Apprentice: Discipling, Rob Scott-Cook (7PM)

15th Oct. Apprentice: Discipling. The ministry of Jesus on earth and the ministry of the Church that He left behind could be summed up as a ‘disciple making’ ministry. With all the other claims on his time and energy Jesus made a priority of equipping the 12 men he had called as disciples, in order that they could carry in his ministry, including of course ‘making disciples’. Mathew’s gospel which finishes with the great commission to his followers to ‘make disciples’ of all nations makes explicit this priority. Mark 6 charts an early stage in the disciple making process. Download discussion notes.

God habits: Generosity, Rachel Riddall (AM)

The letter of John is a letter written by an elder statesman in the Church, (probably the apostle John) encouraging his flock in the face of many difficulties to hold on to things of first importance. The things John teaches have become his habit and practice through long usage. They are habits and disciplines that are transformational if we can acquire them. They form a secret history with practical outworkings.

15th Oct. God habits: Generosity

Generosity is wonderful attractive quality. Are we known for it? In the sermon on the mount Jesus talks about things done in secret for the Father’s pleasure, including giving to the needy.  The love of God and the love of our neighbour are so strongly linked that John, the apostle of love speaks about giving as a sign of loving God, and a response to the self-offering of Christ.

John sees love as a verb as well as a noun, something that acts (vv 16-20). As we care for those in need we act out the ‘family likeness’ of being God’s children. Generosity is a habit of the kingdom. If our gut reaction is to give, it also demonstrates to us, as well as to the world, that we belong to God. I John 3:10-23. Download discussion notes. 

Vision Evening, Tues 17th Oct - a reminder from Dave

Don't forget it's Vision Evening this coming Tuesday evening. Come and get inspired about how you can play your part in God's big vision for out city. Here's a little reminder from Dave Mitchell.

Is God bias towards the poor? Jon Dobson & Tim Dobson (Bible School podcast)

“Is God bias towards the poor?”. Jon Dobson (Foodbank manager) and Tim Dobson (church leader). “Is poverty a consequence of sin?” or “Do we have to become poor in order to be blessed?”, “Why is it hard for rich people to enter God’s Kingdom?” and “Why was caring for the poor such a vital part of New Testament Christianity?”. Download Slides PDF.

If you would like to find out more about some of the chances to serve that were mentioned in the preach, view this list of volunteer opportunities.

Bible School returns this Sunday

This Sunday 15th Oct Woodlands Bible School will be talking about “the Poor” and will cover questions like “Is God bias towards the poor?”, “Is poverty a consequence of sin?” or “Do we have to become poor in order to be blessed?”, “Why is it hard for rich people to enter God’s Kingdom?” and “Why was caring for the poor such a vital part of New Testament Christianity?”

In the Crypt during the sermon in the 7pm service with Jon (Foodbank manager) and Tim (church leader) Dobson.

 

Apprentice: Healing, Tim Dobson (7PM)

Oct 8th Apprentice: Healing.

Discipleship is arguably the main purpose of the Church, to grow disciples and make new ones (sounds a bit like ‘reproducing the life of Jesus’?). Start off with feedback from Sunday's message. What did those that were there - or those that have caught up online - take away from it? What encouraged them, what informed them and what challenged them? Spend some time discussing the response to the message and the issues that it raised. Mark 1:29-34 and 2:1-12 Download discussion notes.

Apprentice: Healing, Tim Dobson (7PM podcast)

Oct 8th Apprentice: Healing.

Discipleship is arguably the main purpose of the Church, to grow disciples and make new ones (sounds a bit like ‘reproducing the life of Jesus’?). Start off with feedback from Sunday's message. What did those that were there - or those that have caught up online - take away from it? What encouraged them, what informed them and what challenged them? Spend some time discussing the response to the message and the issues that it raised. Mark 1:29-34 and 2:1-12 Download discussion notes

God habits: Truthfulness, Dave Mitchell (AM podcast)

Oct 8th God habits: Truthfulness

We live in an age of ‘fake news’ and image driven lifestyle communication, where Truth is a rare commodity. Jesus was so committed to truth that he said/implied that if we swore an oath instead of letting our yes be yes and our no be no it was from the evil one (father of lies) and indication that our words are not trustworthy. (matt 5:37)

John was fighting for the truth in a climate of heresy and speculative theology. He saw a link between truthful speech and truthful living (4-6) i.e. integrity which is a powerful witness to the gospel. 1 John 2: 1-5, 18-28. Download discussion notes

(please note, due to an error there is no video for this service - just audio)

Calling all tenors, basses & orchestra!

We're still looking for people to join the choir and orchestra!

Specifically, we are looking for tenors & basses to join the Christmas choir; the ability to read music, and experience of singing in a choir are very helpful, though not essential, but you do have to be able to sing in tune and hold a part.

For the orchestra: wind players need to be at least grade 7 standard and string players at least grade 6 and you will need to have experience of playing in an orchestra. There are only 2 rehearsals, but you get the music to practise beforehand.

Rehearsals will start 16th Oct for choir; we rehearse every week leading up to the candlelight services on 9th & 10th Dec.

Please contact Hazel at woodieschoir@gmail.com for more information. Registration is essential (by 27th Sept for the choir and 16th Oct for orchestra).

Save the date: Tues 17th Oct - Vision Evening

You may have noticed the 'Find, Love Follow Serve' language on our new publicity at Woodlands. It’s our easier to follow precis which we will be talking more about on Tuesday 17th October, at our annual congregational Vision Evening.

This evening is an opportunity to hear more about this and the message of Hope that we feel underlies our call to Bristol at this time. Please come along; we try and cancel our midweek groups that week in order to release time to gather as a church. We want this time to include an impartation of the Holy Spirit, not just an impartation of vision!

7:45pm for an 8pm start

God habits: Confession and forgiveness, Clare Thompson (am Podcast)

The letter of John is a letter written by an elder statesman in the Church, (probably the apostle John) encouraging his flock in the face of many difficulties to hold on to things of first importance. The things John teaches have become his habit and practice through long usage. They are habits and disciplines that are transformational if we can acquire them. They form a secret history with practical outworkings

God habits: Confession and forgiveness. Confession is a major spiritual discipline in the Catholic church and perhaps partly in reaction not mainstream in protestant tradition. It’s encouraged biblically by example, in the people first baptised by John (mark 1:5) and in evangelism (Acts 19:18). It’ encouraged not just to be Godward but to one another (James 5:16). John assumes in his letter all sin, and all can be forgiven. 1 John 1:9. Download the discussion notes.

Apprentice: Warfare, David Mitchell (7pm Podcast)

Oct 1st Apprentice: Warfare
To be an apprentice is to imitate and be taught by the master. Jesus was a master at Spiritual Warfare! In fact Mark’s gospel from beginning to end is marked by signs of Kingdom conflict and Jesus’s followers are inevitably recruited into that warfare. It can seem crude, scary or anachronistic to think of demons and deliverance ministry, but if it is a hallmark of the ministry of Jesus, should it not be at least as much of a hallmark for His followers as praying for the sick? Mark 1:23-28; Mark 6:7 Download discussion notes.

God habits: Confession and forgiveness, Clare Thompson (am)

The letter of John is a letter written by an elder statesman in the Church, (probably the apostle John) encouraging his flock in the face of many difficulties to hold on to things of first importance. The things John teaches have become his habit and practice through long usage. They are habits and disciplines that are transformational if we can acquire them. They form a secret history with practical outworkings

God habits: Confession and forgiveness. Confession is a major spiritual discipline in the Catholic church and perhaps partly in reaction not mainstream in protestant tradition. It’s encouraged biblically by example, in the people first baptised by John (mark 1:5) and in evangelism (Acts 19:18). It’ encouraged not just to be Godward but to one another (James 5:16). John assumes in his letter all sin, and all can be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 Download the discussion notes

Apprentice: Warfare, David Mitchell (7pm)

Oct 1st Apprentice: Warfare
To be an apprentice is to imitate and be taught by the master. Jesus was a master at Spiritual Warfare! In fact Mark’s gospel from beginning to end is marked by signs of Kingdom conflict and Jesus’s followers are inevitably recruited into that warfare. It can seem crude, scary or anachronistic to think of demons and deliverance ministry, but if it is a hallmark of the ministry of Jesus, should it not be at least as much of a hallmark for His followers as praying for the sick? Mark 1:23-28; Mark 6:7 Download discussion notes.

How to be prophetic in a time of crisis (AM Series)

‘How to be prophetic in a time of crisis’. Our world is a turbulent place. The prophet Jeremiah lived through a time of immense crisis in the nation of Judah. His prophetic messages both gave strong challenges but also guidance and comfort to the people of his day. What can we learn from him about being a prophetic people to our nation today? Over the month four prophetic pictures give us insight into God’s word being delivered through someone very human.

September 3rd. Prophetic call. As a young man Jeremiah saw a vision that unlocked a prophetic ministry that would span the next forty years. What does it mean for us to ‘see well’ as the Lord told Jeremiah? What is the call of God’s people to be ‘seers’, not ‘blind guides’ to those around us? As we start a new term what is God calling us individually and Woodlands as a community to be in our city.
Jeremiah 1. Download discussion notes.

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September 10th. Prophetic confrontation. We challenge and confront people we love. Jeremiah’s love for his people reflects the love of God for his chosen ‘bride’ as He calls the Jewish nation. The confrontation is strong however! What gives us the authority to confront and how do we do it appropriately? Download discussion notes.

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September 24th. Jeremiah’s calling is ‘to pluck up and break down, to build and to plant’ phrases that occur (1:10) throughout the book. The context for that prophetic activity however is enduring covenant. In Old Testament Scripture there are two forms of covenant; unconditional covenants initiated by God’s mercy, and covenants that are reciprocal between God and his people. Even if we break those kind of covenants, the enduring mercy of God is there for us. Though Judah was going to experience the ‘cause and effect’ consequence of their disobedience to God, and consequent exile, they were also objects of his unchanging grace and love and Jeremiah prophetically acts out this covenant relationship in this chapter.(v 40) Jerremiah 31 & 32. Download discussion notes. 

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Like what you've seen? Find more talks and videos on the Woodlands Church sermons & talks page.

Good Call / Calling (AM Series)

Sept 3rd. Calling and guidance. What’s the difference? Calling is the big picture, guidance is the detail. How do we know the call on our life, and how do we find guidance in working out our call? Does everyone have a common call, and are there exceptional ‘callings’ and experiences that go with them? How does our individual call mesh with the call of the community we are part of? Jeremiah 1:4-10. Ephesians 1:3-11. Download discussion notes. 

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Sept 10th. Vocation, location, relation - Rob Scott Cook. What should I do, where should I live, who should I be in relationship with are the big three preoccupations for many people around guidance. What principles does scripture hold out for doing life well and making good choices? Does God have specific roles and partners for us or is the choice very open? 1 Corinthians 7. Download discussion notes. 

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Sept 17th. A ‘called people- Hospital, Bride and Army ’ What is the call of the Church? Are we to be an army, bringing God’s kingdom in? Are we to be a hospital, a place of healing? Or are we the bride of Christ, called as worshippers? Woodlands core team leaders will give a perspective on each of those facets of Church. Ephesians 4:16 5:33, 6:10-20. Download discussion notes.

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Like what you've seen? Find more talks and videos on the Woodlands Church sermons & talks page.

Willow Creak GLS Leadership conference 3rd & 4th Nov

The annual Global Leadership Summit is taking place at Woodlands on 3rd & 4th November and is an inspiring conference for those in leadership and wanting to grow in leadership - wherever that might be.

Whether you work in education, business, Church or infact any area that requires you to lead - it’s a grea opportunity to be inspired by literally world-class leaders and speakers.

You can see a list of speakers here: http://willowcreek.org.uk/events/gls/gls-speakers/

To book in visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-global-leadership-summit-2017-bristol-tickets-28527896707 - simply click on tickets and enter promotional /discount code of GLS17HCMR

The Autumn Mix city wide youth celebration 6th Oct

Join us and loads of other young Christians from across the city as we look ahead to Hope 2018 -  we will worship, share stories, play games, pray, have food and celebrate the good news of Jesus together. 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Woodlands Church.

Also save the date: the Christmas Mix celebration Fri 8th Dec 7.30pm - 9.30pm, Woodlands Church Bristol, BS8 2AA.

Mark's Gospel: The Apprentice, Joey Mitchell (7pm Podcast)

Mark's Gospel

September 24th Discipleship is arguably the main purpose of the Church, to grow disciples and make new ones (sounds a bit like ‘reproducing the life of Jesus’?). Yet most Churches would confess to a rather lukewarm discipleship in reality in the culture and practice of their Church. Our new preaching series on discipleship uses a less religious word ‘Apprentice’ to remind us that discipleship is not just a cerebral or intellectual thing. Rather it is immensely practical, no less than an imitation of Jesus Himself! Mark’s gospel will be our text, but I hope there will be plenty of homework. Mark 1 v14-20. Download discussion notes. 

Prophecy in a time of crisis: Prophetic covenant, David Mitchell (11am Podcast)

‘How to be prophetic in a time of crisis’. Our world is a turbulent place. The prophet Jeremiah lived through a time of immense crisis in the nation of Judah. His prophetic messages both gave strong challenges but also guidance and comfort to the people of his day. What can we learn from him about being a prophetic people to our nation today? Over the month four prophetic pictures give us insight into God’s word being delivered through someone very human.

September 24th. Jeremiah’s calling is ‘to pluck up and break down, to build and to plant’ phrases that occur (1:10) throughout the book. The context for that prophetic activity however is enduring covenant. In Old Testament Scripture there are two forms of covenant; unconditional covenants initiated by God’s mercy, and covenants that are reciprocal between God and his people. Even if we break those kind of covenants, the enduring mercy of God is there for us. Though Judah was going to experience the ‘cause and effect’ consequence of their disobedience to God, and consequent exile, they were also objects of his unchanging grace and love and Jeremiah prophetically acts out this covenant relationship in this chapter.(v 40) Jerremiah 31 & 32. Download discussion notes.