1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 As the saints of old looked for the arrival of the Christ, we now wait for "the Son from heaven".

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 'Be hopeful and alert for the day we meet King Jesus in the air.'

'Use it or Lose it' Luke 8:16-21 On the heels of his sermon on the parable of the soils, Jesus exhorts his disciples to respond appropriately. True hearing involves the application of truth. The seed is the Word and the Word needs to be utilised. Jesus gives the principle of using what one is given or run the risk of losing it. Luke then includes a short incident involving Jesus' family. Again, the Word must take precedence even over one's closest familial ties...

Luke 8:4-15 We encounter the first major shift in Jesus' teaching ministry. From this point onwards, the Great Teacher primarily uses parables for the crowds that follow him. Through these parables mysteries are both revealed and further concealed. "Ears to hear" are required as the good news of the kingdom goes out. In this passage Jesus delivers what has been hailed as his most important parable. The Word goes out, but the hearts that receive it are in different conditions...

'Christ Our Example' We will be considering the incredible suffering Christ experienced and the example he left us in going to prayer to the Father. Jesus endured much affliction and is able to help those who are afflicted. Themes include: Prayer, suffering, Christ's sacrifice

Luke 8:4-15 We encounter the first major shift in Jesus' teaching ministry. From this point onwards, the Great Teacher primarily uses parables for the crowds that follow him. Through these parables mysteries are both revealed and further concealed. "Ears to hear" are required as the good news of the kingdom goes out. In this passage Jesus delivers what has been hailed as his most important parable. The Word goes out, but the hearts that receive it are in different conditions...

Isaiah 66:1-5

Luke 8:1-3 After an unforgettable dinner at Simon the Pharisee's house, Jesus continues his tour through Galilee preaching the good news. Christ knew his time here would be short and devoted Himself to doing the Father's will. Not only did He make the most of what was before Him, He transformed followers to do likewise. Luke pauses his fast-paced narrative to give us a glimpse of some unlikely converts who responded to mercy by devoting themselves to deeds of love. They used what they had to advance the kingdom. The exhortation for us is to make the most of the time and to serve faithfully. Like the previous passage, great forgiveness produces great love.

John 14:1-11 'Precious Medicine for Troubled Hearts' In John chapter 14, we get to be a fly on the wall of the upper room, and witness the intimate moments between Christ & His disciples. Jesus knows that this will be His last meal with them before the cross. The disciples have also just learnt that He is leaving them. Pain fills their hearts. They are troubled and sorrowful. Jesus wants them to know that: through His leaving God will bring about great good, out of the pain God will bring great relief, out of the ashes God will bring beauty, and through death Jesus will win everlasting life. Here in these few verses, Jesus prescribes the medicine that troubled hearts desperately need...

Isaiah 65:17-25 'A Glorious World Awaits Us' Israel had received the bitter cup for her unrelenting sins. She was caught like a fish by the hook and dragged out of her homeland. It seemed she had sinned herself out of the promises of God. It seemed God could not longer repair what they had broken. And yet, in their darkest hour, God holds out to them the hope of a bright future. He promises of a world where his people will no longer be exiled, because sin will be exiled - forever. God promises that the time is soon approaching when He will be making all things new. New heavens and a new earth are in the works! This promise is for ALL who will humbly repent and trust in Christ.

Luke 7:36-50 With opposition mounting from the religious leaders, the last thing one would expect is for Jesus to receive a dinner invitation to a Pharisee's house. Or perhaps the bigger surprise is Jesus accepting this invitation! Is Jesus walking straight into the lion's den or are his actions another reminder that his mercy is greater than we ever imagined? The dinner is quickly thrown into disarray when a notoriously sinful women begins to worship at his feet. Why does she do what is socially outrageous? Why does Jesus allow her to get so close? Jesus has a parable to clear up any confusion, and to hopefully show this Pharisee what He has been too blind to see all along...

Luke 7:31-35 Jesus had just publicly defended John the Baptist before the crowds. The people were all ears, however, what initially seemed like a positive response to both John and Jesus' ministries, is quickly seen for what it really is.... Jesus fearlessly exposes the 'religious excuses' behind this generation's horrendous rejection. A parable of some stubborn children will drive this point home.

Luke 7:24-30 Doubts had started growing around the fringes of John's faith. Yet Christ told him to look at the past (the O.T. Scriptures) in light of the present (his miracles) to sure up his faith and drive out any uncertainties. Jesus now immediately moves to defend John publicly before the crowds. However, the crowds were made up of two kinds of people: 1) those who received John's call to repentance and 2) those who refused. Jesus exposes the 'religious excuses' behind the leaders' rejection. A parable of some stubborn children will drive this point home.

Luke 7:18-23 Jesus is seen as on the 'rise', whilst John the Baptist seems to be on the 'decline'. Jesus was a nobody, who is now the talk of the nation. John was the talk of the nation and now is forgotten and languishing in prison... John is perplexed by what is unfolding in Israel. The puzzle isn't coming together as he expected. Doubts begin to set in, and John finds himself questioning the very foundation he built his entire life and ministry upon.

Luke 7:1-17 'Just Say the Word' Following Jesus' great sermon on the mount, he is immediately confronted with human suffering and the curse of sin. Jesus performs two extraordinary miracles one after the other. One comes on the heels of 'great faith' and the other from seemingly no faith at all. Once again, the people are left in awe as they try to figure out who this Jesus of Nazareth really is.