In our second week of Advent, Bjorn reminds us in John 10:10 that Jesus has come to give us life to its fullest, and asks if this has been the case for Christians during the pandemic.

As we enter our first week of Advent, Brittany invites us to reflect on the year through the vantage point of Biblical Hope; choosing to wait in anticipation for the fulfilment of our hope the arrival of Jesus.

Through the account of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles, we are encouraged to seek and be obedient to God in the areas He has given us responsibility.

We are created to be in relationship and through the lens of Ephesians 2, Mark points out that we, as members of God’s household, are built together by the Spirit. Our relationships, when we are moving towards Christ, are equipped to be healthy and life-giving dwelling places of God’s presence in the world.

Further exploring the distinction between, body, soul & spirit, Mark posits that God’s invitation into deep inner reformation happens, not in the soul but in the spirit through the way made by Jesus on the Cross.

In a time of increasing disorientation and apathy, our hearts often align with narratives of self. To be renewed, our hearts must seek and be reformed by the wisdom of the Word and the authority of the Spirit.

Looking back to the reformation, when the bible was returned to the hands of the people, Mark posits that we are at a juncture where in order for renewal to break out, the people of God need to experience a reformation where the Bible is brought back into the hearts of His people.

Jesus calls His Church to be on His mission in the world. This week Mark reminds us of the unique opportunity we and all churches, big and small, have to return to complete dependence on Him and His power to see renewal break out in our cities and nations.

When Jesus invites His followers in Acts 1 to go and be witnesses, we can often heed the call but go about operating out of our own strength. Mark reminds us that in a time when many in our communities are searching for meaning, it is by the power of the Spirit, partnering with God, that we Go with Jesus and be His witnesses.

Renewal of the individual leads to renewal of the church. As we continue to look ahead to ‘The New Normal’, Mark challenges the perceptions we hold about how church ‘should be’. Using Watchman Nee’s paradigm of seeing the self as body, soul and spirit and looking at the account of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), Mark reminds us that when in correct alignment with Jesus, worshipping in ‘spirt and truth’ is less about how you’re worshipping and more about who you are worshipping.