Jesus saw incredible potential in people. He trusted his disciples to take the kingdom of God out into the world, he encouraged people to seek him and find him and ask him fro things, he was full of positive encouragement. Likewise, we are to encourage one another, lifting one another up, praying for one another, and lifting one another's faith.

Jesus has a heart for the nations. He wants all people to know and love him. his body is a multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-cultural group of people who love God and love one another just as he has loved us. Wherever you're from Jesus loves you and wants you to be part of his church, and so should we. God's plan for the church is not that we all conform to looking like each other, but that we conform to look like him.

John spoke brilliantly without notes this week as we spent a morning listening to the Holy Spirits leading.

First and foremost we long to be a people who hunger and thirst after God. We are aiming at becoming mature disciples of Jesus that know only He can satisfy our deepest longings and needs (our spiritual thirst), and easily run to him instead of looking for other things in life to satisfy us.

John lays out a new terms teaching topic. After studying the kingdom o fGOd last term,; this term we look at the culture of River City and who we are to be as people and what should characterise us as a family.

Chris Mason visits us from The Oak Church Leeds. As a good friend to many of us he encourages us to be investing in the secret place with Jesus.

Many might and glorious kingdoms have risen and fallen since the beginning of the world, but there is one kingdom that will never fade or perish, one king who will forever be seated on a throne. Better is one day in his Kingdom than a thousand elsewhere. And the promise to those who live in this kingdom is that we will dwell with him forever, and ever and ever.

One of the paradoxes of the kingdom is that it is here, and yet it is also coming. We have seen the Kingdom being established on the earth and yet the complete and utter submission of all of creation to Christ has not yet been accomplished. That is why we do not see everyone we pray for healed, or the dead raised, or sin and death removed. But, we cannot allow that to make us complacent, thinking that we can relax and take it easy. Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom fully once and for all, and we

The promise of God is that the Kingdom he is establishing on the earth is one of power, not just of persuasive words or good presentation. The proclamation if the good news of the gospel, the work of Jesus on the cross, is accompanied with a power that can bring many to salvation. As we go out into the world to bring the kingdom of God, let's use great words but let's also show people God's glorious power.