The greeting in Titus 1:1-4, at the start of Paul’s letter, is a preview and an overview: the truth about Jesus accords with godliness. For the Christian, belief in Jesus ought to be reflected in our behaviour as we seek to be more like him. But our good works don’t save us – Jesus is the saviour. At Christmas, we celebrate God’s grace shown to us and have the privilege of reflecting that grace to others.
Author: Andrew
Putting the mini in ministry
‘The cradle and the cross’ (Luke 23:13-49)
Len Pearce spoke from Luke 23:13-49 about the connection between Christmas and Easter.
‘The Joy of Jesus Christ, this Christmas’ (Matthew 2:1-12)
On Christmas Day, Rev Russ Grinter asked, “Who do you worship?” Who or what is worthy to give yourself to? We all worship but worshipping people, stuff or self leaves us incomplete. In Matthew 2:1-12 we read about the Wise Guys who came to worship Jesus, the Wrong Guys who didn’t and see that Wise Guys today worship and have the joy of Jesus.
‘Moved on from Jesus?’ (Colossians 1:15-20)
Jesus may be marginalised from parts of the public sphere but Colossians 1:15-20 reminds us that we always need to move towards Jesus! He is God himself, creator and sustainer of all. He came to reconcile to God those who rejected him. Our purpose is to have Jesus as Lord of our lives since he has saved us from death.
‘The desire of Hannah’s heart’ (1 Samuel 1:1-28)
In 1 Samuel 1 the text highlights the desperate circumstances of Hannah as well as her utter dependence upon God and also her costly love which led her to fulfill a vow to the Lord that her son Samuel should be given over to the Lord’s service for all his days. Without knowing the full extent of what this would mean, Hannah’s willing submission to the Lord’s will for her brought much blessing and provides a model for a response to the grace of God in keeping with our call to follow and serve Him.
‘Jesus, Adam and Us’ (Romans 5:12-21)
Ryan Smith spoke from Romans 5:12-21 about Jesus, Adam and us. Adam’s ‘one small step’ in the garden had giant consequences for all mankind falling into sin. Jesus is a man like Adam, but where Adam fell, Jesus is righteous and his death pays for all mankind. So while all are sinners by Adam (and by choice), we are righteous by faith in Christ.
‘The New Man – The New Life’ (Romans 6:1-14)
Rory Weightman spoke on Romans 6:1-14. After chapter 5 tells us that God’s grace is greater than our sin, chapter 6 starts with the question, “are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” The answer is no: we died to sin through Jesus’ death; we are freed from sin; we are alive in Christ and so we should not continue in sin! Rather than be mastered by sin, we trust in Jesus as our master.
‘Whom would you die for?’ (Romans 5:1-11)
Brendan Rayson spoke from Romans 5:1-11 about how Christ died for us. His death means we have peace with God and access to him through the Son because we have been justified by faith. It means we can rejoice, even in our suffering. We didn’t deserve this but it shows God’s love and grace.
‘United we stand (and are) in Christ’ (John 17:20-26)
John 17:20-26 highlights the fact that after praying for the security and the sanctification of His disciples, Jesus also prayed for their unity. In a passage variously interpreted by many to promote the ecumenical movement, Jesus’ words are best understood to refer to the unity (as distinct from uniformity) of all His disciples. This unity is a natural unity not a forced one, that has its basis in the fact that all true believers come to the one Father through the one Saviour.