Because God is FOR us, and God is IN us, there is now no condemnation. Every follower of Jesus has been set free from the penalty and power of sin

We all serve something or someone. In Romans 6, what a relief we’re no longer slaves to sin but instead slaves to God

We have been united with Christ! One of the blessings of this is that we’ve been given a new identity. God’s grace not only forgives sins, but also delivers us from sinning. 

In Acts 17, Paul delivers a masterclass on witnessing. He points out that we have far more in common than we think. It’s on this basis that we can be optimistic as we take up the call to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

There are really only two types of people in the world - those who belong to Adam, and those who belong to Jesus. 

Romans 3 contains what Leon Morris calls, ‘possibly the most important single paragraph ever written’. In this talk, we see why that’s the case. 

To mark the occasion of the reveal of our new church name, we see how Jesus alone brings the renewal we all need to make us his renewed people.

So often we try to excuse ourselves from God’s judgment by playing the comparison game saying to ourselves: “At least I’m not as bad as …..”. Romans 2 exposes that heart and says all humanity falls under God’s judgment. 

What is it that causes you to commit to something? Or to have deep convictions? For Paul, it’s nothing other than the good news of Jesus Christ!

Romans opens with a bang. It begins with gospel content before inviting gospel response. In these opening 7 verses, Paul issues both a declaration and an invitation to make Jesus Christ your Lord. 

Jesus - in the way only he can - teaches about pride. In doing so he outlines polar opposites when it comes to mission and motives.

To the most significant question (how we can be saved?), Jesus gives the clearest answer (receive the gift of eternal life with child-like dependence). 

God’s way is always the best way. Nowhere else is that tested than when it comes to the topics of Hell and divorce and remarriage. 

Peter is a classic example of it’s not enough to simply know the right answer to the question: “Who is Jesus?”. More than it being an intellectual activity, claiming Jesus as Messiah involves total and complete life-change. The way of the Messiah, is the way of the Messiah’s people.

Us humans can be too clever for ourselves when it comes to approaching God. Jesus here in Mark 7 makes it very easy when issues a blanket invitation to any and all to approach him. Jesus includes the excluded and he touches the untouchable

Jesus takes a mundance topic like the handwashing. And turns it into a deeply profound diagnosis about the true spiritual condition of every human heart. Our problem is not external but internal! 

When Jesus makes an incredible offer to come to him, it comes with an incredible promise of rest attached. In the end Jesus shows us he has a heart unlike any other and offers a trade to good to refuse.

If you want to get prayer right, you need to get Jesus right. Jesus not only invites us to align ourselves with God’s heart. He also invites us to pray about anything and everything. 

God unveils the details of the who, what, how and when of his promised rescue plan. In the process, we see a model response from Mary - one who takes God at his word, and responds in praise. 

By flagging that the end of all things is near, Peter gives a glimpse of what life can look like in the meantime while we wait. First he outlines how our relationships are to be other-person centred. Then, he describes how Jesus still cares for his church.