October 29th. God habits: Prayer.
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 1 John 5:13-17. Download discussion notes.
29th Oct. God habits: Prayer
Prayer is a defining habit of a follower of Jesus. Disciples say ‘teach us to pray’. John has a confidence in prayer that God hears us. Does this sort of confidence in God inspire more prayer which gives rise to more confidence?
What is the difference (if any) between God hearing our prayer and God answering our prayer? (v 14)? What is the link between asking for things that are the will of God and receiving what we ask for? How does this shape our prayer methodology? How do you think John learnt lessons in prayer over a long lifetime which included his fellow disciples being martyred and his own exile? 1 John 5: 14 & 15. Download discussion notes.
Jamie Burns talks about his experience of losing a hand and how God has been with him through it.
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.
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
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.
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
Phoebe shares with us her story and why she wants to get baptised.
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
Here's our latest vision video - so get excited about this year! Whoop!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (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.
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.
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.
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
Woodlands Church, Belgrave Road, Bristol BS8 2AA
