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. 

Deep down, we’re all afraid of something. But Peter writes to assure us that in Jesus, we’ve got nothing to fear - even if we get harmed for doing good. 

Peter challenges us that because we are different thanks to Jesus, we’re to live differently. Specifically, how we hope is different, how we live is different and how we love is different. 

Putting God first part is a non-negotiable for a follower of Jesus. But we all know it's easier said than done. Haggai helps us hear the importance of this again with clarity and urgency - that God is to be loved first and He’s to be loved best!

For any church the challenge is to love the truth and love others. 2 John wants to say that we can love others by guarding the truth

With another picture of God’s final judgment, there’s another sobering reality. The call in this picture is to repent!

We are in the midst of a cosmic spiritual battle. Rev 12-14 not only names our enemy, but also prepares us for his tactics. In the end, by knowing our enemy, and being aware of his schemes, there’s a call for patient endurance and being loyal to the Lamb. 

God’s sobering end for this world will be no match for God’s seal and security for his people.

There are two songs that appear in Revelation 4 and 5. One is the hymn of creation, the other the anthem of salvation. Both underline that God is in control.

In Revelation 3, we meet three churches for whom the challenge isn’t so much external, but internal. A challenge to look less and less like the world, and more and more like Jesus.

Jesus could have written to seven nations, seven companies, seven schools. But instead, he chose to address seven churches. In pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each church, it’s a clear statement: No one loves the church more than Jesus!

Revelation 1 presents an awesome Jesus. He is the who we can respond to in awe, in worship and with great comfort.

God’s heart for children can be captured by three words

We’ve all got the same amount of time on our hands. But in Lev 23, God outlines how that time is to be used to reflect his holiness. Ultimately, Jesus is the one who offers the ultimate rest so we can delight in God. 

There’s a right way and a wrong way to approach God. That’s why God instituted priests. Thanks to Jesus being our Great High Priest, we can approach God knowing for sure we are accepted by Him.