Remembrance stands as an example and a corrective to a nihilistic, fatalistic, self obsessed, selfish world. It points us beyond ourselves to recognise and to be thankful to those who have given so much to and for us. It also calls us to examine our hearts because it begs the question: what might sacrifice look like for you and I?
On a human level, such recollections are essential if we are to understand how we arrived at today and how we might to avoid the pitfalls and mistakes of the past. They tell us of the courage, the sacrifice and the offering of others, extended to us and those like us.
The laws (as a whole) reveal to us the basic morality required by God. What makes the Ten Commandments unique is the character of the God who gave them. Without God, the Commandments lose their distinctiveness
Jesus certainly knew the Law and often referred to it. It is possible to say that Jesus was both a critic of the Law and a supporter of it. What, though, do we make of Jesus' apparent addition to the laws – the new command of John 13:34? Does that contradict what God has already said or is this Grace the natural outworking of our relationship with God?
Passion for God is not the expression of powerful emotions nor is it a last resort when all else has fails and we are really up against it
Passion is the very real and urgent sense that God – and our growing relationship with Him – is so important that we simply have to keep on working at it, involving Him at every turn, following where he is leading. Passion is driven from what’s within but what’s within is only there because God put it there
God’s call to serve does not necessarily come to those who we expect - the articulate, the power brokers, the influential. God uses those who will put aside self to ensure that it is the Kingdom of God that is being built
Are we listening to God more than we listen to ourselves or our culture? How can we ensure that God’s voice can be heard? How ready are we to leave the past behind? (Not total rejection but recognising its worth and building on achievements, failures & lessons)
Living out our real faith in the real world is often risky and scary. If we aren’t willing to take risky steps of faith in our lives and in our prayers, we will never know just how much God loves us to ask Him for help for ourselves and others and we will never experience the power of God at work in our lives.
The challenge is to be people who say “yes” when God asks us to do something and get on and do it - even when we don’t know how that will “pan out”
Learning from example we see what it’s really like to engage with God.
Those examples may be good – and they may have a powerful impact on how we live. But, in the long run, we have to choose which way to go even though Granddad may have walked with God, we have to choose to, as well
An all age service celebrating Harvest God's goodness. Harvest is God's gift for His people, so that it can all be shared
Prayer acknowledges through confession that God knows us more completely than we can possibly imagine. This is both threatening but through Christ, the threat is transformed to become a means of healing and hope for us and the whole of Creation.
The big question for the Corinthian Church was whether they were really committed to living distinctive lives, thereby demonstrating their commitment to God.
There’s a delicate balance between liberty (freedom) and licence (the opportunity to do anything you want). Some things really do matter – both the way we live and the attitude we adopt to the culture around us.
It is a question of living a Christlike example even in simplest and seemingly innocuous things. Does my approach or behaviour lead people to Jesus or does it push them away?
Sometimes it can seem that God is asleep, a long way away or even not there at all. Unanswered prayer can seem like unheard prayer especially when we have something really important to say.
Life’s events and our circumstances invariably put us into a place where we need God’s help - none more so than when we have exhausted our reserves and resources and the world seems as if its ranged against us.
Did you hear about? …. well I never!
There’s nothing quite so salacious as a bit of juicy gossip, especially when it involves the public display of someone else’s personal life. Thrust into the limelight, it will run and run – at least until something better comes along.
If we think that “church” is immune, then think again. It isn’t this one sin that causes the problem – it’s all sins. Don’t forget what we are: always remember how we came to be changed and be committed to doing God’s will rather than pursuing your own desires.
It just doesn’t make sense: how can something so terrible on the one hand, be so beneficial on another? How can an event so scandalous become the means of saving so many souls?
That’s the message and impact of the cross. In the eyes of some, it’s a very unlikely means of securing our eternal destiny as it looks more like a tragic defeat than a glorious victory.
Let’s not look at the cross from a human point of view. If, in our “wise” ways this looks like defeat, then we are ignoring God’s plan. It’s not about how we use responsibility or power, it’s God’s demonstration to the world in one of the most unlikeliest ways, that He’s able to save us from ourselves.
An opportunity to hear about the Mission causes GHBC supports. Our message is taken from Acts 1 and Luke 10 and invites us to consider the question "Where do I fit in?"
Praying for the Fun Day
25-Aug PM; 2 Thes 1:11-12
