Gracehouse

As Christian we are exiles in this world. Our way of life is at odds with the culture that surrounds us. In the midst of the darkness, we are called to standout as shining lights. And to hold fast to the hope and joy that we have even in Jesus Christ, even if it is costly. In the end it will all be worth it when we receive the fullness of our salvation.

There are so many good things that we can prioritise in church life. But for Paul there is one clear winner. The one thing that, if it is missing, makes everything else worthless.  And that is love. A church that doesn't prioritise love can do many good things, but those things will never last without love.

In one of the most beloved passages of Scripture, Paul emphasises the faithfulness of God through his provision of the Holy Spirit to meet our greatest needs on this side of eternity. This gives us with much-needed encouragement during times of disorientation, discouragement, and difficulty.

Fear and faith cannot coexist. One always destroys the other. God has invited us into a life free of fear, by asking us to trust in the greatness of his love for us.

God is an artist who delights in creating beauty. The earth is jam- packed with the evidence. Would you dare to believe that he wants to make something beautiful out of your life as well?

When we stop to consider all of the enigmas of life, it can sometimes become overwhelming to the point that it can even threaten our faith. And our tendency to either embrace a form of religion that ignores the difficult realities of the world, or a hedonistic lifestyle that rejects the faith, only perpetuates the issue. However, the Book of Ecclesiastes is a gold mine of wisdom for those who are struggling to reconcile their faith with all the paradoxes of the world around them. Tune in this week to discover what the Book of Ecclesiastes has to say about how to deal with a crisis of faith when faced with one.

The Christian tradition has tended to take sides when comes to the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac, with the family of promise (Abraham, Sarah and Isaac) being labelled the heroes and the pre-emptive family (Hagar and Ishmael) considered to be the villains. But the reality is that Sarah was particularly oppressive towards Hagar and Ishmael. Despite the vicious family feud, God was unwavering in his faithfulness to both families, proving his commitment towards global restorative blessing.

The Joban drama is a story that is just as popular as it is intense. In fact, it could be said that its popularity stems from its intensity, since so many people can relate to the experience of suffering and the emotion of grief. As we take up the book, we can’t help but ask the questions, “why do we suffer”, “how does good and evil coexist”, and “does God care”? But in and around the ash heap of despair, there lies a profound lesson which is applicable to all audiences. This week’s sermon is available online now.

In ministry and in life we can go through valley or wilderness seasons. Times when the Fathers voice seems far off. What do we do then? It's times like this that we need to "remember" the Lord.

The scriptures call us to be holy as God is holy. But what does that look like? How can we learn to walk in holiness? The answer is we learn to walk in love. The very love the God shows us.