The Bethel - Old Trafford Christadelphian Church

What get's you excited in life? For Zoe and Tim, it's Christmas (or other similar 'life nostalgia') - but do we get as excited about the Kingdom? From the challenging verses from Revelation to the Kingdom parables, Tim and Zoe show us that God really wants us to live in joy and not in fear - to enjoy life and live in excitement for the Kingdom - but not just a kingdom in the far-off distance, but a kingdom within us, with a king that reigns in our hearts. (Sadly, some parts of this talk are missing, but the majority remains.)

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul writes: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Martyn unpacks this as an imperitive to put into action the one command of love one another from Jesus which he had distilled from the two greatest commands - love the lord your God and love your neigbour as yourself.

Synopsis to follow

What if we saw ourselves how God sees us? This is the springboard for the thoughts we were encouraged with today. We are loved, forgive, accepted and seen as perfect having taken on the covering of Christ. Lets also try to see eachother in the same light.

This morning Tony draws our attention to the language used around Jesus' healing miracles. The tenth leper returns and Jesus tells him that his faith has made him better - but it turns out the word used is more often translated as 'saves'. How does that change the relationship between healer and healed? How does that change our relationship with Jesus? Tony explores the lessons we can learn and put into practice in our lives.

We always find ourselves somewhere in between the mountain tops and the valley in life. Many bible characters also saw the valleys but we learn from so many of them that they looked to God to help them rise again. Malcolm encouraged us not to go to the valleys without visiting the mountain tops, not to blame God for people's failings and to look to the mountain mover, not the mountain as we learn to let God move us and our hearts.

As a church of believers, there are many things we’re great at, but often one thing we’re slow to recognise is our own divisions. Do you find yourself gravitating towards a select few, and not engaging with the rest? Do we shy away from talking to someone new? John challenges us with these questions and more, as he shows us the problem is nothing new, and even the very thing that is meant to bind us - the bread and wine - divided the early church. John’s challenge for us is that we are called to be united in Jesus, as a body of believers, brothers and sisters: God’s children.

We may think we know what a scapegoat is, but did you know its origin is from the Bible? In Leviticus, the Israelites put their sins onto two goats, one was killed as an offering and the other was set free - this one was called the scapegoat. This may be different from our understanding of the word today, but, as Aaron as shows us, it has thought-provoking implications in the context of Barrabas, the man set free instead of Jesus prior to his crucifixion.

To glorify is to fulfil the exact function the creator intended for the object. It is related to giving dignity to the creator. Philip reminds us that the way we give glory is important, that grace, mercy, humility, forgiveness and bringing praise and honour are all part of our glorification of God. The most important revelation Jesus gave to us was that he, and by inference God, provide the highest relationship that we can be involved with. We can see how people witnessed Jesus doing only what God intended for him to do and doing it willingly. This is clearly a good example for us so we can also demonstrate glorifying God by following His ways.

What makes a meal memorable? Is it the people, the place, the food or event? Is it the outcome of the meal or some meaning behind it? Meals can be about nutrition or extending hospitality to travellers, they can be about marking a faetivity or watershed moment, a landmark or special occasion. Whatever a meal signifies, meals are an important part of our shared lives together.