General: Recent Episodes
RENEW Perth
We can find ourselves in the middle of God's perfect will and in the middle of a storm at the same time. Trusting God does not keep storms away.
If you had to choose the name of a single person who has had the biggest impact on the world's history since the beginning of recorded time, one life that has touched every continent, every culture, every tribe, and every language - who would it be?
Biblically, you can say a lot of things about God, but one thing you cannot do is to domesticate him, make him safe. In the Bible, God often acts in ways that, from a human standpoint, appear reckless. The idea of “reckless” grace then, takes us directly to the heart of the gospel.
Get used to finding the presence of Jesus in all circumstances, and then you will be able to find what is in him for all circumstances. Looking to yourself to find the strength you need is always going to be limiting. Instead, step back and call on Jesus, in this way you will be calling on the one from whom all the resources of heaven flow.
Our world is beginning to feel increasingly chaotic. It’s like we’ve turned a corner and we’re going in a certain direction. It may reverse itself and we could go on for thousands of more years but it’s also the case that Jesus could return in our lifetime. It’s increasingly easy to imagine.
Why should we have a heart for people who are far from God.
What do we believe about Jesus to be so important that it would motivate us to tell others about him.
Was Jesus just another man? Is this the stuff of myth or legend or is there something more?
The season metaphor is a good way to look at life.
What’s happening in the world around us, what’s God doing in this church, what’s God doing in my life. It gives us perspective and it speaks to the reality that we are on this journey that never ends, it’s a rich journey, it’s a journey that doesn’t deny the joys, or the losses or the darkness the light the struggles – it’s all there.
Servanthood is an attitude exemplified by Jesus. The five words in the New Testament translated “ministry” generally refer to servanthood or service given in love. Serving others is the very essence of ministry. All believers are called to ministry and, therefore, we are all called to be servants for the glory of God.
In Isaiah, the prophet promises God’s people that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Renewal is a continual process for the believer. As believers we are still prone to sin, it is important for renewal to become a constant practice as we seek to live lives that reflect Christ and let the things God does not want part of our lives expire.
Why does the resurrected Christ’s physicality matter? Why does it matter that the resurrection is not just a spiritual thing, that Jesus is not a ghost?
The tangible resurrection of Jesus matters for three reasons:
For your mind – what you believe.
For your will – how you choose to live.
And for your heart – how you feel.
Scripture tells us that Jesus came into this world to “drive out the ruler of this world”, and to “destroy the works of the devil”, to “destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” and to ultimately “put all his enemies under his feet”.
Can you trust God even when his answer to your prayers is either "No" or, when his answer is remarkably different from the one you had hoped for? Do turbulent and tumultuous times lead you to lose trust in God or drive you into even deeper dependence on him?
It is entirely understandable if you and I wake up every day and watch the news and wonder: Where is God? Why won’t he do something about the chaos and the wickedness? We need to be reminded that when it feels like hell on earth, there is hope. We may not like the way God is doing things. We may question his timing. We may doubt the effectiveness of his methods. But hope remains, because our God is holy and true and altogether worthy of our trust, no matter how bad things may get.
No matter what may come always leave all the results in God’s sovereign hand. Remember, the same Bible that contains the Gospels also contains Job
Sometimes God’s answer to the prayer of faith is not healing, but grace to persevere.
Jesus started a process of developing and equipping so that we can be of service to him. Where is presence is, his power is. We have been given authority to share the message of the Kingdom of Jesus with the world. But before we go, we need to be discipled and equipped to minister in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
We are challenged to choose to follow the path of the cross by setting aside our own natural inclination to place our self on the throne of our lives – and rather in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and by means of the new life of Christ - to empty ourselves of 'Self' and become a servant of all.
When we consider the constant change in which we live and what God’s plans are for our lives at the start of another new year, we would do well to ask these questions. What are we supposed to retain and renew? What are we supposed let go of and what are we supposed to add on?
But when we ask ourselves these questions, we do it with a different goal in mind because we know we’re heading in a different direction to those whose trust is not in God.