Jesus demonstrated some ways of thinking that are vastly different from the way that many around us think - and the way that we may be thinking now:

-Being faithful in waiting and in obscurity

-Being a willing servant and sacrifice (not a "victim")

-Being passionately zealous for the Kingdom of God

-Looking past the pain of the present to the eternal joys of the future.

Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 2:49-52, John 1:46, Luke 3:23, Matthew 20:25-28, John 10:17-18, Matthew 5:44, John 2:13-17, Revelation 3:15-16, Hebrews 12:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Fear of the Lord is taught in the Old & New Testament. It is a deep respect, a reverent awe of the omnipotent Creator and Sovereign Lord of the universe.

Fear of the Lord leads us to honour and obey God. It leads us out from human folly and into God's wisdom.

Who (or what) we fear most will determine how we live.

Psalm 33:8-16, Philippians 2:12-13, Acts 9:31, Proverbs 1:7, Romans 3:10-18, Deuteronomy 13:4, Luke 12:4-5

The Holy Spirit continues the work of Jesus, empowering us, leading us and revealing things to us. Just as we are dependent on Jesus, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit and when we keep in step with the Spirit, we keep in step with Jesus.

When we keep in step, we will bear fruit - our character and behaviour will change.

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in our gatherings. He works amongst us and he gives us supernatural gifts - working in different ways with different people. All of this strengthens and equips the church.

John 14:15-18, Acts 1:4-8, John 14:25-26, 15:26, 16:13-14, Galatians 5:25, Acts 16:6-10, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Disobedience can keep us from God’s good purposes; obedience leads us into them. We need to trust God when his actions, his chosen instruments and his instructions don’t make sense to us - his ways are higher than ours!

The path of obedience can be difficult, even painful - but the pains are temporary while the blessings are eternal!

2 Kings 5:1-15, John 10:10, Isaiah 55:8-9, Ephesians 3:20-21, Matthew 16:24-26, Romans 8:28, Matthew 26:36-44, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The true Christian life is a supernaturally charged life! God himself works in us to motivate us and enable us to do the work that he has prepared for us to do. 

To experience this, we must learn to live in close relationship with Jesus, moving in his direction, in his time, at his pace. 

Daily disciplines that help us to do this are:

- seeking his presence in prayer and worship

- seeking his will in reading his words

- obeying him as he leads us

- asking him for wisdom

Acts 1:4-8, Philippians 2:12-13, John 15:5, Matthew 11:28-30, James 1:5

Accountability helps us to grow mature and fruitful. Jesus modelled accountability as Son to his Father.

Accountability is built on submission - to God's authority and to godly authority.

Shame and fear make us avoid accountability. A selfish heart and a "seared" conscience can make us blind to our guilt and our responsibility for it.

Helpful ways forward are:

-to grow a habit of prayerful reflection and self-examination and

-to make ourselves accountable to trusted leaders.

Hebrews 10:5-9, Hebrews 5:7-8, Ephesians 5:21, James 4:7-10, Romans 14:12, Luke 9:1-2,10, Genesis 3:8-10, Genesis 4:11-14, 1 Timothy 4:2, 1 John 1:8-10

God has re-created us to do good things - in his eyes, we are "the right person for the job"!

He works in us and through us - with HIS power!

It's not about who WE are, it's about who HE is.

It's not about our ability, it's about our AVAILability!

It's not about people being impressed with US, it's about them being impressed with Jesus!

Exodus 3:7-4:13, Ephesians 2:10 & 3:20, Isaiah 6:8, 2 Corinthians 10:10 & 4:7

Jesus made a way for us to live in a covenant relationship with God. This covenant is wonderfully represented in the account of King David and Mephibosheth. Here are four powerful messages of this covenant:

-"Come to me" (Jesus) - in your inadequacy - and worship!

-"Fear Not" - God will show you kindness for the sake of his Son.

-"I Will Restore" - God will restore you - to himself and his image.

-"You eat at the table as my son" - enjoy God's favour, protection and provision.

We can live secure in this covenant - because it is made with the One who is perfect in every way!

Romans 8: 28, 1 Samuel 18: 1-4, Luke 24: 49, Ephesians 4: 22-24, Ephesians 6: 14-17, 2 Samuel 9: 1-5, 2 Samuel 9: 6-11

The end goal of the Kingdom of God is a wedding in heaven! It is to see the church, the Bride of Christ, a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language, ready for this wedding.

So we need to get ourselves ready - and to help others to get ready. Getting ready is a journey of transformation, becoming more and more like Jesus. Jesus called this journey being his disciple - and called helping others on their journey disciple-making.

If we can gain a clear, Biblical understanding of this goal and journey, we will live with greater purpose, direction and effectiveness.

Philippians 3:12-14, Revelation 7:9-10 & 19:6-9, 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 28:18-20

God has provided grace through Jesus to live lives that are totally dependent on him. This grace is available to all who believe.

This grace does not just save us from the consequences of sin, but also from the power of sin. It stirs us to say "yes" to godliness and "no" to ungodliness.

We learn to live in humble dependence on God and we discover that he does what seems impossible.

As we fully submit our lives to him, he transforms us! He is faithful - we can trust him to do this!

Titus 2:11-14, Romans 4:17-22, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 6:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:24