Some insights

  • Last Thursday the theme “perfect”. Ben writes: Take away verse for me was 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
  • The verses we were guided to on Thursday evening arose from Matthew 1:1. Isaac and Solomon, the sons of Abraham and David point to Christ in
    Revelation as The Lamb and The King.
  • We found out the meaning of Jeshurun in Deut 32 and 33, and Isaiah 44:2
  • We thank Roger and Jue for their feedback from the Training for Service
    “Life in the Spirit” course.  It was good to be reminded to consider the
    Holy Spirit as a person, and the references to Bezalel and Oholiab in
    Exodus 31:1-6 showed us how wide ranging and practical are the gifts of
    the spirit.  New Testament references were in 1 Corinthians chapters 2
    and 12.
  • We were looking at Brian Johnson’s book “Does anyone know why we’re here?”.   It is good, perhaps Brian’s best, and showing that
    Ecclesiastes is a very modern book, dealing with atheistic thought and
    taking it to its ultimate conclusion that everything is pointless.  That
    is of course everything “Under the sun”, and everything is transformed
    once we consider what is above the sun to “fear God and obey his
    commands” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).  The book includes quotes or
    references to Oscar Wilde, Freddie Mercury, GK Chesterton, David
    Attenborough, Stephen Fry, Bob Dylan, and more.  New Testament scripture references include: Romans 8:19-20, 1 Tim 6:17-19, Luke 12:16-21.
  • Our other thoughts (to be continued) were about our relationship with
    the Lord. This afternoon we heard from John that the Lord refers to us as
    his friends and brothers, but our proper relationship responding to him,
    seen in John 13, is as Master and Lord.  Onesimus was to respect
    Philemon as his master, but Paul was urging Philemon to accept Onesimus as his brother in Christ.
  • For those who were unable to hear Lindsay, a few verses for your enjoyment… Key verse Micah 6:8. Consider the Lord Jesus who lived a life doing justly, walking humbly, loving mercy – Matthew 9:13, 11:29, 23:23, John 13:1-17, Hebrews 2:17. We are encouraged to live so… Proverbs 1:3, Luke 6:36, Romans 12:8, 1 Peter 3 show mercy cheerfully 5:5,6, James 3:13,17, 1:20-22. 
  • Here is today’s list of natural features James refers to:
    Waves, 1:6, doubt
    Wind, 1:6, doubt
    Wild flower, 1:10, the rich
    Beautiful plant, 1:11, destroyed
    Blossom, 1:11, fades
    Sun, 1:11, business
    Shifting shadows, 1:17, contrasting with God
    Firstfruits, 1:18, us of creation
    Planted, 1:21, the word planted in us
    Dead, 2:26, faith without deeds
    Horses, 3:3, bits to control
    Fig tree, 3:12, can’t bear olives
    Grape vine, 3:12, can’t bear figs
    Great forest, 3:5, set on fire
    Tame animals, birds, reptiles, sea creatures, 3:7, contrast the tongue
    which can’t be tamed
    Fresh water, salt water, 3:11, can’t come from the same spring
    Sowing, harvest, 3:18, peacemakers harvest righteousness
    A mist, 4:14, our lives
    Moths, 5:2, eats the clothes of the rich
    Mowing fields, 5:4, wages owed
    Harvesters, 5:4, crying out
    Farmer, land and crop, 5:7, patience
    Autumn and spring rains, 5:8, the Lord’s coming is near
    Rain and the earth produced it crops, 5:17-18, pray earnestly like Elijah
  • Isaac and Ben have mentioned having a short synopsis of our talks that
    can be used in social media.  Here is one for last weekend: “In a message for Pentecost Sunday we considered Gideon who God called “brave” not because he was hiding in a winepress but because with God’s Spirit he would lead the people to victory.  We might feel particularly powerless at this time and think our leaders should be doing better.  The more unsuited we feel for the task the more God is able to use us.”


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