The Church Jesus Builds... is the Body of Christ 10/10/2010

If you missed this talk, you can catch it again by subscribing to our podcast in iTunes. Click here to go to our iTunes page and click subscribe.For instructions about how to get our podcast click here.Alternatively you can listen to the "The Church Jesus Builds... is the Body of Christ" message on your computer by clicking here (or right-click to download) (by Dave Vinall, 25 mins).

The Church Jesus Builds… is the Body of Christ

If you hit a tough time, where do you find support? How much are people involved in this support? How much is God involved? Do you have a good balance? Do you have enough support? If not, what needs to happen?

Read and think about 1 Peter 5:6-11. What encouragement can you take from the passage? Look for references to where other people and God help us go through tough times. What do you think it means, in the context of this passage, to humble yourself?

How do you connect with other people in this church? What opportunities do you have to share how you’re really doing and have people pray for you?

Read Exodus 17:8-16. What would the Amalekites represent in your life? What issues continually raise their head and distract you from God? Have you told anyone about this?

What do you worry about the most? Read Matthew 6:25-34. What could you do to help you not worry? What role could other people play in helping?

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The Church Jesus Builds: Is A Family 12/09/2010

If you missed this talk, you can catch it again by subscribing to our podcast in iTunes. Click here to go to our iTunes page and click subscribe.For instructions about how to get our podcast click here.Alternatively you can listen to the "The Church Jesus Builds: Is A Family" message on your computer by clicking here (or right-click to download) (by Dave Vinall, 28 mins).

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What is your experience of ‘family’? Is it a positive or negative word? What qualities or characteristics would you expect to find in a good family? Where have you found these, perhaps thinking beyond your immediate family?

Read Genesis 2:18-25 and consider this less about marriage and more about how people are made to relate to each other. Think about verse 25. Do you feel able to strip off your pretensions and posturing and be real with other people? How does it feel?

Read Genesis 3:8-10. We see that God and people were created to be together, but here it gets broken. Fear and shame have entered the story. How do you deal with fear and shame? How should you deal with them?

Now skip to the end of the story. Read Revelations 21:1-4 and 21:22-27. How does this make you feel?

Read John 1:12-13. How does it make you feel to think that everyone is invited to be part of God’s family – even people you might not like or want to spend time with! What does this tell you about God and about yourself?

How would you feel if someone at our Sunday service asked you if it was your first time here? Think about your reaction.

How easy do you find it to start up a conversation with a stranger at church? How could you practice and feel more confident?
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