The Resurrection changed absolutely everything. Could you tell if you looked at our lives?

Because Jesus has risen from the dead, death has been and is being and will be defeated, and therefore we can live in hope.

In this passage Paul presents the logic of the resurrection that Jesus is our hope, peace and joy. As Christians, we take hold of the resurrection through an encounter with Jesus who delivers us from a life of misery.

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Paul lists what he considers to be of ‘first importance’ to the gospel. So why does he include a long list of resurrection appearances, and why is that important for us today?

This Sunday we take a look at the ‘crazy’ Macedonians who were begging Paul to take part in the offering for the suffering Judeans. What produces generosity like that? What makes us want to give away our money? Paul writes that God loves a cheerful giver. Yet, God is not sadistic, demanding we look pleased when we suffer. Rather, we find a God who has given everything for us. He came poor that we might become rich. As we explore these gospel promises we realise God loves a cheerful giver not for His own sake but for ours. It is a sign that we have truly understood the breathtaking news that through His poverty we are made rich. When you know you already have everything, you’re free to give it all away.

This week is Vision Sunday. Steve unpacks what freedom looks like in the Christian life, and we celebrate that true freedom is found only in Jesus! There is prophetic encouragement for our church family that in 2024 God is speaking freedom over our church. Together we want to pray that we would take hold of this truth, to go deeper with God, in our own lives, across our church and for our city!

Paul continues with his argument that worship must be in good order, this week we try to get underneath why that's the case.

In psalm 13 we hear David's cry of pain to God. He turns to God in his despair, brings his complaint to Him and begins to ask God bold prayers to change his situation. As David laments and processes his suffering with God, he moves from despair to trusting in Him once again. Today in our despair and pain, God invites us to receive his gift of lament as He enters into our struggles with us. We look to Jesus our great high priest who loves us and died for us and in life's pain, we can boldly approach Him to receive help at our greatest time of need.

King's Church is a nanocosm of the kingdom of heaven evidenced by the diversity of nations, peoples, and languages represented in our church. Rev. 7 tells us that one day we will stand before the throne of God with people from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue, and that the Lamb of God will dwell with us. But we know that God is with us already, as he promised, through Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to him in all the world.

At evening Carols Steve unpacks what it means for God to be with us.