Psalm 100. A psalm that is full of positivity - an invitation to come and praise and worship the living God. This is a God who put billions of galaxies in place, and yet knows the number of hairs on each of our heads and wants to be in an intimate relationship with each and every one of us.

All the Earth is invited to worship Him, not because of anything we have done or because of who we are, but because of who God is and what He has done for us.

Psalm 30. In it David does not focus on his current situation but looks back on his life and reflects with gratitude how God has turned his weeping into joy.

Being grateful is good for you. In a recent article from the Harvard Medical School, they say: “…… gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Clearly David was onto something when he wrote Psalm 30.

Remember the old days, when digital meant something you did with your fingers and a text was the preacher's chosen passage? Perhaps not, but whether it's online or a paper-based hard copy, the Bible is an amazing collection of writings. The story of God's interaction with humanity over thousands of years in all its mystery and wonder. Let's explore the variety of books in those sacred scriptures, touching on why they are there and how we can read and respond to them.

Transformation Not Information by Shirley Baptist Church

Why is the Bible important? Does it matter regarding our relationship to God? How is your faith journey enriched and blessed by the Bible? Does the Bible feel overwhelming or a daily blessing? How does the Bible point to the life of Jesus for you? Let's start by looking at the big picture.

So, how should we welcome people who are different to us? Acts 11:1–18 gives us a great pointer. At first glance, this passage appears to be about the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the early church. But what if the greatest miracle in this story is not that the Gentiles are welcomed into the church, but that Peter is transformed by God? Let's explore Peter's remarkable journey from certainty to humility, uncover some hidden assumptions that he makes, and consider a simple but challenging prayer for those moments when we find ourselves in disagreement: "Lord, is there anything here that I cannot currently see?"

Reconciliation - the restoration of friendly relations after a dispute, argument, or estrangement. Often very tricky - more so than forgiveness. Why? Well, because forgiveness only takes one person's commitment, but reconciliation requires all parties to participate. So what does the Bible say about reconciliation? Thankfully, we have some great guidance in the letter that Paul wrote to Philemon in which he appeals to him to forgive and extend grace to his runaway slave, Onesimus. The good news of Jesus Christ is all about reconciliation with God through grace and forgiveness. So how did this impact Paul and Philemon, and how might it impact us today?

1st Corinthians 13 is a very well known and much loved chapter in the Bible. But what does it tell us about how to disagree well, especially in a Christian context? Well, love is the key. We often feel we know what is right and true, but sometimes another Christian, maybe a good friend, thinks differently. Maybe even diametrically opposed. In such circumstances, it is vital that the conversation is underpinned by love.

When was the last time (or first time) you sat around a campfire with friends and strangers and chatted, laughed and sang? Were marshmallows involved? The image of people around a campfire is such a good image of church life and community. How we talk, how we relate, what we share, and the depth of fellowship created are so important. In the book of Romans, Paul challenges the church in Rome to live in peace and encouragement, working out how best to live out the unity that Jesus brings among them. There are disputes and disagreements around religious practice and expectations. But he explains that these should be handled with love rather than judgment or contempt. Unity in Christ and the diversity of people and convictions are best practised when the fire of God’s love draws us into deeper fellowship. The question remains - are you prepared to make the effort that leads to this? It may require picking up a stick with a marshmallow on it and offering it to the person with an opposing opinion with the words, “enjoy - Jesus loves you!”

Does disagreement between friends always have to end in tears, or can it have a positive outcome? How should we disagree within a Christian context? Let's check out what the bible has to say by looking at a couple of occasions when fellow believers in the early church fell out. We will see how, on one occasion, they managed to work through their differences and arrived at an outcome that satisfied everyone – but we will also come across another where there was no agreement!