Bible reference: Luke 22:18-20 When the grace of God is allowed to work in us, we have access to the risen Lord Jesus.  Jesus was already entered into winning for us the payment for sin.  Yet he indicated he would again celebrate the communion again with them.   Grace was given to lift us from our sin.  The resurrection is one hotly debated subject in history.   Yet there were guards assigned, there was things done to ensure he was in the tomb.  Yet there were too many witnesses.   Jesus is declared to be the resurrected son of God.  He is the sufficient payment for our sins.  Don't keep paying.  Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins.  50 days after crucifixion,  the day of Pentecost,  the disciples spoke powerfully in the Spirit.  Acts 2:23-24 In the garden of Eden death came.  The spirit of man died.  Through Christ,  the Spirit of man comes alive.    Acts 2:32 Read the first 4 chapters.   Acts is the book that describes the acts of  the Holy Spirit in the

1. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…” We’ve all failed to keep God’s Word, the Law, His commandments. At some point we’ve lied, cheated, hurt with actions or words, failed to fully obey the commands set down by God.  We’re all in this together.  No person is exempt.  It’s inclusive for the whole human race. 2. Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin = missing the mark.  “The mark, in this case, is the standard of perfection established by God and evidenced by Jesus. Viewed in that light, it is clear that we are all sinners.” [https://www.allaboutgod.com/what-is-sin.htm] Eternal life – a gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  That is “knowing God”, now in the present and forever.  Being in relationship with Him now, today, not just when we get to heaven. 3. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ die

Bible References:   Ezra 1:2-4; 7-11; Isaiah Isaiah 44:28 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus.   The heart of kings is in the hand of the Lord. We need to look for the Lord to lead us; lead in the Church and the world. Cyrus was a king God used to help restore Israel back to the land. God wants us to be part of witnessing the morality of God to the world.   Jesus came so God could deal with our sins; let God deal with your sins and we are to get on with what God wants us to do. Cyrus made a proclamation that the gentiles were to assist Israel through gifts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and he proclaimed the greatness of God. Today, the story is God rebuilding the temple - you, me, Christian people God wants us to look to God to find the way.   God’s offering us freedom; we have a walk with Jesus Christ.   It starts when we accept Him.   Be a world-changer – those who went from Babylon to Jerusalem.   Put yourself into God’s hands, not sitting in our sin.   T

There is no way we can know everything about God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. But in the essentials, we believe and value, they are paramount to our life as a Christian.   Everyday of our life is a journey where we choose to deepen our relationship with the Lord, or choose to draw ourselves away from Him.   If we want to know God, then we need to spend time with Him. Genesis 1:1-2 tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” God is the Creator and ruler of the universe.   He holds everything together.   When we say that God is the Creator, we mean that He is truly creative, in a category all by Himself, because He started with nothing.   Colossians 1:16 says …For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things ha

Jesus is the Lord of our lives.   The cross represents the price paid, forgiveness.   Jesus had to die.  On the cross Jesus was left naked, beaten, horrendous sight.  No death was more scandalous.  Blood poured from the flesh torn.  The effect of the scouring in Pilates palace was dreadful.  Before the cross, he went to the garden to pray to His Father this was before the torture. By the time he died on the cross, it was finished.  Jesus experienced the shame, degridation on the cross. Isaiah 52:14 Isaiah 53:2 Isaiah 53:3-12 When someone is under a struggle we point and say they must have done something wrong, even when they did not. Jesus was bruised, suffered, whipped; yet on the cross he completed the work of the cross. Jesus has paid the price.  To think you are not good enough for God; is to not understand how important you are to God. We cannot understand how deep God's love is. We thank you Father for the message of the cross.

Bible References:  Romans 8; Joshua 1:1-9; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 1:16-32 What does "walking in the spirit: mean?  We often wonder what a spiritual act is.  It can be practical. Being held accountable.  Help in reconciling differences.  Helping others to reconcile differences. Read Joshua 1:1-9 : 1 After the death of the Lord's servant Moses, the Lord spoke to Moses' helper, Joshua son of Nun. 2 He said, “My servant Moses is dead. Get ready now, you and all the people of Israel, and cross the Jordan River into the land that I am giving them. 3 As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land that you will be marching over. 4 Your borders will reach from the desert in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north; from the great Euphrates River in the east, through the Hittite country, to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with yo

Last week we talked about our starting point and the difference our view of the world will be when it starts with God the Creator, so let us find out or for some review the Word of God and find out more as to how, why and what of being “Right with God is about.” 1. We learn from our own experience read Romans 5: 1-5 Because we are made “right” by faith - with God we have the following: Peace with God- knowing right from wrong through His Word. Access to God’s grace- help given to man by God Joy in the hope of sharing God’s glory – our destiny is to be in heaven with Him for eternity. God’s love poured out into our hearts - the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. 2. We learn this because of what Christ has done for us – showing us God’s great love.  While we were: Weak: Christ died for the ungodly v6 Sinners: Christ died for us v8 Enemies: we were reconciled by His death v 10 (reconciled = to cause to be friendly or harmonious again – establish harmony, in this case us

 What is Faith?  - Dictionary definition. Abraham  1. strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence 2. a specific system of religious beliefs: the Jewish faith 3. Christianity  trust in God and in his actions and promises 4. a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of religion, esp when this is not based on reason 5. complete confidence or trust in a person, remedy, etc 6. any set of firmly held principles or beliefs 7. allegiance or loyalty, as to a person (our loyalty is to Jesus Christ) or cause. 8. bad faith  insincerity or dishonesty 9. good faith  honesty or sincerity What the Bible- God’s Word says about faith; Read Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. The whole of chapter 11 of Hebrews is on the faith of ordinary, everyday people called by God. If you would like to do a study on faith – find a concordance and look up the

Bible References: 1 Peter ch 3; Prov 31; Ephesians ch 5; Ephesians 5:22-31 Obey God in Our Marriages.  Why is Marriage important?  It is a picture of Christ's relationship with the Church.  God has set an order in marriage.  Wives are to submit (obey) their husbands.  Husbands are to love their wives and submit to God (humble themselves).  God wants husbands to be husbands - NOT bosses in their marriage.  Being a husband is not a title - it is living the role (fulfilling the role). Marriage is between one man and one woman for life.  Salvation is between God and person.  As Christ loved the Church so much He was willing to give up everything for the welfare of the Church.  As Christ put aside even his life for the Church, a husband puts aside "his life"for his wife's welfare. Obedience from wife will come when a husband shows tender love.  The husband wants to make his wife holy - totally set apart just for him.  (Jesus Christ sets the Church a part for himsel

Bible References: 1 Peter 1-2:4; John 19:30; 1 Peter 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:1-4; Hebrews 11:1-6; Hebrews 11:7-13; John 3:16; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:20 Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:6 " And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. " We are born again by the: Spirit of God Word of God Will of God Mercy of God On the cross Jesus Christ said Ït is finished". Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you don't need to keep striving to be saved.  You Are saved.  God accepted you as you are when you came to Him.  Like a parent who delights in their children, so God delights in you - his son; his daughter. Jesus Christ has brought and wrought out your salvation.  We can't add or take away from what He has done.  Nothing we can do by working hard, striving to be our best will add to the act of Salvation. 

God wants: Every Son and Daughter of His to know Him through reading their Bibles and actioning what they learn (live what they learn) He wants to set us free from bondage - religious, money, material (things) and hurtful bondage In Jesus Christ we are SET FREE His people to have unity but not uniformity His people to go into the world and teach what they have learnt (Bible) and tell others and if they believe Baptize them (Matt. 28:19-20) His people to help others in need (1 Cor. 16:2) Enjoy life and what we have including money but don't let things like money take us away from Him For people to believe in the One (Jesus Christ) He (God) has sent (John6:29) Everyone to know His gift to Mankind - Salvation To Know His Grace To trust Him For His people to tell Others