Psalm 77 opens with the Psalmist in lament and chaos but a turning point sees the psalmist turn to praise. Mark invites us to see that renewal of our often chaotic inner worlds requires us to stop, turn and allow God to fight our battles as we praise and remember Him for who He is and what he does.
This week we dwell in Isaiah 55 looking at it from both the context of exile and also today’s physical and spiritual drought that has hit Australia.
We are reminded of God’s heart and God’s sovereignty, his beckoning for people to return to Him and how He works wonders turning a super drought into a super bloom.
In order to become resilient disciples in this culture, Mark reminds us that we are called to be people who carry the word in our hearts, to encounter the revelation of Jesus daily through the living and active word and to dwell in its life and truth.
As we continue to delve into the theme of seeds and gardens, Sarah unpacks our current cultural situation and introduces us to the Desert Fathers and age old practices that have enabled seeds to germinate, harvests to be reaped and cultures to be transformed throughout history.
Seeds hold identity and promise of growth and multiplication. In a time where everything is immediate and life’s pace is frenetic, Mark invites us to consider the metaphor of the seed in how God transports His plans for renewal across space and time.
It turns out that just as there is a process in the created order, there is a process in how God develops our identity and prepares us for a fruitful life. This week we explore one of Jesus' greatest statements regarding this and unpack the ways in which He is at work within us, both as individuals as well as corporately, as He prepares us for a new season.
Just as the anointing passed from Saul to David, an unknown man but one who was 'after God's own heart', Mark reminds us that God is still looking for people who are aligning with His heart in the hidden places – calling and forming them to be part of the 'new thing' that He is doing.
This week Sarah explores how the human condition is plagued by both pride and self-hatred. Revealing the genesis of this we are also reminded of the antidote that is available to us now as we learn from Jesus and his easier yet world changing way.
Through clarifying Old and New Testament perspectives of prophesy, Mark sets out practical steps in how to grow and operate in the prophetic for the building of the church and glorifying of Jesus.
AM service pastor, Ryan, unpacks the misconceptions around how to share your faith with others and the reality that, the way we choose to operate inside the church will become how we live outside the church.
