Preacher: Phil Popping

This session lays down the biblical foundations for seeing church as a place where we love and edify one another, via a study of 1 Corinthians 13-14 and Hebrews 10. This is the critical change in mindset that this course is built on—moving from a view of church that is centred largely on ourselves (even on our own personal ‘worship experience’) to an understanding that is centred on God and those around us; to see church as a place where we love people by seeking to build them up in Christ.

Preacher: Jono Deenick

This week we embark on a new series called, 'Six steps to loving your church.' The name speaks for itself in many ways, but essentially we will be thinking about how we can love the community of believers which God has made us a part of. Today we start by considering Jesus' incredible love for the church and ask how that should shape our love and actions as we engage with each other.

Preacher: Phil Popping

Last week we were encouraged to be patient as the Lord is coming – standing at the door! But what do we do while we wait? It might be fine to say that Jesus could come back at any moment, but in the meantime, life can be hard – people are sick and dying!

James helps us understand what to do in all life circumstances, but particularly through terrible sickness: pray. But, what should we expect from prayer?

Preacher: Juhan Klooster

This Sunday we are taking a break from our James series and jumping back into the Old Testament to 2 Samuel 7, the Davidic Covenant. This is one of the most important passages of the Old Testament. Throughout human history God has selected a handful of individuals to be key players in bringing about salvation and restoration to a broken and hurting world. God’s covenant with David brought about hope, hope that a messiah would come one day to rule on David’s throne forevermore. This hope was a guiding light to the Israelites in exile. Though Israel is still searching for the coming messiah, we have found Christ, the true heir of David’s throne who is our eternal hope.

This week James turns again to the topic of 'the rich'. In a manner reminiscent of the Old Testament prophets he blasts the rich who have taken advantage of others. But then he encourages the believers, who are likely oppressed to be patient and await Jesus return and renewal. And so he outlines two choices, two ways of life and each has a different destination. We too are faced with this same choice, one that looks pretty good right now and another that might be hard now, but will bring great blessing when Jesus returns.

A note from Pastor Jono:

In [this sermon], I put up a slide that said “God does not tempt us beyond what we can bare.” This was wrong. In many ways, it’s not what I said as I related the story of Job, but it is what I put up. Of course, God does not tempt us at all. We saw that earlier in the book of James (1 : 13). Rather, like Job, God allows us to be tempted, but as 1 Corinthians 10 : 13 says, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Perhaps this might seem a minor point, but I felt I had misrepresented God badly and I wanted to correct my mistake. Praise God that He protects us from temptations that are beyond us and thank Him that he gives us a way to endure.

This week in James we turn to a completely new topic, planning. What does it look like for us to make plans for the future as believers. God is sovereign and yet we clearly can plan and carry out plans. So what are we to do? Do we just wait to see what happens? Are we supposed to somehow determine God's plan and do that? Or do we just more ahead with what seems best? James, in this short passage, tells us how to plan in a way that honours God and also relieves us of unrealistic burdens.

James uses some really strong words in this passage: war, fighting, killing. He calls people double minded sinners, and asks them to mourn and wail - changing their laughter to mourning and joy to gloom.

Worst of all, these words seem to be directed to believers in the church! Is James saying them to us? How could these sayings and descriptions be part of the Christian life and walk?

We live in a world that often doesn't hold fathers in terribly high regard. Of course there are fathers who have not cared well for their families and even abandoned them. However, even the average father, seeking to care for his family can feel unwanted or uncertain about the role he has in the family. God, perhaps not surprisingly given He calls Himself 'Father', is very positive about the role of father. Today we want to consider what He tells us about fathers and most especially how He stands as the perfect example of what a Father should be.

Ps Phil Popping

One of the key outcomes of The Reformation was 'Sola Fide', latin for: salvation by faith alone. Paul certainly seems to teach that theology. How then can James say that 'a person is considered righteous by what they do and not faith alone'? Are Paul and James battling out opposing theologies?

This week James speaks with passion into the very heart of salvation and the lives of believers to answer: 'What really does save us?'