SPEAKING OF LIFE
A weekly web programme from GCI providing a biblical perspective on how we live in the light of God's love.
Again and again, God reveals to us how much he cares about us. Jesus’ sacrifice and devotion to the marginalized people, should inspire us to give praise and make a joyful noise. When we praise and give thanks, we celebrate God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
https://www.gci.org/videos/media-spea...

JESUS' RESURRECTION: ​OUR HOPE OF SALVATION

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“If Christ has not been raised,” the apostle Paul taught, “your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is of momentous importance for every Christian, indeed for everyone on this planet. Because Jesus Christ conquered death, we, too, will live again — and so will our friends and relatives who have already died. That is why the most exhilarating message human ears have yet heard was the one announced to some astonished women outside a rock tomb in first-century Jerusalem: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6).

A foundational teaching
The resurrection of Christ has always been the central teaching of Christianity. “If the resurrection is not historic fact, then the power of death remains unbroken, and with it the effect of sin” (James Hastings, A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. 2, page 514).

Michael Green in Man Alive is emphatic: “Without faith in the resurrection there would be no Christianity at all.” W. Robertson Nicolls, quoting another writer, puts it plainly: “The empty tomb of Christ has been the cradle of the church” (The Church’s One Foundation, page 150).

Anchored to history
To mention Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection is to get to the root of the Christian faith, for Christianity claims a basis in historical fact. “There are ancient myths in pagan literature about dying gods who attained some form of resurrection,” writes Philip Rosenbaum, “but no other sacred writing intersects human history the way the Bible does. For it is the historical fact of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection that separate God’s Word from all others” (How to Enjoy the Boring Parts of the Bible, page 116).

“This thing was not done in a corner,” Paul argued before King Agrippa, the most influential Jewish official of his day (Acts 26:26, New King James Version). How right he was. Jesus Christ’s mortal enemies — the leadership elite of his nation — were on the scene. They were watchfully determined to stamp out the Jesus movement (John 11:46-53). That is why they schemed behind closed doors to carry out their plot, at risk to their own standing among the people (John 7:25-52). It had to be the perfect crime.

A question of faith
Christianity is more than a series of clever arguments. It is more than a list of intellectual debating points that can be argued back and forth. This is why the validity of the Gospel testimony does not remain at the mercy of the latest “debunking” best-seller or archaeological find in the Middle East. In the end, Christianity rests on faith, faith based on a living and ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ, a living Saviour!

Thomas wanted the strongest form of proof: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were…I will not believe it” (John 20:25). Thomas saw, he tested, and then he believed (verses 26-28). Yet Jesus followed this dramatic encounter with the words: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (verse 29).

As Oliver Barclay wrote: “The historical Jesus Christ was an amazing power in the lives of men years after his death. It is not so much the fact that a miracle happened…. The chief reason that the disciples spoke so often about it was that Jesus was alive and with them again” (Reasons for Faith, page 115). This is why the disciples came storming out of Jerusalem and so influenced the world with their message (Acts 17:6). The living Christ had changed their lives. He can do the same for you.​
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Bible Study: Back to Bible Study

Back to Bible Study Series
​by James Henderson...

Taken from - Word of Life - Growing Together in Life and Faith                                     ​https://wordoflife.gracecom.church/

Friday Bible Study
19th January 2024

The power of proclamation

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of  God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’
Mark 1:14-15 (NIVUK)
In our modern world we are so used to being bombarded with information that it can at times be overwhelming as well as confusing. We learn about events seconds after they happen, even if the news comes from the other side of the world. Who do we believe when there is conflicting information? We must consider, for example, whether our sources are reliable and trustworthy; is there bias in how the facts are presented, and whether we are being manipulated into believing untruths.

Back in Jesus’s day it was quite different. News was mostly spread by word of mouth, and it took a long time. However, people still had to check the source of the news to find out if it was trustworthy. Official news from rulers and government was proclaimed by heralds. In this way the ordinary everyday person could trust the source. 

Mark used the Greek word kerusso meaning ‘to herald (as a public crier), to preach, to proclaim’ when he describes what Jesus was doing, in order to convey the same formality and authority that a herald had. Jesus was acting in an official capacity, just like a herald, to announce the arrival of the kingdom of God. Jesus wasn’t just saying, or suggesting, instead he confidently proclaimed his message with power and authority. God’s kingly reign and rule was breaking into the normal everyday life of those present through the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth.

And what should people do as a result of this unexpected proclamation? Two things: ‘… Repent and believe the good news!’ (Mark 1:15). It was time for everyone to stop living the way they had, to turn their lives around, to obey and follow Jesus. 

His message is as relevant for us today as it was for those living in Galilee at that time. Jesus breaks into our ordinary, everyday life at unexpected moments with his gift of salvation, and asks us to believe, repent, and follow him. He is calling us to a life of continued obedience as we follow him.

There was, and continues to be a sense of urgency in Christ’s message which is evidenced by how quickly his first four followers, Simon, Andrew, James and John responded. They left their nets and immediately followed him. We are called to do the same, each and every day. Why delay? What is stopping you? Yield to the power of Christ’s proclamation today.
1 Gospel definitions: N.T. Wright (thegospelcoalition.org)
Prayer
Our heavenly Father, Jesus proclaimed the good news of the arrival of your kingdom here on earth. Let us heed his message and believe in him. As we live each day, we ask that the Holy Spirit prompt us to obey and follow Jesus, setting aside all distractions. We pray that he would be the focus of our lives and that we would become more and more like him. In his name we pray, Amen.
Study by Jackie Mill  -  minister in Grace Communion International and Co-Regional Pastor for Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England.

Across Peterborough

https://www.acrosspeterborough.org.uk/​
Across Peterborough is a web based communication tool managed by the charity Light Project Peterborough. Across Peterborough services the city by sharing the good news of Christian and community work and activities, and by building bridges across different communities.

Wherever you are on your life journey we hope you will find something useful here.​  Their aim is to showcase some of the amazing work done in our city and provide resources that will help improve across the Peterborough community.
Across Peterborough aims to:
  • Share good news of activities in Peterborough
  • To help create unity and peace
  • To serve the Christian church and community

Advent Reflection Day

Churches Together in central Peterborough are holding an Advent Reflection Day on Saturday 2nd December between 10am and 3:30pm in the Knight’s Chamber at Peterborough Cathedral.
The event will be facilitated by Revd. John Rackley, who is a former President of the Baptist Union and Chair of the Retreat Association*. His theme will be “In Darkness there is Light”. This will be a very stimulating day as we prepare for Advent and is well worth attending. There is a charge of £3 per person to cover the cost of tea and coffee, which are served throughout the day. However, please bring your own packed lunch. To book a place, either contact St Mary’s Parish Office on 01733 834736 or email [email protected].

Across Peterborough Magazine

The God Revealed in Jesus Christ

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A collection of articles outlining Trinitarian theology

The series begins with Jesus Christ. As God in the flesh, he reveals to us what God is; he teaches us that the Father is in character just like Jesus. Other doctrines flow from that point. Jesus reveals that there was, even before time began, love between the Father and the Son.

There are relationships within God, yet there is only one God. Humanity was made in the image of God, and we are made for the purpose of having eternal relationships, based on God’s love, with him and with one another. Yet we fall short of this divine purpose; we are unable to qualify ourselves for the kingdom of God. This brings us back to Jesus, the incarnate God.

As our Creator, he could represent us all, and so he became human as our representative and substitute, to atone for the sins of all humanity and to reconcile all humanity to God. He extends unconditional love and grace to us. Humans, however, do not always return that favour, and so there is a growth process toward the goal God has established for us. It is tremendously good news, and the more we learn about the God revealed in Jesus Christ, the more that we desire a relationship with him. We have not earned his love, but he has earned ours. It is all built upon the unity of the Father and of Jesus. And yet the Bible says that there is only one God. How can we have plurality within one Being?

​The doctrine of the Trinity was formulated to say how Father and Son are one God: two Persons in one God. As we discuss in another book, the Holy Spirit is likewise a Person in the Triune God. God is love, and we are invited to join him for eternity!​

Gracelines

Note: The Gracelines magazine is currently under review and will be re-launched in the near futures under a new name - watch this space....

Gracelines

Gracelines is a new monthly magazine published by Grace Communion Church Peterborough as a grace-driven, gospel-orientated, Christ-centred resource for believers and non-believers alike.
Mission Statement
Gracelines aims to provide regular Gospel related articles and resources, designed to encourage, edify and support believers in their daily Christian walk, and to introduce others, who don't yet believe, to the good news of how God has redeemed mankind through the vicarious humanity of his Son, Jesus of Nazareth.

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 NIV).
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​The Gospel declares that because of Christ, all people are loved, forgiven and accepted by God—we all belong to God (Ephesians 1:4-6). Gracelines is dedicated to bringing home the truth of our belonging to God by means of the new humanity established in Jesus.

​Unless indicated otherwise, all scripture references on this site are from the Holy Bible,
​Authorised Version (KJV)​

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