Last week we started talking about the apparent tension between the freedom we have in Christ (Galatians 5:1) and our ongoing struggle with sin. We talked about Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:1-3 where he says that they were captive to three things; the cravings of our sinful nature (flesh), the ruler of the Kingdom of the air (the devil) and the ways of this world. While none of these are mutually exclusive our aim this week is to talk about…
Kinnamon and Lyons statistics (quoted in “Untamed” by Alan & Debra Hirsch) claim that 91% of those outside the church aged between 16-29 say that their primary perception of the church is anti-homosexual (87% judgemental and 85% hypocritical). I find these statistics very difficult to get my head around. Where did we as the church go so wrong as to turn this issue into one upon which are very reputation as Christians seems to be tied up with? Our aims…
If you need to be refreshed about our vision as a ministry; it is to: “To encourage students to know, love and share Jesus Christ through purposeful, intentional and reproducible disciple-making as we share our lives together in community.” Which itself is a local expression of the worldwide Navigator calling which is to: “To advance the gospel of Jesus and his kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost.” We are trusting God…
Yesterday we had the inevitable discussion about sex and marriage and if I am honest I thought it was probably the best study so far. It may surprise you to learn that the Bible is full of sex and marriage! The key verse is which is threads itself right through scripture is Genesis (Quoted by Jesus and Paul) and it says: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become…
The second study of our series looked at what the Bible teaches us about sexuality was entitled “Sexuality and the Supremacy of Christ”. We considered how sexuality is “God-designed” as a way to know Him more fully and that knowing Him more fully is the road to purity. All misuses of our sexuality derive from not having the true knowledge of Christ opened up to us through the gospel. If I am honest, the more I have thought about it…
This past week we began our new Bible study series on the subject of “Sexuality: God’s Idea and God’s gift”. The series has been motivated by the apparent void of good teaching in this area (how many talks have you heard on this and how many Bible studies have you been involved with?) If I am honest I could probably count the number I have heard or been involved in on one hand. When I looked for material upon which…
Last week we started talking about the apparent tension between the freedom we have in Christ (Galatians 5:1) and our ongoing struggle with sin. We talked about Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:1-3 where he says that they were captive to three things; the cravings of our sinful nature (flesh), the ruler of the Kingdom of the air (the devil) and the ways of this world. While none of these are mutually exclusive our aim this week is to talk about…
The final couple of studies we have this term are focused on the apparent tension between the freedom we have in Christ (Galatians 5v1) and our ongoing struggle with sin. Paul explains to the Ephesians that they were captive to three things; the cravings of our sinful nature (flesh), the ruler of the Kingdom of the air (the devil) and the ways of this world (2v1-3). While there is much overlap between all three, our focus this week is on…
What have Identity and Relationships got to do with one another? The issues of Identity and Relationships are closely related. As I did not manage to write anything last week, we are going to treat them together. Why so, I here you say? Last week we were talking about our intrinsic needs to be loved, valued, significant, secure and accepted. We talked about how no human being could ever fully satisfy those needs. These are needs that can only be…
Another week, another study and this week we are thinking about the thoughts and ideas we have about God. We’re thinking about where they come from, what influences them and how we can make sure we do not have a distorted view of God. Tozer writes “the essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” Yancey writes “our experiences of family and church combine with stray hints from literature and movies to determine…