Our Heavenly Father is loving, patient, forgiving, kind, a protector and a provider, but what does He want from us out of this amazing relationship?In this week's message we explore how it is God's desire for us to trust and obey Him, to use discernment and be vigilant in this life, and to be available to Him. Tune in as we look at these and other aspects that help grow our spiritual lives and our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Behold, I am doing something new
Cheryl and Donna Pridham share about their past few years experience serving at the school for widows in Nigeria. They continue to see God do new things and challenge us to be open and look for the same in our own lives and context.
For All People - Acts Series #18
God's commission to take the good news message of Jesus to the ends of the earth would inevitably mean that Jewish background followers of Jesus, like Peter, would have to be confronted with their cultural views towards Gentiles. Peter had to get over his discomfort with Gentiles in order to take the message to them. God calls us to 'get over ourselves' in various ways as part of following Jesus. The simple, yet difficult path to doing this is to listen, trust and obey.
Complete 180 - Acts Series #17
Can people really change? We intuitively know people do change, yet we all struggle to believe this when it comes to certain people or certain areas about our own attitudes, behaviour and character. Paul's Damascus Road experience and the events following also give us some clues on how to make God's invitation for change stick in our lives.
Breaking Barriers - Acts Series #16
After the death of Stephen, many followers of Jesus fled from Jerusalem yet continued to talk about Jesus wherever they went. When Samaritans received the message of Jesus and then received the Holy Spirit, the Jewish leaders realized they needed to break their old patterns of thinking to stay in line with what God was doing. Unfortunately, as we see in the example of Simon the sorcerer, old patterns can be hard to break... Yet, Peter and John's response to the Samaritans show that old patterns can break, if we submit ourselves to Jesus.
Heart of a Mother
We are chosen to be adopted into God’s family. The influence of a mother’s prayer is powerful. The reflection of Jesus is in a Mother’s heart and actions. The Mother’s prayer, “Lord, give me this soul!”
Renewed Confidence - Anniversary Sunday Acts Series #15
God is in the business of using ordinary people for His extra-ordinary purposes and Kingdom. The life of Philip serves as an example and inspiration for us as the same God at work in Philip is looking to be at work through us. For this we need to renew our confidence in God and His ways.
Upside Down Entrance: Upside Down Messiah #2 Series
The first followers of Jesus didn't believe in the resurrection as an idea, but as an event they had witnessed. Jesus' resurrection was not only the fulfillment of His promise to rise from the dead, but God's promises about the Messiah who would come to rescue humanity from sin and death and for a life of holiness with Him. How do we respond appropriately to this event? Live out our faith by making every effort we can to walk in God's promises to us, cooperating with what God has already done in and for us.
Upside Down Crucifixion: Upside Down Messiah (#2)
Jesus went to the cross for more than only paying for our sin (rebellion) against God. Jesus' death was an act which Paul said exposed or disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities. These were the spiritual rulers created by God, who also rebelled against God. Jesus' death and resurrection was a demonstration to humanity of there being another way to live than offered by our world. A way of love and sacrifice which evil could not overcome. Do we believe the cross and resurrection of Jesus still has the power to overcome evil, not only in the world, but in our day to day lives?
Upside Down Entrance: Upside Down Messiah #1 Series
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem was planned. Jesus intended for people to see Him as a King who came in peace, as a fulfillment of the covenant promises of God. Yet, Jesus was not exactly the kind of king the people expected. He claimed creation would cry out with injustice if the people didn't celebrate Him as the King, yet He wasn't coming to destroy the Roman occupiers. He came and wept over Jerusalem knowing how many were going to reject Him as their true King and the cost they would pay because of it. Not the kind of Messiah they expected at all.