John 17:1-19

Luke 9:51-62 We now reach the major turning point in Jesus' ministry. This is the hinge on which the book of Luke swings. It's now one way from Galilee to Jerusalem. Jesus knows the hour for His departure is at hand. He was born to die. He knows this. His first stop is through Samaria. Here the disciples realise they still have so much to learn about the mission of Messiah. Following this, 3 would-be disciples long to join Jesus. Their pledge of committment however comes with conditions. They must learn that the Master determines the terms for following not servants. His terms are that to be 'in' requires you to be 'all in'. Themese include: the cross, discipleship, judgement, committment, worldly-hindrances forsaken.

'Luke 9:37-50' As Jesus and the three disciples make their way down the mountain, they are immediately confronted with a massive crowd and a dire request. The complications around the miracle lead into a series of common mistakes that we are all too familiar with: forgetting the power source, seeking personal greatness, and chasing the wrong enemy. Themes include: lack of faith, Christ's greatness, the suffering Christ, pride, divisions/factions, the body of Christ.

'A Preview of the King's Glory' Luke 9:28-36 Jesus had recently delivered some of the hardest truths he had ever spoken since beginning His ministry. It centred primarily on the theme of suffering and death - in regards to both himself and his followers. The apparent weakness they will see in the Messiah however, must be put into perspective. The 'suffering servant' is also the 'king of glory'. And so he takes some of the disciples up the mount to peel back the curtain. What they witness is a preview of his return in splendour and power!

Exodus 17:1-7 We shouldn't test God and sit over Him. How the Israelites responded at Rephidim (Masa and Meribah) serves as a warning to believers of all ages to not have hearts like that. Remarkably, despite the people, God graciously provided water from the rock. This great miracle points to God's provision - Christ our rock.

Luke 9:23-27 'Carefully Weigh the Price-Tag' Having just blown to pieces the disciples' plans for the Messiah, Jesus now clarifies to them the reality of true discipleship. The choice to identify with Jesus is no light decision. 'Would-be' followers must carefully count the cost attached to following the Messiah. The road will be hard. In fact, it will look frightfully similar to the one marked out for Jesus. It will involve crosses, self-denial, rejection and losing one's life. And the reward? The glory of the kingdom. Theme's include: suffering, rejection, walking by faith, loving not the world, self-denial, devotion, following Christ.

Luke 9:18-22 On the heels of his largest miracle in both scale and scope, the talk surrounding Jesus is only getting louder. Everyone knows He is nothing short of extraordinary. But who exactly is He? The question is at the forefront of Israel's mind. The answers thrown around are many. There is no shortage of opinions and yet the crowds have gotten it all wrong. Peter, however, answering the question on behalf of the disciples, declares that Jesus is indeed God's Christ. Though the disciples get His identity right, we'll see that they have still a lot to learn about the Christ's mission. Themes: Jesus' identity, his rejection, his suffering, his death, his resurrection, believing the Scriptures' witness.

Exodus 2:23 - 3:12

John 1:19 - 51 We must understand who Jesus really is. He is the King, the prophet, the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit, the one who saves from sin. If we Jesus as he truly is, we are called to follow Him and call others to follow Him.

Romans 14:7-9 The gospel of a dying and rising Saviour reorientates the Christian's whole course of life. We no longer live for ourselves, nor do we die to ourselves. Christ lived and died so that He might be 'Lord' and 'ruler' over the living and the dead. In life and death we are for Him, for He lived and died for us.

Luke 9:10-17 Arguably the most well-known of all Jesus' miracles, the feeding of the 5000 is a monumental miracle. So much so, all 4 gospels record it. Through this incredible sign we get another glimpse into the heart of the compassionate King. He is unwilling to send the multitudes away hungry. He gives them bread and bread to the full. But is Jesus pointing to something far more satisfying that what they are presently feasting on?

Eph 4:1-31. Key verses: Eph 4:13-14. How do we go about maintaining unity in the church? How do we avoid being tossed about by the waves of popular sentiment and cultural norms, or being carried off by the wind of every new doctrine that might sound appealing? We must be rooted in the Truth of God’s Word. We must seek to be aligned with believers who can support and nurture us. We must work together to serve and grow to maturity in Christ. We must be unified in our purpose and seek only the glory of God. We must be accountable to one another to keep us on track and watch out for each other in a dark world where it's far too easy to be cut out from the herd (divided) and then tossed and lost!

Luke 9:1-9 The start of chapter 9 comes on the heels of a series of awe-inspiring miracles performed by Jesus. His disciples have witnessed his power, his compassion for the needy and also heard sermon after sermon on the theme of the kingdom of God. They are learning so much. It's now time for the practical part of their internship, so Jesus sends them out on a short-term missions trip. He grants them power and authority to do what he has been doing. And so they go, bearing his power and authority, and village after village encounters the reality of the kingdom of God. Not everyone however is thrilled by God's mighty works. News goes beyond villages and cities and reaches the palace of Herod. What could happen when a powerful man with a guilty conscience hears about a righteous preacher turning the nation upside down?

Matthew 18:15-20 In our final message on the Master's Plan for the Church, we consider the subject of 'church discipline'. The name alone disturbs us. It conjures up thoughts of self-righteous judgement and lovelessness. And yet, Jesus Himself, as well as the New Testament authors, spoke very plainly about the importance of the practice in the life of a church. So essential is it, Jesus entrusted the keys of the kingdom to his church. He has given us authority to bind and loose. When carried out faithfully by a congregation, heaven is in agreement. Far from being an 'unloving action', church discipline reveals true and genuine love for brothers and sisters who are straying from the Lord. As we conclude the series, we'll see that church discipline profoundly ties together membership, baptism and the Lord's supper.

Ephesians 4:1-6 In this two-part message we will be considering what God's design for baptism and the Lord's Supper is. The N.T. carefully reveals: - 'who' should participate in these ordinances - 'how' they should be administered, and - the 'what' regarding their meaning and purpose. A careful reading of the New Testament reveals that God wants to say something through these ordinances that He has graciously given to His Church!