King's Church Hastings

In this first session of 'Going Deeper: The Gospels' we explore four key questions which help us to read and understand the Gospels: What are the Gospels? How were they written? How should we read them? Why are there four?

God has given us the resources we need so that we can stand strong in the fight. We have a real enemy, but we're not to hide in a bunker but to stand and fight. We're to be prepared by putting on spiritual armour and to be prayerful because it makes a difference.

Being a parent is one of the hardest thing. It's a huge area for comparison and condemnation. How can parents require obedience from their kids? And children are told to honour their parents, but what does this look like as a child and as an adult?

Our attitudes to work are shaped by many things. We worship a God who works and who created us to work. Work benefits us and it also benefits society.

What is God's design for marriage? We react strongly to words such as 'submission' and 'headship', but what do they actually look like according to the Bible?

Our motivation to walk and talk in a Christ-like way is based on who our Father is, the wrath of God that we've been saved from, and how we are now the light of the world called to reflect God's glory.

The Bible says that before we came to Jesus, we had an old, selfish life that has now died, and we now have a new life in Christ with a new nature. We have been radically changed. Are you walking in the good of your new life?

God loves to give gifts to His children freely. Gifts aren't about what we can do for others, but about who we are, who He has created us to be. God wants us to be at peace with who we are and our unique contribution. The key ingredient for the gifts functioning well together is unity.

In the story of Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, we find the answers to these questions: who is He? Does He care? Can He help? The message of Easter isn't 'come to church and try a bit harder', but come to Jesus and find life in all its fullness, both now and forevermore.

Christian life is meant to be like running for the prize, but sometimes it is more like running for the bus! What's the difference? And how can we pick up the pace?

As we look carefully through the book of Acts, we can see that care for the poor was in the DNA of all of the churches that were planted. New Testament churches care for the poor. It's just part of who they are.

The first word used to describe love in 1 Corinthians 13 is 'patient'. Most of us would admit we could be more patient. Real love is patient...

The story of Noah and the ark is like a trailer, pointing us towards what is to come. It tells us about the problem with humanity and God's solution, and points towards Jesus, a greater and better ark.

As we engage with God, we gain spiritual strength. God’s goodness isn’t dependent on what we go through. We can have strength every day in our inner being through the Holy Spirit. We can know and experience the love of God that goes far beyond just head knowledge, transforming us, bringing security, and galvanising us from the inside out. Whatever you’re facing, the amazing truths in these verses can help you to praise your Father in heaven.

God will not disqualify you from His plans and purposes on account of your background or circumstances. His power is made perfect in our weakness, and His Church is called to reveal His manifold wisdom.

We don’t have to look hard for hostility. We see it in wars and cold wars. We see it even in our own families and neighbourhoods. There’s hostility in the church. But God has broken down every dividing wall and we are now family together, called to bear with one another in love.

These verses set out the glorious truth that the work of salvation is all about God’s grace reaching out to us when we could not save ourselves. As a result of Jesus sacrifice on the cross we are now raised to new life. Because Jesus is now seated in heaven our eternal salvation is sure and certain. Whilst we are here on earth our calling is to walk as Jesus walked and to bring His kingdom into every situation of life.

When Paul prays for the believers to whom he is writing, he shows us that Christian growth is like cake baking: you need both the ingredients and the cooking process. He asks that the Holy Spirit would bring revelation to them, bringing knowledge that affects how they think, feel and live. But he also shows that we need to fill ourselves with biblical truth so the Holy Spirit can make it real in our hearts. Truth and revelation, like ingredients and cooking.

We have been redeemed by Jesus: if you are in Christ, He has paid your ransom in full! And we have been sealed by the Spirit, bringing power and security to us.

The incredible verses at the beginning of Ephesians were written to the saints – they’re true of every believer. If you have given your life to Jesus, you have every spiritual blessing! You’ve been chosen to be holy and blameless, to be adopted by your Father in heaven, saved for His pleasure.