Paul urges us all, no matter who we are, to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is our calling to be people of the Spirit.

An elder should be an ordinary guy, devoted to his wife if he has one, and of excellent character. He must be an example of what the gospel does in the life of a believer.

Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all looked ahead to the future. Isaac knew that God had chosen to bless Jacob and Jacob knew that God had chosen to give Ephraim a greater blessing the Manasseh.

Elders have the noble task of shepherding the flock, which includes guiding the sheep, governing them and guarding them against danger.

We don't know what 2018 has in store for us, but as followers of Jesus, we follow Jesus wherever he leads. We may pay a cost, but we also get to be with Jesus.

There are four ways we can celebrate Christmas: We can walk in the darkness, or we can cope with it by partying once a year, or we can forget it, or we can acknowledge it but recognise that a great light has dawned.

Abraham believed God when tested, when it didn't make sense and with everything. Like him, we too are encouraged to trust God in all circumstances.

We need to see why Paul says different things to men and women. We need to make and celebrate three affirmations - the equality of men and women, their differences, and their unity.

God wants to stir in us a passion for Jesus. Our passion for him is a response to his love for us and will stir us to action.

David wanted the presence of God in Jerusalem, but he needed to take both the holiness and the word of God more seriously. Similarly, we need to take the teaching of Jesus seriously.