An intriguing title. A passage that begins with a miracle of multiplying bread ends with a crowd who want to force Jesus to take up the sword and become a Jewish King who will free the Jews from Roman domination. Like this crowd, we Christians at times try to manipulate Jesus to do what we want him to do. We try to get God to conform to our will, rather than being willing to conform to His will. Ryan encourages us to attempt the impossible, presenting our meagre resources to him and seeing our limits as God’s grace in disguise. Only in our weakness and lack are strong in him, a truly countercultural idea in our society. There is peace in surrender to God and Ryan’s entreaty is to move from self trust to trust in God.

Christianity provides a story from which a robust world-view can be developed, answering life’s most basic questions. This story from the New Testament is the only miracle recounted in all four gospels. In its context it is significant in the large meta-narrative of Gods work in the earth.

Your life matters to God and Matt draws out the power of God to use us and our insignificant resources to make a difference in the lives of others and to achieve Gods purposes. Not meaning that God’s purpose was that we would know Jesus as a political ruler or cosmic Santa Clause, but rather know Him as “the Bread of Life” who gave his body and blood so that we could know life in all its fullness. Real life is in the mystery of feasting on the Son of God.

Sometimes we can miss the point. We can live our lives waiting for ‘luck’ and not be looking for Jesus

God pursues us – He makes all the moves towards us because of His grace

His grace is unsolicited and underserved

Grace brings into being that which is not and then it is!

Just as in the account of creation in Genesis God called into being that which was not these are the acts of His grace

Today He continues to pursue us as He has all through history and waits for us to respond to His acts of grace.

Jesus is aware of the state of the world – its darkness and broken hearts.

Jesus through his grace has called into being hope, love, freedom, and faith.

He will rule forever.

Some people are fixated on their problems and believe that they or their situation will never change

Is it the circumstances of their lives or is it how they think? Is it a victim mentality?

Theo shares four signs that you may be in a difficult place or indicators of victim mentality.

Is the problem within us? We all have a choice – how will we be on the inside despite what is happening on the outside?

Is it always other people or circumstances that cause our problems. Jesus said to the man – Stand up! Pick up your mat and Walk

Be thankful – focus on God’s love for you – it changes your heart.

Discover that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

It was the first Easter Sunday. The followers of Jesus were grieving. The women who discovered the empty tomb were marveling. Jesus began appearing. The disciples began believing. Good news. The best news. Ointment for our hearts. Bringing peace and joy. Transformation for individuals and for societies was dawning.

Josh explains the love of God for us, even in our hard to love, unlovable state. This love is “heart balm”. Our Identity as a person who is loved so much by a loving Heavenly Father is “good news” and is the motivation for us going to change the world by sharing this “good news”.

We begin with sharing who God is - a good God who wants to bless us. Merciful, tender and compassionate.

We focus on the Identity, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

A really powerful message which will make you laugh lots, but also motivate you to share the truly good news about the God who loves and motivate you to love those who God created.

It is too easy to compare ourselves with other Christians and then to feel inadequate or feel at the bottom of an imaginary Christian hierarchy. This message challenges that view and frees us to have a personal internal revelation of who Jesus is and who we are.

From two stories in John Chapter 4, Matt encourages us to believe and trust God even if he is not showing you signs and miracles. This runs counter-culturally in our society where science teaches us to believe only what can be observed, tested and repeated. There is no formula for a faith based life.

What is your core belief about who you are? Deep down, what is your sense of identity? What does it mean to be created in the image of God or to reign over the earth and reign in life as believers? From John Chapter 4 Sue discusses these issues through the miracle or sign of Jesus healing the sick son of a royal official. Jesus berated the official for demanding signs and wonders without being willing to truly believe - pledging loyalty to Jesus as the Son of God. However, the official took Jesus at his word - he truly put his belief in Jesus and his son was healed. Sue encourages us to remember who we truly are in our own right (nothing!), and who we are in Jesus (everything!).

The life that God wants for us is eternal, morally light-filled, it is truth and brings freedom from spiritual slavery. Through belief in Jesus, John’s gospel promises that we can have this life, and it will have credence, develop confidence in our faith and bring continuance of transformation within us.

Theo outlines from the water into wine story how, when we come to the end of our own resources, we are drawn to cry out to God. Then Jesus shows himself to be God, by performing a “sign” but without the host and guests knowing who did this. Mary, his mother, knew Jesus’ true identity and went to him confidently on this basis. This message will encourage you to believe that God is good and wants only good for your life.

The book of John is full of signs which point to who Jesus is and what his plan for humanity is. Paul points us to the new covenant which Jesus embodies - a covenant of abundant grace and love which changes us from the inside out, freeing believers from sin and guilt. The symbolism of ceremonial water. The Biblical significance of the numbers 6 and 7. Unlimited grace and favour poured out on an unnamed couple in an insignificant little town. All elements of a message which draws us toward the conclusion that God is extravagant in his love for us.

Humans not only think and process information, but they also dream and solve problems. Human consciousness is amazing and yet we can’t even work out how to stop paper getting caught in a photocopier!! Our problem is not the limitation of our intellect, but our lack of belief in, and relationship with, Jesus the Saviour, the Light of the World.

Outlining six stages in growing as a Christian, Sue focuses on three levels of human belief: public, private and core. What do you believe in the depth of your being where your core beliefs exist - that God loves you fully and that out of this love, you yourself can live a life of love - the goal of Stage 6?

Belief. Love. Joy. Perennial positive themes of scripture and Sue’s preaching.