"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

A look at John 3:16 and the profoundly simple message it has. 

• The world that God loves.
• The Son that God gave.
• The Gift of Life.
• The response that's required.

Bible verse
John 3:1-12

Despite all our achievements we have an inability to conquer our own human nature.  We are not basically good, we can't convince ourselves into goodness or try harder to make ourselves good.  Only God can do it.

• It is an inward work of God
• It's an invisible work of God
• It's an initial work of God
• It's an indispensable work of God.

Bible Verses
Romans 3:9-10     Romans 3:19-20

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Rom 3:23-24)

Some deaths are described as the most famous, the most public and the most mourned.  But when we look into the death of Jesus and why he had to die we see the death that was the most important, the key to reconciliation with God.
The cross speaks to us of four different things.

1. It's an evaluation of your worth as a human being - a price was paid for you.
2. It's an exposition of the terrible seriousness of sin.
3. It's a deminstration of God's grace and justice.
4. It is an invitation from God - it is paid in full there is nothing more you can add to it.

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)
Doubts are necessary to discern truth.  Doubts are normal whether Christian or not. Even weak faith can be genuine faith - it's a starting point.  Faith lives alongside unanswered questions.  John's Gospel was written for people who doubt.  
When we look at the verse above, John points us to 3 aspects of genuine Christian faith.

1. It is based on reliable testimony about Jesus.
2. It involves taking a step of faith based on that testimony.
3. Faith is confirmed in experiencing life with Jesus

The compulsory question to answer in life, upon which your life will stand or fall - What will you do about Jesus?

During the trial of Jesus we see Pontius Pilate try to answer this question over 3 separate moments. 

1. Which kingdom will I choose?
2. Which friendship will I choose?
3. Do you want to be clean on the inside or just on the outside?

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13

There are two ways we can go in this life.  One which leads to life and the other which leads to hell.  
Jesus calls us to life - life in all its fullness.

• Enter through the narrow gate - there's only one way to God, there is nothing you can bring to God and you can't rely on the faith of others.
• Go the narrow way - set aside all that would hinder and rely on God.
• The destination is heaven - A full life which begins now and has a living solid hope.

What will you do with Jesus?

Audio Download
The Most Amazing Thing...
13/9/2015 - Rev J Curry

Bible verse
1 John 2:28 - 3:10

Do we remember the amazing truth that we discovered when we became a Christian?  Can we still see how amazing it is to be called a child of God?  

When we become a Christian we are no longer just a creature of God (something he has created) we are a child of God.  We enter his family.  We have a relationship with God who loves us. 

It's not just a box you tick - it has a dramatic impact on your life.  If sin is what puts the hitch in our step then God is the one who is seeking to help us walk properly in our relationship with Him.  While we might be an 'alien' to the rest of the world we have hope for the future - and that's amazing.

Related Links
The Why Leaflet 

Audio Download (click title to download)
World Disasters - A Christian Response.
16 Jan 2005 am   
Preached in the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tsunami

Bible verse
Isaiah 40: 25-31

In the face of disaster people often ask:
"How can you believe in a God who allows suffering on this scale?"
They make assumptions about God:

• An all powerful God would be able to end suffering.
• an all loving God would desire to end suffering.

Or they have a wrong view on suffering: 
Suffering is an illusion - it’s just our unfulfilled desire, if you remove desire for it you remove the suffering - buddhism. But Christianity says suffering is real and we have a God that wants to help.

Suffering is payback - Karma - we get what we deserve - hinduism.  But Christianity says this rules out a God of mercy and Grace. God actually holds back wrath to to allow time for salvation. 

Suffering is decreed - what will happen will happen it’s just God’s plan don’t question it - Islam
But Christianity says that God is deeply moved by our suffering.  longing to comfort us and desperate to save.

Suffering is natural - it’s just the way the world is, it would be meaningless to wonder why, there is no why - atheist.  But Christianity says our lives have worth and purpose therefore our suffering is not meaningless.

Whatever God's reason behind suffering it didn't stop him from suffering the same fate and going to the cross for us.  Showing a God that is both all powerful to save from sin and all loving in making the decision and sacrifice for us.

Audio Download (click title to download)
"The Humanity of Jesus" 
9 June
(Keith Hibbert)

What does the incarnation mean? 
God is easier to deal with when we can keep him at a distance - when he’s just the man upstairs.  But our God is a relational God.  He became flesh and lived amongst us as a man.  We can’t hold God at a distance when he is determined to show that he knows us.  
If we were to be redeemed it would be God that had to do the purchasing - something that could only be paid by shedding blood on the cross. 

Audio Downloads (click title to download)
Rejoice, Follow, Live (30/12/2012) - Rev Curry

Bible Reading
1 Peter 2:11-25

Sermon 1 (click title to download)
"We Believe in Jesus" 
(Keith Hibbert)

Sermon 2 (click title to download)
We Believe... in the holy Spirit

Bible Reading
John 16:5-16