Lent and Easter 2023 - Living Faith
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
| Pentecost |
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? Read more
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? Read more
Resurrection - The Life Changing Truth: Emmaus Road
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. Read more
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. Read more
Resurrection!
| Easter Sunday 2023 |
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. Read more
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. Read more
Invitation to Trust
| Living Faith / Lent week 6 |
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 Read more
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 Read more
Invitation to Empathy
| Living Faith / Lent week 5 |
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. Read more
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. Read more
Invitation to Adoption
| Living Faith / Lent week 4 |
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? Read more
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? Read more
Invitation to Hope
| Living Faith / Lent week 3 |
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. Read more
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. Read more
Invitation to Service
| Living Faith / Lent week 2 |
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. Read more
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. Read more
Invitation to Forgiveness
| Living Faith / Lent week 1 |
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? Read more
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? Read more
