God is always challenging us to step deeper in to faith. To walk the path He wants us to walk. And so often this leads to new places. We just need to listen to what God is saying. As it says in Isaiah 43:19 'See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?'

The God of New Things

Breakfast. The experts say it is the most important meal of the day. What does yours typically consist of? When the resurrected Jesus invites his followers to ‘Come and have breakfast’, it is an invitation to recognise Jesus, to identify him, to know him and to be present with him. So not only the best meal of the day but the best meal of their lifetime! And the good news is that this is an invitation open to all of us. Join Him!

Resurrection Taste

Baker, Le Tissier, Patel, Vale. Names often have meaning, telling us about family origins - perhaps their trade or status or where their house could be found. Similarly, the name of the Lord our God tells us very much who He is. His name is Yahweh in the Hebrew. It is often translated to 'I am who I am', but it is a phrase without any tense. So it can also mean 'I've always been who I've always been' or 'I will always be who I will always be.' Therefore, it is a name that embraces any situation and reminds us that in these, God - if called upon - will be sufficient for anything and everything we will need.

Trust In The Name Of The Lord

'Do you love me?'. It's a big question. It's a question Jesus asked the disciple Peter three times at the end of the greatest story ever told. 'Do you love me?' As one story was ending, another was beginning. 'Feed my sheep'. Jesus had been crucified and he had resurrected. He was giving Peter a big job. 'Feed my sheep'. How do these verses change things today - for you and the church? How do we love him? How do we feed his sheep?'

Resurrection Love

What was the greatest theme that Jesus spoke about during his three years of ministry on Earth? It might surprise you that it wasn’t the church but the Kingdom of God. Jesus spoke loads about this topic. It could be compared to a bar of soap - slippery to handle, but it makes you clean! Okay, maybe that analogy is a bit rubbish - but there are so many ways Jesus explained the Kingdom and described it. Some people got it, others didn’t. Over the next few weeks, we’ll dive deeper into this amazing topic and catch a glimpse of the Kingdom here on Earth.

Proclamation of the Kingdom

"Surely the Lord was in this place, and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place!". This is what Jacob said in Genesis 28. There are places where God seems closer than normal. Celtic Christianity speaks of “thin places” where the distance between heaven and earth collapses. Was this the experience of Pentecost when the Spirit came and moved among the followers of Jesus? And where is your “thin place”? Maybe walking on the beach, on top of a mountain, in a religious building or even at church on Sunday?

Presence of the Kingdom

How does one participate in the Kingdom of God? Well, in His parables, Jesus gave examples - something that could grow from small beginnings, like a mustard seed, or something that could affect great change, like yeast in flour. And how best to action this? Check out 2 Peter 1:5-7 - there is a clear answer!

Participating In The Kingdom

Do religion and politics mix? Some may want to view them like oil and water - things that separate themselves out. But the Bible shows us that God is always concerned for the welfare of humanity and good governance. Leadership and social issues are very much part of the faith and life and how we engage with politics matters.

Politics Of The Kingdom

Kingdom Peace comes through having a different vision - the vision of Isaiah, one of the Old Testament's greatest prophets. The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, implores us to be ambassadors of this Kingdom Peace. But how can we do that when every day we look upon conflict between people and nations? It seems impossible to us. But maybe our judgement is wrong and God’s vision is correct. If that were true, it would give us something significant. It would provide us with HOPE.

Peace of the Kingdom

What is the parable of the Sower all about? The seed? The types of earth? No! The clue is in the name - it's about the Sower, who represents God. A God that spreads his love (the seed) across all types of soil (our hearts), regardless of whether they are hard, stony, chocked with seeds or fertile.

Planting The Kingdom

Shirley Baptist Church is a thriving, contemporary evangelical church, with an emphasis on Scripture, faith and mission, working out its purpose in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The God of New Things

Shirley Baptist Church

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