Redlands Christian Church

Text: Galatians 3:15 - 4:7Preacher: Jono DeenickLast week we began looking at God's solution to the problem that we have been alienated from Him. The law cannot be our solution because it brings a curse. Indeed the solution has always been faith in God's promises. Today we continue to consider that as we ask the question, 'what is the cause of our problem?' Is it simply that we do the wrong thing? Or is there a deeper problem, one that can only be resolved by God? What does God do to restore us to blessing, instead of curse? The answer is far better than a new set of rules.

Text: Galatians 3:1-14Preacher: Phil PoppingAll of us have done some foolish things from time to time. As we look back at them we often wish someone had stopped us. This week we see Paul use some pretty strong languge to try and prevent the churches in Galatia from doing something frustratingly foolish. Hopefully, he can stop us doing the same.

Bible Text: Galatians 2:11-21Preacher: Jono DeenickAs we continue in Galatians this week we encounter an account of a somewhat odd and tricky to figure interaction between Paul and Peter. It might surprise us to read that Paul had to actually rebuke Peter and yet Paul tells us it's because 'they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel.' As we dig in and discover what is going on in these verses, we'll have opportunity to also consider some of the ways we may not be acting in line with the gospel. Even as we also look again and see the new life that Jesus calls us to live with Him.

Last week we asked the question: why is it so important to get the gospel right? Jono mentioned that it is important to get right because if we spoil the gospel, our eternity and the honour of Jesus are at stake. Since it is so critical to get the gospel right, we should also ask the question: how do we know the gospel we believe is authoritative? This week, we will answer this question by looking at how Paul establishes his authority to the Galatian church.

Bible Text: Galations 1:1-10Preacher: Jono DeenickThis week we begin a series through Paul's letter to the Galatians. It is in many ways a stern and strong letter as Paul warns them against deserting the gospel of Jesus for a different and fake gospel. As he does so he helps us to understand and marvel at the good news of our rescue through Jesus Christ. This week, we begin by considering why Paul was so determined to make sure the Galatian churches, and through them us, understood the true gospel, that of Jesus our Saviour.

Bible Text: Matthew 28:1-20Preacher: Jono DeenickJesus has Risen! For many of us, this is news we've heard many times. The excitement of that even grows dim for us at times. And yet for the people who witnessed His resurrection it was an event that changed everything. They didn't expect it, and yet once they realised what had happened and what had changed as a result, they were never the same. This Sunday we will slow down and look again at the event that changed the world forever.

Bible Text: Matthew 27:45-56Preacher: Phil PoppingGood Friday is the day believers celebrate the death of one person: Jesus. Sometimes the death of really evil people is celebrated - the death of a dictator like Hitler for example. Easter is the opposite though - an innocent man's death is celebrated because it means we can be reconciled with God. Come and hear the good news of Jesus' death!

Text: Matthew 11:28-30Preacher: Phil PoppingLife, and even 'religion' can feel like a great burden. Much of life can feel deeply labourious. Is that really what Jesus wants for us though? If you've ever felt like you're struggling with this life and the expectations of the world and even religion, come and hear how Jesus offers a whole new way to carry life.

Bible Text: Matthew 10:32-42Preacher: Jono DeenickIn our relationships with others it is very easy to get 'stuck.' This is we can be pushed and pulled about by the opinions of others or our sense of importance before others or even our desire to do good for others. All of these things, while not necessarily bad, can leave us uncertain which way to turn or what to do. In these verses Jesus shows us that true freedom is found not in focusing on ourselves, but on Him and giving our lives entirely over to Him.

Bible Text: Matt 9:9-17Preacher: Jono DeenickIn our section today we see Jesus calling one of His disciples, Matthew the writer of the first gospel. As he does so, Jesus eats with Matthew, who was a tax collector, and other 'sinners.' The religious elite are horrified and complain. As Jesus responds, He shows us what it means to follow Him. It's not independent self effort to show ourselves better that others, it's a relationship with the living God who loves us despite that fact that we're all 'sinners.'

Bible Text: Matthew 8:18-22. Preacher: Phil Popping. Many decisions in life are costly. Buying a car is great, but you might have had to save for years to get it. Starting a sport is great fun, but it takes a huge amount of time to committ to a team. Even our friendships that are so important to us can come at great personal cost. Jesus talks about the cost of following him this week, is it worth it?

Bible Text: Matthew 8:23-9:8Preacher: Jono DeenickWhat does it look like to trust in our powerful saviour? In our section of Matthew today, it is clear that Jesus is not just a man but has the power of God. He is God. He uses His power to help people, to rescue them and to heal them. It's easy to read verses like these and wonder if we should expect the same now? If not, what should we expect? When we face the storm, what does Jesus promise to do for us? We want to think clearly about these questions so that we are neither terribly disappointed, nor desperate, as though we are left to our own devices.

Bible Text: Matthew 8:5-13Preacher: Juhan KloosterDuring the sermon on the mount we heard Jesus authoritative teaching, it had such impact that when Jesus finished his sermon the text says; “the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Next we see Jesus authority in action as Matthew recounts nine miracles where Jesus acts with power and authority. In our passage Jesus meets a gentile Roman Centurion who has a paralysed servant. In the previous chapter the people were amazed by Jesus authority and teaching, in this chapter Jesus is amazed at this man's faith! But what type of faith did this man have? What made it so special? Join us this Sunday as we explore what genuine faith looks like.

Bible Text: Matt 7:13-29Preacher: Phil Popping

Bible Text: Matthew 4:1-11Preacher: Phil PoppingThis week we are beginning a new series through Matthew. We won't be going through every passage, in fact, we're starting in chapter 4. Here Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by the devil. The big question is why? Why does God lead Jesus into testing like this? What does it prove and what does it mean for us as we are tempted - especially for the all too frequent times when we are tested and we fail?

Bible Text: Proverbs 26:4-12Preacher: Ben RingIn the book of Proverbs, the fool's way of life shows us that we can't live our lives however we want and expect good results. If we want to live wise Christian lives, we must learn to deal with the instincts we have towards foolishness. We must also learn to deal with the greater danger at the heart of all foolishness: pride.

Bible Text: Ephesians 2:1-10Preacher: Phil PoppingSometimes we get jaded or pessimistic or defeated about things in life. Maybe some of this can be chalked up to realism, but we can lose hope in our government, the next generation, the last generation, the economy, institutions, and so much more. What does this look like in our faith and in the church? It might be that our defeatism needs challenging.

Bible Text: Deuteronomy 8Preacher: Juhan KloosterDeuteronomy translates to “the second law.” The first law was given at Mount Sinai to the first generation, who entered into a Covenant relationship with God. Now this second generation of Israelites are standing at the threshold of the Promised land and Moses is not long for this world. Before Moses’ death and before Israel enters the promised land, Moses calls them together to re-establish their covenant with God. Through the book of Deuteronomy Moses does two things. First, he reminds them of God’s laws and decrees and secondly, He entreats them to uphold their side of the covenant. Here in chapter 8 Moses entreats Israel to Remember and Obey their God, who led them to life.

Bible Text: Psalm 20Preacher: Phil PoppingBanks don't trust you. You can tell them you're good for the loan, but they'll always want proof. They want to see your plan, they want to know how you're going to pay it back and what you're backup plan is if it fails.We often treat God similarly. We're happy to trust him, even with the big stuff, as long as we know his plan and as long as we feel his plan will be comfortable. How can we trust God when we don't know the details? What does it look like to really trust God?

Bible Text: John 1:1-18Preacher: Jono DeenickWhy does it matter that Jesus was God in the flesh? What difference does it make to our lives? It shows us the shape our lives should be, it gives us great comfort and hope, and Jesus entry into our world shows us that we matter to God.

Bible Text: John 1:1-18Preacher: Jono DeenickIs today the day you discover why millions see Jesus as Saviour, not just a baby? Is today the day when you meet the baby who became the Lord?

Bible Text: Matthew 7:7-14Preacher: Phil PoppingWe all love playing the ‘three wishes’ game, imagining what we would ask for. Jesus claims to be the giver of good gifts: if you could truly get one wish from him, what would be your deepest desire for him to satisfy?

Bible Text: Matthew 26 : 36 - 46Preacher: Phil PoppingJesus seems like a distant historical figure – maybe like Genghis Khan – how could you ever really get to know someone like that? What if you could really know him though? As a real and close person and as a friend that has done something huge – for you?

Bible Text: John 1:1-18Preacher: Jono DeenickThis week we turn to consider John's introduction to his gospel. It's quite different to the other gospels and yet it still reveals an enormous amount about Jesus. Today we will consider what it means that Jesus is the light who came into the world. What does that mean? And what is the darkness that He came to push back? As we draw near to Christmas, this is a great opportunity for us to stop and consider our glorious Saviour.

Bible Text: Acts 5:1-11Preacher: Dan KroonThe story of Ananias and Sapphira is not just a warning against human greed and hypocrisy. It’s a warning about the pervasive and destructive threat of sin, in both the heart and the Body (the church), even in the shadow of the Cross and the age of the Spirit. The forgiveness of Jesus does not make us immune to sin, but it is an ongoing cure until sin is completely eradicated.

Bible Text: Psalm 127Preacher: Phil PoppingCan there be any greater question than, 'what should I do with my life'? It would be great if we each had a verse directed straight at us saying, 'you need to be a business owner, she needs to be a dental assistant'. There might not be a plan for you that you are called to discover and live by. But, is there any guidance from God as to where to direct our lives, or are we on our own? If there's no blueprint from God, is there at least a compass? How do we know if our life choices have God's blessing?

Bible Passage: 1 Peter 4:7-11Preacher: Jono DeenickThis week we have the final message in our 'Worship in every direction' serries. We've seen that we are to give ourselves completely to God so that every part of our life is done to the honour and praise of Him. We can do that as we draw together as His people, as we give to Kingdom work, as we delve deep into His word so that we might know Christ well and as we reach out with the gospel. In our message today we consider how we can use the many different gifts God has graciously given us so that we might build His church and bring the gospel to those who don't know Jesus.

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 5 : 11-21Preacher: Phil PoppingBeing a diplomat or an ambassador sounds like it could be fun - it's certainly prestigious. Being able to represent your country's viewpoint and negotiate for it's good would be an incredible privilege. This week we're told that we're Christ's ambassadors. This is a glorious privilege, not a burden!

Bible Passage: Colossians 2:1-8Preacher: Ben RingWhat do you think are the signs of a worshiping community? I’m sure many things come to mind, but hopefully this Sunday we will see that a worshiping community is a community who dig deep into the knowledge of God. And as we follow Paul’s words through Colossians 2, we will come to understand that our worship ought to be rooted and built up in Christ – the one who holds all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Bible Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-15Preacher: Phil PoppingWe're all excited at the idea of a gospel harvest - seeing many people come to faith and maturity in Jesus. The idea that we might be a healthy, outward looking church that sees people grow and change and come to faith is an exciting one. How can we be part of something like that?

Bible Text: Hebrews 10:19-25Preacher: Jono DeenickAs we continue our series considering what it means to be fully engaged in worshipping our God. This week we will look at what it means to be fully engaged in drawing together. How do our gatherings, whether our Sunday morning worship services or small groups or prayer group, honour and display God's worth? And how can they help us worship God in all of our lives?

Bible Text: Romans 12:1-2Preacher: Jono DeenickThis week we begin a new series called, 'Worship in every direction.' Over the coming weeks we'll be looking at what it means to live as a follower of Jesus. Today, we'll see that at the heart of the Christian life is worship. Our lives should be all about worshiping God. And yet that worship is expressed not just as we dwell on God, but as we love each other, gather with each other, serve one another and seek to enrich the lives of others. Our worship of God expresses itself, in every direction.

Bible Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14Preacher: Juhan KloosterThere are times in life where we experience great hardship and where the words of Psalm 23 resonate with our hearts as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Here in Ezekiel 37 we find a different valley. A valley of dry bones. A valley of death and despair. And yet as Ezekiel walks with the Lord among these dead and dry bones here is a glimmer of hope as the Lord asks Ezekiel a shocking question; “Son of man, can these bones live?” Join us this Sunday as we behold the amazing power of our sovereign Lord who is able to renew, empower, and restore His people when all hope seems lost.

Bible Text: Genesis 49:29-50:26Preacher: Phil PoppingThe Joseph story and even Genesis as a whole is full of chaos. Through much of it we’re surprised at how badly behaved and even evil these people are. It might raise some questions in our minds: why does God let evil persist? Why did he let it all go wrong in the first place? Why did he create a world that he knew would go wrong?

Bible Text: Genesis 49:1-28Preacher: Jono DeenickGenesis is in many ways a book about blessing. It's about the blessing that was built into creation, but lost at the fall and it wrestles with the question, 'how can blessing be restored?' As we look this week at the each of the brothers receiving their blessing from their father Jacob, we learn that the restoration requires more than just God giving us nice things. First the problem of sin must be dealt with.

Bible Text: Genesis 48Preacher: Phil PoppingWith death knocking at his door, Joseph is filled with future hope and expectation. The closing of his eyes will not be the end of all things, but God will continue to work through his promises to build an exciting future. What future might we see in the years and decades to come?

Bible Text: 1 Timothy 4:7-10Preacher: Jono DeenickToday is Father's Day and so we continue to take a break from our series in Genesis so that we can consider together what it means for Father's to train. Not train for a sporting event or a career, which are fine things to do, but to train for the far more important task of having a gospel impact on their families and beyond.

Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Preacher: Phil PoppingThis week has been hard for us as a church. Filled with shock, pain, and confusion as we have lost someone close to us in the prime of his life. Lots of questions arise - maybe we've questioned God's goodness, timing, and wisdom. Maybe we're so full of sorrow that we haven't been able to process anything much at all. Maybe we're just despondent and empty.

Bible Text: Genesis 46:1-7, 46:26-47:31Preacher: Jono DeenickAs we continue in Genesis this week, we see the wonderful reunion of father and son. It is a time of much weeping and joy and also great blessing. Indeed God reiterate His promise to bless Jacob and make him into a great nation. We witness the beginning of that as God grants them blessing upon blessing from Pharaoh's hand. And yet, despite all of this good Jacob complains. As we consider this, we will look at our tendency to complain and why that is so at odds with the God who rescues us.

Bible Text: Genesis 45Preacher: Jono DeenickThis week we finally see the brothers reunited. Joseph reveals himself and offers his brothers unbelievable forgiveness. Then on top of that he blesses them and offers them and his whole family safety and prosperity. It's incredible given what was done to him and it reminds us of own forgiveness and the grace shown to us. It challenges us to consider our response to God's outrageous mercy and grace.

Bible Text: Genesis 44Preacher: Phil PoppingLast week we saw that the guilty fear of the brothers before Joseph was met with mercy, but if that’s the case, why does he turn on them again in the next chapter? Why does he now entrap them and set them up for a new crime so that they again say ‘God has uncovered your servant’s guilt’? If God truly meets our guilt with mercy, what part can it still play in our lives?

Bible Text: Genesis 43Preacher: Phil PoppingThere are lots of times when we’re fearful to go somewhere or do something. Some people are particularly intimidating and we avoid them or have to work up our courage to speak to them. This week we see the fear of Joseph’s brothers coming before a great and scary power – and we’re taught a lesson about how God deals with us – with mercy!

Bible Text: Genesis 42Preacher: Jono DeenickMany of us have experienced relationship breakdown especially after we have been wronged, or we have wronged others. Joseph had experienced that in a severe way having been sold into slavery by his brothers. How can reconciliation happen in that sort of situation? How can we find reconciliation ourselves? We will begin to explore these questions as we see God working through Joseph to bring about change in his brothers and reconciliation withing the family.

Bible Text: Genesis 40-41Preacher: Phil PoppingDreams are often crazy - we wake up confused in the middle of the night with crazy stories to tell each other that often aren’t as exciting to others as they were to us. We have three dreams in this story, but the significance is not on them, but on how God is moving to accomplish his purposes for his people.

Bible Text: Genesis 39Preacher: Jono DeenickThe Bible tells us multiple times, in various ways that God is 'with us'. This is a great comfort, and yet it's probably also been a point of doubt and uncertainty at times. What does it mean that God is with us? What does it mean particularly when things seem to be going wrong? In our passage today we see both things in Joseph's life. We are told God is with him, but we also see things go very badly for him and so it's a passage that helps us to come to grips with the truth that our God is indeed 'with us.'

Bible Text: Genesis 38Preacher: Phil PoppingThis chapter in Genesis feels like something you could write a TV drama about. Death threats, cunning plans, double crossings, extreme reactions, and sexual misbehaviour fill the story. It feels like a classic case of ‘you couldn’t make this up if you tried’. But sadly, this isn’t made up, this is real human behaviour. Why is this in the bible and what are we to learn from it?

Bible Text: Genesis 37Preacher: Jono DeenickThis week we begin a new series in the book of Genesis working our way through the events of Joseph and his families lives. It doesn't make for pretty reading. As with the rest of the Bible, these key figures in the history of Israel are presented realistically, without glossing over their failures. Humanly speaking the whole thing should be a disaster, but God is working in the background, despite the sin of people, and He is bringing good out of bad.

Bible Text: Luke 7:1-17Preacher: Phil PoppingSuffering is all around us. We all know people who suffer deeply and we experience times of pain. Do we have an indifferent God? Does he care? What does it look like when Jesus meets with suffering people?

Bible Text: Matthew 11:1-19Preacher: Phil PoppingMaybe you think of the Jesus from movies – a handsome man with piercing eyes and long hair. Maybe you think of wise Jesus or harmless Jesus or irrelevant Jesus. But what if Jesus isn’t what you expect at all? What if there’s a reason 2 billion people follow him?

Bible Text: Psalm 89Preacher: Mark MeenksPsalm 89 is a maskil (a psalm of reflection) written in the midst of pain. This message invites us to pause, and look at hardship through the lens of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. When life doesn’t make sense, we’re reminded that God is still at work, forming us through the waiting, the questions, and the tears.