When we look closely at the descriptions of the early tabernacle in Exodus, we see that it is a copy of what happens in Heaven. How do we know? Because Paul's letter to the Hebrews contains the key to unlock our understanding. Continuing our series looking at Practical Holiness, Trevor Bond helps us to recognise the parallels between the set-up of the original tabernacle and that which Jesus has done for us. He also then invites us to 'go through' the process - this time with the understanding of what Jesus' sacrifice means to us. 
 

This week we're starting a new series on holiness - practical holiness. In Ephesians 4 vs 22-24, Paul reminds us that 'you were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.' But how might we do this in practice? Steve Gibbons, in an introduction to the series, provides a few pointers to help us start thinking about it...

It's been our pleasure this weekend to host David and Liz Campbell and family, missionaries whose work we support as a church. Working primarily with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people, the Campbells have spent many years with Fusion Jamaica, making a positive difference for Jesus in several different neighbourhoods. David speaks here about the challenges we face being in the now, but not yet, Kingdom of God, using references from Jesus' ministry and examples from his own experiences to explain how we might become equal to the tasks God calls us to.

Vision has been defined as 'the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom'. I like that. GCC's vision was agreed not just with a great deal of imagination (aspiration) and wisdom (prayerfully and with the Holy Spirit's guidance) BUT also with the knowledge that there is responsibility for each one of us, both individually and as part of the church. It is vital we recognise that, should we ever feel we're doing okay just as we are, then that's when we're in great danger of losing sight of our vision, of ceasing to be a healthy and growing church. So we all have our part to play. Pete Bond teaches us how we can remain a church where people can meet Jesus, know Jesus and make Him known.

We start back at Gillingham Community Church from our summer break with a new series of Sunday morning talks that are designed to take us 'Back to Basics'. Over the next few months, we'll be considering the basic tenets of our faith and looking at how we might practically apply them. And what better place to start than Hope? Steve Gibbons teaches us primarily from Hebrews 6 about why we need a firm anchor for our faith and how we can keep our hope in Jesus alive.

Probably every Christian will have at some point referred to the apostle who demanded tangible proof of Jesus' resurrection as 'Doubting Thomas'. Yet surely Thomas was merely expressing in words the thoughts that most of us would have had in his position? Wasn't he actually being tremendously courageous in asking those difficult questions that others baulked at? Steve Gibbons teaches us that Thomas is not only misunderstood but that by digging deeper into the New Testament we will discover him to be a faithful, believing disciple who was prepared to ask awkward questions to overcome some of the uncertainties he experienced. Not sure about Thomas being an honorary scouser though....maybe I like him need to ask some difficult questions?! 

Nicodemus was a New Testament intellectual, both a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. An older man, he was clearly someone with a thorough, in-depth knowledge of Jewish law and religious practise. And yet, from his meeting with Jesus as told in John 3, he was open to and desired to know more about the Son of God. Surely every Christian knows that famous, life-changing verse, John 3:16 - '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' - but none of us except Nicodemus has actually heard it spoken directly by Jesus! Andy Sparkes sets the context for Jesus' famous meeting with Nicodemus, explaining why he was the first establishment figure to recognise and then seek the divine Jesus, and describes how we can learn much from this Pharisee's attitude.

We all love to be encouraged, don't we? So how wonderful it must be to be regarded as an 'encourager', a positive and uplifting person. Barnabas - Paul's right-hand man - was just such a person, so much so that he was known by his nickname 'Son of Encouragement', in other words, he was the very embodiment of encouragement. As Martin Powell emphasises in this talk, our church will only grow if we continue meeting together and encouraging one another (as Paul instructs in several of his letters); so there's a challenge - who can you encourage today?

It doesn't need me to say how difficult it can be these days to stand up for that which you believe, to go against the flow in a society that seems determined to go its own way, to do its own thing, exactly how it pleases. But that's not just in our times, because the Old Testament is full of different characters who knew what was right and then stood fast to achieve their God-given beliefs. One such man of integrity was Caleb who - along with Joshua - remained resolute in the face of fear and complacency demonstrated by the wandering Israelites as they stood on the cusp of entering the land promised to them. Ted Winter tells us how Caleb's example (Numbers 13 & 14) can speak to us today, naming five particular qualities we all should exhibit as Christians.

Every one of us at some time will complain to ourselves (or others!) that real life regularly gets in the way of our walk with God. But you know, it doesn't have to be that way because often what we think of as being obstructive is actually the right thing to do in the circumstances. Not sure how this can be? Then listen to this talk by Roger Snowdon, here using the example of Martha to show how we can interact with Jesus and do His will - even in the mundanity of our everyday lives.