2 Cor 5:1-10 Paul is speaking with eternity in full view. He describes our earthly home as a tent. Whilst we live in that home we groan, longing to be clothed in our heavenly dwelling. A building not made with hands. Like Paul we wait with anticipation to stand before Jesus to receive our "Crown of Righteousness".

James 1:1-4 Themes: trials, hope, and salvation through Jesus

John 15:18-16:4 From the time of Abel to the present, the world has raged against Christians and sought to silence them through violence. Why does the world do this? What is it about Christians that makes their blood boil? How can we make sense of devastating persecution befalling God’s children every day? The night before the world would murder the Son of God, Jesus explained to the disciples why these things are so, and why they will continue to be until the end...

Matthew 21:12-22 - Worship, God's Way Easily overlooked, the passage about the cleansing of the temple; tells us much about God's intentions for worship. Jesus knew that a genuine relationship with God must be founded on unhindered worship and centred in sincere prayer. Jesus' actions urge us, in turn, to prioritise worship, prayer, and devotion to God in our lives. We must be constantly on the lookout for anything - even driven by seemingly good motives - that might stand in the way of spending time with God.

2 Cor 1:1-11 God of Comfort Paul faced much suffering as part of his serving Christ. He begins the passage with praise for God because He is the Father of mercy and comfort. Whilst he suffered physically for his service, the thing that brought him to tears was his concern for the church. Paul acknowledged the fact that the more he suffered for Christ the more he knew God's comfort. Because he experienced God's comfort, he was able to comfort others with the same comfort.   Whilst I think this passage says a lot about suffering in Christ in His service and we receive God's comfort, I think it also includes comforting those who suffer in life. We all suffer in life to a degree; we are then able to comfort others because of our relationship with Christ. Paul repeatedly asked for prayer support.

Matthew 6:19-24 Serve God instead of money and his heavenly treasures will be ours. We have to choose between earthly dollars and eternal treasure, earthly darkness and eternal light, and between the earthly master and the eternal master. And, we must choose wisely because we can’t choose both!

Luke 11:5-13 Having shown the disciples what the ‘priorities' of prayer are, Jesus now teaches them what our ‘attitude' toward prayer must be. To bring the point home, Jesus gives a memorable parable about a neighbour at midnight and fathers tending to their needy children.

’The School of Prayer Pt.2’ Luke 11:1-4 Last week we saw Christ directing us to the Father when it comes to prayer. He desires that believers remember their newly-gained privelege of being able to address God personally as ‘Father’. The opening of the prayer is all about God - “hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come.” Having submitted ourselves to God’s priorities first, we can them bring before the Lord our needs. Jesus instructs us to seek from the Father - provisions, pardon and protection.

Luke 11:1-4 As the clock ticks closer and closer to Calvary, Jesus remains committed to training and equipping his disciples. Last week, through the example of Mary, He taught them the importance of listening to His Word. Here, He teaches them how to pray. First things first, the disciples need to appreciate the reality that they can call God their Father! And let us realise, The Lord’s Prayer was given to us as a model not a mantra.

'One Thing is Necessary' Luke 10:38-42 Having just engaged a lawyer who believed he could gain eternal life through works, Jesus is now received into the home of Martha. Sibling tension comes to the surface, where the issue again revolves around 'works'. One sister is busy for the Lord, the other seems to have neglected her duty. Jesus uses the incident as an opportunity to teach them about the disciple's most important duty - sitting under God's Word. Themes include: ministry, serving, discipleship, the Word of God.

Luke 10:25-37 Arguably the most beloved of all Jesus' parables, the story of the Good Samaritan is best known as a tale about kindness and love for one's neighbour. Whilst these themes are present, is it the 'point' of the parable? Looking closer, Jesus gives the parable not to his disciples, but to an enemy who is attempting to trap him. Far from being a 'good news story', the parable of the Good Samaritan is actually 'bad news' for the self righteous religious establishment, which is opposing Jesus. By the end of the parable, it isn't Jesus who is trapped, but rather his enemies.

The short missionary trip of the 72 is finally completed and they return to their Master. They come back with great joy because captives have been delivered under their ministry. They joy appears full, but Jesus points to a greater joy - the assurance of salvation (their names recorded in the Book of Life). Their joyful report provokes joy in Jesus. However, His joy is over something that normally causes consternation to many Christians - God's sovereignty in concealing the saving truth from some and freely revealing it to others. This sovereign prerogative is something that "pleased" God and was according to "His gracious will". We are reminded that 'grace' is not owed to all. It is God choosing to not give some what they rightfully deserve. Grace is a remarkable gift. Grace is nothing short of amazing.

Luke 10:8-16 Having promised the 72 disciples that the harvest is indeed plentiful, he also makes plain that there will be many who despise them and their message. A warm welcome is not guaranteed. To those who refuse to listen, the disciples are instructed to proclaim a strong warning. The disciples don't have to wonder what that warning looks like because Jesus suddenly begins to denounce the cities who saw so much yet still were unbelieving. Jesus speaks of greater and lesser judgements that will fall. The measure of judgement a person will receive is based upon the amount of light and truth they were given. In this passage, Jesus shows us that there will be degrees of punishment in hell. To whom much is given, much will be required. Such fearful words should put everything into perspective and drive us to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners.

Luke 10:3-9 Having assembled 72 disciples for a short-term missionary tour, Jesus now gives the 'team talk'. Jesus doesn't sugar coat the stakes of the mission. He first lays out the dangers that await them, and then proceeds to lay out a list of instructions ranging from what not to pack to how to conduct themselves before people. At the heart of his commissioning words is the message they must proclaim - the kingdom of God is here because the King has come. The Kingdom of God is constantly on the move, and people are brought into contact with it. How they respond will have eternal ramifications. These 72 evangelists must step out in faith, trusting the Lord of the Harvest and being faithful to minister in exact accordance with what He has told them.

'Asleep at Harvest Time!' Luke 10:1-2 We have seen that Jesus' theme has been discipleship. We have become familiar with his common refrain in chapter 9 - Follow me....follow me....follow me! Now, in chapter 10, he takes these willing followers and sends them out. He promises that there is plenty of work to do, for the harvest is plentiful. Sadly, the harvest-labourer ratio is utterly unbalanced. Workers are few and far between, whilst souls in need are too numerous to number. It was so in Jesus' day, it has been throughout history, and it continues to be true today. What ought we to do when the scales are so unbalanced?? Jesus gives the answer to the great epidemic of our day - Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest!