This week we are taking time out from Revelation briefly to look this week at what Paul says in Ephesians 4 about unity. Unity is something that we instinctively think is a good thing, but what is Christian Unity, and what is it based on?
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What is God really like? This week we are looking at Job 37 to help answer this question. We see that our God is exhalted in power, cannot be called to account, and does not change his promises. Roger explains.
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37 “At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4 After it his voice roars;
he thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain the lightnings[a] when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He seals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may know it.
8 Then the beasts go into their lairs,
and remain in their dens.
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
and cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
13 Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen.
14 “Hear this, O Job;
stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings[b] of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
17 you whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
hard as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21 “And now no one looks on the light
when it is bright in the skies,
when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
God is clothed with awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—we cannot find him;
he is great in power;
justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24 Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”[c]
The final church that Christ addresses in Revelation is the church in Laodicea. They were materially wealthy, but in spiritual poverty.
Questions for discussion and Reflection
1. Why do you think material wealth can enable self deception?
2. Do you think that you are wealthy? In what sense?
3. What do you think faithful Christian giving towards church and others would look like for you?
3. What do you think Jesus means in Mark 4:19 when he refers to the deceitfulness of riches? How do riches lie to us?
4. What is the difference between shame and guilt?
5. Why is the truth such an important part of repentance?
6. If being wealthy is not sinful in itself, when might it be sinful?
7. In what is Jesus superior to physical wealth?
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This week we are looking at 2 of the messages to the 7 churches from Revelation 2 and 3: Smyrna and Philadelphia. Both of these churches faced persecution for their faith, and are encouraged by Jesus to hold fast. With millions of Christians today living under threat of persecution, these messages are vitally important. As those not currently facing violent persecution for our faith, it is good for us to consider what Jesus calls the persecuted church to.
Questions for discussion and Reflection
1. Why is it important for churches who are not facing persecution to hear this message?
2. Often we are more committed to safety and comfort than to Jesus. How would our lives look different if our Commitment to Jesus was absolute?
3. Is it easy for you to believe that there are worse things than suffering and death?
4.Given that the promise of eternal fellowship with God is so wonderful, why do you think that Christians can be so tempted to give up their faith?
5. How does the gospel make a difference for those who face persecution?
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This week we start looking at the first of the messages to the 7 churches in Revelation. The Ephesians were strong on truth, but weak on love. Though they have done much that is good, if they don’t repent then there will be consequences. It can be so easy to become a church that knows the truth, but doesn’t love Jesus.
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This week Chris Ayers from Pioneers New Zealand joins us and challenges us on the great commission and this invitation from God. Sometimes we struggle to take up the invitation to be a part of this global mission story, due to a perception over our ability. However, when we look at the passage from Acts 8 there are three key elements that lie at the heart of stepping into this call from God: Availability; Humility; and Flexibility. Chris explains.
For more information about what Pioneers New Zealand’s mission is, their website is: https://www.pioneers.org.nz/
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26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[b] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
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What are we going to think and say about God when the tough times do come? This week Roger is looking in Job Chapter 19 which will help us examine our response to challenges in our lives.
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19 Then Job answered and said:
2 “How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4 And even if it be true that I have erred,
my error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
and make my disgrace an argument against me,
6 know then that God has put me in the wrong
and closed his net about me.
7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
I call for help, but there is no justice.
8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has stripped from me my glory
and taken the crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.
12 His troops come on together;
they have cast up their siege ramp[a] against me
and encamp around my tent.
13 “He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17 My breath is strange to my wife,
and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
22 Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
23 “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.[b]
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in[c] my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’
and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’[d]
29 be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
that you may know there is a judgment.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
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