The second look at our Christmas King ... Jesus is not just the King who brings hope but also the one who brings peace. We live in a very unpeaceful world, between countries, between groups of peoples, in families and even in our own heads. We need peace desperately. And Jesus brings peace by dealing, first of all with our lack of peace with God. Only then we can begin to bring peace in our own lives and around us.

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At last! Christmas is here at SBC ... and at the start of our Advent series we've just got to the start of the next chapter of the Bible book of Isaiah. In the midst of the gloom of Isaiah's world, and in the midst of the mess that's our world, God introduces us to a King who brings hope in any and every situation - in yours, mine and in anyone's who will take him as their king.

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After last week's glimpse of God in his glory, Isaiah (and us) are plunged into the depths of disaster. Isaiah's son is born with the warning from God that war is imminent - war which will result in the army being shattered and the country being plundered by the enemy. And, for many, even God himself won't provide a sanctuary - instead many will find God to be the final hurdle at which they fall. Finally, utter darkness and exile from God will result. Gloomy? Yes. Desperate? Yes. Hopeless? Listen and find out!

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Although we've been looking at the first few chapters of the Bible book of Isaiah for several weeks, today is the first time we get to see the prophet Isaiah up close. God gives him an awful job to do - and the encouragement God gives him is an immense shock for Isaiah - God reveals Isaiah's helplessness and hopelessness in a dramatic way ... but he also shows that Isaiah that can rely 100% on God.

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Today we continue to look at the early chapters of Isaiah and a parable about God and his people - the picture is of a farmer who plants a vineyard, nurtures everything and looks for good wine at the end of the process ... but he gets rubbish. What has God done for us? What have we produced for him?

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More darkness to unpick in chapters 3 & 4 of the Bible's book called Isaiah! This week we see Isaiah the prophet laying into his hearers on behalf of God. "You've brought calamity upon yourselves". It's a message we all need to hear as everyone of us has to a greater or lesser degree failed to keep to God's standards. But, as last week, there's a glimmer of hope - for God himself, who we've all mistreated and ignored at some time or another, is constructing a shelter from the judgement we deserve ... a shelter for everyone who turns to him honestly and sincerely.

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Today we start a new series on Sunday mornings in which we'll look at the first 9 chapters of the Bible's book called Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet to whom God gave a challenging job - to tell his hearers that calamity was about to fall upon them. And Chapter 1 of this book is the start of his wake-up call. Those to whom Isaiah gave his message really needed to hear what he had to say ... their lives might depend on them taking action. And we're not so different. We need to hear the same message from God because our lives might depend on us taking action.

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This is an all-age end-of-special-weekend service! So, whatever age you are, you are welcome! The talk is in 2 parts today and there's a focus on Matthew's account of Jesus' message that each of his followers must be salty and shiny! Acting as world preservers and world enlightners ... for that is what Christ himself is.

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Today's the last of our short, 4-part, series covering the vision we have for out church ... though we guess we're covering much what every church wants to be - the church that Jesus wants us to be. He has welcomed us into his family, his kingdom and his life so we want to welcome any and everyone so that they, too, can find a home with him.

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Here's the third look at God's plan for Christian communities ... we look much more like cracked flowerpots that are unable to hold anything useful - broken and unable to fulfil God's purpose for us. But God is changing us into a people with an eternal value beyond price ... like smashed pottery we are being turned into a glorious treasure!

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