Responding to Renewal: Jonah and Elijah

 

Outline of Service 26^th April 2026

Responding to Renewal

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb  Revelation 15:3

 Hymn 34:  Incline Their Hearts To Obey

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  46:1 -11:  God Is Our Refuge

Reminder – The Process of Change

Bible Readings:

·       Some Refrozen, and Some Not: Jonah 1:1-3, 3:1-5,10, 4:1-11

·       Changed, But Not Refrozen: 1 Kings 18:25-40

·       The Call to Renewal: Romans 7:7-25; 8:14-17

·       The Renewed Condition: Revelation 15:1-4

Summary of Readings

§     Change often looks good, but making it, and keeping it are not easy

§     The “refreezing”, or adjusting to the change, often calls for giving up something that we already have, and maybe like, for something unknown

§     Jonah himself, and Israel after Elijah’s sacrifice, could not continue to implement the changes required

§     When we ask God to “deliver us from evil” do we really want Him to, or do we just want His protection whilst we keep doing what we like to do?

§     God will remove the evil from the 144,00 –give victory over the beast - they will stand with The Lamb, being renewed, and made as He is. (Rom 8:17)

 

Hymn 20:  Respond to the Voice from Heaven

Message

Hymn 100:  Follow The Master

Doxology

Renewal - The Process of Change

 

Outline of Service 22^nd March 2026

Renewal:  Requires a Process of Change

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.    Romans 12:2

 Hymn 102:  The Hope of Joy in Thy Presence

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  51:1-2, 7-12:  Renewed Relationship

Introduction – The Process of change

Bible Readings:

·       In This World Change Is Constant and Cyclical: Eccles 3:1-15

·       Israel in Egypt (Unfreezing): Exodus 1:8-14, 2:23-25

·       Call to Change (Change Process): Ezekiel 33:8-11, 36:23-28

·       Change Needed, offered, but Rejected: Jeremiah 18:1-10

·       New Gives Way to the Old (Refreezing): Ephesians 4:20-25

·       Goal of Renewal: Romans 12:1-5

Summary of Readings

§     In this world there is constant change, which results in a need for constant renewal

§     God led Israel through a “change process”, with the incentive of a renewed life in the Promised Land, and now holds out incentives to us if we follow Him

§     People today, like Israel of old, still baulk at going through the change – they want renewal, but don’t want to give up what they have!

§     The transformation starts with a renewing of our minds, and ends with an incorruptible or immortal life at Jesus Christ’s return. 

 

Hymn 57:  It’s Worth the Change!

Message

Hymn 23:  Renewed in His Likeness

Doxology

Paul's Radical Theology

 

Journeying With Paul:  Paul’s Radical Theology

Behold I show you a mystery…  1 Cor 15:51

 Hymn 105:  He’s All Men’s Saviour..

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 30  – Seeking God’s Favour

 Bible Readings:

·       Old Testament Theology: Josh 23:6-16

·       A Light in the Darkness Foretold: Isaiah 60:1-5

·       Paul’s Commission: Acts 9:10-18

·       Paul’s Revelation: Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 2:8-9

·       Dual Messages: 2 Timothy 2:14-21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Summary of Readings

§   Under the Old Testament laws given to Israel obedience to God’s instructions was expected, and disobedience was not well tolerated 

§   Whilst many Prophets realised that “obedience is better than sacrifice”, they foretold of a coming change in relationship with God for the Gentiles

§   Jesus initially sent His disciples to “the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel”, but after His resurrection He said, “Go ye into all the World”

§   Paul was selected by God as a “chosen vessel” to carry the message of the hope of salvation by faith to the Gentiles

§   Christians accept the message of forgiveness through seeing Jesus as the Lamb of God, but the promises to Israel have never been revoked

§   As we journey with Paul we come to understand that he proclaimed dual messages:  salvation to the Gentiles through faith in Jesus alone, as well as seeing the message for Israel through obedience, all to be fulfilled in God’s time.

 

Hymn 47:  The Banner of Love

Message

Hymn 83:  What a Joy and Surprise!

 

Doxology

The Twofold Sacrifice of Jesus

 

Outline of Service 25^th January 2026

Journeying With Jesus:  The Two-Fold Sacrifice

The resurrection, and the life …- John 11:25

 

Hymn 102:  Joy in God’s Presence

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalm 16 – Fulness of Joy

 

Bible Readings:

·       Obedience Transcends Sacrifice: 1 Samuel 15:1-31

·       Evil and Sin: Romans 7:21-8:2, 11, 22-3

·       Promised Life: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

·       The Resurrection and The Life: John 11:20-27

 

Summary of Readings

§   Simeon prophesised of the two-fold Mission of Jesus, saying - a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel Luke 2:32

§   Jesus understood God’s Plan for mankind perfectly:  As the Lamb of God, His blood was shed for the sins of the World (Lev 17:11), as foreshadowed in the Old Testament

§   Jesus also gave His body (life) and died, but rose again, thus overcoming Satan’s power over physical death (Acts 2:31)

§   Samuel pointed out to Saul that obedience was better than sacrifice

§   We can be assured of soul salvation in the resurrection through the sacrifice of Jesus, through faith and forgiveness of sins

§   Through Jesus overcoming physical death we are also able to seek to God to remove the evil from within us and to be obedient to His Laws, and overcome physical death (Rom 8:23, John 15:13)

§   As we journey with Jesus Christ we understand more of God’s mercy and grace as we see the mansions promised for when He returns.

 

Hymn 125:  Deliver Us from Evil

Message

Hymn 59:  Promised Glories

 

Doxology

Pure Water - the Water of Life

 

Outline of Service 30^th November 2025

Food and Health:  Pure Water – the Water of Life

… a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

Hymn 68:  Drink of the Sweet River

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 1 – A Source of Water  (Catherine)

 Bible Readings:

·       Come All That Thirst:  Isaiah 55:1-5 – (Cheryl)

·       Water for Life: Isaiah 44:1-8 – (Betty)

·       Water From the Rock:  Numbers 20:2-13 – (David)

·       The Water of Life: Revelation 22:1-6, 17 – (Heather)

·       A Well Within: John 4:7-15, 7:37-43 – (Roslyn)

Summary of Readings

§   We all know that water is essential for life, and that after drinking we thirst again, and need to drink again

§   We need water “on the outside” to provide food to eat to keep us alive, but also “on the inside” to sustain our bodies

§   Isaiah explains that God provides all the water, and that the need for water is like the need of His Spirit to keep us alive – both outward and inward

§   Jesus Christ continued this analogy and explained that He was the water of life

§   The Bible promises that those who drink this water inwardly – and not just have it falling on them outwardly – have the hope to receive life of spirit and soul and body at His return.

 

Hymn 21 – Tune 13:  Thirsting for God in the Wilderness

Message

Hymn 51:  Drinking From the Spring

 

Doxology

Seeing God Around Us - Physic al Immortality

 

Outline of Service 23^rd November 2025

Food and Health:  Physical Immortality

- Numbers 13:30

 Hymn 125:  Lord, Send Thy Power and Thy Spirit

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 27:1-9 – Fear Not and Trust in God

 

Bible Readings:

·       The Command and the Curse: Genesis 2:15-18, 3:14-21

·       God’s Plan:  2 Esdras 7:46-59

·       Promised Release from Death:  Psalm 102:18-24

·       The Continuing Dilemma: Romans 7:7-25

·       Ultimate Fulfillment: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

 

Summary of Readings

§   Modern science tells us that our bodies are not built to last forever, and we would be lucky to expect our lifespan to exceed 140 years

§   But the Bible says that God created man to be physically and spiritually eternal, but physical death came as a consequence of the Fall

§   Paul talks of the struggle between the mind and the flesh

§   We believe that the Bible contains promises of eternal life of spirit, soul and body to those who are truly obedient to God’s commandments

§   This will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns, and the dead in Christ shall rise (incorruptible), and those who are alive and obedient to God will be changed from mortal to put on immortality.

 

Hymn 79:  The Light of Life

Message

Hymn 3:  God’s Great Events

 

Doxology