This week we think about what our motivation is in how we live, and ask ourselves: are we living the wrong life? (John 6:24-35)

Jesus seems superhuman, but is superhuman the right way to describe him?

Is there something more going on? If so, what does that mean for us?

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.” (Mark 6:41)

At the feeding of the 5000 the disciples' role in organizing the people, distributing the bread and loaves, and collecting the leftovers teaches us to participate in God’s work to provide for others and to trust in God’s ability to meet our needs whilst working to show compassion and generosity to those around us.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship." (Romans12:1)

"Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honour except in his home town, among his relatives and in his own home.'" (Mark 6:4)

It turns out that procrastination until 'tomorrow' and nostalgia for 'yesterday' are both ways of avoiding the present moment, and the opportunities and the challenges it brings. In living our lives before God, we would be wise to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call on him while he is near.

"Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."" (Mark 5:36)

Both fear and faith can be strong motivators, but they create very different emotions. Fear creates an atmosphere of gloom and despair. Faith produces hope and excitement.

Jesus did tell us to fear hell and the temptations of the devil, but there was a stronger emphasis on faith. He inspired people to trust him, offering a vision of the Kingdom of God, marked by compassion, healing and even victory over death. Surely, his is a message and a performance that can truly inspire?

This Sunday we welcome David Bird, who will be joining us to talk about the work of Compassion.

Our Sunday Club support, John, a Compassion child in the Philippines, so it will be great for them to hear about the kind of support that he receives.

Then Jesus said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear!" (Mark 4:9)

Have you got “ears to hear”? At one level this saying from Jesus which appears twice in Mark 4 seems to imply that deaf people are excluded and those who are not deaf should listen. But Mark 4 is a chapter full of parables, short stories or images that mean one thing on the surface but are meant to point to a deeper meaning.

“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:20-35)

As followers of Jesus, we are now family – Jesus the radical King is the head of the family and we bear his likeness, sharing his power and authority – sharing the ways of his kingdom and living in obedience – we have a family business of living out God’s kingdom in word and deed. Let’s encourage each other in that task.

Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27-28)

God commanded the Sabbath for our good. As Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man.” Yes, Jesus also challenged the legalism that had been built up from human tradition around what could or could not be done on the Sabbath, because those Sabbath regulations had become a kind of slave master themselves. Yet he still saw the Sabbath as good for us.

Do we make sure we get the weekly day off work that God commands for our good? Or do we allow work to enslave us?