We are called to love EVERYONE around us, regardless of how they treat us.

Love is very PRACTICAL, and is manifest through:

- sincerity

- loving people while hating evil

- putting others first

- persevering with difficult people and circumstances

- praying for others

- sharing with others

- blessing instead of cursing

- sharing both joy and pain

- including the marginalised.

Key text: Romans 12:9-16

The Bible teaches us that life is seasonal, that there is a time for everything. So we can expect both "spring" times & "winter" times. And just as animals prepare for winter, we should prepare for our "winters". We can do this by:

- Getting rooted & established in Christ's love

- Building our faith in God

- Building our character by doing what Jesus said

- Preparing practically by living prudently

Ecclesiastes 3:1, Proverbs 6:6-8, Proverbs 10:5, Ephesians 3:17-21, Romans 8:35-39, Romans 10:17, Luke 6:46-49, Matthew 25:1-12, Romans 8:37

God has shown us the most amazing grace by extending the most amazing forgiveness to us - a forgiveness that is perfect: complete and ongoing! We can live the rest of our days - into eternity - in this glorious forgiveness! And we can demonstrate this glorious forgiveness to those around us - by forgiving those who sin against us.

Romans 1:29-32, Psalm 32:1-5, Psalm 103:8-12, 1 John 1:8-9, Romans 8:1, Matthew 18:21-35

We all face suffering of some kind. When we suffer, we may ask "Why me?" A biblical perspective helps:

Sometimes we reap what we have sown - but sometimes our suffering is not our fault. The reason for it is sometimes beyond our view - and sometimes beyond our understanding. But we can trust God because we know that he is always good - and his plans are always good.

Sometimes we may suffer because we are serving Jesus; we should count that a privilege.

So rather than asking "Why me?", we should just trust God. He knows what he's doing! He has a plan - a GOOD plan!

Galatians 6:7-8, Job 1:1-8, Luke 13:1-5, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:3-5, Job 38:2-4, 40:8, 42:2-3, James 1:17, Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, 1 Corinthians 13:12, Philippians 1:29

As Christians, we experience an inner conflict: we want to do what is right, but something drives us to do what is wrong! It can feel like we are living with someone who keeps trying to convince us to do what we know is wrong!

But although this conflict exists, Jesus has actually set us free from the sin that used to enslave us! So we can win this war! So:

- Believe God when he says you have been set free!

- Take those ungodly thoughts captive - you can defeat them!

- "Yoke in with Jesus" - and find rest for your soul!

Romans 7:21-25, Romans 7:1-4, Romans 6:18, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Matthew 11:29, 1 Samuel 25:36-41

As we step out in faith to obey Jesus as witnesses and disciple makers, we will surely have expectations. When our expectations aren't met, we could conclude that "this doesn't work" or that "this is not for me". Yet the Bible assures us that our efforts will not be in vain! This is not to say that every word and deed will result in spectacular results! But if we will faithfully take the opportunities that God gives us, like a farmer who faithfully sows and waters, there will be a harvest!

Let's not be put off by "mixed results" or by "small beginnings". If we are faithful, God will bring the harvest!

Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Acts 9:29, 13:50, 16:22, Mark 4:3-8, Luke 15:10, Mark 4:30-32, Mark 4:26-29, Galatians 6:9-10

The Bible likens life on earth to a race - with an eternal prize at the finish line. But sometimes our race is hard. We feel like giving up. We think "I've run far enough". At those times, we need to shift our focus from our painful past or present to the glorious future that Jesus has prepared for us. We need to remember that:

- God himself is at work in us to enable us to finish our race!

- Jesus has removed the guilt of our past and made us new!

- Jesus invites us to work with him as our powerful partner who has overcome the world!

Let's encourage one another - leaving the past behind and moving forward together!

Philippians 3:13-14 & 2:13, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 12:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30, John 16:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Psalm 68:19

Jesus said that all who believe in him will do the works that he did. Yet many of us see ourselves as too ordinary and too natural to do the extraordinary or supernatural!

Many of Jesus' life-changing activities took place in very ordinary contexts: walking, eating & even asking for help. God works supernaturally in our natural activities, making ordinary times extraordinary!

We should therefore stop telling God that "I'm too ordinary" or that "this is not the time & place"! Instead, we should always be on the lookout for "ministry moments" in our ordinary days.

If we will surrender our ordinary lives to Jesus, he will make them extraordinary!

John 14:12, Matthew 9:9, Mark 1:29-34, John 4:5-39, John 5:16-17, Colossians 4:5-6, Romans 12:1

The Bible teaches us to count our blessings. As we do this, we shift our focus from what we DON'T have to what we DO have. And as we learn "the secret of contentment", we feel gratitude instead of discontent.

It is good to regularly remember our many blessings from God - spiritual, relational and material - and to seek ways to bless others instead of seeking further blessings.

Start counting - and see how blessed you are!

Luke 21:34, Philippians 4:12, Psalm 103:1-5, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Ephesians 1:3, Psalm 31:19

We who have put our faith in Jesus are called by God to be a part of Jesus' own people.

This gives us a real sense of significance, security & purpose. God chose me! I belong to him! I'm part of his mission!

it doesn't allow pride - God often chooses the weak & foolish! But we can be confident: not in ourselves but in God who will empower us!

Our call has many aspects:

- New ownership: we belong to Jesus.

- Community: we belong to his family.

- Relationship with Jesus.

- Priesthood: representing God to people & people to God.

- Leaving our darkness behind.

- Enduring hardship, knowing that the glory ahead is far greater!

1 Corinthians 1:1-3, 26-29, Philippians 1:4-6, 2:13, Romans 1:6-7, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Peter 2:9, 20-21