Kathryn Hartley | Psalm 37:3, 51:15-17; Hosea 6:6-7; Matthew 23:23; 2 Timothy 2:11-13 — God is unrelentingly faithful to us, and as followers of Christ we are called to grow in faithfulness to Him. But this is not simply achieved by willpower and acts of devotion. Cultivating true God-honouring faithfulness is a work of the Holy Spirit. We are to trust in and seek after Him (not our own efforts), and persist in intent and action with whatever He’s placed in our hands.

Andrew Baker | Genesis 3:1-22 — Out of the perfection of Eden, we see the ‘twist in the tale’ of God’s created order: the temptation of the serpent causes Adam and Eve to fall into sin. But even in the midst of human guilt, futile cover-ups, and blame-shifting, we see a God who pursues us, promising hope and providing a means for our redemption.

Andrew Baker | Luke 24:25-27,45-47; Genesis 1:1,27-28, 2:7; Romans 1:20, 5:8; Ephesians 1:5-6; Psalm 19:1 — From Creation to Christ we see a God with a heart of love for mankind, like a Father tenderly holding His newborn child. And it is nothing less than this love that is the central longing and need of every human heart. We were created and predestined for loving relationship with our Creator.

Steve Lazar | 2 Kings 5:1-14 — Naaman’s account is one of despair turned to hope; pride turned to humility; and sickness turned to health. Like Naaman, our greatest need is to come in simplicity to the river of God’s grace, receiving the healing only He can bring. Hear reflections from long term missionary to Mozambique, Steve Lazar.

Andrew Baker | Luke 24:13-32,44-49; 4:16-21 — On the road to Emmaus, Jesus came alongside His downcast disciples and ‘interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself’. In the Bible we see a single unified story which points to God’s great redemptive plan weaved throughout time. Like His disciples, may delving into His Scriptures anew cause our hearts to ‘burn within us’ as we see Jesus afresh.

Dave Lamerton | Matthew 18:21-35; John 19:28-30; Luke 7:36-38 — Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant should be a sharp reminder to us of the importance of forgiveness. Truly forgiving others from our heart is possible (and necessary!) because God has forgiven us of an infinitely greater debt. If we can’t forgive others, then we have not fully appreciated the immensity of God’s mercy to us at the Cross of Calvary.

Hear from Dave Lamerton, current Board member at Vision Church.

Andrew Baker | John 2:13-22, 1:14, 4:19-26; Isaiah 9:7; Luke 19:46; Acts 3:4-8 — In John’s gospel, we read of Jesus clearing the temple courts, consumed with ‘zeal’ for the Lord’s House. This righteous passion was not for the building itself, but rather for God’s people to come to Him without hindrance. May we return to that which we were created for: living with an unhindered, passionate zeal for our infinite God.

Andrew Baker | John 4:3-38; Matthew 24:6-7; Hebrews 12:27 — After the Samaritan woman’s testimony of meeting Jesus, many from her town came to see if He was the Christ. At this, Jesus proclaimed to His disciples: ‘see that the fields are white for harvest’. As we ask for His eyes to see and a hunger to do His will in whatever season of life we’re in, may we too see the great desire and need for Jesus in the world around us. Stop, look up, and see that the harvest is ripe!

Adam Ritchard | Luke 17:11-19; Psalm 50:7-15,23; 2 Chronicles 20:21; Romans 1:21; Isaiah 1:4-6; Colossians 3:15b — Of the ten lepers who cried out and were healed by Jesus, only one returned to give thanks. This account should provoke us to consider our own hearts and lives: like the one leper, will we intentionally come to Jesus with gratitude even in the mundane and ordinary ‘every-day’ of our lives?

Kathryn Hartley | Luke 2:21-38— Even as the parents of the promised Messiah, Mary and Joseph’s first year after Jesus’ birth was filled with light and shadow. Amongst the light and shadow in our lives, how do we reflect on 2024 in such a way that finds and carries deposits of hope into the new year?