The Angels of Advent
Getting a message from a person of authority can be a scary thing. Whether it’s a fine notice from the police, a summons for jury duty, or the bank knocking back a mortgage proposal, it never feels good to open a letter from people of power and influence.
This Advent season, we’ll going to hear about some messages from angels, messengers from God. For many, a visit from an angel was a scary thing. To counter this, the angels started their message with “Do not be afraid”, or “Fear not” in older translations. They didn’t want their hearers to be scared, because they had good news to share.
What was good news then is still good news now. Come and join us as we see what good news there is for us even now.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
It might be just me, but I’m really good at stock standard answers. If I know the right thing to say, I’ll say it confidently and with perfect delivery. In Christian circles, we aren’t immune to this tendency, but it’s not always a good thing.
One area it can strike in is when we talk about the Holy Spirit. We might know the right things to say when asked about him, but do we really know him? Over the next three weeks, we will consider:
- Who is the Holy Spirit?
- What does the Holy Spirit do?
- The Holy Spirit and the Church
Brian and I are hoping that this will be a helpful and encouraging time for us all.
Stephen
Rebuilding. Restarting. Returning. New beginnings. These words and phrases can come to mind when we read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah are historical books that tell us of the time when God’s people returned to the promised land, after decades of exile in Babylon. They do have something to tell us of starting again, but there is much more to be seen.
As much as we read of buildings and walls being rebuilt and repaired, God is also rebuilding his people. He is encouraging and equipping them to restart life in his place under his rule and blessing. The two rebuilding works go hand in hand.
What does it have to say to us at HEBC? Join us on Sundays or listen online to find out.
Kings and servants. We know how they usually go together: the one with the crown gets everyone else waiting on their every whim. There’s a clear line between the two: no one moves between the two levels, and there’s no way someone can be both.
Or is there? In Mark’s account of Jesus, we see Jesus described as the Messiah (King) and as a servant, on a journey to Jerusalem. How can this be? Can Jesus truly be a servant king, even the Servant King? Join us as we work our way up to Easter, looking at the words, actions and journey of Jesus.
Titus
Titus
- Teach the Gospel – Titus 1
- Learn the Gospel – Titus 2
- Live the Gospel – Titus 3
The Advent Puzzle
Putting together a puzzle without the picture on the box is hard. Without a guide, we often feel clueless about where the pieces go. But once the border is done, and some patches are in place, it’s a bit easier.
As we approach Christmas this year, we’re going to take some time to see how some ‘pieces’ of God’s big picture fit together. The Gospels, the books that tell us of Jesus’ life, point us back to some passages in the Old Testament and show how they connect to Jesus. Join us and find out how a barren woman, a prophet, an enemy nation, and a backwater town all connect into the birth and early life of Jesus.
- A prayer for the Ages – 1 Samuel 2:1-11
- Out of Darkness; Hope – Isaiah 9:1-7
- A Second Chance at Things – Hosea 11:1-11
- A King Born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:1-4
1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians Series
- Antioch: A Healthy, Growing Church
- Another Healthy Church
- The Hard Road
- Separated From You
- Breaking Moulds, Filling Moulds
- Do Not Grieve Like the Rest
- Let Us Be Alert
- Important Concluding Words
- Remember – God, Us and History
Psalms
Songs. Words and music. They have a way of saying things we feel, but could never express. They can combine emotions that otherwise feel incompatible, in a way that makes perfect sense. They also can remind us of what we think and believe, even when we can’t see it in front of us.
The psalms are a wonderful collection of ancient songs, that can often feel like they’ve been written for our time. They answer some of our questions and longings. They express things that we’re feeling, even today.
It’s our hope that these old words will feel new in our hearts and minds, helping us to navigate life with all its ups and downs.