WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

What do you think of when you hear the name of Jesus? Jesus was and is a great guy - one of us, great to be around, even though he frequently precipitated crises wherever he went. But he is God who became human to reconcile humans with God, to rescue people from death, to offer them life and hope, and enable them to live abundantly. Beginning our new series through the book of Mark, Bill Brown reminds us of some of the truths of who Jesus was and still is. He still calls people to follow him. He still speaks words of healing, hope, cleansing and life. He still overcomes forces that rob people of life and stops the nightmares that they are in. He still reaches out to people who feel like, and are told that, they are unclean and untouchable and connects them into communities of hope and healing. He is Jesus.

A WORD TO THE WISE

A WORD TO THE WISE

When starting a new year we have all sorts of hopes and expectations about what is to come, yet we also instinctively know that much of what happens in a year comes down to the choices and decisions we make about where we invest our time, energy and resources. So what does it mean to choose wisely? In this sermon, Fiona Brown explores what wisdom Proverbs 12:11 has to offer us in 2016, and how it can impact both this year and the years to come.

A WORD TO THE WISE

Like the warning lights on the dashboard of our cars, anger can alert us that some action needs to be taken, something is wrong and needs attention. The longer it is allowed to run in the ‘red zone’ the more the danger the driver is in and the more difficult to repair the damage. But if the red light causes you to check the manual, dig beneath the bonnet, then the red light has served you well. The same is true with anger –it serves us well if it prompts us to figure out exactly why we are upset. Today we explore how to manage anger in a helpful and appropriate way.

A WORD TO THE WISE Forgiveness is surrendering the right to hurt someone back. And forgiveness comes from a place of love. Mike Riddell opens up the book of Proverbs with us again, looking at a verse that shows how love can bring about forgiveness, yet absence of love separates close friends. Forgiveness is not easy, but ultimately our power for forgiving comes not from ourselves, but from the fact that we have each been forgiven an infinitely bigger debt by God. Mike Riddell reminds us that that forgiveness, based in love, is the mark of a Christian.

A WORD TO THE WISE

A wise man once said, “As you go through closed, you are going to come across many opportunities to keep your mouth closed. Take advantage of them all”. But do we? This morning, Tracy Ware points out the truth that if we keep our mouths closed, we can’t say things that may be hurtful, derogatory, insensitive and so on. Listen for insight on how to use our words wisely, based around three realities: words have power, there are clear choices, and God’s help is needed, and listen also for hope when the words of others have wounded us.

A WORD TO THE WISE

Written by the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, Proverbs is a book all about wisdom. What is wisdom? How is Proverbs applicable to us today? How do we interpret the Proverbs? Bill Brown opens Syndal’s January series, ‘A Word to the Wise’, with an exhortation taken directly from the book of Proverbs: Pursue Wisdom. Not only does Proverbs guide us in the way of receiving God’s blessing, it also provides an excellent navigational system through life. Listen out for a better understanding of what proverbs is about, and how it relates us today.

THE PLAN UNFOLDS

With the truth in mind of who the newborn King is, the question becomes, "why is he here?" Why did God become human and be born into the world he created? We take a look at the divine purpose of Christmas, the reason Jesus is here: He became a child so we can have the opportunity to become Children of God as well. Listen as Emily Andrews opens up John 1 to share this incredible truth with us!

THE PLAN UNFOLDS

Most people know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. But why is that important? And what is God's purpose in doing so? Adam Deveson kicks off Syndal's Christmas series beginning with a fresh look at the truth of who that tiny baby is: the King of the Jews, the one whom we can seek, find, and in whom we have life!

PRESS ON

So now that we are at the end of Hebrews, what do we do with what we have heard? In the final part of the Press On series, Mike Riddell pulls it all together, putting the highlighter to the key message of Hebrews, and how that instructs our faith lives today. Listen for timely reminders to find inspiration and courage in community and have our faith perfected by Jesus, the King of all.