Kelly's Eye

What does Christmas mean to most people and what difference does it make to our lives? Mark Kelly talks about the difference between Christmas the holiday and ritual, and Christmas with the reason for the season, Jesus the Messiah!

'Hesed' is not only the instigator of Covenant, but Covenant is the conveyor of His 'Hesed' - His love. God show us His deep love for us through His Covenant with us.

Often times we want to turn away from discussions around blood in connection with Covenant. In this talk John expertly, practically and powerfully shows how we can connect the dots of Biblical history and show just how important this subject is!

God’s own nature is Covenant. The Godhead (Trinity) is the theology and the pattern for Covenant. By His divine power we have been included in the union of the Godhead.

Journey with us as we ask what does covenant mean, and what relevance does it have in our relationship with Jesus?

This talk is all about the tithe, but rather than examining whether the tithe is still relevant or required - this talk reflects on how the tithe relates to our holistic relationship with God.

Sacrifice and offering are in his eternal nature. This sacrificial offering of himself had been in prospect since before the foundation of the world. His blood is described as the blood of the eternal covenant. Giving is a function of who he is – an eternal giver.

Too often Christians compartmentalise their lives into the sacred and the secular. Work often falls into the latter. Vocation is often disconnected from kingdom activity. At the best, it provides the financial necessary to support the church. At worst, it is a necessary evil that keeps people away from doing “real” ministry. But God’s radical call is not to retreat from culture, but to be present in every channel of culture (education, government, media, arts and entertainment, business, social sector).

The church has struggled at times to understand how it is called to relate to culture. Some Christian groups have withdrawn from culture. Others have blended so seamlessly into culture that nothing distinguished them from the rest of the world. The Bible calls those who follow Jesus to engage the culture.

Christians are often viewed as people who are easily offended. They are offended by the language people use, their lifestyles choices, and the values they proclaim. In response, those who do not follow Jesus have often defined themselves by what they are not offended by. The result is a world divided into the offended and the not offended. But the gospel is not about being offended.

The work of restoration is not individualistic in nature. From the very beginning God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” The Garden experience was one of authentic community. The promise of the gospel is that one day this community will be restored.

The restoration that God wants to do in the world begins with the restoration he wants to do in the lives of those who follow him. Too often the “world changing” work of God becomes so outward focused that people lose their sense of spiritual grounding and become spiritually distracted.

The gospel begins not with the Fall, but with the beauty of the Garden. Life as God created it to be. Life before the destructiveness and self-centredness of sin entered into the world. God is on mission to restore humanity and all creation to what was intended to be.

Mark Kelly introduces our series on restoration by reading from an article by Bryn Jones which helps bring a general overview of what restoration theology actually is.

Jess helps us look at our understanding of what worship is by asking us the simple question of - 'why do we worship?' And she takes us on a personal journey of discovery as she shares an answer to this important question.

Mark Kelly concludes our 4 part series with a look at John, who was he? What did he do? And most importantly what legacy did he leave us?

Part #2 of our series pulling out characters from Scripture and seeing what we can learn from them.

Through interaction and questions (as well as some booing and cheering!) Stu brings Daniel - a Bible Champion - to the forefront our thinking. We honour Daniel for his commitment and covenant with the Lord.

In part #1 of our series - Champions of The Bible - Sarah explores those less obvious characters in the Bible. The ones whose names may be mentioned only once or twice, but have an important role to play in the story of creation.

Mark Kelly provides a reminder of our vision for for 2012 as well as helping us catch-up on the 7 Principles for Life Groups and building Church.