Jesus is building his church! He is building it with "living stones" - you and I! He has assigned us places and purposes - we have a part to play in his ministry to the world!

Let's co-operate with him as he renews us, transforms us, equips us and envisions us!

Let's ask him to reveal those things that he has prepared for us to do!

Let's take our place an play our part!

The lighthouse will be raised up - and our light will shine further - in our region and beyond!

1 Peter 2:4-5, Ephesians 4:16, Ephesians 2:10

We need faith in order to please God. Righteousness from God comes from faith. And faith comes from hearing what God has said.

The life of faith:

- hears what God has said,

- believes what God has said and

- obeys what God has said.

The life of faith is not a perfect life - we may waver...but we can go back to God's words and keep walking!

2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38 & 11:1, Romans 10:17, Genesis 12:1-4, 10-13, 15-17, 15:5-6, 16:3-5, 17:15-19, Hebrews 11:8-11

Some of Jesus' significant ministry moments took place in very ordinary situations:

- Talking to a stranger.

- Allowing people to interrupt his plans.

- Accepting invitations to a meal.

In the same way, we can experience significant ministry if we will take similar opportunities in our "ordinary" day-to-day living. Let's break through our comfort and culture barriers and talk to strangers. Let's be ready to be interrupted and to change our plans when people come to us. Let's accept invitations, even ones that may be uncomfortable.

As we "open the door" for ministry, some people may choose to walk away - but others will walk through that door! And God will do wonderful things through us!

John 4:4-10, Matthew 20:29-34, Matthew 9:10-13

God reveals the future & the possibilities. He shows things we don't expect & can't see. These may be far beyond our abilities & resources.

Our walk into our destiny is a journey; it can wind and take time. But it takes us into greater & more glorious places.

The prophetic lifts our gaze & our hearts, encouraging us to walk into that

 Joshua 6:2, 2 Corinthians 3:15-18, 1 Corinthians 14:1-3, 2 Timothy 1:6-7

It is tempting to emulate "successful" people, but we are called to emulate God.

Jesus modelled this by representing and revealing God the Father and keeping the focus on him.

The Holy Spirit works in a similar way, revealing God to us and leading us into the truth; he enables us to emulate the Father.

Hebrews 1:3, John 5:19-20, John 14:9, John 1:18, John 4:23-24, John 14:16-17, John 16:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Jesus' parable of the net teaches us some vital truths:

- A final and eternal separation of souls WILL happen

- There are only two possible eternal outcomes

- "The fish don't do the sorting"

This calls us to answer two questions of eternal significance:

- Is MY name written in the Book of Life?

- Will I join Jesus on his rescue mission?

Matthew 13:47-50, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 28:19-20, Revelation 20:11-15, John 5:24, Luke 10:20, Ephesians 2:8

As we move forward in 2024, let's remember that

- the year is unlikely to be free of any storms

- Jesus will be with us throughout any hardships

- Jesus is faithful and will take us through to the other side

- the miracles he has done give us good reason to trust him completely

- we need to let go of the past in order to move forward

Isaiah 46:9-11, Mark 4:35-41, Philippians 3:12-14

The Kingdom of God is worth much more than everything we own. Yet God delights to give it to us - to make us citizens - we don't buy or work our way into the Kingdom (we could never afford it or earn it!)

The lesson is to think differently about the value of the Kingdom and the value of earthly wealth.

We don't have to chase or hold on to wealth - we can live securely and generously! And any cost or sacrifice for the Kingdom is well worth it!

Matthew 13:44-46, Luke 4:18, Luke 12:32, Ephesians 2:8, Colossians 1:11-14, Luke 12:29-33

As followers of Jesus, we always have a lot of great reasons to be thankful to God. For example, God has:

- chosen us and adopted us!

- given us his Holy Spirit!

- re-created us as a purpose-full masterpiece!

- put us in a loving, equipping community!

- given us armour to enable us to stand strong!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 & 1:6

Ephesians 1:3-8, 1:13-14, 2:10, 2:19-21, 3:20, 4:11-13 & 6:13

Christmas celebrates Jesus coming to us as the Prince of Peace. Jesus doesn't offer to remove our conflicts & stresses; he offers us peace in the midst of them.

This true peace includes peace with God & peace within. We can enter into this amazing peace by submitting to the rule of Jesus & by trusting Jesus with our trials.

Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:14, Matthew 24:7-14, John 16:33, Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 4:4-7