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Come & See || Chais & Phil

When we find something really good, like an exceptional bowl of strawberries and ice cream, we feel compelled to tell others about it, and to get them to try it for themselves. In the same way, we're inviting you to Come & See how good a relationship with Jesus is!
In this episode, Julie chats with Chais and Phil about their life before and after getting serious about Jesus. 
[Editors Note: apologies for the low audio quality this week]

Thanksgiving 2018 || Psalm 34

On our 151st birthday, Tim gives us an ABC of thanks from Psalm 34. 

The Church On Mission || This Way or That? || Acts 21:1-17

When making a decision, Christians often look for a sign from the Holy Spirit; a prompting, or a miraculous sign clearly saying "YES, GO THIS WAY". 
Even Paul though, facing a decision to return to Jerusalem, experienced the Spirit both encouraging him to go, and working in the lives of his friends to persuade him not to go. How do we discern what God is telling us, and make Godly decisions without being paralysed in waiting?

The Church On Mission || Opposition & Goodbyes || Acts 20:13-38

In this section of Acts, Paul is compelled by the Spirit to end his journey through the ancient world by returning to Jerusalem, where he doesn't know what will happen to him, other than he has been prompted that prison and hardships are waiting for him. As he finishes this journey, he says farewell to many of the church leaders he has met from Ephesus, Greece and Asia. 
Alongside Paul's farewells, he also warns these leaders of hardships that are likely to be encountered by them, but encouraging them to persevere because their relationship with Jesus is so important. Kirk unpacks these warnings in this episode.

The Church On Mission || Supper & Power || Acts 20:1-12

 In a story which includes someone being raised from the dead, you'd imagine that would be the focal point- the highlight of the story. In this passage of Acts though, this act of raising a young man from the dead is not prioritised, and instead, the act of Paul preaching the Word of God is highlighted, along with sharing of the Lord's Supper.
There is power in prioritising the Word of God, in gathering and sharing the Lord's Supper (also called Communion), and as we gather we can expect the power of God to be at work amongst us. 

The Church On Mission || Idols & Riots || Acts 19:23-41

This passage in Acts is real history, with real people, and real events in time - a good reminder that the bible is about real people, and it is a historical account. But what do we do with this story? How do we learn from it and what can we take away about God from this riot in Ephesus?
Tim examines the cause of the riot (Acts 19:23-28), its escalation (Acts 19:28-34) and its resolution (Acts 19:35-41).

The Church On Mission || Miracles & Repentance || Acts 19:11-22

During Paul's journey through Asia Minor (Turkey) and Greece, he spent a long time in specific places - two years in Ephesus alone. While he was there, he would have worked his trade, making tents. The people of Ephesus, believing so strongly in the good news he was preaching about Jesus, people began using Paul's sweaty rags to heal people. Exciting, but also weird. 
As well as the extraordinary miracles Paul and others performed in the name of Jesus, in this passage we see the most extraordinary miracle: Crowds of people repenting from their sorcery, burning their spell books, worth over 100 years wages.

The Church On Mission || Baptism & The Spirit || Acts 19:1-10

This episode launches our new series, The Church on Mission, following Paul as he travels around Greece and Asia Minor in the first century, commonly referred to as his 3rd Missionary Journey. Kirk gives us an introduction to reading Acts, unpacking how to read this historical account, and how we can learn from history. 
This section of Acts speaks about some supernatural occurrences, including speaking in 'tongues', and 'prophesying', which Kirk explains and shows how these things are to be expected as Christians, but not a guaranteed experience, and that these things aren't the defining elements of being a Christian.

Strangers || PS You Are Loved || Psalm 23

We've finished working through the first letter Peter wrote to early Christians in the first century, and this week, Julie brings us a "P.S.", reminding us all that God loves us. Psalm 23 describes God as our Shepherd, and Julie looks at four things we can learn about God from this song.
Following Julie's talk, we hear from three people from our community and how they respond to God's love.

Strangers || Humility || 1 Peter 5:1-7

Finishing off this first-century letter to early Christians, Peter addresses the'elders' of the communities he is writing to; that is, the senior leaders of the church. He gives them three tips for good leadership within the Church, which can be easily translated to any leadership positions. Peter then addresses people in positions of 'followers', under someone else's leadership.
Essentially, Peter says to lead and be led with humility. Kirk explores humility for leaders, and humility for followers in the final talk in our Strangers: Far From Home series.