In Matthew 5.5-18, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. He explains that prayer is to be humble, simple, respectful, genuine, and relational. In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus was clear that he was not teaching us what to pray. Rather, his prayer is a model of prayer that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn from as our own prayer life matures.
Every living organism has requirements if it is to grow and thrive, in the same way Christians have God-given requirements that are necessary elements if there is to be any growth in grace and godliness. As an essential element of Christian growth, prayer is duty, a privilege and a means of grace.
The Word of God is not merely an assortment of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, dynamic, and life-changing as it works in us. God’s Word reveals who we are and who we are not. It pierces the centre of our moral and spiritual life. It perceives what is within us, the earnest and sinful. The demands of God’s Word require decisions. We must not only know the Word; we must also let it shape our lives.
The Bible is a remarkable book. However, as Christians, we don’t want merely to have a high regard for it; we need to understand it. It is an unfortunate truth that the majority of people who have an opinion about the Bible – positive or negative – do not actually know what the Bible teaches. Having an understanding of what Bible teaches is crucial because the Bible is the Word of God, a fact that becomes particularly obvious as you study it. So we need to know how to study the Bible.
This Sunday we will begin a new series – Rooted. This series will challenge us to be deeply rooted in our faith. Being deeply rooted galvanizes our commitment to Christ so that when we are faced with the storms that come in life we are not blown away and uprooted. Over 10 weeks we will discover and uncover the biblical principles needed to become, grow or maintain a deep rooted faith in practical ways that have everyday life application.
Much of the loneliness, pain, and fragmentation we feel in life are a result of sin marring our image of God and putting a wedge between community and relationships as God designed them. At The Bridge Church we recognise that authentic connections are a rare thing today, and we want to be a place where every person can feel connected to an encouraging and loving community that will enable them to grow spiritually. As we begin 2016, let us make a resolution to actively find ways to connect with other Christians.
This world may not in the least suspect it needs a savior, but Christ comes as he came to Mary herself, wanting to stretch us physically, emotionally, and socially. Christ comes with the pronouncement of great sacrifice and pregnant impossibilities, yet when the humble and foolish give everything to receive him, they find themselves the wisest. So it’s fitting that we end 2015 and begin the New Year with a call to live a worshipful life.
In this age of the saturated self, time and space are drowning in voices, noises, and insistent demands – all clamoring for our attention. We might feel at times as if we are suffocating or simply being squished by blind forces that have no consideration or compassion, and we wonder if we can survive. “Is God really with me? Does He care about me?” This Season in particular can magnify those emotions. That is why I think it powerfully poignant that the first title Jesus is given is “Emmanuel,” God with us.