Peter Steicke | Matthew 5:14-16; Phil 2:14-16 — Without intention, our Christianity can easily turn into religiosity. Our eyes turn dull, and the eyes of those around us become dulled to Christ as a result. But Paul and even Jesus himself emphasised that believers ought to ‘shine’ for others to see. What if we had shining eyes, and caused the same in those around us? Starting from a place of hope and security in Christ, we can do exactly that.

Andrew Baker | Luke 7:18-28 — Despite being the very one who proclaimed Jesus’ coming, even John the Baptist encountered such disappointment that he doubted Jesus’ identity. As believers, we too can end up focusing on all that God isn’t doing in our lives. But the sure result is doubting our foundation. Only once we let go of our offence at Him can we see the big picture: there is no other like Jesus, the rock and Messiah. And He is always at work.

Andrew Scarborough | John 13:5-10; 21:5-17 — For many, the last two years have been an incredible challenge - dragging us down into sin, or even into denial of Christ. But no one is ever too far gone for Jesus. Just as He washed the filth off His disciples’ feet, so He has for you. Just as he restored Peter from denial, so He has for you. By Jesus’ death and resurrection alone, we are washed and restored.

Andrew Scarborough | 2 Kings 4:1-7; Matthew 25:1-13 — Throughout scripture, oil is used to symbolise the power, anointing, and presence of God - the Holy Spirit. But too often we only ask God for a drop at a time. God’s desire is that we would each be filled to overflowing with His Spirit. And, as we learn to steward the oil in our lives, we will truly see that our ‘nothing’ plus His Spirit equals everything we could ever need.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 1:3-10 — Elevating ourselves to God’s place, modern society claims that human worth and purpose are found through individual self-curation. But this idolatrous version of identity is far from the truth. As Paul declares to the Ephesian church, we have each been created in the very image of God Himself, predestined to be His beloved children, and saved by the redemptive power of Jesus’ blood. To find true identity, we don’t look in. We look up.

Andrew Baker | Galatians 4:3-9 — In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul describes how Christ has redeemed us from slavery to freedom - a freedom very unlike that idealised by our modern world. Far beyond what our fleeting wills could ever curate for ourselves, Christ has won true freedom for us: liberty from the captivity of our brokenness and sin, and life as sons and daughters of the living Creator God.

Andrew Baker | John 8:53-59 — When questioned about His identity by the Jews, Jesus made the boldest assertion imaginable: that He was the divine, all-creating God of the universe - the ‘I Am’. Like many who heard Jesus’ claim, modern secularism has rejected this ‘I Am’ in favour of the ‘i am’ - the elevation of the inner self to play the role of God.

As Christians, our lives must be fundamentally different; not built on the shifting sand of our desires, but upon Him who is the source, purpose, hope, and sustainer of our very existence. The real ‘I Am’. Jesus Christ.

Andrew Baker | Matthew 7:24-27 — At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus likened those who hear His words and put them into practice, to a man whose house was built upon the rock. What have we built our lives upon? A partial foundation of human wisdom? Or, upon the One firm foundation that truly endures through every storm.

Adam Ritchard | 1 Samuel 30:1-8; 1 Peter 1:3-7 — When David and his company were totally plundered, and their families captured by the Amalekites, David became greatly distressed. But, rather than despair, David responded in faith and ‘strengthened himself in the Lord’. As believers we too will endure times of testing. But how we navigate these seasons is of crucial importance. Will we react in fear and defeat? Or will we respond in genuine faith; to seek God’s purpose and promise in all circumstances - all to the glory of our living hope, Jesus Christ.

Andrew Baker | Exodus 17:1-7 — Despite experiencing God’s miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery, a shortage of water soon caused the Israelites to stir up conflict and doubt whether God was with them at all. As believers today, this account should convict our hearts: in what areas of life have we lost sight of God’s provision, or sought to stir up contention? We are called higher than this: to trust and seek after the One who is our Living Water.