This week, Dr Luke tells us about Jesus' critique of everyone who relies on themselves rather than calling out to God in repentance to rely on him. Before he came to earth, the standard you and I would have had to achieve to please God was daunting but Jesus has raised the standard - it's now impossible; we must rely on him only.

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After several months we're back with Dr Luke's account of Jesus' life ... and what a strange part we come across today! Jesus tells a story about the manager of a business who engages in some seriously devious practice in order to save his skin ... and Jesus seems to commend him for that. Strange or what! Doesn't Jesus condemn cheating in other places? What's going on? Watch the video and find out!!

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Death is dead! Christ has risen! He has died, thereby dealing with the sin ... for ever. And now he's drawing people of all types, and all histories into the family of God. If he's drawn you in, then join in our celebration ... and if not, use this celebration to ask him to join you to his family. He forgives. He delivers. He loves. He strengthens. Praise King Jesus who was dead, but is alive.

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Just a week to go. Jesus is travelling to the city in which he will be subjected to a trial with a fixed outcome - his death in the most painful way imaginable. For a short while he's treated as a great celebrity but his adoring fans will soon turn on him and shout for his murder. And he knows it! Why would he make such a journey, knowingly and deliberately?

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Some people think the Bible histories are so old that they're irrelevant for modern readers. Today's look at something that happened more than 3000 years ago could be a description of parts of the world in 2026 if you changed a few names - there's jealousy from someone who missed out on some glory from a success ... because they hadn't wanted to help achieve that success. So they start being disrespectul of those they'd refused to help. Just like so many today ... maybe too much like you and I !

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Today, our look at the Bible book called 'Judges' brings us face-to-face with Jephthah - a great hero who trusted God ... and who then made a promises to God that revealed him to be a great fool. Just think of the promises you have made to God. Did you keep them all, 100%? If not, what will happen?

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Gideon was a hero ... who slid into spiritual decay. Now he's gone and, as so often, the next generation has no interest in God at all and abuse of neighbours becomes the norm. How like us. Only God can bring justice. Only God can bring mercy.

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Hard on the heels of last week's recounting of Gideon's spiritual success we find his slow descent into spiritual complacency - how like us! God helps us, we are super excited and thankful ... and then we begin to push God to the margin of our lives because we don't feel we need him much. May the story of Gideon prompt us to get back to God!

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Last week we learnt about Gideon - a scared and doubting believer in God. This week we find him doing something amazing as God motivates him and encourages him. As God removes the tension between Gideon and God, things change completely. A lesson for all of us!

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What an unlikely hero - Gideon. He's scared of the enemy of his country, he's scared of his family and he's scared of what his neighbours will think of him. But God can use him ... as long as he trusts God. But Gideon's not at all sure this is believable. Is that like anyone you know? - it sounds to me too much like you and me!

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