Today Zane Elliott walks us through the longest chapter in Genesis. Chapter 24 has a whopping 67 verses, and takes around ten minutes to read aloud.

Because it is such a huge chapter we won't be giving it a thorough line-by-line explanation, we are going to be touching down in a few places as we journey with Abraham’s servant, to find Isaac a wife.

We are going to stop along the way on his journey taking note of three particular ways that we see God’s providence at work, in the cosmic - the grand narrative of salvation history, and in the lives of individuals.

 {slide 6} Because of God’s providence -

i) Believers pass on God’s purpose to the next generation vv.1-9
ii) Believers can be confident God leads them in His purpose vv.10-27 
iii) Believers must give priority to God’s work, confident he will complete it vv.28-67

This week we are back in Genesis with Abraham, and we'll be thinking about the steadfast promises of God as we join Abraham in a time of great sorrow. Following his wife Sarah's death Abraham stands on a precipice: it’s a crisis moment which reminds us i) God’s people suffer loss before receiving his promises vv.1-2. 

As we look at the way that Abraham deals with the Hittites to secure a resting place for his wife we see a stunning example of faith because ii) God’s people believe God’s promises extend beyond this life vv.3–20


 Walking with Abraham series Genesis 22:20-23:20 

In this sermon Simon Martin, the Vicar-General for the Diocese of Nelson opens 1 Peter 4:1-7 and helps the church think through what it means to live as Christian people in the light of the end - Jesus victorious return.

The theme, as we gather to remember the death and resurrection in the Lord's Supper is; Confidence in Christ's Example.

Zane Elliott opens 1 Peter 4:1-6 and helps us think through how Christians can arm ourselves with the mind of Christ as we face i) Pagan Opposition vv.3-4, then we'll see how we should live as exiles as we make ii) A Christian response vv.1-2 and then we'll  remind ourselves of the iii) Christian confidence vv.5-6 we have as we fight the lures of life.

Confidence in Christ's Victory.

 Zane Elliott opens 1 Peter 3:13-22, and helps us think through how we can face threats and opposition without fear, because we are safe and secure in Jesus' victory over death and sin. He will explore the passage using two main headings i) The threat of non-Christian Opposition vv.13-17 and ii) The basis of Christian confidence.

Today Zane Elliott opens 1 Peter 3:8-12, it's a short reading, which has a lot in it to help Christians consider how we can resist evil and do good in the life of the church, to the glory of God. 

As we open this passage we'll be called to i)turn from sin vv.9-11, and ii) do good instead vv.8-9a,11 as we look for iii) a godly outcome vv.9b, 12.

In this sermon Zane Elliott helps us consider how we can resist evil and live for God's glory as exiles, as we carry out our lives in the workplace and the home.

We work through the passage by breaking it down into the following headings:
i) Living as exiles in the workplace 2:18-25
a) The situation
b) Trace the pattern
c) A godly outcome

ii) Living in the home 3:1-7
a) Christian wives
b) A godly outcome 
c) Christian husbands 
A godly outcome 

Today we remember the Ascension of the Lord Jesus, and reflect on what it means to have an ascended Lord. 
Jean Palmer opens Acts 1:1-14, and Revelation 1:9-18 for us, and will help us consider the Ascension event, the significance of the Ascension, and the Ascended Christ.

As we open 1 Peter  2:4-10 today Zane Elliott builds on the main point from last week, and shows us that in the glorious new life God has given his people have A Glorious Purpose.

As We open this passage we'll consider

i)a new temple vv.4-8

it) a new identity vv.5,9

ill) a new purpose vv.9-10