Soul Food - Where's Jesus?

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 | 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 | 28th November 2016 | Meditation

Introduction Michael Jackson in his song; Man in the Mirror, recognises that he has become the victim of a selfish kind of love, but now he realises that there is more to life than himself. So he is going to look at the man in the mirror, and make the change… The bible encourages us to do the same. James 1:23 talks about someone looking in a mirror then forgetting what they look like. This is all too common; the Holy Spirit illuminates something in our lives, we see it, we are impacted by it, but we then walk away and forget to do anything about it. Walking by the Spirit is a conscious decision on a daily bases, until it becomes who we are. This is what the Mars Hill values are about; realising that a church is not an abstract concept, or bricks and mortar, but real people, with real lives and real hearts, and that we want to recognise, value, love and respect each other as God wants us to. We want to be a people whose heart is Jesus, and from that we see each other and life differently. This enables us to realise that we have all been caught up in a selfish kind of love, but now in Jesus we have realised that we need to look at the man, or woman, in the mirror and through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, make that change.   Key Verse My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (James 2:1-5).   Some Thoughts How can we stop looking at ourselves but look to Jesus and each other. How can we give opportunity for the Holy Spirit to build a missional heart in us, as we are desperate for people to know him. In what ways can we develop the creativity God has given us to reach more people with his love?   Looking Out:6.) Open Doors - A church for anyone but not for everyone.7.) Missional heart - We will do anything to reach people with the love of Jesus. Embrace culture without conforming or compromising.8.) Innovation and creativity - Accepting failure as an option. ...

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?...