By looking into the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:12-24) we will see the depth of God’s great love and his invitation to dine with him. Though free, His grace is not cheap. God searches the earth looking for a humble and hungry people to work out His purpose. This purpose finds its outworking in a royal priesthood (1Peter 2) that brings spiritual sacrifices to their King.

In the final installment in this mini-series, Ps Phil continues his conversation on freedom. God designed man with the ability to control, but He designed mankind to be submitted to God's control. While salvation might be instant, progressive freedom means we must continue to put to death our own desires.We know when winter is finishing, when the trees start to bud we know that spring is almost here. Whatever season we find ourselves in, it is only for a season, new promises are waiting for us, and with new promises comes new identity.

As a church family, we're going on a journey. In this podcast Pastor Phil starts talking about the weather, specifically, seasons, and he makes a connection between the natural winter season and the journey we've been walking as a church.Pastor Phil also talks about being emotionally rested and how there is a restoration through a process of connection.

God has demonstrated time and time again through the scriptures that he's not a formula. He established rituals through the Jewish people, using patterns to teach them. They, in turn, made the rituals and the patterns the object of their worship rather than God.Ps Phil reveals that when we are in the winter season there is a tendency to do the same, to look only at the performance of what we are supposed to do. In fact, it's an opportunity to move into freedom, moving from a place of self-dependence into a place of self-denial.

In this session, we return to talk about our core value of Family and what it means. Ps Phil explores the fact that for some people "family" does not have a safe connotation to it. While it is good to acknowledge that it doesn't have to remain your reality.Ps Phil goes on to show that God models family through the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This shows that there is "other-centred" love that is the perfect family unit. Each one is always seeking to promote and honour the other person even though they are one God.

Paul tells us the Macedonians gave more than they could afford. If we are to mimic the Macedonians in their extravagant generosity, how could we do this? The answer is found in scripture: God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and multiplies the seed for sowing. If you need more seed, the answer is in the sowing!

In 2 Cor 8:2 we read how the Macedonian church gave generously as a result of their joy. In 1 Chr 15 we read how King David danced before the Lord with no concern for his pride, position or preference. King David then presented an offering to God with a key statement. What did he say and how does that shape our giving attitude?

A conversation about the barriers that stop us from giving generously, and the things that we can do to experience freedom from the bondage that they have created.

When we give under the law we can be weighed down by the burden. God wants us to be people who give out of relationship with Him not out of a sense of obligation. This sermon gives examples of tithing that was not effective and then gives some keys to being an effective giver.

On Pentecost Sunday the Holy Spirit broke into the lives of the disciples and the church was born. As God's Word is preached, it can pierce the hearts of the listeners turning them to repentance. True repentance bears the fruit of generosity in the soul of the believer. This message was true in Jerusalem and true in Macedonia. Will it be true in Te Awamutu?