We are having so much fun with church in this season! We just finished a very important season in the life of Redeemer. We spent seven weeks studying the theme of Gospel Renewal - how Jesus changes everything; how grace restores nature.
While the Sessions have been rolling, Elizabeth has led Redeemer Kids so well! We have kids coming every week and the work is growing! We want to share a few highlights of this last season of church life with you so you can be encouraged and be on the journey with us.
WHY RENEWAL
Renewal is a central theme in the Bible and the great need in our lives. Renewal begins with the idea that something is wrong that needs to be made right. To explore the theme of Renewal we began with the problem, considered the power to change, and then went on a journey of thinking of renewal personally, as a community, and what it looks like for Renewal to sweep through a city.
We pre-recorded the Bible talks each week and posted them on our social media channels. Here are the links to the talks - the in-person teaching would be about 30-45 minutes each week. These talks function as a sort of 'highlight reel' of the messages from week to week.
Here's what we worked through in this last season...
IDOLS OF THE HEART / Romans 1:18-25
The road to renewal begins by being honest about the problem. The problem is that we value other people and things more than God. We're all guilt of the perilous exchange - worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. Thankfully, God has set Himself to enact the glorious exchange - to give Himself for us in the midst of our sin. This one goes deep into the heart.
THE POWER TO CHANGE / 2 Corinthians 5:21
Genuine change is never found in going beyond the gospel but only deeper into the gospel. We're talking about the power and the path to change in this Bible talk. It's all about the gospel.
PERSONAL RENEWAL / Ephesians 4:25-5:2
The Christian life is about growing in the experience of who you already are in Jesus Christ. Real life change comes from going deeper and deeper into the gospel. In this Bible talk Daniel takes us deep into the themes of what it looks like to live a new life.
COMMUNITY RENEWAL / Philippians 2:1-11
Redeemer aspires to be a community of humility. A place where we don't think more of ourselves, or less of ourselves, but where we just think of ourselves - less. That's what we're into this week. This Bible talk explores the problem with our hearts, the picture of a beautiful community, and the person who can make us whole.
RECIPE FOR REVIVAL / Acts 19:11-41
Acts 19 describes the major factors involved in a major movement of God. Acts 19 is also a picture of our own hearts - what it looks like for the gospel to make its way in and challenge our core idolatry. At the heart of it all is the worship of Jesus who gives new affections to people.
BECOMING AND BEHOLDING / 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
We conclude this season of studying "Renewal" by thinking about how to change deeply. For our ruin or our restoration - we resemble what we revere. We become what we behold.
WHAT WE LEARNED
The problem we all face isn't simply our sin, it's our idolatry. Humanity was made to relate to God and rule the world out of that relationship with God. When we don't have the glory of God at the centre of our lives then we will find something else to glory in. This is idolatry - making any good thing the great thing in our lives. Our deep problem is that our loves are out of order...and this leads to lives that are out of order as well. If the problem is that we don't look to God then the solution is looking to God again. We become what we behold. We resemble what we revere - for our ruin or restoration.
We've heard stories of a few people who trusted in Jesus for the very first time! Others want to be baptised in the Autumn. Others are finally connecting with some deep brokeness and on the road to healing. We're talking with people about their issues and so encouraged to see believers strengthened.
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