"Your Word" Hillsong Worship For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12) Week 6: Why and How do I read the Bible? The Word. God Breathed, God inspired. The best selling book of all times. Illegal in some countries, at the centre in others. How could one book have so much controversy surrounding it? This book that beacons your soul to lay open before it. For its timeless wisdom to examine, compare, teach and convict. It is only through the word of God that we come to know who God is. His very nature graces the pages of this long and beautifully written novel. It is His story, and He invites us to be part of it.  “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!  Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life..." (John 5:39-40) And what about you? Do you treat this book as the ones do that could be killed for its possession? Do you have a time when you allow it to steal you away, and ponder over the depth and breadth of its wisdom? Do you fight the world and its culture to apply what you have learned? Do you learn from the people that have gone before you? Do you set your goals and your purpose around its message;  around its author? Do you hear him speaking to you through its pages, calling you  to come away, for a time to rest and be in Him?  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16)

"...when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you...." - Jesus (Matt. 6:6) listen... Let there be light

Week 5: Why and How do I Pray? Do you carry a list or feel it within? Have a set time... face to the floor, knees to the ground or do you pull over on the 401 when your eyes are taken hostage for a moment, and you are overwhelmed with His heart? Are you aware of his continual desire to talk with you, to you, through you?  Do you have your own language with Him? A language that holds your heart, on earth as it is in heaven? A language that cannot be described my mere words or human noise, but one that is understood in thought and being... knowing the same Spirit that searches the heart of God, searches the heart of man. Are you hidden in this, or have you asked to see, to hear, to know the hidden things of your maker?  Prayer is a simple expression of Spirit communicating with the fullness of all that God is. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Voice in words, or mind in picture. Thought to feeling or raised hands to surrender. There is no wrong expression to God. He has created you with the ability to communicate with Him, and in an infinity amount of ways He knows the Heart of His people. Be blessed this week in our God. He has given you unlimited access to His throne room, and in the way you commune with Him there. Taste, See and breath in all that He is. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

"Here now" Hillsong United "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice andopens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelation 3:20)  "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

Week 4: How can I have Faith? This week, "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts... May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word... and may God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen. You are blessed with carrying this faith with you everywhere you go, and with whomever you interact with. Go, bless others in the faith God has entrusted you. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13) "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Romans 10:17) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Wk. 3: Why did Jesus Die?

"At the Cross" Chris Tomlin

Week 3: Why did Jesus Die? At the foot of the cross... Have you truly accepted forgiveness? Not just once, or twice, but seventy times seven times? (Matthew 18:21-22) Do you live in it. cling to it, hold into it with the wisdom and knowledge poured over us by the Saviour? Does sin hold you back, or spur you forward?  Do you know this mystery revealed to you, chosen one of God? At the foot of the cross, where we lay down all that we are to pick up all we will become; are becoming. ...the ground is even. Christ Jesus' blood spilled out for all of humanity, for nations, all people groups, your town, your church, your family, you. Do you know the freedom of the cross? Do you live in it? Do you allow other to? The ground is even as is every person that God so loved that He sent... and now sends us. For God so loved the world that he gave is only son...  Father, thank you. I fear to think where we would be without you. Help us remember where we have been, and who we were before you. Help us to see ourselves and others as you do, hidden in the savig grace of Christ Jesus. Remind me of who I am, in you. And who I am becoming, in you. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven... Amen

Week 2: Jesus

"What a beautiful name it Is" Hillsong Worship

Week 2: Who is Jesus? Do you know Jesus? Has the sand warmed your feet as you walked beside him on the shores of the dead sea? Have you watched the fire in his eyes as He cleared the temple? Felt his authority as he silenced the wind and the waves? Have you seen the Saviour, Creator, Emmanuel holding, blessing, playing with the neighbourhood children? Do you know Jesus? Do you know his voice? Does he compete for your time, for space in your heart? Do you know where you stop and he begins? Is he recognisable in you and through you? To others, to yourself... 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 As you prepare for this weeks lesson, pray for your own awareness of Jesus. Our God is alive, active, and wants us to rest in his life through us. May we be consumed with the mind of Christ. May our words and deeds reflect those of a people with their minds set on things above, who have confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not yet see. May we stand unashamed with arms raised, hands open to receive and then give away what has been given to us through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Please pray with us for leaders in Brockville as we begin our first week of Alpha. There are Young Adults, Youth groups, Churches, men's and women's groups all participating in what we hope to be a huge welcome into the family of God. Father, thank you for including us in what you are already doing across this whole globe. We are excite to see you move. Please move among us.

Week 1: Life Food... Check Video... Check Questions... Check Tech... Check         Prayer... Check     Set up... Check What about you? Where are you with God, in this moment... today? Take stock, check in, be still and know... All that we do flows from all that He is. Week 1 of many. Take a few moments and breath in all He has for you, for your team, and for the people He is inviting into the family. Be aware of His presence; not just the feeling, but the knowing.  Is there anyone you need to forgive? Go and forgive. Is there anything you need to confess? Please, confess. Let nothing stop you from knowing his power flowing in and through you.  Search me, God, and know my heart;           test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me,     and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 When it's over tonight, go to Him as you would a friend. Tell Him everything you have seen, debrief. Take no glory in the good, and feel no shame in the bad. Know His pleasure in you, on you. Know that He is sovereign. Walk in His favour, You are loved.