The Book of Ruth

If your are struggling to hear God, feeling abandoned, bereaved, despairing, or simply can’t imagine anything great coming from your ordinary life then The Book of Ruth will be refreshing, encouraging, gloriously hopeful, and even challenging – in a good way!

Words of the Cross

Lent 2018. Audio files to follow.

The final words said before death are often seen to be significant. In the Scriptures seven is the number of perfection. Crucifixion is the only form of execution where the executed are able to speak as they die. In choosing the cross Jesus was able to articulate his last words. In making seven statements Jesus communicated in a complete sense that which is of crucial importance. We will be exploring the themes of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion.

1 John

Our current series explores the New Testament letter of 1 John.

1 John is a New Testament letter, however it is a little strange. There are none of the usual distinguishing features of a letter, no description of the sender or those receiving the letter, no clear details of the location community to which it is addressed. Other than several references to it being written (1:4, 2:1, 2:12-14, 5:13) you could begin to wonder if this was a sermon rather than a letter. You begin to wonder if the content that we have before us was a letter written to several church communities to be read out as they gathered for worship and the personal greetings have been omitted in the version we have before us.

Interestingly there is an indication that time had already passed from Jesus’ first community of disciples, those receiving the letter are receiving instruction from those who were there with Jesus. Yet this church community are not just passive recipients of this teaching but encouraged to see that the Spirit brings the confidence of belonging to Christ.

As we look into this ancient teaching, the tradition of faith and discipleship handed down from the Christian community of Jesus’ first disciples, we too can receive a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit (2:20), a vivid personal experience of the truth and love of God.

You can listen to the series below as it becomes available.