If we are disciples of Jesus, we are commissioned to go and make disciples of others. The Lord empowers us to fulfil this commission by sending the Holy Spirit - to be with us and in us. Without this life of God at work in us, our best efforts will be unfruitful. With this life of God at work in us, even our most humble efforts will be fruitful; Jesus says we will bear much fruit!

To be effective for Jesus, this spiritual life needs to flow into us - AND our of us.

Jesus assures us that our Heavenly Father will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask - so let's ask!

Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:15-18, John 15:4-5, John 7:37-39, Acts 1:4-8, Luke 11:11-13

The truth can be unpopular and painful - particularly when it reveals our wrong thinking and living! God has declared the truth in the Bible, but many struggle with it.

Followers of Jesus are called to CONVINCE those who don't believe, REBUKE those who believe but don't obey and EXHORT those who've lost confidence.

We do this in order to RESCUE the needy, DEFEND the truth and FULFIL our duty.

To do so, we should be watchful, persist through hardship and do the work of an evangelist.

2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Tim.3:16, Luke 17:3, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 1:25, Isaiah 30:10, Matthew 24:5

The start of a new year is a good time to re-think our goals and resolutions.

What matters most? What will last? What proverbial ladders are truly worth climbing?

Having reached the top of his ladder, the apostle Paul concluded that he had been climbing the wrong one - the personal relationship with God that Jesus offers us is actually the ultimate pursuit! Knowing Jesus is the ultimate goal, the greatest pursuit, the highest resolution of all!

Philippians 3:7-11, Proverbs 14:23, Ephesians 4:28, John 14:9, Colossians 1:15, John 1:18, John 17:3, 20-24, Jeremiah 29:13

Free book link: https://alanwagnersite.wordpress.com/a-walking-theology

The incarnation of Christ involved God the Word leaving heaven, becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The Father sent the Son - and the Son came into our world.

And just as the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sends us. He calls us to leave our set ways - and "life as we know it" - behind, so that we can be with other people who need Jesus. Jesus sends us into their world to be with them - so that as we are with them, they can see "God with us".

To live as "sent people", we need to love people. We need to see them as Jesus does. We need to get ready to go when Jesus sends - and to listen for his sending!

John 1:14, John 3:16-17, John 20:21, Philippians 2:5-7, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:13-15, Luke 10:2, John 4:35, Ephesians 6:15

A common Christmas picture is a very humble one: a baby in a manger.

But when the apostle John described this moment, he wrote: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"! This was a baby like no other! Jesus is like no other man - he is God made flesh!

This is why Jesus can do what no other man could do:

- he can deal completely with the sin that separates mankind from God

- and he can understand completely how it feels to live life on earth as a human!

What a saviour! What a king! Thomas was right to declare "My Lord and my God!"

Luke 2:4-7, John 1:1-4 & 14, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:20-23, John 1:29, Hebrews 4:14-16, John 20:28

Jesus comes as the True Light into our darkness. We now have to make a choice: will we come into his wonderful light, or hide in the dark?

When we choose the light of Christ, we are rescued from the dominion of darkness and we begin to live in his light. And as we “walk in his light”, we become light to the world around us - our good deeds shine as Jesus works in us and through us!

Genesis 1:1-5, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:9, John 3:19-21, Colossians 1:12-14, Ephesians 5:8-10, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:12-16, Ephesians 2:10

When we put our faith in Jesus, God gives us a brand new life. We are born again of his Spirit and become his sons and daughters.

This new status can be hard to embrace. We may still see ourselves as the people we used to be - or as second class members of God's family. Hardships can hinder us too: we can feel rejected or cast out - until we realise that God disciplines us with hardship because we ARE his children!

When our identity as God's sons and daughters settles in our hearts, our lives change significantly! We enjoy a greater sense of belonging, security, significance, purpose and responsibility.

John 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Romans 9:25-26, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6-7, Hebrews 12:7-8, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 5:20

The church is called a "royal priesthood". As priests, we minister in three directions:

UPWARD - to God - in worship, loving devotion, service and submission

INWARD - to one another - in loving, supportive community

OUTWARD - to the world around us - imploring people to be reconciled to God.

As we live out our priesthood, we will be a blessing to God, to our faith community and to the world around us.

1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:10, 1 John 4:19, Matthew 22:37-38, James 4:8, Acts 2:42-47, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

We live in a society where few people expect to hear from God or know his presence - yet we can enjoy both! In fact, we NEED to experience both! The history of Israel shows the importance of the presence of God and of hearing from God - and followers of Jesus can enjoy these immense privileges! To do so, we should let go of our "idols" (those things we look to in place of God), seek a personal relationship with Jesus, read and obey his words in the Bible and praise him daily.

1 Samuel 4 - 7, Deuteronomy 28:25, 1 Samuel 2:34 & 3:11-14, Colossians 2:15, Galatians 3:29, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:18

Jesus came to earth on a mission: "to seek and to save the lost". And he has passed this mission on to all who would follow him as his disciples - his mission is also our mission! He calls us to seek the lost - and to point them to him so that they may be saved. He calls us to teach them to follow him - and join us on his mission.

If we are to do this, then we need to value people who are labelled "lost" and "sinner". We need to value them enough to go out of our way to reach out to them - and to be their friends even if some misunderstand and criticise.

Luke 19:1-10, Luke 15:7, Luke 9:1-6, Luke 10:1-3, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 7:34