This is Jesus – Shepherd-King
They came looking for a king. But they had no idea what sort of king he would be – or indeed the type of leadership/service he would ask of his followers.
They came looking for a king. But they had no idea what sort of king he would be – or indeed the type of leadership/service he would ask of his followers.
If you’re going to live well, you need to be able to understand Jesus profoundly.
Matthew wrote his gospel so that you wouldn’t have to guess, and this week we explore the two titles he introduces in his story of Jesus – Saviour and Immanuel.
If we can get to grips with these, they will change how we see life, those around us and ourselves.
Another Remembrance Sunday when we are reminded of the catastrophe of war, the effects it has on those directly involved, as well as those bystanders who get dragged into it all.
Jesus told his disciples to expect war, but that in the midst of it all there would be reasons to retain hope for the future.
We need to hear it again this week as Russian troops advance on the borders of Ukraine.
What’s Jesus being the Messiah got to do with COP26, your own very personal life and our life together as a church?
Much more than we might imagine…
As we approach Christmas we prepare for the birth of a baby with a very common name: Jesus. There were hundreds of babies born that year with that name. But what the gospel writers make clear is that while this name matters, the titles of Jesus give us a bigger picture of who he is…
We’ve spent a long time re-living Ezra and Nehemiah’s stories. You would think it would end in success. Surely, all those efforts must end well.
Except they don’t. Good intentions need to be undergirded with law.
Does it always need to be like that? Jesus suggested otherwise. He gives a new imagination to see things differently and his Spirit so that we can live in these ways.
It’s a common cycle. We have a profound experience with God and we make big promises. And then it all goes wrong.
Why does that happen and how can we break out of that familiar pattern?
Is there a better way?
There’s more to church than buildings.
There’s more to a city than security.
There is joy.
And if a church or city is going to build for the future, they need to build on the joy that God gives generously.
Keeping going is hard. There are so many things that are likely to distract us and tempt us to give up.
Nehemiah knew that experience all those years ago. And the way he dealt with it is still helpful to us today.
How can reminding ourselves of our covenant relationships help us to see the bigger picture when we face opposition from within?
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