Grace Presbyterian Church, Nelson

Sometimes it can be a risk to hope. When we hope for good things we open ourselves up to disappointments. It can be hard to hope that Christ's return isn't too good to be true. This morning Azriel Grey from Grace Bible Church, Dunedin preached for us from Isaiah 61 and 62. God has made these good promises to us, and it is worth clinging to them and pestering God in prayer about them. Az explains.

How are Christians actually supposed to grow in righteousness? In the first part of Romans, it is clear that we are declared righteous by grace alone through faith alone. But what does it look like for us to grow and become more Christlike? In Romans 8 we get an answer, as Peter explained today.

Many people think that if we can just control our environment, then people will do what is right. The reality is that the struggles that all humans share come from the inside, not the outside. Jesus makes this clear in Mark 7:14-23, as John explains. (Note that there is a problem with the quality of the recording today)

We are so often tempted to ignore God and take control of our own life. In Genesis 4, Cain and Lamech fail to listen to God, and things go very badly. Nietzsche (late 19th century) described the problem when we reject the authority of God. Where then can we find a sure sense of truth and right and wrong? This problem didn't start in the 19th century, but started back in Genesis 3, and in Genesis 4...

We would all agree that something has gone wrong with the world. We don't live in Genesis chapter 1 or 2. The Christian answer is found in Genesis 3: Humans rebelled against a good God, and the effects are still felt today.

How is it that the world is broken? Why is there conflict, pain and sadness? Genesis 3 answers that the first humans sinned against God. When we fail to understand that sin is bad and God is good, this can lead us to follow the same sinful path as Adam and Eve. John explains.

We live in an age that feels rootless in many ways. Without a sense of our past and where we come from. Genesis 2 gives us a description of our roots. Of where we come from, and of the God who formed us to live in his presence. Peter explains.

This week we started a new series in Genesis at chapter 1. This chapter sends the context for the rest of the bible, and history. John explains.

Sometimes people can feel like God isn't really listening to us, or that he requires us to pay him with good works to make him listen to our prayers. In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus' parable about the widow and the unjust judge shows how wrong this is. God is full of grace towards his people who seek him in prayer. Peter Explains.

When we mess up, sinning against God, there is a temptation to hide our mistakes. Psalm 32 points us away from hiding in the dark towards forgiveness and blessing in acknowledging our failures and receiving grace from God.