Lent is a time to walk knowingly into the wilderness, to face the Accuser and the wild beasts that emerge when we live out our identity as God’s children.
An Open Table where Love knows no borders
An Open Table where Love knows no borders
Sermons on Discipleship (Page 7)
The feeling of distance and separation from God – which we all feel – is perception not reality… it is the fruit of our fear and our holding-back.
Jesus calls us to model ourselves on him to embrace a new pattern of full humanity rather than just constrain the worst excesses of an old failed humanity.
The righteousness give to us in Christ, and which we grow into in our following of him, fulfils and exceeds the trajectory set by the biblical law and prophets.
Jesus doesn’t come looking for ready-made heroes, but for the small, damaged and fragile people we are, so that in the company of Jesus, we can become the giants we always dreamed of.
Full-blooded Christian discipleship may cost us some precious relationships and a lot of blood sweat and tears, but we will have plenty of new supporters and it all all be well worth it in the end.
Being a follower of Jesus means honouring his authority by following his teachings and his example (something that has become surprisingly rare).
A reflection on the Good Friday story of the crucifixion from the perspective of the disciple Joanna.
In times when we strive to see but cannot, when we struggle to understand and can find no satisfactory answers in the face of issues that confuse us, we can still search for communion with the one who knows all things, who understands all things.
Jesus’s abolition of “us” and “them” categories is so radical that it seems almost impossible for us to comprehend and put into practice.
Like the disciples, we stumble, but we too can pick ourselves up and re-orient ourselves to the transformed landscape that Jesus is slowly mapping out for us.
Becoming Christlike takes discipline and commitment and practice, but the goal of fullness of life in Christ is worth whatever it takes.
A sermon on 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 by Michael Hardin Tonight we were again blessed to have as our guest preacher, Michael Hardin of Preaching Peace, visiting from the USA. There is no manuscript for the sermon, but you can listen to it here.
Are we, individually and together, focused on the things that we can be doing, that will enable us to embrace and nurture the growth of Christ’s values, withstanding opposition to them?
We have a distinct and privileged identity as God’s chosen people, but it does not turn us away from other people, but leads us to offer ourselves to and for them that all may share in the grace that has made us who we are.
Jesus’ teaching on the new ethics for disciples do not weigh us down because they are wrapped in generous mercy and humour.
God has given us all we need to live out our calling with integrity.
In the growth of children, God reveals to us much of how we all should be growing and developing.
Letting go of the idea that we can earn God’s favour is very difficult for most people, but it is a key to enjoying the fullness of life and grace.
Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the courage and trust to be faithful to God in your your actions and life, despite doubts and disappointments.