Even in the midst of persecution they are to preach the gospel of grace. What is more he reminds them that the Holy Spirit is also on mission.  Read More

I love that in a few short statements, we are provided a most incredible framework to view life. Simple in one sense – enormously profound in another. There is a Gardener. There is a Vine. There are branches. Each have a place, a purpose, a role. There is only one Gardener. There is only one Vine. There are numerous branches. Too numerous to begin counting. And all three parts are linked.  Read More

In the message this week we're looking at 19 verses packed with powerful promises, and I encourage you to read the whole passage and let God speak all of these truths into your life. However for this devotion we will stop up at the second promise of this passage, found in verse 13-14 where Jesus says: 'You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it'  Read More

Jesus is having a conversation with his disciples Philip and Thomas, unpacking some of the mysteries he has shown them. In the previous chapter the disciples have just heard that where Jesus is going they cannot come. Which prompted this exchange. Thematically John’s Gospel points us to Jesus being the promised Messiah and the Son of God by believing in him and inheriting eternal life with the Father. The interesting thing here is that Jesus isn’t blunt, he is gentle and subtle with his disciples and us, revealing himself slowly. He gives us strong hints as to where he is going (back to the Father/ heaven) and what he is doing there preparing a way for us to join him. Yes, there is a place for us all in heaven, if we accept Jesus. I love how the work has all been done at the cross but the onus is on us to receive him. Salvation cannot be earned but is a gift that is freely given.  Read More

This weeks message follows on from the extraordinary act of service Jesus performs earlier in John 13, where He washes His disciples feet. It quickly becomes quite dramatic however, when Jesus declares that one of them will betray Him (which is then immediately fulfilled by Judas Iscariot). The big idea I discuss in this message is that even though Jesus knew Judas (and also Simon Peter in a slightly different way) were going to betray Him, that didn’t stop Him from being close to them, loving them, and pouring into them. We might not be subject to the same kinds of betrayal that Jesus was, but we can also categorise people depending on what they can do for us, whether they are like us, or whether we think they are “good” or “bad”. Tim Maton described the foot washing act as indiscriminate, and this should give us pause for thought.  Read More

Some Christians continue to take Jesus’ instruction literally, including Eastern Orthodox and Mennonite traditions. While I think Jesus’ foot washing example gives us principles rather than rituals, it might still be a useful exercise in Life Group one day. I must admit, though, I find feet quite ugly, especially mine. They tend to take a bit of a battering from daily life. Then there’s athlete’s foot, verrucas, black nails, bunions, and ‘toe jam’! Toe jam is like belly button fluff but more grimy, damp and smelly! Sorry, but perhaps that’s Jesus’ point. I found having my feet washed harder than washing someone else’s. But we must learn to receive acts of service, as it helps us die to self-sufficiency, and we mustn’t deny others the blessing for serving well.  Read More