Coro Baptist Church

"Take heart," says Jesus, "It is I. Don't be afraid." And yet, like Peter who has faith enough to get out of the boat and join Jesus on the water, when faced with the wind and waves we lose sight of our Saviour and begin to sink. There is much in life which can cause doubts to rise in our hearts and our faith to diminish. And yet Christ is right there with us, ready and able to reach out his hand, take hold of us and raise us up once again. He gives us every reason to lift our eyes to him, and know where our help comes from.

It has been said that the Holy Spirit is the most mysterious and misunderstood person of the Trinity. Whilst five studies alone cannot completely address the matter, I trust and pray they will help us grow in both our knowledge and love of the Spirit. Together with the Father and the Son, we will see how the Holy Spirit participates fully in every work of God as we consider his role in the works of Creation, Redemption, Christ, Holiness and Glory.

The well-known event of the feeding of the five thousand could be considered the first ever church picnic. It is, however, more of a classroom scene than one of the fun and games one might expect at such a picnic. The compassion of Jesus, the teacher, is in stark contrast to the heart of the disciples- and so too is where they each look for the help and provision needed to feed the hungry sheep. In the end, -they all ate and were satisfied.- There was much learning going on in that desolate place. May we too be well taught and fed by the Word of God, and our souls satisfied in him alone.

The well-known event of the feeding of the five thousand could be considered the first ever church picnic. It is, however, more of a classroom scene than one of the fun and games one might expect at such a picnic. The compassion of Jesus, the teacher, is in stark contrast to the heart of the disciples; and so too is where they each look for the help and provision needed to feed the hungry sheep. In the end, "they all ate and were satisfied." There was much learning going on in that desolate place. May we too be well taught and fed by the Word of God, and our souls satisfied in him alone.

It has been said that the Holy Spirit is the most mysterious and misunderstood person of the Trinity. Whilst five studies alone cannot completely address the matter, I trust and pray they will help us grow in both our knowledge and love of the Spirit. Together with the Father and the Son, we will see how the Holy Spirit participates fully in every work of God as we consider his role in the works of Creation, Redemption, Christ, Holiness and Glory.

It has been said that the Holy Spirit is the most mysterious and misunderstood person of the Trinity. Whilst five studies alone cannot completely address the matter, I trust and pray they will help us grow in both our knowledge and love of the Spirit. Together with the Father and the Son, we will see how the Holy Spirit participates fully in every work of God as we consider his role in the works of Creation, Redemption, Christ, Holiness and Glory.

'As Jesus' disciples we get to be about the good work of sharing the word of God with the world.' If you are anything like me, a statement like this will stir up a mixed response. The idea of sharing the word of God fills many people with a sense of duty, fear, and guilt rather than confidence and joy. The end result of such feelings is a stopping, even a fleeing from the good work. Does that ring true for you as well? Why do we feel this way as followers of Jesus? One reason is found in our passage in Matthew this week. Speaking the word of God can come with a heavy cost. The cost of rejection, even going so far as imprisonment and death - costs suffered by those who spoke God's word throughout history. But God doesn't want his people to stop the good work, and so he calls us who are faithful back. He does so, not with judgment ready but with gentle grace - a grace that is only afforded to us by Jesus.

We recommence our preaching series through The Gospel of Matthew this week, from Matthew 13:44-52. Here, Jesus teaches the supreme value of the Kingdom of Heaven, the sifting that will take place at the end of the age, and the responsibility of those to whom the secrets of the Kingdom have been revealed. This great "treasure" is given freely to us by the gracious King of the Kingdom, yet it requires all we have. As the old hymn reminds us, it "demands my soul, my life, my all." But like those in the parables, those who recognise the supreme value of the great treasure of Christ, freely give all they have, with joy, in order to make it their own.

We have completed a wonderful journey through Philippians. One of the emphases of the letter is the call to contentment which is a foundation of rejoicing. Why is it such a struggle to live in contentment? The great narrative of Exodus is a constant reminder of who God is; who we are; and who we will become. With magnificent clarity the writings show us that the way of redemption is all of the LORD's initiative. How is it possible that the people of Israel failed to retain the truth of God's love and goodness towards His people? How is it possible that we so easily forget God's love and goodness towards us? Grumbling arises from a belief that God is unjust and maybe even unloving. Grief caused by deep pain, suffering and loss is not the same as grumbling. The Father knows our pain and we are to seek His comfort. Paul points out that we are to learn contentment and Christ will strengthen us in that endeavour. Ephesians 2 points to the solid unchanging source of our eternal security and contentment.

We will each have a picture in our minds of what a 'contented' life might look like, and what it would take for us to be truly at peace and content. But as Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians, he teaches us it is not our circumstances, but Christ, who is the secret of contentment. Whatever picture we may conjure up in our minds, even one of seemingly great discontent, Paul has learned how to be content in any and every circumstance. Please pray that we too might learn this 'secret'.