Lent and Easter 2023 - Living Faith on Streatham Vale Baptist Church

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

It is Pentecost! The day that we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, coming down upon the disciples with power - the sound of rushing wind, tongues of fire resting on their heads. We celebrate today because God dwells with us and God dwells within us!

But what does that actually mean for us? How does the presence of the Holy Spirit affect us, transform us and equip us for what God calls us to?

Resurrection - The Life Changing Truth: Emmaus Road

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Last week we celebrated Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. But now a week on, does Easter still change your life? Has the resurrection of Jesus transformed your life forever? For the disciples on the Emmaus Road, they didn’t believe that Jesus was alive again at first. But once they did, their lives were changed as their mourning was turned to dancing, their hearts set on fire for the purposes of God and they rushed to tell the others what had happened.

Resurrection!

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus is alive! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Early in the morning the women went to the tomb to put spices on Jesus’ body, only to find the tomb was empty. And so, they rushed to tell the disciples and some of the disciples went to see for themselves what was going on. Listen to the story as we follow one of the disciples as they discover the tomb is empty.

Invitation to Trust

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As Jesus gave up His last breath, He shouted out in a clear voice “Father into Your hands I commit My spirit.” This expression of trust in God invites us to consider our trust in God. How can we deepen our faith in God as we consider this invitation to trust? Let us learn more about how to trust God as we listen to Jesus’ words from the cross.

Luke 23:44-46 Psalm 31

Invitation to Empathy

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As we look up at Jesus, hanging on the cross, we hear Him call out in a desolate cry ““Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani”, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me?” It is such a painful cry that attests to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain that Jesus was suffering on the cross for our sakes.

As we hear that cry, we also hear an invitation to empathy. An invitation to accept the empathy that God has for us, an empathy that led Him to choose the cross because of His great love and compassion for us. But it is also an invitation to share that empathy with us, to look to others with the compassion, love, and empathy of Christ. How can we be inspired to empathy and loving action to those around us? What might change about the way we interact with others if we accept the call to empathy that Jesus issues?

Invitation to Adoption

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

While on the cross, Jesus looked down to see His mother standing there with one of His disciples. And Jesus issued an invitation to adoption - for the disciple and His mother to become a family.

In these words, Jesus foreshadows our adoption into the family of God and He also demonstrates the heart of God, which has compassion for the most vulnerable in society.

How can we be comforted, challenged and inspired by Jesus’ words to His mother and His disciple?

Invitation to Hope

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus communicates with the criminals being crucified next to Him. One offers mocking taunts and demands for demonstrations of His power: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” The other criminal however, looks at Jesus and sees more than the others standing around could see. And so he says “This man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus replies with amazing words: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

Invitation to Service

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We continue our Lenten journey as we look at Jesus on the cross and hear the words that He speaks. What does He tell us, what does He invite us into even during these agonising moments on the cross. This week, we listen as Jesus cries out His need for a drink “I am thirsty”. As we hear those words, see the pitiful response from the soldiers, let us consider the way we serve Jesus. Are we like the soldiers, giving Him the least, the cheap, the rubbish? Or do we want to give Him our all?

Invitation to Forgiveness

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This Lent, we are taking a journey through time as we stand at the foot of the cross and reflect upon the words that Jesus speaks. This week, we hear Jesus speak the words “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” As you hear those words, think about what they cost Jesus to say. Do you accept Jesus’ invitation to be forgiven, to have all guilt and shame washed away?