How to Estimate my Value
Have you ever asked the question, "Why does God bother with me?" After all human beings can be a bit messy! How valuable are human beings to God? Well, value is determined by the price that someone is willing to pay for what they want. The parable of the good shepherd in the Bible reveals the warm, loving heart that God has for us as well as the extent to which He would go to ensure our eternal wellbeing and salvation.
The Story of the Lost Coin
Why was humanity made in the image of God? The simple answer to this question is that we were designed to be sons and daughters of God. The Bible paints a beautiful picture of how God has given Himself to humanity for better or for worse. As a result of sin, human beings were alienated from God. The meaning of the story of the lost coin reveals that many people don't realise that they are lost but that even so there is a God who searches for mankind! Why does God bother with me? How valuable are human beings to God? The answer is found in the extent to which God has gone to reconcile us with the family of heaven through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
A Tale of Two Sons
Do you believe that God wants us to live the good life? Many people doubt this because they feel that God's laws restrict their freedom. But what if God's laws are not about restricting our freedom but, rather, about protecting us from hurt, alienation, broken relationships, addiction and every other kind of enslavement that undermines the quality of life? In addition, what if God has an open door policy for anyone wanting to come home?
What Forgiveness is and How to Forgive
Giving and receiving forgiveness God's way is the only way to truly be free. But then, why is it so difficult to forgive others? The parable of the king who forgave a large debt owed by one of his servants provides a profound illustration of what forgiveness is and how forgiveness happens. The story of the unforgiving servant reminds us that what others owe us is nothing compared to what we owe God. The secret to being able to offer others forgiveness is that we must first receive forgiveness from God. We then pass on the forgiveness of God to others as we engage in daily relationships.
Eternal Life is a Side Benefit of Salvation
What if I told you that salvation is a side benefit of fellowship with Jesus? Think about it carefully. Do we want Jesus for who he is or for what He gives? Do people accept Jesus out of a desire of self preservation, in the hope of avoiding eternal death? Or do they accept Jesus because they truly desire friendship with Him? The difference between these two motivations is the difference between simply using someone for what they can give you and that of seeking true friendship.
Beware of Religion
Why is Israel important in history? What does the Bible teach about Israel? Simply put, Israel was God's chosen people during Old Testament times. They would still be today had they not rejected the message thus stripping away their calling and their mission. Does God have a chosen people today? Yes He does! Today, spiritual Israel is the church. Spiritual Israel is called to mission. The Kingdom Mission is sharing Jesus with the world. Having been born into the Kingdom, we then go as a missionary in behalf of the Kingdom. Whether Jew or Gentile, all are called into the body of spiritual Israel to experience and share the good news of reconciliation with God through Jesus.
Racial Prejudice in the Name of God - it’s a Sin thing
Racism and abuse in religious circles is all too frequent. Uniqueness versus superiority is a concept that we struggle with, tending to magnify our uniquenesses or differences to others into a reason we are superior over them. Whether it's racial differences, educational differences, cultural differences or religious differences, it is all too often the case that we see these differences not merely as variety but as evidence of inferiority or superiority. But the problem is not our differences. Neither is the problem religion in and of itself. Actually, it's a sin thing! Sin has the ability to hijack and distort just about anything for the purpose of exalting ourselves over others.
Signs that Jesus is Coming
One of the most important questions to be sure you know the answer to is, Are you ready to meet your maker? Time is short. Everything in our world today suggests that things cannot go on like this forever. Jesus told the parable of the fig tree to tell His followers that although no one knows when Jesus will return, we can tell that His return is nearby discerning the times in which we live and the events taking place. Just like we can tell that summer is near even while the weather is still cold by observing the new leaf buds forming on the trees, so to we can tell that the coming of Jesus is nearby paying attention to what bible prophecy says about the coming of Jesus.
How Jesus will Come
The Bible is clear that the coming of Jesus will not be secret. Yet despite this, many Christians believe that the secret rapture doctrine is a Biblically true teaching. What is the secret rapture teaching? Simply put, it is the idea that prior to Jesus' glorious return, which will bring this world to an end, Jesus will return secretly or imperceptibly to the majority of the world to take His faithful followers with Him. This event will mark the beginning of a seven year tribulation during which the antichrist will manifest himself and the wicked will have another opportunity to repent before the glorious return of Jesus brings a final end to sin and sinners. The secret rapture doctrine is a second chance doctrine. Unfortunately, if it is not true, then there may be many who could be lost because they were delaying their personal preparation to meet Jesus.
How Should I Relate to Money?
How should I relate to money? Why is greed a bad thing? Because money does not buy happiness or heaven! Greed and covetousness are responsible for some of the worst evils our world has seen. How many families have been destroyed over fighting about inheritance dues? How many relationships have been sacrificed for the time, effort and stress that goes into the accumulation of wealth? How many people have traded their personal integrity in an effort to become wealthy through deception or fraud? How many people have no time to think about spiritual things because of their preoccupation with this world's financial round of activities? Simply put, greed and covetousness hurt people.
You can Make an Eternal Impact
This world is a mess! Some people ask how God can be good when so many people suffer. But what if God has appointed us as managers or stewards of His blessings? What if we are supposed to be His proxies for alleviating suffering? If we choose to mismanage God's blessings, others will suffer. This has nothing to do with God's character and everything to do with our characters. Jesus said that you can only have one master. If we choose to live for ourselves, we will use His blessings to benefit ourselves over others and at the expense of others. This is true of all types of blessings: financial, spiritual, relational etc. When it comes to learning how to focus on spiritual growth, the first step is to begin looking away from self: Upwards toward God and outwards toward other people.
How to be Ready for the Coming of Jesus
How to avoid being unprepared for the coming of Jesus is the most important topic that you could occupy your mind with at this time of earth's history. The coming of Jesus is our final victory. This is good news! But we only get one shot at making the necessary spiritual preparation for the return of Jesus. How should we live while we wait for Jesus? To answer this question, Adrian Webster will unpack what we can learn from the story of the unwise virgins. This Biblical parable gives us insight into who will be ready to meet Jesus when He returns.
The Parable of the Talents Explained
The Kingdom of God's success is guaranteed because of what Jesus has done in history. The big question is, Do you see the value of the Kingdom of God? If you do, then you will realise that the best thing you can do with your life is to invest in the Kingdom of God. Giving up our lives for the Kingdom of God is not a big price to pay once we comprehend that what God is offering us far outweighs whatever this world promises!
John and June Wallace
John & June Wallace share their journey, struggle and hope, facing a terminal prostate cancer diagnosis.
The Mystery of Easter
Do you struggle with guilt and shame? Would you like to leave it all behind? The good news is that you can! In this sound bite, Adrian Webster will share the good news of how love and acceptance has replaced guilt and shame.
Why Jesus is Worthy of Worship
Is Jesus safe to sit on the throne of the universe? What makes Him worthy of worship? It's not about power. It's about character!
Inviting the Presence of God - Part 2
Do you want God to manifest His presence in your life? Have you ever wandered what it would take for God to reveal Himself to you? The good news is that God is more eager to reveal Himself to you than you can imagine!
As human beings, our tendency is to under estimate both the greatness of God and the nearness of His presence. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that there is no building that can contain His presence. Yet, at the same time, He reassures us that God’s presence is guaranteed to every person that chooses to welcome Him.
Join Adrian Webster as he unpacks what Isaiah 66:1-2 reveal about what it takes to discover the presence of God in our daily life experience.
Three Tips for Living Together in Close Confines
Living in close confines isn't always an easy thing to do, even if it is with those we love the most! Whether it's every day life or a national lockdown, living with others tests our selflessness and love. In this video, Adrian Webster shares three tips from the Bible that will make living together a small foretaste of heaven.
Divine Boundaries
The beautiful volcanic stone boundary walls that are an iconic Northland, New Zealand, feature might well illustrate the good intent that underlies the Law of God, which is to protect the relationships that give meaning to life.
Your Flavour
Just as fruit trees produce fruit after their own kind, so to the person who has become friends with Jesus will bear the fruit of a beautiful character that will sweeten the lives of those around them. “By their fruits you shall know them”.