Worry is a thief that wants to rob you of time, energy, joy and faith. There are many scary and unnerving things in life that could cause you anxiety. But the Word of God comes to you with a simple message: "Do not worry!" Listen to what the Bible has to say, and be assured of God's loving care toward his children!

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In 1 John 4:1-6, John exhorts his readers not to believe every "spirit", but to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God". He is referring to the motivating or controlling spirit behind a human being - especially leaders or teachers who profess to be speaking on behalf of God. Before we entrust ourselves to someone, or engage with what they are teaching, we must discern what kind of spirit they are speaking from. Is it the Spirit of God, or the spirit of the world? John warns us not to be taken in by "false prophets" who present the wrong view of Jesus and preach the wrong gospel.

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Becoming a Christian is, in a very real sense, to pass from death to life. So says John, in his first letter. He is equally certain, though, that this new situation will result in deep change. The revelation of the love of Christ in our lives - if our faith is genuine - ought to result in a love for others being expressed through our actions, in many practical ways. As Christ-followers, we are to expect and embrace the deep personal change that this will entail - and to be encouraged that our new nature will cause us to desire this, rather than to avoid it!

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There are very few things in this life that are as valuable, and yet as rare, as true wisdom. Godly wisdom will guard you against all kinds of pitfalls, guiding you into patterns of life that will benefit not only yourself but those around you. Listen, and find out what constitutes real wisdom, and how it can turn your decisions into good ones.

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God wants you to know him more deeply, no matter how long you have been a follower of Jesus! In this part of 1 John, we are instructed to shun the world's temporary and unsatisfying pleasures in favour of something eternal that brings genuine fulfilment and joy. Allow God's Holy Spirit - the "anointing" you received from him - to lead you into greater depth of knowing God personally.

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Prayer is key to all we do as the Church. But what should we pray for? And what happens when the answers do not appear as we are hoping? Ewen Robertson, from New Life Church in Rugby, tackles these questions and encourages us to keep praying, because prayer is powerful and really does change things!

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We are called to "walk in the light", just as Jesus is in the light - to expose our lives to the examination and the mercy of the God who is himself "Light". Here, the apostle John pulls no punches - even for believers, sin remains something to be overcome. But the blood of Jesus continually purifies us! Not so that we can keep on sinning - rather we are urged to outwork our knowledge of God through obedience and love.

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The three letters in the New Testament by the apostle John are full of deep truths, expressed in simple but profound ways. In this first part of a new series, we see how, in Jesus, we have a God who can be touched. Let's get enthralled by Jesus again - so much so that we cannot help but talk about what we have experienced of him!

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In the concluding part of this two-part series, Paul explains what happens when we worship God together as his gathered people, and how we should approach worship in a healthy way. Worship is very much a two-way exercise - God responds as we lift our hearts to him in love, wonder and praise!

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Worship has been called "the ultimate issue of the universe". Rather than being simply a warm-up for the Sunday sermon, worship is fundamental to who we are. It is why we are here - to worship and delight in God. Worship is key to the restoration of all creation - to God's kingdom coming on earth as in heaven! Listen and be inspired to cultivate a heart of worship in every area of life, and learn how you can be transformed as a result.

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