Teaching

Ezekiel’s vision is finally fulfilled as the river of life forms part of the city of God, the new creation, in which God dwells with redeemed humanity in a place where “there will no longer be any curse”. In John’s vision, there is no place for a temple or altar, so the river runs from the throne of God down the main street in the city, lined by the ‘tree of life’ on both sides. Ultimately the river of life anticipates the new creation in which God will have lifted the curse from the earth (Genesis) forever and dwells with his redeemed people forever.

At the climax of the Feast of Tabernacles, when water was symbolically poured out, Jesus boldly declares himself to be the source of living water to all who believe in him. The water pouring ceremony, in Jesus’ day, was interpreted by the Jews as a symbolic anticipation of the messianic outpouring of the Spirit, pointing backwards to Ezekiel 47 (last week’s sermon). Jesus’ promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit came and three thousand were saved.

From 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, David shares of the hope of when Christ returns, both the dead in Christ and those who still live will be transformed in an instant into these new and glorified heavenly bodies that will never die. Death will be swallowed up in victory, never to cause pain again.

Sharing from 1 Corinthians 15:35-50, David helps us understand what Paul explains about our bodies being the seed that will die to make way for a far better body, built to exist in eternity. The natural-born physical bodies of believers are perishable and temporary, but will be raised imperishable and eternal.

David shares from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 on how at the heart of the Gospel is the truth that Jesus died and rose from the dead, appearing to hundreds of people.

David Walker speaks from Hebrews 10: 19-25 on the importance of gathering together in community to draw near to God. Together, we spur each other on to fix our eyes on Jesus and we encourage one another.

Speaking from John 14:15-27, David shares of God’s generous gift to us – the Holy Spirit, who lives and works through us.

As readers in 21st-century England, we can often be confused and conflicted about what to do with the Law that we find in the pages of scripture. From Psalm 19, David shares how we can rejoice and receive the Law as a gift from God.