SERIES 1: welcome to life - Matthew 5
What’s this series all about?
Jesus issues an invitation into real life over and over in his teachings. A kind of life that bubbles up like a spring, that takes away the hunger of our souls, that makes us flourish like trees. This is “life to the full” (Jn10:10) and it begins now and lasts forever. This is life in the Kingdom of Heaven. And Matthew 5-7, commonly known as The Sermon on the Mount, gives us a taste of what life in the kingdom with Jesus looks like.
To start with, anyone is welcome. Anyone. Throw open the doors. All are welcome. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. That’s because the kingdom is not just about behaving a certain way: it’s about your heart. Life in the Kingdom takes us always to our hearts - to the core of our motivations, to our unconscious assumptions and our automatic behaviours. It challenges the ego, sexual desire, our ‘othering’ of people, our jealousies, and our deepest fears. And, as the King, whose very essence is Love, works in those hidden places, new ways of living and being in the world emerge, new practices and habits are formed, and life looks different. Life looks stable, strong, resilient… kinda like it’s built on a rock.
Join us as we kick of the year in Matthew 5, exploring life built on a rock, life in the kingdom with Jesus.
mar 2nd: welcome to life - jesus on Anger (rod edwards)
Every time you feel that sense of anger rising within you, breathe and pray.
FEB 16TH: welcome to life - life in the kingdom (TINA TEOPE)
Meditate each day this week on Jesus’ words: ‘the kingdom of heaven has come near’ – hold them in your mind, come back to them, repeat them over and over, ponder them, pray about them.
Make special effort to connect with others in your House Church or small group etc to bring encouragement to them and deepen your connection with them