Oct 22nd. Apprentice: Serving
Jesus teaching on ‘greatness’ in the Kingdom of God reflects the ‘upside down kingdom’ nature of his teaching. It is not easy to stay in the mindset of servanthood being a mark of true greatness when the secular culture we live in sees greatness in very different ways. That’s perhaps why we’ve taken a word that means servant (minister) and in religious use turned it into a high status word resonant with power and authority. Mark 9:33-41. Download discussion notes
God Habits: Love, Clare Thompson
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
22nd Oct. God habits: Love
How do we radically love? The love of God constrains us to love one another as we obey Jesus’ new commandment. How much does fear hold us back from radical love? (v 18). Fear of rejection? Fear of hurting others if we are honest? Fear of shame and exposure if we are open?
There is a cost to true intimacy in human relationships and we need to face that cost if we are to go deep in relationships. John tells us however that there is a real connection with our ability to love the unseen God, and our love for our ‘brothers’. What does it mean for loving our brother to be a habit? How much is emotion, how much is will, choice and action, how much is accessing the grace of God? 1 John 4:7-21. Download discussion notes.
Apprentice: Serving, Matt Dobson & Dave Mitchell
Oct 22nd. Apprentice: Serving
Jesus teaching on ‘greatness’ in the Kingdom of God reflects the ‘upside down kingdom’ nature of his teaching. It is not easy to stay in the mindset of servanthood being a mark of true greatness when the secular culture we live in sees greatness in very different ways. That’s perhaps why we’ve taken a word that means servant (minister) and in religious use turned it into a high status word resonant with power and authority. Mark 9:33-41. Download discussion notes
My Story: Phoebe
Phoebe shares with us her story and why she wants to get baptised.
Vision Evening 2017 Highlights
If you weren't able to come to Vision Evening you can catch up with the podcast of the session as well as check out the new vision video just below here. Isn't technology wonderful! :) You can also
Vision for 2017
Here's our latest vision video - so get excited about this year! Whoop!
Vision Evening Live Audio Stream Tonight!
Everyone gets to Play
We're really excited about Vision Evening tonight but we also recognise that it's hard to some times make it to events, particularly if there's child care or shift work to consider.
So, to help with that we've got a few options if you can't make it personally tonight.
Live Audio Streaming
Tonight we will be attempting to live audio stream the talky bits here at mixlr.com/woodlandschurch.
- Click on mixlr.com/woodlandschurch and a new browser window will open.
- On the left hand side of the page you will see the Mixlr player.
- The diagram below shows (from left to right) the player "off air", when the live stream is available and when you have pressed play and are listening to the live stream.
- Going to mixlr.com/woodlandschurch requires no downloading of apps etc, just visit the page and off you go!
Alternatively you can also listen on the go if you have an Android or iOS smart device or phone. To download the apps visit https://mixlr.com/download.
The Woodlands Church Facebook Group
There will also be a few us Facebook live-ing and adding snippets during the evening on our Woodlands Church Facebook Group (just click this link).
Lastly, if those don't appeal to you we will be posting the video and podcast audio from Vision Evening like we do with our Sunday preaches, these will be available on the website ASAP after the event.
Apprentice: Discipling, Rob Scott-Cook (7PM podcast)
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 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.
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.
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.