that has turned the world on its head but how has God been working in our lives over the last 18 months? We have a fresh opportunity to reflect on God’s goodness and spring forward into an exciting new season with Jesus.
On Vision Sunday we outline the vision for the coming academic year. This is not to be missed for anyone who considers themselves part of the Open Heaven Church family. Join us as we hear from the senior leadership team about how and where our finances have been invested, and how your giving could benefit the church, our community and ultimately expand the Kingdom of Heaven here in Loughborough as we continue to make disciples who establish Heaven on Earth.
When do you feel most loved? How would it feel to be truly loved? What could you do to love better?
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. To truly know love is to truly know God. Love is His language, His every interest and action is fuelled and driven by love. God loves each and everyone one of us. We’re His children, He longs to restore us to full relationship with Him. He also models for us how to love others in practical ways. Love lifts our eyes from a selfish, restricted view of life and helps us instead to see the ways in which others need help. To be loved by God is the greatest gift, and to love like God is the greatest action.
Have you felt in need of help lately? How does it feel to know that Jesus intercedes and advocates for us? What can you do to draw near to Jesus in response to his movement towards you? We are made right with God not simply by doing good acts consistently, but once we accept the fact that Jesus has already selflessly done this for us with his act of love on the cross. How can we get our heads around this undeserved grace, that not only affects our past actions but also those to come too? It is a reflection of Jesus’ heart for us that he continues to intercede for us. It is a statement of his encouragement, affirmation and solidarity.
What are you hoping for? Do you have hope for a better future?
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. Some people believe that ‘it’s the hope that kills you’, but a hope in God is one that enables you to keep your head up and look forward to all that God has planned. Hope is rooted in truth and experience. We’ve seen God do wonders before, and He’ll do them again - even when situations look at their most bleak. A personal hope in what God has to come for humanity allows us to see the best in people and situations, and have a heart that is broken for redemption and restoration.
What am I putting my faith in? How would it feel to be valued for my faith rather than my work?
Faith is having complete trust and confidence in someone or something. When it comes to God, faith means trusting what He says about us is true - believing that by sending Jesus to die on the cross we can experience a full relationship with Him because our sins have been forgiven unconditionally. The Christian faith therefore allows us to experience complete freedom in life, rather than ‘just a set of rules’. Faith is a free gift and is on offer to all, it’s the first stop on the road when it comes to life changing transformation.
When did I last experience peace? What do I need to do for my soul to find rest? How can we be gentle and humble with others? Jesus only tells us once in the four gospels about his own heart: “I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”. Typically in the New Testament, humility is referred to not as a virtue but in the context of poverty or being weighed down by life circumstances. The humility of Jesus means we can draw close to him. Jesus is accessible and available to each one of us.
What are spiritual gifts? What’s my contribution to the Kingdom? At Open Heaven we have five values and the starting letter of each value spells the word grace. Our final value is empowerment. We believe that everyone in the church is gifted by God in different ways and we are committed to spotting and drawing out the gold in each person. Every person carries the good news of Jesus with them into their places of work and leisure, their households and neighbourhoods. Every person is equipped by the Holy Spirit with gifts to enable them to make their unique contribution to the Kingdom of God.
What does the Bible teach us about community? How do we do community today? At Open Heaven we have five values and the starting letter of each value spells the word grace. Our fourth value is community. Church is a community of people. We are a community committed to sharing our lives with one another. This is no mere mantra, for some of us this commitment has led to sharing our homes and possessions. We are committed to doing life together because we are challenged and encouraged by those we choose to journey with.
What does it look like for Jesus to be gentle with us? Scripture tells us that Jesus advocates for us in our weakness, but what does this mean? In ancient Israel the King represented God to the people, while the priest represented the people to God. We today need a priest, no less than the ancient Israelites, and our priest is Jesus Christ. Jesus does not dismiss sinners or the lost. He is calm, tender, soothing, restrained. He deals with us gently.
Am I loved for who I am? Can God handle my thoughts and feelings? At Open Heaven we have five values and the starting letter of each value spells the word grace. Our third value is authenticity. Open Heaven is a place where you can be who you really are before God and before others. You will notice that people are really honest with each other about their lives, knowing they are always totally accepted but also knowing that there is help here to become the person they really want to be. We will love you as you are and will inspire you to become more.
How does my faith relate to the rest of my life? How is my faith relevant to those around me? At Open Heaven we have five values and the starting letter of each value spells the word grace. Our second value is relevance. We are committed to creating expressions of church which are always outward looking and relevant to the people we’re seeking to reach. We want our faith to be connected to the rest of our lives. Jesus connected with people who did not regard themselves as religious and we want to do the same. Everyone is welcome and all are invited.
Have you allowed Jesus to move toward you in your suffering, sadness or disappointment? How can we in turn have compassion for the people of our town? The testimony of the four gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the brokenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it. When Jesus touched an unclean sinner, Christ did not become unclean. The sinner became clean. Jesus’ earthly ministry was one of giving back to undeserving sinners their humanity. He walked the earth re-humanising the dehumanised and cleaning the unclean.
How does God’s grace impact my life? How do I grow in my faith? At Open Heaven we have five values and the starting letter of each value spells the word grace. Our first value is growth. We are growing in Christ-like character, generosity and gifting because that enables God to use us to our fullest potential. We are growing in numbers because numbers mean people, and people matter to God. We are growing leaders to influence every sphere of society. We are growing and sending out Church planting teams because Church planting remains the most effective way to make disciples who make disciples.
How do you think Jesus sympathises with us? How might he relate to what we’ve been through? What does it look like for him to empathise with our weaknesses? Jesus is as approachable and compassionate as he was when he walked the earth. It is in ‘our weaknesses’ that Jesus sympathises with us. ‘Sympathise' here is not cool and detached pity. It is a depth of solidarity such as is echoed in our own lives most closely only as parents to children. Indeed it is even deeper than that. In our pain, Jesus is pained; in our suffering, he feels the suffering as his own even though it isn’t.
What is the importance of community? How should we journey well with others?If we are going to be fruitful when we are scattered on our frontlines for the long haul then we need to be faithful in gathering together. To continue to have an impact we need to stay strong and encouraged: we need one another. We, as red dots, need to stay red in a sea of grey dots. Our scattered and gathered lives are irrevocably connected.
What is the impact of our identity? How does who we are relate to what we do?Whoever we are – however insignificant we feel – we make all the difference in the world because we are on our frontlines, first as a son or daughter of the King; a child of God. Our value, our worth, our significance, and our life on the frontline flows from this identity. This is liberating.
How do we stay alert to the opportunities around us? How can we learn to bless others in our day-to-day lives? Everyone has a frontline – a place where we do life or work and where we encounter people who don’t know Jesus. We don’t need to go looking for these, we are already there. We just need to see these places with fresh eyes. God is present in our everyday places and these can be places where God is at work with us. Even the unexpected places can become places of encounter and transformation.
What difference does my life make? How do I live out my faith everyday of the week? We are the church in mission – gathered and scattered – and we make all the difference in the world. The church is a body of people living a rhythm of gathering and scattering; usually gathering on Sunday and scattering for the rest of the week. Despite being a minority, Christians make all the difference in the world for Christ – wherever they are, whatever they do, whoever they are – Monday through Saturday. And to grow as disciples for these frontlines, we need one another; we need to be together as a worshipping community.
What does it look like for me to celebrate the end of lockdown? How can I dedicate my next life season to God? How can I saturate where I live with worship? The struggle is over, the new season has come. In Nehemiah chapter 11 the Israelites begin to resettle in their land. A new normal begins. What can we learn from the Israelites about dedicating a new chapter to God as we leave a season of struggle and enter our new normal?
What happens when I go all in for Jesus? Does God want a say in all my decisions? How can I put God first? A whole nation commits to follow and obey God. Every aspect of life in ancient Israel is affected. Nehemiah 10 tells of a people who decide to go all in. Luc Sadler unpacks what it can mean if we go all in with Jesus.
How do our lives fit into the big picture? What can happen when we worship? How do we stay reminded of what God is like? When we remember all God has done, we are reminded of the big picture. We are reminded that our lives are part of a bigger story. Rachel Radbourne, looking at Nehemiah chapter 9, explains how honest relationships need both confession and commitment. The same goes for our relationship with God.
How do we start a new chapter well? How does God respond when we say sorry? What does it mean ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength’? A new chapter has begun for the people of Israel, and they begin by reading scripture. This results in revelation, repentance, and then celebration. Anita Williams unpacks Nehemiah 8 exploring the joy and strength that reading God's word brings as we get revelation and downloads from heaven that both lighten and enlighten us.
How do I face spiritual opposition? What does it mean to be an activist in prayer? Why is God’s kingdom contested? We are in a battle, a spiritual war, and we need the right tools to fight. Nothing of the Kingdom of God goes uncontested, and when God moves we can expect opposition. Pete Hughes shares on Nehemiah 6, looking at how we can face enemy strategies of intimidation and accusation.
What aspects of ourselves and society do we want to build back better? Will I approach my post-covid life differently to my pre-covid life? In a post-Covid-19 era we get to address the things that weren’t right before. We get to rebuild our lives, our society, and our church with greater racial justice, greater environmental care, greater relational health. During Covid-19, relationships have been under strain and division has been rife. Joe McSharry unpacks Nehemiah 5 to help us understand how we can repair, restore & reconnect.
What are we building? What are we opposing? How does our God fight for us?When we bring Kingdom values into our frontlines, we might face opposition, accusation or intimidation. Mark Greene unpacks Nehemiah’s declaration that; “our God will fight for us”. What does it look like to use our tools of work and our weapons of spiritual warfare?
What is your part to play in rebuilding society? How can you ensure you are a contributor to a cause and never a consumer of a product? In the Book of Nehemiah, goldsmiths and perfumers are among those working side by side to rebuild the broken city of Jerusalem. Looking at Nehemiah 3, Rich Cave shares on how everybody has a part to play in the great rebuilding project. Although the scale of the need around us can be overwhelming, it is far less overwhelming when everyone plays their part.
How can I pray when I’m filled with sorrow? How can I go from prayer to action? What does it mean to assess the rubble of my life? This is a time to pray, plan and lead. Rich Wilson speaks on Nehemiah 2, where Nehemiah, feeling broken with sorrow and terribly afraid, turns to God in prayer, makes a plan and then takes a lead. We are called to talk to God about what burdens our hearts, and to move forward with His help.
How do we keep praying into the same thing every day? How do we worship through times of pain, loss and exhaustion? What is broken in our lives and needs rebuilding? Ness Wilson dwells on the significance of broken walls. Nehemiah felt deep sorrow over what was broken, and so committed to bringing his sadness before God in prayer. There is a need for us to grieve the things we have lost, naming them one by one. Ness Wilson highlights some tools and ideas to help us keep praying when things seem broken.
Easter Day 2021. Is Jesus a Saviour? Can he lift off our burdens? Do you want to grow? In this Easter Day talk, Rich Cave calls us to reflect on three seeds; the seed of 'Jesus', the seed of 'Our lives', and the seed of 'Heaven on earth'. Do we believe Jesus is our Saviour? Do we need Jesus to lift off our burdens? Do we want to grow and see God's kingdom grow through us?
Easter 2021. Is Heaven already here? How did Jesus bring Heaven to earth? Why is Easter so important? In this talk, Joe McSharry unpacks how Jesus broke the divide and brought Heaven to earth. Joe explains the partnership with God that we are invited to join, and the unity with God that we can experience today.
An Easter audio guide taking you on a reflective walk through your town, thinking, praying and acting on the theme ‘Heaven Is Here’. Join me, Matt Hickman, as I help you connect with your local area in a way you perhaps haven’t done before.
What does it mean to be the church? How does Jesus being ‘Head of the Church’ impact us? How does it affect our church community? The bible calls the Church ‘the body of Christ’, with Jesus as the head of this body. Steve Clifford unpacks how this relationship between the Church (the body) and Jesus Christ (the head) affects how we operate as a community.
Where are you at in your friendship with Jesus? Is there anything Jesus wants to say to you about this friendship? Jesus is the God who calls you His friend. Sarah Ford takes a look at some of the different aspects of our friendship with Jesus; that of partnership, obedience and His proven love for us, and she ultimately labels it ‘as our highest calling in life’.
What is an advocate? How does Jesus advocate for me? What does it mean for us to be advocates for others? If we feel the weight of guilt, wondering if we’re good enough to be loved by God, Jesus stands in our place and makes a way for us to be right with God. Jesus is our advocate. Jimmy Zachariah talks on ‘Jesus Is: Advocate’ as well as sharing from his own experience how we too are called to advocate for those in need.
Does Jesus heal today? Why was healing an important part of Jesus’ ministry? Healing was central to Jesus’ message and impact. Jesus’ healing restored people to wholeness, community and dignity. It was a sign that God’s Kingdom had come. Does Jesus continue to heal today?
What did Jesus teach? Were His teachings radical? How does Jesus teach us today? Jesus’ teaching was deeply challenging and countercultural. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus’s teachings move passed the rules of the time, instead addressing our hearts and character. He continues to want to teach us today.
What is salvation? Why did Jesus have to die? Why did Jesus call himself “the way, the truth and the life”? Jesus’ name means “God saves”. Salvation is in his nature and his name. His claim is to be the way to a relationship with God. But the gospel to us is more than just personal salvation, it is an invitation to participate in the Kingdom of Heaven.
How can I live differently? Do I have ideas and beliefs that don’t fit with Jesus’ Kingdom? What is God’s response to power and authorities? Jesus Is: Rebel, but not the one people wanted. He treated bad people well, included the excluded and restored those who society called unclean. Joe Mcsharry shares on Jesus’ call for us to live differently with him by reflecting on Colossians chapter 2-3.
What does it mean for Jesus to be ruler of all? Is God sovereign? What will happen when Jesus returns? Ness Wilson shares on God's sovereignty and rulership. Jesus is on the throne and is ruler over all creation. One day every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, but what does this mean for us now? What will this mean when Jesus returns?
Is Jesus the promised King? What does it mean that Jesus defeated death? Will Jesus’ reign never end? Jesus is the promised king. There are over 450 old testament prophecies about His coming, however He was not the king everybody was expecting. Unlike the other rulers of the day, it was at His weakest moments during birth and resurrection that His kingship was declared. By defeating death Jesus is also the eternal king, setting Him apart from every other leader who has walked the earth. His rule and reign will never end.
How did Jesus live? What were his character traits? What is Jesus’ example to us? Rich Cave launches our new series 'Jesus Is' by looking at how 'Jesus Is: Example'. Jesus calls us to follow him, but he doesn’t leave us without help. He equips us with the Holy Spirit, calls us to receive God’s love, and invites us to partner with him.
Ness Wilson shares four keys of 'hope' for 2021. As we enter a new era it is time to ask ourselves what we have gained and want to take with us into this new year, and what we have lost and want to leave behind. If this also feels like a new era for you personally, what defining characteristic is God speaking over you?
On Sunday Rich Wilson ended our series, ‘The Way To Wellbeing’, by looking at the spiritual fruit of love. By looking at the story of the bleeding woman in Mark's gospel, he explains that “the deepest wound to our wellbeing is that we struggle to love ourselves.” Despite everyone else giving up on her, she had not given up on herself. Much like the woman, we too can reach out to touch God's love and receive it in full.
Roger Bretherton shares 3 tips to resisting temptation and cultivating the spiritual fruit of self-control. He looks at our identity, our need for friendships, and that “making time to enjoy love in the right place is the antidote to seeking love in the wrong place.” Roger uses 2 Timothy 1:6-7 as a significant starting point for cultivating self-control, as it speaks of power, love and self-control that characterise the Spirit now alive in us.
"Jesus demonstrated that gentleness is not weakness but rather courage to stare sin in the face and express outrageous acts of love." John Olaleye shares some very personal reflections on his journey with gentleness and takes a look at how Jesus lived it out in his daily encounters.
Even in the hard times, just like Jesus and King David, we too can say ‘into your hands I commit my spirit’, trusting our lives in the hands of our heavenly Father. If we stay close to God’s word, cultivate an active and honest prayer life, are led by the Holy Spirit rather than our emotions, and ask God to show us the personal mandate he has for this season of our lives, we will begin to feed on God’s faithfulness. We will find ourselves choosing to remain faithful to God, to others, and to what God has called us to do in this season.
As we move into a November lockdown Joe McSharry unpacks how a life in service to others allows God to outwork His goodness in us and through us.
Grow in your capacity to love Jesus and love others. Ness Wilson explains how the spiritual fruit of kindness is a powerful way to advance God’s kingdom and that it is not the same as just ‘being nice’.
“Lord God, thank you that you are patient with us. Holy Spirit, as we stay connected with you, would you grow the fruit of patience, persistence and perseverance in our lives.” This week, Rich Cave leads us in a reflection on the spiritual fruit of patience.
Do not be anxious about anything? Peace is hard to come by these days, but in this week’s talk from our series, 'The Way To Wellbeing', Renae unpacks some of the keys to cultivating and guarding a peace that lasts.
In the second talk of our new series, 'The Way To Wellbeing', Sarah shares with us some very helpful habits that are enabling her to cultivate the spiritual fruit of joy. She unpacks for us Nehemiah 8, focusing on the passage “the joy of the Lord is your strength”.
It is no secret that we are broken beings in need of a doctor. But where sinful nature brings brokenness, the Spirit brings wellness. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals and shows us the way, outworking the Father’s will that we would be whole and complete in Christ. But the fruit of the Spirit doesn’t just appear. It needs cultivating and nurturing. To produce the fruit of wellness and not brokenness requires friendship and accountability, rhythms of grace and intentionality. This is not just about getting through a season, but building healthy foundations for life.
Like a scene from a movie, Peter gets up and walks straight pass the guards, through open gates, and out of prison. Guided by an angel, he does what would not be possible without a God intervention. Without realising it he is living out the answered prayers of the church. As people earnestly got on their knees and cried out for his release, miraculous plans were unfolding that were even hard for them to believe. Their prayers were earnest, faith-filled and powerful.
In Acts 10 we meet Cornelius, a centurion who loved God but had a very different background to Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ followers. As John takes us through this chapter we find race and status become completely irrelevant as God leads Peter and Cornelius together. Through their encounter they are building kingdom, irrespective of culture, for God loves every nation.
Saul of Tarsus was a man who had a dramatic encounter with Jesus. An encounter which turned his life, his thoughts, his career, his future completely on its head. He was key in the spread of the gospel to the non-Jewish nations, a man who wrote thirteen books of the New Testament. But without this complete transformation this story would have looked very different for Saul, the early church, and even the Christian faith as we know it today.
Philip was a man who served. He saw needs around him and devoted his life to helping others and sharing the good news with them. He was prepared to 'go'. Where are you able to share your faith on your journey? If the opportunities seem lacking, maybe you just need to put on your shoes and start walking. The first command in the great commission is to 'go'. Perhaps that is a good place to start.
The real success of the church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. As we seek to be a community that reaches every unreached people group in Loughborough, we have to be prepared to release people like a flowing river into our town. As people trickle into the estates, halls of residence, schools and workplaces, we will see community multiplied and the church grow much like in the book of Acts.
'If you haven't found something worth dying for, you haven't found something worth living for.' Much like today the early church experienced opposition to the gospel. In Acts 7 we hear about Stephen, a martyr who died because he was unashamed of declaring the goodness and promises of God. For many of us there is not an immediate threat of death if we share the gospel with those around us. But perhaps there is a threat to our pride, our reputation, our image. In those moments we ask ourselves 'is it worth it?'. For many of us the answer is yes, because we have not found something, but someone worth dying for.
Conversations About Race is an ongoing series of discussions with members of Open Heaven about racism in the UK, their experiences, and how we can be an inclusive church community. In this episode, Joe speaks to students Michael and Renae about their reaction to George Flyod's death, the #BlackLivesMatter movement and their experiences growing up in the UK education system.
Empowerment is one of our values at Open Heaven. Much like the early church we believe giving people opportunities to step into their calling and develop their gifts is crucial to outworking the Kingdom of God. This is not a mission for the few. We all have unique skills to contribute to the community. We all have a part to play.
Our prayers can resonate. They resonate when they are in line with the plans and purposes God has for the world. When they are in line with His will they have the power to shake and break strongholds and bring about His kingdom on earth. It doesn't matter how loud or eloquent our prayers are because we pray in Jesus' name. It is by Jesus' authority, His power, that these prayers are answered. So how do we pray these kind of powerful prayers?
In this episode Ness speaks to John and Sheryl about their experiences of racism in the UK and abroad, and how we can be a welcoming and diverse church community.
In chapter 4 of Acts we find the priests and teachers of the law in Jerusalem conflicted. They know a great miracle has happened, but when they look at Peter and John they see ordinary, unschooled men. How could they have healed a man? The answer is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them the boldness to declare healing and the courage to proclaim Jesus Christ as saviour to thousands. God chooses to work with 'ordinary' people, and He wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit over and over again.
The early church was not a philosophy of goodness with no power. They actively declared healing over people in the faith and knowledge that as we partner with the Holy Spirit's power, we release healing in our lives and the lives of others. It is not just physical healing either. Jesus forgives us, healing deep emotional wounds and making us whole where we have been shattered. We don't need to beg and plead for this restoration. We declare God's goodness with confidence because His character is one of healing.
For the early church community wasn't just about attending the same event every week. Being in community meant being in each other's lives throughout the week, sharing thoughts and possessions, being available and accessible, and supporting one another practically and in prayer. However, this model is not meant to be exclusive. As churches met in homes, others were invited in to experience the warmth and generosity of community. Multiplication was the goal, and still is today.
The realities of living in community are often a little messy. Bringing together various personality types and opinions into one group doesn't come without its challenges. Yet this is the kind of group Jesus chose to spend His time with. He intentionally brought together 12 disciples with different backgrounds and over time He reformed and reordered their ideas by giving them a Kingdom perspective. There is a gap between the messy reality and the ideal of community, and discipleship happens in the middle. Are you prepared to open yourself up to discipleship today?
Resurrection is a persistent and predominant theme running throughout the Book of Acts. It’s inescapable. The apostles come back time and time again to the resurrection of Jesus. It’s as if it is the most prominent thing on their mind. In this passage Peter explains the coming of the Holy Spirit through the resurrection of Jesus, retelling His story in the process. Imagine you had been there, living and following Jesus, witnessing his incredible life and ministry, weeping with the other believers over his death when suddenly he is once again alive. Of course you would tell and retell that story over and over again.
Our mission statement as a church is to 'make disciples who establish heaven on earth'. Through this teaching series we are learning about the ways in which the early church did this. In Acts 1:8 we find out the power of the Holy Spirit enabled the early followers to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. Yet it was the persecution of the church, scattering them far and wide, which led them to be 'witnesses to the end of the earth'. The gift of the Holy Spirit combined with the practical limitations of the day forced them to fulfil their mission. However the mission is not over. The baton has simply been handed on to us. We have the same gift of the Holy Spirit and have now been scattered in much the same way. Perhaps this is a moment of acceleration for our mission.
On Sunday we celebrated Pentecost; the day Jesus' followers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in different tongues. However, the Holy Spirit didn't just come that day. It continues to dwell among us, and fill those who believe and receive Him. The Holy Spirit opens up new possibilities and has the power to change the patterns of our life, even in 2020. In this talk Rich unpacks four areas in which the Holy Spirit can do this transformational work, and invites you to receive the Holy Spirit today.
Through times of suffering our desire for quick fix comfort can be strong. The momentary relief that comes from abandoning our pain is very attractive. The process of persevering through it however, isn't. Perseverance is uncomfortable. It can produce physical and emotional aches as we dig in deeper and confront our hurt. But we are not alone in that process. Jesus knows what it means to suffer. He chose to take the long road of pain and discomfort for us, which ultimately led to victory over death. Short cuts may allow you to win a sprint, but setting good pace ensures you complete the marathon of life.
The road is often used as a metaphor for the journey of life. How perfect then that Jesus chose this spot to speak with his companions. As they walked along, wrestling with recent events, Jesus met them where they were at. He listened to their confusion and provided clarity to their situation. Jesus can do that for you too. Perhaps you too have been going on walks recently, trying to clear your head and make sense of events. Next time you go, why not invite Jesus to talk with you? Whatever stage of life you are at, no matter which part of the journey you are on, Jesus is there, walking that path with you.
When Jesus shares a message once, it is important to listen. But when he shares it three times, we should stop what we are doing and take notice. In the gospel of Luke we find three parables that describe the Father's exceptional love for us. They emphasise the value he puts on each one of us, even when we feel spiritually lost. The Father is always looking out for us, scanning the horizon, waiting for us to come home. You are worth searching for, and when you do arrive home there will be a welcome party ready to celebrate.
When the storms of life rage, what do you find yourself standing on? Are your feet firmly anchored to the ground, or do you find them slipping with each gust of wind? When those things we have built our life on are changed, or even removed, we can find ourselves scrambling for firm foundations; for a hope that weathers the storms. By building a life on Jesus' promises to us, which are solid and never changing, we can find that hope.
The lens through which we see the world affects the way we live. Perhaps you could label yourself a pessimist or optimist, because you know you are quick to view situations in a certain way. But what if there was a third option; the kingdom perspective. The kingdom perspective isn't about things being good or bad. It's about having hope in a saviour and believing that saviour, Jesus Christ, is asserting His kingdom reign on earth. In Jesus' kingdom we are not defined by what is going on around us, but by who is working in us. Redefining our perspective in this season will help us navigate this uncharted territory with purpose and hope.
The verses from Psalm 23 may be familiar to you. Perhaps you have heard the metaphors before and at the time they have made sense, providing comfort and reassurance to you. But what about now, in this season. How does this Psalm speak to you today? What does it look like to be full of inner and outward tranquillity? In what areas can God restore and strengthen your soul? As Rich guides us through this Psalm take time to dwell in each verse, considering the ways in which the Lord is your shepherd in this uncharted territory.
'Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!' On Easter Sunday christians around the world declare this as truth, believing that Jesus rose again from the grave after defeating death on the cross. That means Jesus is alive today, and to be a christian (that is, a follower of Jesus) means having a relationship with a living saviour that has the power to transform us and the situations around us. On Easter Sunday Ness took us through Luke's account of Jesus' resurrection, unpacking the details of an event that defined history.