13 January 2018 - Sunday night, Rev. Aaron Eime took a closer look at the at the historical and religious context of baptism in first century Judaism. The baptism of Jesus is in the desert, where John the Baptist has been preparing the way of the Lord. John is calling for national repentance, and Jesus joins in. By doing so, Jesus identifies with Israel and with our humanity. In the middle of this, Jesus prays, the heavens open, and God speaks. How do we know it's God? Because God speaks his scriptures back to us. Aaron also looks at the Holy Spirit throughout the Hebrew scriptures.

Readings: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-24; Luke 3:15-23

13 Jan 2018 - What is your identity? It should be belonging to the family of Jesus, being a disciple of the Messiah. The Father affirms Jesus' identity, Rev. David Pileggi reminds us, at his baptism: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22 ESV). Jesus' response is loyal and faithful obedience to the Father. Through Messiah, we can be called sons of God, and the Father is well pleased with us, before we do anything. The proper response to this outpouring of love is a life dependent and obedient to God.

Readings: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-24; Luke 3:15-23

Mark 6: John The Forerunner

Readings: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29

Rev. Eime,

God in search of man. The expanding garden and co-labourers in the Kingdom.

Readings: Job 38:1-11, Psalm 29, Mark 4:35-41

Mark 3: The Will of The Lord

The first opposition to the ministry of Jesus was ‘very close to home’.

We are called to serve even when the going gets tough. The religious leaders are next to oppose Him and they challenge Him at the source, saying he has a demon. God is life and there is no death in God. They can’t control Jesus and so they accuse Him. Perhaps the unforgivable sin is to look at the good works coming through the Messiah and to say, it is a work of a demon. Jesus says, My brothers and mother hear the will of God and do it; in Hebrew this is “Ratson Adonai”, the thing that is closest to your heart, your will. This is clearly seen in Isaiah 61: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me …. and Isaiah 58: To release the oppressed … The will of the Lord is clearly seen here in the text, our calling is a different matter, however this “is without repentance.”

Readings: Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35

If we love Jesus we will keep his commandments, so it behoves us to know his life and teaching. There are disputes over the interpretation of the sabbath rules. In Jesus day there were great debates and discussions. In no way does Jesus minimise the keeping of the sabbath. God himself rested on the seventh day; the sabbath celebrates redemption; it is about creation and redemption; a taste or down payment of the rest that is to come in eternity. It is essential and important as it becomes for Israel an Identity. He wants them to be a separate people, a distinct and set-aside from the nations. He does this through circumcision, the food laws and the sabbath is another marker that keeps them set apart. For us as believers we also have an identity, highlighted in the reading of the epistles. The new covenant; The Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty ….. liberty to be conformed into his image.

Readings: Deuteronomy 5:12-15, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, Mark 2:23-3:6

John 16 - Shavuot, Pentecost

The day of pentecost - feast of weeks, celebrating the wheat harvest.

This feast began to be associated with the giving of the Torah and it falls fifty days after passover, as the giving of the Law, and as Christians, the giving of the Spirit. It is not simply the giving of the Law versus the giving of the Spirit. These are in fact similar and tell us about the character and grace of God, when he gives us an unearned gift.

Readings: Exodus 34:22-35, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Luke 24 - D-Day

The season between the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the ascension presents us with the tension that exists in what is happening here on earth and in heaven. If God is good, why are all these things happening? The story begins in the Garden; Jesus message is the Kingdom. The deity of Jesus is right there in front of us as demonstrated in the period of time from the resurrection and ascension. The ruler of this world is judged. The cross and resurrection was our D-Day, everything is in His control; we don’t get it all now, but we see Him!

Readings Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Daniel 7:9-14, Luke 24:44-53

Luke 2: The Presentation

This week Rev. David Pileggi looks at the family of Jesus and the nature of sacrifice. The presentation of Jesus in the temple was a significant event. The custom of circumcision was observed. Jesus was revealed to Israel, and now He is presented in the temple. This passage reminds us that Jesus is a Jew. Some of the leadership may have rejected Him but He did not reject Judaism. This shows up the family in which he was raised. His family loved God and followed His commandments. Mary, His mother was the first disciple, not just in the lending of her womb but in her understanding of the things to come. Joseph was a very compassionate man; he could have put Mary away but did not. Compassion was very characteristic of Jesus’ ministry, his earthly Father setting the example. At the divine visitation Mary’s response was “Yes!” In a similar way to Hannah, the family went every year to Jerusalem…. reflecting their burning love for God. The principle of ‘the first born male belongs to God’ is further established. In giving to God, the nature of sacrifice is costly. I will not offer to the Lord that which cost me nothing. This has to be intentional and generally, something that cannot be taken back.

Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 84, Luke 2:22-40

1 Thessalonians - A New Day

Guest speaker Mike Kerem, refers to the ‘Clash of Kingdoms’; the natural often precedes the spiritual, this is especially evident in the Middle East at the present time. One of the things that stands out, looking at the passage in 1 Thessalonians, is that “they received the gospel with power, the Holy Spirit and full conviction”. Right away their faith is tested so that they become an example that is referred to again and again, as an example of how to receive the gospel. The gospel also comes with persecution. Right from the beginning they knew that opposition and rejection was going to be a part of their walk with the Lord. The Biblical model is first of all in practice and then in learning the theory; we must walk through it. Why does God send tests, trials and tribulations? So we can gain authority in that area because God has met us in that place. This is not theory and not just words.

Readings: Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22