Talks

Linking directly to our Vision for 2022 – Climbing Higher – Seeing Beyond, Stuart speaks about Jesus’ message famously described as the Sermon on the Mount – (Matthew 5) and how the 8 beatitudes can be seen as like climbing a mountain (4 attitudes of ascent) and coming back down (4 attitudes of descent)
Going up the mountain (CLIMB) “Good on ya” when you recognise that you:
1) Are poor in Spirit: less about material poverty but recognising that we have nothing without God.
2) Mourn: Grieving over my lostness
3) Are Meek: to have controlled strength, like a horse that has been broken in
4) Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness (the top of the mountain: Wanting God more than anything else)
Coming down the mountain (SHINE) The way to bring flourishing to the world around us is:
5) Merciful: to have empathy and also to put it into action
6) Pure in heart: not “perfect” motives, but becoming whole and mature, a heart with “right” motives
7) Peacemakers: to bring peace in a divided society, to mediate and negotiate
8) Persecuted because of Righteousness

Steve Wendels talks to us about the five-fold ministry on the day we honour Dave and Esther Ransome after years of service in Ashwood Church.
His message is based on Ephesians 4:11-13 and to help us understand it better, Steve answers three questions about this text:
WHO?
- People (defined under WHAT), appointed by Christ himself. Now, these people are appointed by the church, as directed by Jesus’ Holy Spirit
WHAT?
- The Apostle who is a pioneer, sent to lay strong, Christlike foundations within the church
- The Prophet, to speak truth whether past, present or past and to encourage the gift of prophesy in the church. He speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort
- The Evangelist, called to create an evangelical spirit within the church.
- The Pastor who is called to lead the flock and
- The Teacher who is called to uncompromisingly teach biblical truth
WHY?
- To equip God’s people for works of service
- To encourage all to reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God
- To become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ

Our friend and special guest Joe Gisbey (Links CEO) talks about “Giving it all to the Giver of all!”
Joe uses the story of Abraham and Isaac to challenge us to think about giving everything to God. Joe says:
Sometimes we are tempted to make a detour (Ishmael) on our way to the fulfilment of the promise, but even then, God sees that we are working towards the fulfilment, His promise is still true.
Sometimes God asks us to do something without giving us all the details (e.g. “go into the region of Moriah”); He asks us just to go the next step and to trust him for the one after that.  
Sometimes it’s down to just us and God  (“the boy and I will go alone”) not to be distracted or discouraged from what God is asking us to do. 
It is when we totally surrender, come into a place of worship (not only singing but prioritising and putting God first in everything) and sacrifice that God provides. We are not waiting for the ram: the ram is waiting for us to arrive at that right place. Sometimes we don’t access the promise because we don’t get into the deep place of worship.  
 
He also prophesies some things to us as church.  Why not listen in? It’s time to fly, Ashwood!

Luke 5:1-11 tells us the story of Jesus getting into Simon’s boat to teach and then to go on asking Simon to throw the nets out again after a night of fishing without success.
Helen King from Riverside church suggests that Jesus wants to get into our “boats” too!  And when he does, he changes our plans, our future, our life! After this encounter with Jesus, Simon (now Peter) was ALL IN! He leaves everything behind to follow Jesus and to “fish for men”. Helen encourages us to be “all in” just like Peter, to use our gifts, to know that if we miss the mark, Jesus always forgives and spurs us on to keep going. As part of the message she says “your church needs you!”.