God ends life. God is the author and sustainer of life – from conception to eternity. How does the Christian person live by his timing and determination until he brings you home. In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes aims to help us think Christianly (Biblically) about the value of life under God’s hand when it comes to dying and death – especially as we live in a world where life can be quietly ended or painlessly prolonged. Our topic: Thinking Christianly about Euthanasia.
God shapes life. Disability is a normal and good part of God’s creation and whilst that may mean there are limitations placed upon a person (including their reliance on others), Christians should embrace the God’s gift of each person.
In this talk, Ken Noakes opens a discussion about how Christians can think about disability in our fallen world now and suggests a different approach to thinking about disability in our coming perfect world. This will create discussion – agree or disagree – let’s together recognize that we can take steps now to care well for those who live with disabilities as we all wait for heaven.
Forget crowns and castles! What does it REALLY mean to be a king? This Easter, it’s time to rethink everything you thought you knew about power, sacrifice, and the true King who changed the world forever. We are “RethinKING Easter.”
We can define a king as one with the power to raise an army yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship because he comes as one who is “gentle and riding on a donkey”. The kingship that he brings is one of peace in the face of war. We need not be threatened by Jesus but welcome him with praise.
In this talk Ken Noakes helps us to see the long-term fulfillment of what was long proclaimed about God’s King – and story that spanned 500 years from prophecy to fulfillment.
We can define a King as one who people serve, yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship by being the one who came to serve, laying down his life for his friends.
In this talk, Gary Haddon helps us to see in Jesus a sovereign King who suffered and a king who suffered in order to save.
A way to define kingship by succession – yet we still recognize that for every king, no matter his power, or influence, or riches – they will one day die. Yet Jesus defies kingship in almost every way – not least of all in his death and then resurrection. A king, who in death gave his riches as an internal inheritance for all who trust in him. That is Easter.
In this talk Neil Atwood will help us consider the significance of Jesus’ resurrection as a certain indicator of Jesus’ true kingship over all of life.
For the fifth and last time in Matthew’s Gospel Jesus speaks of what ‘little faith’ might look like – and he offers yet another description of what will happen to him as he heads into Jerusalem where he will be delivered into the hands of opposing men, killed, and then on the third day rise.
In these Bible talks both John Lavender and Ken Noakes look at what faith in the life of a believer might look like – it is not about the quantity of faith (as if that could be measured), but about the genuineness of faith in Jesus.
The disciples Peter, James and John travel up the mountain with Jesus and come face to face with those key Old Testament figures of Moses and Elijah – yet it is Jesus who stands out. A voice from heaven declares: ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’ (Matt 17:5). This is not the first time such a pronouncement has been made.
In this talk, Dave Swan helps to show why it is so important to listen to Jesus – the son of God, and the one who is going to suffer (to the point of death) and then be raised from the dead.
In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes considers some very well-known passages: the beheading of John the Baptist, the feeding of 5000, and Jesus walking on water. In each of these accounts the question we as readers are effectively asked is ‘who do you think Jesus is?’ Herod gave his conclusion, the crowds made their approach, the disciples got a firsthand view of Jesus in action. The question: who sees Jesus as ‘truly… the Son of God’?
In the letter of 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul has been addressing numerous matters to help the Christians in Corinth consider how they live for Christ – both before the world, and within the church family.
In this talk Ken Noakes looks at the rebuke that is written to the church of Corinth because of their selfishness has hurt their fellowship. He focuses on the way that they share in the Lord’s Supper. There are lessons for the church today. The Lord’s Supper should humble us as we remember Christ’s death and proclaim his coming again. When you remember Christ’s death, and where he is taking us, there is no room for a pecking order, or being concerned with social status, or competing with each other. As a result, we must examine ourselves (11:28) and wait for one another (11:34).
This talk will also help us thing about how we deal with division within the church family.
As a society, we have become somewhat immune to hearing outrageous claims. They are issued, capture some newsworthy attention, and then are fairly quickly ignored or pushed aside. Jesus issued some outrageous claims, in fact, claims that were far beyond what we hear today. In this Bible Talk series, we look at the “I AM…” statements from the gospel of John. Newsworthy – yes. Ignored – yes. Pushed aside – yes. Yet, to look into them we will see the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ. It would be to our loss to be immune.
This talk explores God’s declaration “I AM WHO I AM” to Moses, the doubts Moses had, and our identity in Christ.
Can we recognize God’s sovereignty over all things with humanity’s responsibility in some things. In this talk, we look at what Paul taught the Roman church about God’s mercy in election – such that anyone who hears, believes and confirms Jesus as their Lord can be confident in their salvation.
‘Hope’ is a well used term, yet one that is easily misunderstood. This three part series aims to help Christians understand and be equipped as children of God to live in a world that is flawed, fraught and fallen yet still under the glorious umbrella of hope in Christ.
Using the Letter to the Romans as a springboard, this series will look to address the topics of Judgement, Suffering and Predestination – whilst recognizing that ‘creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.’ (Romans 8:20-21)
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