Talks

THE REAL JESUS – PART 6 - The Honest Jesus

In part 6 of our “Uncovering the Real Jesus”, Matt explored “Honest Jesus”.

Matt asked the question:  Is it possible to be TOO honest?  Throughout the Gospel accounts Jesus often makes some strong and direct statements in conversation with the many people He interacted with.  He said this message was potentially dangerous!

In Luke 11:37-39, Jesus speaks very strongly when talking to a pharisee, and then still firm when in the home of Mary and Martha. John Eldredge says: “His (Jesus) honesty and severity are measured out precisely, according to the amount of delusion and self-deception encasing the listener”. Hardened hearts need a harder message. Jesus’ honesty with Martha in Luke 10:38-42 is much softer but still disrupts her thinking, to help her to see a different perspective. 
John Eldredge says: “Why aren’t we more honest?” He suggest to reasons: a) Because it will cost us and b) because we’re cowards!  Ouch!

The beauty of Jesus’ disruptive honesty is that you can count on Jesus to tell you the truth in the best possible way for you to hear it. Why? Jesus is full of grace AND truth.
Being offensive is not the same as saying something that offends: “A foghorn is offensive at a dinner party, but it’s the sweetest sound in the world for a ship in the storm!”

As well as being full of Grace and Truth, the author of revelation tell us that Jesus is also Faithful and True (Revelation 19 verse 11) Not just speaking truth (brutally honest sometimes) He is actually TRUE Himself.  Never under a fear of people around Him, not swelled by success or intimidated by circumstances like we can be.  He is simply being True to Himself.  His brilliant, kind, compassionate, disruptive, honest self.  Doesn’t it make you love Him!?

Do we need to allow Jesus to be honest with us today? What might He want to say to us?  And, are there people in our lives, we need to sensitively speak with more honesty, for their sake?  Plenty to think about.

Gill Isterling brought a powerful message in our series “The Real Jesus”—this week looking at Jesus the Human.
We often say He was 100% God and 100% human, but sometimes we struggle to really grasp that. Yet Jesus was one of us.

He lived real life.
He had family and friends.
He ate meals, laughed, celebrated, and felt deep grief.
He experienced loneliness. He felt anger.
He loved people fiercely and compassionately.

Isaiah 53 asks, “Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?”
God Himself choosing to step into our world and into our humanity.

John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Jesus didn’t stay distant—He moved into our neighbourhood.

If you missed it, or need to hear it again, go back and listen.
Let it remind you that Jesus understands you — fully.
He is God, and He gets what it’s like to be human.

Our amazing guest speaker Sim Dendy showed us a side of Jesus we don’t often think about: The cunning Jesus!  Jesus is the most cunning man you will ever meet - brilliant, clever, and uncatchable. (John Eldredge)
Sim’s first question to us was: What are you hungry for?
He then gave us three options / qualities of Jesus we should/could be hungry for:
1) No compromise! Based on the story in Matthew 22 verses 15-22 where the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus, Sim explained how cleverly Jesus answered questions without compromise yet avoided the pharisees trap.
2) Radical Justice! Sim’s example of Jesus’ radical justice was taken from John 8 verse 1-11, where Jesus invites any accusers of the woman without sin to throw the first stone. Jesus is brilliant! “Shrewd like a serpent, yet gentle as a dove”.  Jesus protects the woman, without condoning what she had done. Jesus died for people, not for principles!
3) Divine Wisdom! Again, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in Luke 20 verses 1-8 asking him in what authority He was preaching. Jesus doesn’t answer their question, but instead responds with a question of His own.  When the Pharisees can’t answer his question he tells them He won’t answer theirs either!  Brilliant! They didn’t really want to know the answer, they just wanted to trap him.

Jesus is Playful, fierce, extravagant and also cunning!  Don’t you just love Him!  Join us this Sunday to think about another important quality…..

Bob shared an inspiring message carrying on our Real Jesus series exploring ‘extravagant Jesus’ reminding us that Jesus never does the bare minimum. From turning water into around 900 bottles of wine at a wedding, to feeding thousands with food left over. Bob painted a picture of a Saviour whose joy, grace, and generosity overflow beyond measure. Jesus doesn’t ration love or forgiveness, He pours them out lavishly.

The challenge was clear: if Jesus is extravagant, His followers should be too. Bob encouraged us to reflect that same abundance in our lives, through open-handed generosity, heartfelt forgiveness, and joy that spills over into our communities. Extravagant love, he reminded us, isn’t about excess but it’s about the overflow of a heart shaped by Jesus.

THE REAL JESUS – PART 2
In the second part of our series “The Real Jesus”, Zoe introduced us to a FIERCE Jesus.
In Revelation 19;11-16 we read words like “judge”, “waging war”, “iron sceptres”, “swords” and the “fury of the wrath of God”, which don’t sound like the Jesus we
know.
If we think of “Aslan”, the Lion in Narnia, he is both gentle and loving, but at the same time, he’s wild. Beaver says about him: “Safe? Who said anything about safe?
Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you!” Similarly, Jesus is good but also fierce!
We can see that:
  - Fierce Jesus fights injustice on behalf of the oppressed. (Turning over tables, John 2:13-17)
  - Fierce Jesus doesn’t mince his words when challenging authorities (Luke 18)
  - Fierce Jesus is tough on his friends (Matthew 16:23)
  - Fierce Jesus fights the demonic (eg Luke 4: 31-36)
What can we learn?
  - fighting corruption and injustice are at the heart of Jesus’ mission. Justice should be at the heart of us too. We don’t need to be aggressive, but we do need to NOT be passive.
  - There are times to speak out. Against injustice, wrongdoing. Times to not join in with the crowd, to not be popular.
  - Whatever God has asked us to do, we should do it with zeal, and a determined fierceness.
  - We have the same authority as Jesus to confront evil
  - Jesus’ ferocity is always motivated by LOVE

On Sunday Matt launched a brand new series entitled “THE REAL JESUS” (drawing on a book by John Eldredge called Beautiful Outlaw)  In line with our theme for the year “SIMPLY JESUS” the goal of the series is to “remove the religious fog and uncover who Jesus really was and is.

Matt explained that often as we read stories in the bible we can see Jesus through a religious perspective and often the missing ingredient is His personality.  Subconsciously we may have imagined Jesus as a solemn, serious, religious figure – saving the world from sin, bringing revolutionary teaching but maybe not so much fun.  What about if Jesus was also: Cunning? Or Extravagant? Or even fierce?  This first week Matt asked the question: Was Jesus Playful?  He looked to clues in 5 different places:

Back to the Beach! How did Jesus reveal Himself on the beach with his disciples after he had risen from the dead?  (John Chapter 21)
His Nature is revealed in His Nature!  See John Chapter 1 verse 3: “Through him (Jesus) all thing were made; without him nothing was made that has been made!”        Look in creation! When you see something “Playful” this reflects part of Jesus’ personality!
Jesus and the Fish and the coin! (Matthew Chapter 17)  Check out this story where Jesus tells Peter to go and catch the first fish to find a coin that he can use to pay the temple tax!
Nathaneal and the fig tree – John chapter 1 verses 43-50.  Try reading this story but imagine the tone of how Jesus responded to Nathaneal!  He had to have a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye surely?
The Road to Emmaus – Luke 24 vs 19-31.  Go ahead and read this!  It’s amazing!  Jesus could have revealed Himself, but instead remains “hidden” and almost disguised!  It’s either bizarre or Jesus being playful with 2 of his disciples.
If Jesus was playful and even “cheeky” this doesn’t reduce him to anything less - He is still our Lord, our Saviour and ruler over all things – Matt said He thinks it makes Him Love Jesus even more because it opens us up to see more of his personality!  We believe that Jesus is still “Playful” with a sense of Humour today!  Let’s look out for that this week!

Matt also talked about squirrels, dogs and explained that this message could “mess with your thinking”!

On Sunday our guest Speaker Jonas Eyles spoke powerfully to us using the passage from John 21 verses 1-22. He explained the 5 things that Jesus beautifully does for Peter on the beach, and still does for us today.  He’s a reminder of the message:

Jesus Reminds
Jesus restores Peter by reminding him of his past experiences of Grace: Once again, Peter catches no fish, but an abundance when Jesus tells him to try the other side of the boat, just like he did before.

Jesus Renews
Jesus restores Peter by renewing him physically and spiritually: After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus now gives Peter the chance to tell Jesus three times that he loves Him.
Jesus Recommissions
Jesus restores Peter by recommissioning him with the call of God over his life to be a leader and teacher and “feed His sheep”.
Jesus Repairs
Jesus restores Peter by beginning to heal and repair his brokenness and deal with areas of weakness in his life.
Jesus Refocuses
Jesus restores Peter by refocusing him on Him, and calling him back to simply follow Him again. Jonas challenged us with the question: Are you following Jesus or are you inviting Him to follow you?

Baptism Sunday! It was great to hear from Tony and Rob and alongside Matt explained why Baptism is important for us.

1) Jesus was baptised - We follow His example
In Matthew 3:13-17 we see the account where Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist. After Jesus was baptised we see that the Heavens opened and a voice from Heaven saying: “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” There’s a sense that as we are baptised – we can also hear the affirmation from our Heavenly Father.
2) Jesus instructed His followers - We follow His instructions
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says to his disciples (us!):
  - Make more disciples
  - Baptise them and
  - Teach them
  Matt pointed out that for those of us who have been baptised are part of the ongoing outworking of Jesus’ instructions! We are part of the story!!
3) Jesus and Water
  - Just like water, Jesus cleans us. Romans 6:2-6 says: That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.
4) Welcomed into Jesus’ body

In baptism, believers are baptised INTO the church – the body of Jesus.

Jesus’ Name has Power!
Bec spoke on Sunday in the last part of our mini series on ‘In Jesus’ Name’.
Bec shared that Jesus’ name has power, focusing on 3 points:
Jesus’ name commands authority
What we speak has power
We are in a battle - are we ready?
She spoke about how people in the bible were often perplexed by Jesus’ authority, and that we can speak with the authority that Jesus has given us.

Bec shared that what we speak has power, using examples of Freedom in Christ and how declaring truth over ourselves can help to change our inner narrative.

She spoke about the reality of the spiritual battle that we live in and the importance of knowing that we have the upper hand. That comparing the devil to God is like comparing an ant to an atom bomb, there is no contest (Steve Goss) and referenced Elisha and his servant receiving ‘spiritual sight’ to see they had the upper hand in battle.

Bec posed the question: ‘so what next?’ challenging us to ponder the question- ‘Am I willing to be transformed?’ by Jesus and encouraged us to stand in the unity we have, in Jesus’ name as a church family.

In Jesus’ Name!
Bob brought us a powerful message this Sunday, talking about being SENT in Jesus’ name.

When Jesus sends us out in His name, His reputation is at stake! We represent Him wherever we go!  It’s a responsibility but also an honour and a privilege!
Luke 9:1-2 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
      1) Power (Dynamis) = the state of that which is not yet fully realised.
        The Spirit is enabling us with His power, He is the power source. We need to stay connected.
      2) Authority (Exousia) = Authority, the right or power to act
      Jesus doesn’t require us to be perfect and He still sends us out in His name.  “Sometimes Obedience is more important than understanding.”

In Luke 10:1-2, Jesus sends out 70, two by two to share His message and bring the power of His Kingdom : His Mission is not just for a few and we’re not alone. 

The mission of God was (and still is) this : The Father sent the Son >> The Son sent the Spirit >> The Spirit sends us > to be a Christian is to be sent (Apostolos = sent one).
When we end our prayers with “in Jesus’s name, amen”, it is not a polite formula, but a declaration of His Lordship.
Who is Jesus sending you to this week? Simple obedience matters!

At the end of the meeting we prayed and anointed with oil (a biblical expression and symbol of God’s favour and presence) everyone who wanted it! To be sent to our communities, workplaces and world – In JESUS Name!