Kathryn Hartley | Matthew 1:1-16, 9:12-13; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 145:3-4 ; Ephesians 3:21— Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus might seem an odd preface to the Christmas story, but in it we find a testament to the unending goodness of God. From Adam to Christ, God was faithful through the generations to deliver His promised Messiah. And so too will His faithfulness endure from Christ’s birth to His second coming.

Andrew Baker | Luke 2:8-16,20; Isaiah 9:6-7, 53:5; Romans 5:1 — At the birth of Christ, the heavenly host appeared proclaiming "Glory to God" and "on Earth peace". This angelic proclamation did not mark the absence of earthly strife. Rather, God's greatest gift achieved something even more significant: Jesus came in human flesh to restore peace between humankind and God. This peace is our greatest need and invitation.

Andrew Baker | Hebrews 10:19-25; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 9:4-5 — As we take stock of 2024 and with gratitude recall all that God has done, may we heed the encouragement given by the writer to the Hebrews: in all things fix your eyes on Jesus, seeking to live out love and good works as the Body of Christ.

Adam Ritchard | Habakkuk 3:2; Psalm 27:4; Revelation 3:14-20; Romans 12:11; Matthew 3:8, 24:12; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Acts 2:37-38 — If we truly desire awakening then we must continually seek after it. In order for us to sustain this cry for awakening, we must heed the call of Jesus given to the Laodicean church: to fuel the fire of God in our hearts; to humble ourselves in repentance; and to make room for Him. May our hearts be constantly stirred to see awakening in our time and nation.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 4:1-16; John 17:22-23; Acts 2:42-47 — There are few things more effective at thwarting the work of the Spirit than disunity. It is no wonder then that the Apostle Paul, the Early Church, and Jesus himself all call us to prioritise unity with our fellow believers. As we press in to see God move, may we put aside our personal preferences to pursue the great uniting call of the Gospel.

Adam Ritchard | Luke 18:1-8; Mark 11:15-17; James 5:16b-18; Nehemiah 4:15; 1 Kings 18:1,41-45 — If awakening is the fire, then prayer is the spark. Through the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus’ listeners were encouraged to always pray and never lose heart. But they were also challenged: will Jesus find this kind of faith on the Earth? As we cry out for awakening in our day, will we persist in faith-filled prayer for God’s will to be done?

Andrew Baker | Mark 10:46-52; Luke 8:40-48 — The healing of Bartimaeus’ blindness was not remarkable compared to many of Jesus’ other miracles. But what does stand out is the desperate hunger with which he cried out for Jesus. As the rumblings of revival go on in our midst, will we be spectators or participants? Will we too cry out ‘all the more’ with an unusual hunger for God’s will, that He would move in our city and nation?

Matt King | Psalm 107:9; Matthew 5:3; Psalm 42:1 — When God says that revival is coming, what is our response? Do we hunger and thirst for deeper relationship with Him, crying out for Him to move? Or are we lulled into comfortable, secure, spiritually apathetic lives? God is too good to leave us where we are. His invitation today is to “Come away with me”; to go deeper with Him in the secret place, that He might work mightily throughout our city and nation.

Andrew Baker | Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:4,14, 3:1-2,17-19; Acts 19:8-20 — While an awakening of belief in the world around us is ultimately a work of God, we as believers have a critical role to play: Like Habakkuk, our hearts must be deeply moved by the brokenness of our world, and our faith must be restored by the permanent promises of our Living God. As we enter 40 days of prayer and fasting as a church, may our hearts be awakened to seek a great awakening - may His kingdom come and His will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven!

Andrew Baker | Matthew 5:1-12; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; James 1:2-3 — Jesus’ ministry and death show that the Christian should not be surprised to suffer persecution. In fact, Christ says that those who are mistreated on His account ought to rejoice, for they are blessed to receive the kingdom of heaven. If and when we endure persecution, it is to this promise - the only promise that will not fade - that we may anchor our hope: seeing and knowing our Creator face to face for all eternity.