The Bethel - Old Trafford Christadelphian Church

Colin paints the picture of us as sheep, called by our shepherd through trials and challenges, and it is he who pulls us through even if we resist. As we reflect on sharing the eucharist together, Colin reminds us that we continuously stand in a state of grace, that the symbols remind us that Jesus died to draw all sheep to God and that our response of righteous acts is from a place of gratitude.

Altruism - placing the well-being of others above your own well-being. David spends some time this morning showing us the kind of true altruism that flows from God, for which we are the vessels and why we should be motivated to show that altruism. But is there such a thing as true altruism?

Richard III, arrows and flared nostrils. Just a few of the pictures that can help us understand the nuances of our responsibility for sin and help us understand God’s reaction. Exodus 34 as you’ve never seen it before.

Jesus was magnetically drawn to the temple as a young boy. Charles suggests that it was for safety, worship and conversation about God. We should also be drawn to community and congregation around the same things. None of them is a quick-fix option, they all require time and commitment. Charles expanded the three areas with suggestions and thoughts of how we can better engage with God's story.

We aren't looking at developing superpowers like the Marvel super heroes. We are interested in exploring the superpowers that Jesus demonstrated and the greatest of all of them - Love. Pete and Liz explore how to get plugged into the main power source and some basic spiritual disciplines to help us on our journey.

Philippians 2 tells us that we are supposed to be seen bright and obvious in this world, to 'shine like stars'. Our lives on this planet are supposed to make a difference, people should see Jesus at work in us. Tony used examples from his life to show that Jesus can change us, he can change our habits if we allow ourselves to be changed.

As we take time at the start of a new week to focus on God, Mike revisits the subject of prayer. He reminds us that Jesus desperately needed to take time alone to pray in secret and in our busy lives, it's important that we too stop, pull the car over to the side of the road, turn the engine off and take our hands off the wheel. In the silence, in secret, let's try to find more time for God.

This morning Trevor introduces us to a confident and ambitious Trevor, as well as a Trevor that struggled to achieve the things he hoped for. Sound familiar? Trevor then introduces us to Jesus and shows us that sometimes we have to stop absorbing and release, and remember that Jesus is someone like you.

As Martyn leads the whole service this morning, he talks to us in our desert places and guides us through Bible stories of others in their desert places, and shows us with the poetry about the day that the desert will bloom. If we're feeling lost and desolate, we can take heart in the knowledge that Jesus is always at hand.

What can we learn from Rahab? She was a woman as flawed as we could imagine. Yet, in the coupling of her faith and actions, she was saved. Tony encouraged us to demonstrate our faith by how we live, lettin gour faith inspire us to change and be different.