Weston Park Baptist Church

This week we look at Colossians 1:15 to 23 and the powerful truth of who Jesus really is. Not just a teacher or example, but the image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer of all things, and the one who reconciles us through the cross. As we explore the supremacy of Christ, we are invited to move beyond simply believing in Jesus to placing Him at the very centre of our lives.

In this post-Easter season the Apostle Paul encourages us to embrace two fundamental truths: i)live gratefuly, i) stay rooted in Jesus. As we commit ourselves to these two imperatives we will live happy and productive lives. In Paul's language we will 'bear fruit' as we live in the knowledge, hope, and joy of the resurrection.

Jesus invites us to join him in living joyful, creative lives of passion and productivity. We are able to do this as we intentionally stay connected to Christ. As we "abide" in him we draw upon the strength of the Holy Spirit who energizes us and enables us to live at 100% capacity. Even more the resurrected Christ invites us to become his friends and that makes all the difference.

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus arrival in Jerusalem, but the crowd misunderstood who He truly was. In John 14:114, Jesus speaks to troubled hearts and reveals one of His most powerful I am statements, I am the way, the truth, and the life. This message reminds us that even when life feels uncertain, peace is not found in having all the answers, but in knowing who Jesus is.

I am the Resurrection and the Life - Watch at: https://youtu.be/G-ZAz1VaP10

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep. He calls us by name and we are invited to follow him in obedience. He watches over us in every situation. Indeed, nothing can prevail over us (including death) because nothing can snatch us out of his hand. We are His and He is ours and together we enjoy the Fathers abundant eternal life.

The Gospels are full of stories that speak about the nature of our relationship with God. In one of the stories Jesus speaks about the nature of shepherding including the use of the sheep-pen (John 10). To our modern ears the parable is a bit of a leap but in reality it still applies to our faith journey. It focuses on Jesus as our Shepherd and our need to stay close to him. The point being that spiritual growth happens through proximity to the Shepherd. In this Lenten season may we be diligent in remaining close to Jesus the Shepherd of our souls.

Watch at: https://youtu.be/0D_cv6E7vtE

The feeding miracles of the Gospels all contain a symbolic dimension pointing to a deeper union with God. Do not settle for a superficial relationship with the Divine but seek a closer walk with God. It is this union of intimacy that Jesus proffers when he says "I am the bread of life." Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35). Let's not limit ourselves to a tasty morsel when the Father is offering a celebratory banquet through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul is encouraging us to establish a baseline in our lives of joy, faith and hope in Christ. Our Lord has overcome evil and granted us eternal life. As a result, the challenges we face on a daily basis can be met with an attitude of calm and confidence that God is with us and will enable us to live as overcomers. For this reason, we can live joyfully and not be overtaken by anxiety and fear. The Lord is near. We are not alone and that makes all the difference.

In Philippians 3:1220, Paul reminds us that the Christian life is not about having arrived, but about continuing to follow Christ with faithfulness and perseverance. This Sunday, well reflect on what it means to press forward together as a church, avoiding both legalism and complacency, and living as citizens of heaven in the present. As we grow in Christ, we are invited not to stand still, but to move forward in maturity, obedience, and love.

This Sunday well be in Philippians 2:1218, where Paul invites us to take our faith seriously while trusting deeply in Gods work within us. Together well explore what it means to work out what God is already doing in our lives, how spiritual growth happens over time, and how our lives can shine with Christs light in a challenging world. Well also be reminded that even in sacrifice and difficulty, joy is possible when our hope is rooted in Jesus. Join us as we learn how to live out our faith with humility, faithfulness, and joy.

Paul reminds the Philippian church to establish their spirit of unity upon the blessings they have received in Jesus Christ. Whatever differences they might hold are insignificant compared to the bounty they share in Jesus. As a result the Apostle Paul encourages the members of the community to be generous and kind to one another even as they hold different opinions on various matters. To emphasize his point Paul employs the wonderful hymn of praise that celebrates Christ's downward path of humility which serves as a model for us all to follow.

Paul gives thanks for both the prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit as he writes to the Philippian church from his jail cell. In his mind the partnership of the community of faith and the support of the Holy Spirit will bring about his deliverance. We also experience the work of God in our lives as we rely upon Christs presence and actively engage his church in a spirit of prayer and devotion. The reality is that we are stronger together rather than pursuing a solitary spiritual journey.

The human journey is meant to be a path towards authenticity, integration, and wholeness. For this to happen we need to embrace our spiritual connection to God so that we become 'spiritual/physical' beings. The apostle Paul argues that this maturation process takes place as we allow the love of Christ to fill us with his abounding love. As this 'filling up' happens Chist's love abundnatly spills over to everyone that we meet. God's love to us and through us filling God's creation with agape love.

The story of the incarnation is a story of God working on our behalf. God breaks into our world in the birth of a child who becomes our Saviour. The prophet Isaiah understood this truth when he speaks of the Royal Agent (the child!) as the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). These dynamic names speak of the Childs capacity to introduce a new Kingdom of God established upon justice and righteousness and not upon oppression, exploitation and warfare.

The Gospel of John does not begin with the nativity stories of the baby Jesus. Instead, John reaches back into the ancient past and links the primordial "logos" with the "living Word" found in the presence of Jesus Christ. John develops this motif of Jesus' eternal presence by emphasizing the themes of "life, light and love" which are abundantly manifested in the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Advent is a call to wake up to the physical/spiritual reality of life in Christ. It is a journey of the heart from birth to death. During our journey many distracting voices will be heard so it is necessary to guard your heart. Protect your heart even as Mary treasured the words of the shepherds and protected her own heart. Dont be casual about it. Be vigilant, live with awareness and guard your heart.

The Jesus story is rooted in the past and continues into the future. Past prophets spoke of the coming King and the New Testament writers speak of the Kings return. Our job today is to be attentive to the Kings voice in our daily regime even as the scriptures say, Today if you hear his voice! (Hebrews 3:15). May we listen and hear his voice during these early days of Advent.

This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent as we look toward the coming of Christ with hope. In Matthew 2:112 we discover that God placed far more in the manger than anyone expected. The gold, frankincense and myrrh point to Jesus as our King, our Priest and our Saviour. As we enter this season together we will reflect on what it means to receive Him fully and to trust the greatness of the One who came to us in such a humble way. Join us as we begin Advent with hope and worship.