Soul Food - If Jesus was heartbroken with suffering pain and grief?

Mars Hill Church | 23rd May 2017 | Meditation

  Introduction Let’s Get Real. That’s the message God is giving us. That’s what Authentic Love means. Authentic Love isn't just a snappy title or a cool graphic that has put together: it’s something that is at the heart of God. It’s something that God is wanting us to grasp. It’s something that will change the church and impact our world like no other. The world was turned around by 11 ordinary guys, later passed on to a small church of around 120 who were devoted to Jesus, lived authentically, and cared about others more than themselves, so that the power of the Holy Spirit was at work among them. They knew what it was to get real…   Key Verse For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21).   Some Thoughts What does it mean to get real with ourselves, with each other and with God? What will this kind of authenticity look like? What prevents us from being real? What lies do we need to destroy, and what relationship do we need to build so that we can become a church that is not made up of glossy facades, but is real from the inside out?...

Mars Hill Church | 02nd January 2017 | Meditation

Introduction New Year is often full of new years resolution; some are kept but many are broken. New diets, New exercise plans. New ideas and new dreams. In the midst of all this God is still in the business of making things new - us, and our world. But how can we live more in the reality of this? Key Verse And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) Some Thoughts What does it mean when God says he is making all things new? What would it mean to have a new kind of life, with a new relationship with God and those around us? To have new lives with no sickness and a new world with no brokenness? How can we live more in the reality of this?...

Mars Hill Church | 12th December 2016 | Meditation

Introduction If you have ever seen the book where’s Wally, you will know its basically a book with different pictures in, and the pictures are super crowded and you have to find this guy called Wally in it. He is wearing a red and white stripy hat, jumper and scarf and he wears glasses. To make it even more difficult they put other people in that look similar to Wally. Sometimes life can be like that, Jesus is there but we just cant see him; he is hidden in the crowd, noise and busyness of life. When you are school and the people around you are giving you a hard time - where is Jesus? You loose your job - where is Jesus? You are having trouble with a loved one - where is Jesus? Then to make it even worse the devil comes and tries to deceive us and tare us away from Jesus. He tries to look like Jesus - like the false Wally’s, but they aren't the real thing - and the devil does the same; he comes looking like Jesus to tare us away from the real Jesus. Today I want to encourage us to train our eyes to see the real Jesus - the real Jesus who is part of your life, the real Jesus who turns up in the most unusual of places.   Key Verse Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (2 Colossians 1:24-29).   Some Thoughts What unusual places is Jesus turning up in that we might be missing? How has the devil tried to deceive us in following him rather than Jesus? How can we become more aware of Jesus in our lives, so that we can present him to those who don't know him?...

Mars Hill Church | 05th December 2016 | Meditation

Introduction I have a dream of a church that is all about Jesus: a church that loves Jesus, serves Jesus, lives out Jesus to one another and in the communities God has placed us. A church that is Jesus centred, Holy Spirit dependant, and Father Glorifying, trusting in the infallibility of this book, the Bible. A church that loves each other enough to serve one another, to be real honest and raw with one another. A church with authentic love, that speaks life and is generous in everything. A church that loves God’s church enough to get up, get involved and makes a difference. I have a dream of a church that lives out and speaks out the gospel, knowing it is the only hope of salvation for this town in which we live. A church that is missional in everything it does and is creative and innovative. I have a dream of a church that burns with the power and passion of the Holy Spirit, of an army with shields on their backs, spears in their hands, and the fire of God burning in their hearts and on their heads as they march to the beat of God’s drum. A church that is open to everyone, although not everyone will stay. I have a dream of a church that is so full of the Holy Spirit anointing that even when their shadows fall on the sick, they will become well, and that miracles will be as common as rainy days. A church whose hearts break for the broken, hurt for the hurting, and help those who are poor, marginalised and oppressed. A church that lives in freedom and points others to the freedom that can only be found in Christ. I have a dream of a church that gives sacrificially of their time, talents and tithes because they care more about others than they do their own pockets or agendas. I have a dream of a church that is alive, creative, and growing both spiritually and numerically, planting new churches and infiltrating new communities, until the fame and name of Jesus is known again in this land...   Key Verse Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:11-17).   Some Thoughts How can we not just show love but become love like Jesus?...

Mars Hill Church | 08th April 2020 | Religion & Spirituality

In 1666 London suffer a huge fire that devastated the city, leaving only 1/5th of the building standing. Although the Great Fire was a catastrophe, it did cleanse the city. The overcrowded and disease ridden streets were destroyed and a new London emerged. We see that although fire can be devastating, it can also bring cleansing, it can bring light, it can bring life, and as we turn to Jesus message on the mountain we see how he uses a similar analogy to show his followers what they should be like in the world....

Mars Hill Church | 08th April 2020 | Religion & Spirituality

Introduction:In 1666 London suffer a huge fire that devastated the city, leaving only 1/5th of the building standing. Although the Great Fire was a catastrophe, it did cleanse the city. The overcrowded and disease ridden streets were destroyed and a new London emerged. We see that although fire can be devastating, it can also bring cleansing, it can bring light, it can bring life, and as we turn to Jesus message on the mountain we see how he uses a similar analogy to show his followers what they should be like in the world.   Key Verse:You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5v13-16).   Some Thoughts:How can you burn brighter everyday with the love and power of Jesus. What dark places does God want you to shine your light into? What is preventing you from doing this and how can you overcome it as Salt and light to this world?  ...

Mars Hill Church | 21st May 2019 | Religion & Spirituality

Introduction:Israel have been hurt and hurt bad - basically their relatives are coming against them, rather than helping them. The Edomites were descendants of Esua, Jacobs twin, whom Israel descended from. They were to be friends and allies, yet Edom had got proud, they didn’t believe they needed anyone, and in their pride thought they were untouchable even by God, so they persecuted the Israelites. Last week we saw how pride starts in the heart and plays out in; your position, in what you have, over your relationships, over your knowledge/intellect, over your strength/abilities. We will now see more ways in which pride affects our life, and how humility is the option that brings Grace - Gods riches, blessings and freedom to our lives.   Key Verse:But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. (Obadiah v12) Some Thoughts:How can we live so that our fears and insecurities don’t lead to pride. What insecurities does God need to replace with his love and truth? How can we extend this love to people even those who wrong us, so that we even want what’s best for them?...

Mars Hill Church | 09th April 2019 | Religion & Spirituality

Introduction:Have you ever been in a really dark place? Have you ever wondered if God really existed? Have you ever blamed God for stuff just not working out? Have you ever faced such a big mountain that you did not know how you was going to get passed it? Being a Christian as we saw last week, although is the best thing the world has the promise of hardship (1 Peter 1, 4). Peter Tells us not to be surprised when the trial comes. Why because trial produce faith and faith produces dependance and dependance produces perseverance perseverance that will enable you to move mountain. (2 Peter 1v6). Life throws curve balls, life has mountain and giants and moments of utter darkness and how do we navigate our way through them, how do we soo God in the midst of them and how to hold on and stand firm. Key Verse:And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation. (Luke 22v40). Some Thoughts:The two great weapons of our warfare is the word of God and prayer - praying in and through the bible shifts something in us and also the things around us. So how easy do you find it to pray? What is prayer to you? How can you make more prayer more of a priority in your life?...