Prayer and fasting is much less common in our world than it was in first century Israel, but if anything it has become even more important. In today’s passage, Jesus teaches his disciples how to fast – not just from food, but from the spiritual pride and human praise that we often seek.

Steve Tibbert, our Serior Pastor, starts our 21 Days of Prayer encouraging us to come boldly into God's presence as we start the new year in prayer and worship together as a church.

Paul calls the church “a pillar and buttress of the truth”: a structure that supports and lifts high the gospel of Jesus Christ. In our generation that means a number of challenges – and a number of opportunities.

The story of the magi, the wise men, calls us to look up and see Jesus – there we will find joy. Let’s not look down and get lost in the things we have to do, buy and cook at Christmas time but instead let’s see Jesus and worship him today.

Christmas is a time of call-and-response. Heaven sings, and invites the earth to join in.

This year we will be thinking about Christmas as the time when, as the hymn puts it, Heaven and Nature Sing. Andrew starts Advent by looking at the story of the Fall, and the curse that Jesus came to overcome: not just on human beings, but on creation as a whole.

Andrew Wilson, speaker and author on spirituality, discusses the controversial gift of speaking in tongues and its importance in the Christian faith. He emphasizes the need for this gift in conjunction with the virtue of love and highlights the benefits of prophesying for the church. Wilson encourages the Corinthians to embrace and pursue spiritual gifts, including tongues and prophecy, rather than shutting them down. He also emphasizes the significance of speaking in tongues and prophesying in the church, highlighting the need for interpretation to build up the community and avoid confusion.

Through the series, we released a number of podcast episodes to help us further explore some of the topics relating to the Holy Spirit. Make sure to subscribe.

Andrew Wilson, teaching pastor, shares thoughts on conflict in Israel and Gaza. Topics include: biblical grounding, critical thinking, praying with intention, respectful dialogue, historical background, expanding the promise, relationship between Israel, Gaza, and Christianity, complexities of Christians' views on war, conflict and the heart of God, and a prayer for peace and hope.

What is the gift of prophecy and how are we to use the gift in the public gathering? In1 Cor Paul teaches us both what prophesy is and how it is to be administered. In days when many people have abused the gift of prophecy and we can be sceptical, Paul’s exhortation to be a people who eagerly desire the gifts is an important one.