Teaching

The psalmist begins with praise in verse 1, and then goes on to remember why it is right to praise God. God’s people have a history of sinning (verse 6), acting wickedly (verse 6) and forgetting God’s kindness (verse 7). And yet God led them out of Egypt and miraculously provided for them parting the Red Sea. Remembering God’s goodness and kindness to us is part of what we are called to do.

The series opens with one of the psalms of praise, in which David describes the awesome power, majesty and authority of God. This psalm focuses on God’s voice and in our lives we hear His voice through Scripture. God also shares his authority, power and strength with us as we read in verse 11, “The Lord gives strength to his people” and “blesses his people with peace”.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians describes the kind of community God was calling them to be. But he makes clear that this was not inward-focused. Their daily lives were to be marked by love, kindness, and compassion in their places of work or activity, and in their relationships. The social conditions assumed in the passage aren’t the same social conditions that most of us face today. However, the principles that flow from it are as applicable now as much as then. Commitment to Jesus as Lord is to be worked out in daily life, in relationship with others, and bound up in our service of Jesus himself.

Sharing from 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Natalie takes us through Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church correcting their understanding of life after death, declaring once more that Jesus has been raised from the grave.

Sharing from Ephesians 2:1-10, Natalie shows us that this passage, which starts by speaking about death and sin, pivots in verse four around the simple word ‘but.’ From there onwards it shows us the generosity of God’s saving grace, and reminds us that it is Jesus alone who has the authority to free us from all that binds up our lives.

Out of God’s great love and generosity for us, He sent Jesus to unlock our salvation. This is in order that, by His grace, we might be free to be God’s handiwork on the earth, ready and able to do the good works that He has prepared us for.

What is he freeing you for?

We reflect together on the contribution of Jonah, helping us understand how our acts of obedience need to be matched by hearts of obedience. Pondering how the good news comes close through the life of Jesus via us and to us.

Natalie Worsfold speaks from the book of Nahum, who doesn’t shy away from God’s holiness and His anger and indignation in the face of sin. However, Nahum helps us see the beauty and power of God at work by also highlighting God’s response of comfort and patience.

Natalie kicks off out new sermon series ‘Return to God’. Over summer, we will look into the minor prophets in the Old Testament. These books are often thought of in terms of the judgement of God, they also teach us about the heart of God to see His people turn back to Him. This week we look at Joel.

Natalie Worsfold speaks from Matthew 25: 1 – 13 on being ready for Jesus’s return. We do not know the hour or the day, but we are to be people who are ready for that day when He will work out His perfect judgement. As shown in the parable of the ten virgins, there is a warning against “becoming drowsy and falling asleep” (25:5). Are we ready for Jesus’ return? Do we live our lives expecting His return?