1 Pet 1:1 – 1 Pet 2:12 // Dave Quintana

Peter’s beautiful letter begins with a fairly typical greeting, but let’s not allow that to take away the power and the importance of it.  God is merciful, and because of his great mercy we have been anew, we are given life again.  We will be tried and we will be tested, of that we can be sure, but the result is pure gold.  (Please remember that purification processes sound altogether more positive and more pleasant when you read about them than when you are going through them)

But the result is that we are born anew.  Born anew to a living hope.  A living hope in Jesus, Jesus risen from the dead (and thus victorious over sin and over death) and Jesus who will come again to finally and fully establish his kingdom.  It is a risen Christ and a revealed Christ that gives us hope.

And hope should change us, hope should make us different.  We should live differently than how we used to live and we should live differently from how those around us live.  We shouldn’t live as stupidly (sorry, don’t be offended—its the Bible, not just my trying to insult you) as we did before we were born anew, we should live wisely.  We should live in a way that will withstand whatever purification processes come our way.  We should live in a way, to put it simply, that is “holy as He is holy”.  If you are like me you are now struggling again to have hope.  But it is our call as Christians, as Christ’s ones—to live a life that is set apart, that is consecrated, that is given over to God, that is, in short “holy”.

But let’s read on to be clear how it is done.  Peter directs us to “come to him”, and that is what makes it possible for us to live holy lives.  To come to Jesus, to build our lives upon Jesus, that is what gives us hope to be holy.  And that is good news.

And we don’t have to (in fact, we can not) go it alone.  We are to be “built together into a spiritual house” and together we are to make of our lives a sacrifice (offering) to God.  Christ is the cornerstone, the starting point, the reference point—and then we are built into a spiritual house upon him and around him.  And we live lives that are holy, that are set aside for him and offered to him.

And through our lives we are to declare his marvellous deeds.  Once we knew only darkness, and now we live in his glorious light.  Once we were no people, and now we are God’s people, God’s family.  Once we were aliens (the RSV translation refers to us being strangers or foreigners, not to us being from outer space!), and now we are “at home” and born anew to a living hope.

2 Corinthians 4 // Chris Hunter

Imagine this.

That God would entrust his mission on earth to faltering souls like us…

God’s intention, that my life should tell out his glory.

My life. His glory.

That humanity in asking “Where is God?” would look to your life and unmistakably respond “there He is”.

What a mystery.  That Love would saddle the shoulders of such fragile beings with the task of revealing itself to the world through the mundane everydayness of life.

Then we look at Jesus.

God Flesh On.

There in Christ, God is pleased to make known his fulness in human flesh.

In a walk to death, God weaves life into our very midst.  In Christ. In You.

In the grip of his grace, as the Spirit leads, we and this world are transformed.

Those far off are brought close. To God.  To eachother.  One.

All this because of Jesus.

An entire creation restored.

What was once in pieces is now in peace.

See your life for what it is, for it burns with holy fire from God.

The love of the Father through Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit is always moving.

1 Corinthians 13 // John Alderdice

1 Corinthians 13 – Love is all you need

This is probably one of the best known passages in the bible. People read it at weddings because is such a fantastic piece of poetry about LOVE! So the danger is that we get nice warm fuzzy feelings about it. 

The reality is that the situation into which these words were written was far from warm and fuzzy! Paul wrote this letter to a church in the city of Corinth. The people in the church were really struggling to work out what it was like to live out their faith in Jesus when there was a real clash of values with the people around them, particularly in the whole area of sexuality. 

These challenges weren’t just in the city around them, they were actually causing problems IN the church too. There was immorality in the church… there were lawsuits between believers, there were problems relating to discipline, there were difficulties in relation to arrangements for worship and the use of spiritual gifts… there was great division, things were really messy.

What Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth was like dynamite! He wrote of the supremacy of God’s love… God is the source of love…  it is not engineered by humans, God’s love is greatly superior to all our love. Paul outlined what this greater love was like with an amazing description. Then he reminded his readers that this love was completely permanent… lots of important things will cease to be, but God’s love will remain forever. 

The challenge was that just as God loved the church people in Corinth in this way, so they were to love each other in the same way…. what a challenge to them and to us!

1. Who are you struggling to love right now?
2. Are there people you need to forgive, or from whom you need to seek forgiveness?
3. How can you show some love? Think of something practical you can do for someone else.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 // Peter Lynas

2 Timothy 3:10-4:8 // Bishop Fanta Clarke – Finishing Well

The power of example is well known and highly important. There were those who did not follow the inspiring example of St. Paul’s life. (See verses 2-9) There were others who did and Timothy was one of them. The false teachers lived one way. Paul modelled another way. In this context Paul specifically mentions his teaching, his behaviour, his aim in life, his faith, his love, his steadfastness and the way he dealt with persecution and suffering.  Paul’s life was one of faithful Gospel living and tough courageous fruitful ministry. He knew about encouraging affirmation and harsh ruthless opposition. All who live a godly life will be persecuted!

In verses 14-17 we see that Scripture was foundational in Paul’s life and in Timothy’s.

Important Questions: 

• How important is the teaching of the Bible in our lives? 
• Do we have that same passionate commitment to teach the Bible and live out it’s teaching.  
• Have verses 16 and 17 anything to say to those who say “the Bible doesn’t matter; it is out of date and only contains the thoughts of human beings?”   

In chapter 4 we have some of the last words ever written by Paul to Timothy. Isn’t it interesting what Paul chooses to say! If we ever think preaching and teaching are not important we had better delete these words from the Bible. Whatever our ministry from the Lord, we are to exercise it and fulfil it. (4:5)

For me in verses 6-8 we have some of the most moving words from Paul. He is a prisoner. The end is near. How does he finish? He finishes well! The outcome of a football match can change in the last few minutes. How a team finishes really matters. How we finish our lives matters.

Question: Am I living my life in such a way that when I reach the end of it I will be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith!”

Don’t give up! Keep going!

The power of example is well known and highly important. There were those who did not follow the inspiring example of St. Paul’s life. (See verses 2-9) There were others who did and Timothy was one of them. The false teachers lived one way. Paul modelled another way. In this context Paul specifically mentions his teaching, his behaviour, his aim in life, his faith, his love, his steadfastness and the way he dealt with persecution and suffering. Paul’s life was one of faithful Gospel living and tough courageous fruitful ministry. He knew about encouraging affirmation and harsh ruthless opposition. All who live a godly life will be persecuted!
In verses 14-17 we see that Scripture was foundational in Paul’s life and in Timothy’s.

Important Questions:

• How important is the teaching of the Bible in our lives?
• Do we have that same passionate commitment to teach the Bible and live out it’s teaching.
• Have verses 16 and 17 anything to say to those who say “the Bible doesn’t matter; it is out of date and only contains the thoughts of human beings?”

In chapter 4 we have some of the last words ever written by Paul to Timothy. Isn’t it interesting what Paul chooses to say! If we ever think preaching and teaching are not important we had better delete these words from the Bible. Whatever our ministry from the Lord, we are to exercise it and fulfil it. (4:5)
For me in verses 6-8 we have some of the most moving words from Paul. He is a prisoner. The end is near. How does he finish? He finishes well! The outcome of a football match can change in the last few minutes. How a team finishes really matters. How we finish our lives matters.
Question: Am I living my life in such a way that when I reach the end of it I will be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith!”</em>
Don’t give up! Keep going!</em>

2 Timothy 2:1-2:26 // Bishop Fanta Clarke

This letter of St. Paul to the young Timothy is one of my favourite books in the whole Bible. Some of the last things Paul ever wrote we will find in this letter. We hear the wisdom of experience and the advice to a young man from an Apostle who is nearing the end of his life.
A wise young Christian listens to and learns from those older in the faith!
Question: Do I have an older Christian in my life that I look up to and learn from? If not, why not?
I wonder if some of the following are God’s specific words into our lives at this time?
Am I at a time in my life when I am feeling weak and unsure?
TINTH (Truth I Need To Hear): v.1 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
Do I have a vision for passing on God’s truth to others?
TINTH: v.2 Teach others who will teach others what I have been taught
What lessons can I learn from a soldier, an athlete and a farmer?
TINTH: verses 3-7
What was Paul willing to endure for the sake of the Gospel? What do I consider as hardships in my life? Does my passion for God’s Good News help me to endure?
TINTH: verses 8-13
Am I half hearted in my discipleship? Am I giving my best?
TINTH: verses 15ff “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved…”
Am I a sleeping Christian or am I useful in Christ’s service? Am I selective in what I will do or willing to do whatever He asks?
TINTH: verses 20, 21. Key words…made holy, useful to the Master, prepared to do any good work.
At this time in my life what do I need to flee from and be ruthless about? What am I pursuing…honestly??
TINTH: verses 22ff I am called to “Holy Pursuits!!”
PRAYER: Lord I want to be my best for you and radically committed to holy Christ-like living. Amen