Matthew 5:8 There are many wonderful promises concerning what heaven will be like. We long for the reunion of believers, new bodies, and the ceasing of sorrows and afflictions. However, Jesus sums up the pinnacle of heaven - the very heaven of heaven, in Matthew 5:8. It truly is the diamond in heaven’s ring!

'A Classic Mistake' Luke 2:39-52 There are many things we would love to know concerning Jesus' childhood. We have a multitude of burning questions! Many, many things would've happened during his earliest years as a boy. Amazingly, the New Testament gives us only one story from that period of Jesus' life. The Holy Spirit shows that all we need to know about Jesus' childhood can be found in one particular event - the week Mary and Joseph lost him.... In this account, we have the first recorded words that Jesus spoke. We see even at the age of 12, Jesus absolutely knows who He is and what He must be about. We watch him physically, mentally, and spiritually grow as the Son of Man. Yet we also see Him as the eternal, only begotten Son of God.

'The Rise and Fall of Many' Luke 2:21-38 In this section, we get a glimpse into the lives of believers at opposite ends of the age spectrum. We see: (1) young parents who are faithful in the little and (2) elderly believers who've been faithful over the long haul. Remarkably, these young and old believers find themselves in the same place at the same time. The reason for their unexpected meeting? The 40-day old infant, Jesus.

Joshua 24:1-24 The LORD had poured out His special love upon Israel - He powerfully pulled them out of Pharaoh's clutches, He made a way through the waters (twice!), He powerfully defeated their foes, He gave them a land flowing with milk and honey, and out of all the nations of the earth, He made a covenant with them alone. Israel is now summoned and brought into the valley of Decision. With blessings aplenty and also enticements to idolatry all around them, who would Israel serve? Interestingly, it's the heads of the households who are forced to choose...

27/08/2023 - Nathan Vella - Repeat the Sounding Joy Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:1-7 'Heaven and Earth Meet' The gift of gifts is the Lord of Lord's sent to this world for sinners. Before he became a servant, the eternal Son became a helpless baby. There is no need to wait for December 25 to celebrate the joy of joys - Christ come to save us!

Luke 1:57-80 We see in this passage that God's Word is sure. What He says, He will do. He wastes no words. The Holy Spirit then inspires Zechariah to lift up his voice in prophetic praise. Hope has arisen because the Light of the world has descended. Salvation is on the horizon, and it is very bright indeed.

Luke 1:39-56 Here we have the earliest hymn recorded in the New Testament. It comes from the lips of young Mary, after receiving news that she has been graciously picked to be the mother of Messiah. The song is one of highest praise. With salvation on the horizon, Mary praises God for His power, mercy, blessings, judgements and faithfulness. Each of these praiseworthy acts will be realised in the sending and arrival of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Luke 1:26-38 A brief survey of history will show that kingdoms and empires have come and gone. No sooner have they arisen, no sooner do they vanish. Yet long ago, God promised a coming kingdom that will never end. Such a kingdom requires a King who cannot be stopped...

Luke 1:5-25 The narrative of Luke's gospel does not begin with Jesus, but with the Father, who is setting the stage for His Son's arrival. Before us in these verses is the Great Promise Maker and Keeper.

'That You may have Certainty' Luke 1:1-4 Luke's gospel doesn't begin like the other three gospel accounts. He opens with the 'how' and 'why' behind his writing. For the Christian, what we've come to hear and believe is always put into question by the world, and sometimes even from within! We must strive to be fully assured and immovable in our profession of faith. And so, Luke provides us with a preface that should not be skipped over...

'A Brother for the Tempted' Hebrews 2:17-18 Who do you go to when you're in trouble? Here in Hebrews 2, the Holy Spirit redirects the church's weary eyes away from her troubles to Him who has become our elder brother. Having taken on flesh, Christ has been tempted like us and is no stranger to suffering. In these verses, the call goes out to every buffeted Christian - "Jesus knows. Oh how he knows! Lean into him."

'Scared to Death!' Hebrews 2:14-18 In these few verses, the Spirit addresses humanity's greatest phobia... Does the message of Christ really deal with the paralysing fear that has enslaved us our entire lives?

'The Spirit of Truth in a Lying World' Jesus elaborates on the coming Helper by also identifying Him as 'The Spirit of Truth'. In the unfolding verses, we see 3 distinct ministries of the Spirit of Truth: to bear witness, convict, and guide. We'll see that each of these works are vital for the world's salvation and the church's protection.

John 14:15-17 Another Helper has come