This week Dennis showed us the story of the enemy (Satan). We see in the bible that the enemy has been at work in our world through powers like Babylon and Tyre in Old Testament times, and still is today. But we also see that the God of the bible has something to say to powers who would seek to destroy his good creation and rob those He loves of peace, hope and joy. Ultimately that message is "your day has come" and we through Jesus can know victory over that enemy.

Today we looked at the message of the prophet Micah which was written to a people who were living in dark days. Matt shared how he felt that today we live in the days of Micah, which can be challenging, but the message of Micah to the people is that hope is coming and Micah gives us some clues for how we should live as a people of hope.

This week Matt shared with us from 2 Kings 13, from the story of Elisha telling Jehoash to fire arrows on the floor which leads to victory over his enemies. But Jehoash didn't fire every arrow in faithful response to Gods word, and so didn't receive the full victory God longed to give him. Matt asked us about the areas in our lives where we haven't yet seen full victory and asked if we have been faithful to God's word, firing all our arrows, and giving God space to bring us victory.

This month in our Bible Q&A we tackled your questions on the books of 1 & 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Amos & Jonah.

You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:

(00:55) 1 kings 11:1-2

Why did Solomon take so many foreign wives?

(05:28) 1 Kings 16:34

Why and how did it cost Hiel of Bethel his first and his youngest sons when rebuilding Jericho ?

(10:19) 1 Kings 18:40

Why did Elijah kill all 450 prophets of Baal?

(19:20) 2 Kings 2:11

What happened to Elijah?

(25:24) 2 Chronicles 24:7

Why this verse is in the middle of this chapter about King Joash asking the Levites why they haven’t done what he has asked? Who is the wicked woman and her sons? When did they break into the temple?

(34:35) Amos 1 and 2

What does it mean that God repeatedly says "For three sins....even for four, I will not turn back my wrath" Why specifically three and four?

(41:41) Amos 3:6

Does God really cause evil?

(48:19) Amos 4:4

Does God encourage people to sin in this verse?

(52:06) Jonah 1:17

Is Jonah literal history, myth, parable or allegory?

This morning Emmanuel encouraged us to seek the call of God on our lives and commit to living for Him, despite the cost and the opposition. When everything around us crumbles, we can stand firm on the truth of what Jesus, the Great High Priest, has done for us.

This week we got interrupted by a fire alarm and so Matt brought us a shorter talk, off the cuff, from a different passage to that which we had planned. But maybe this was simply God's heart for us this week, to tell us that He is the one who takes dead things and brings them to life if only we'd through it all on Him.

This week Glenys Lewis shared from 2 Chronicles where we find the people of Judah facing a hard and challenging situation, much like we all do at times in life. Glenys drew on the wisdom of King Jehoshaphat to help us consider how we should respond in such times.

This week as we stepped out into the call of God to leave our building we looked at how it is possible to stand in the promise of God but live in the past. We saw how Israel and their kings physically stood in God's promise but kept going back to live in the ways of the past, the ways of Egypt, the ways of slavery. And Matt challenged us not to go back, corporately but also in our personal lives, and instead to live fully in the promises of God for now.

This month in our Bible Q&A we tackled your questions on the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

You can jump through this episode by using the time makers below:

(00:26) Proverbs 1:7

Why should we fear a loving God?

(06:46) Proverbs 5:15-17

We are called to be a generous people why do these verses seem to say not to share your water?

(15:06) Proverbs 16:33

Does/did God speak through things like casting lots? Why don't we use that in church today?

(20:04) Proverbs 17:9

How does covering over an offense promote love? Why does it separate close friends if they repeat the matter?

(27:37) Proverbs 25:21-22

We're called to love our enemies so why does this verse encourage us to put burning coals on their heads?

(31:12) Proverbs 26:4-5

Do these verses contradict themselves?

(37:03) Ecclesiastes 1:1

Is the teacher Solomon?

(39:49) Ecclesiastes 3:19-21

Does these verses indicate that the Old Testament view of life after death is that there wasn't any?

(48:55) Ecclesiastes 6:3

Please can you explain this verse. Why would a sill born child be better off than a man?

(52:14) Ecclesiastes 7:3

Why is sorrow better than laughter, and a sad face good for the heart?