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SPEAKING OF LIFE

A weekly web programme from GCI commenting each week providing a biblical perspective on how we live in the light of God's love.

Speaking Of Life: 1029 | You Had To Be There

You Had To Be There

Jesus says “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE…” – John 14:6

God as Father, Son and Spirit is not a cold mathematical, 3 in 1 conundrum beyond knowing. God is an extravagant relationship of love who is known in face-to-face communion. Instead of missing out on this immeasurable experience on account of “not being there,” the Father sends his Son who sends his Spirit to bring us into their very life of eternal and boundless fellowship.

You can view other Speaking Of Life episodes here:
https://www.gci.org/videos/media-spea...

Thought for the Week

Hello,

Today marks the end of Theresa May’s tenure of office as Conservative Party leader, though she will stay on as Prime Minister in a caretaker capacity until her party selects a new leader. For some her premiership has failed because of compromise with the EU and her failure to deliver the Brexit people wanted.

For others she made a valiant effort to secure a withdrawal agreement and was let down by a lack of support from Parliament. History will no doubt reflect on the extremely difficult task of delivering Brexit, whoever the Prime Minister.

One thing that impressed me about Theresa May is that throughout all the ups and downs of her time in No10 she and her husband Philip regularly went to church each week, at a time when it’s estimated that only 11.4% of the UK population attend church once a month.[1]As a Christian, regular church attendance has been of great benefit to me:

In difficult times I’ve found inspiration in the worship, guidance in the teaching and encouragement from fellow believers; in good times I’ve been able to celebrate and rejoice in a family community; and in all times my faith in Jesus Christ has deepened.

If you are one of the 88.6% who don’t go to church regularly why not give it a try? It might just be better than you think.

Warm regards,

Barry Robinson.

Barry Robinson is a member of the National Ministry Team for Grace Communion International in the UK

7th June 2019

Taken from - Day by Day - Growing Together in Life and Faith http://www.daybyday.org.uk/

Friday Bible Study

7th June 2019

Public Opinion

“Tell the nations, ‘The Lord rules! Yes, he set the world firmly in place; it won’t be shaken. He will judge all people fairly.’”
Psalm 96:10-13 (CEB)

We live in a time of uncertainty. As I write this I have just learned that Theresa May has announced that she is stepping down as the leader of the Conservative party and we will likely have a new UK Prime Minister in a matter of weeks.

There is little doubt that public opinion has been against her. Perhaps sometimes it was unfair, and at other times it seemed justifiable. Let’s remember to pray for her as she comes to terms with her stepping down.
I am reminded of a time when public opinion was unjustifiably against our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Jesus was rejected and sentenced to death by the court of public opinion. He was sarcastically crowned as ‘king of the Jews’ and the Roman Governor Pilate, despite knowing he had done no wrong, ordered him to be executed by crucifixion to appease the Jewish crowds and leaders.

Yet, as Christians we know that this was not the end. We do not worship a Lord who is subject to the political will of the electorate. We worship the living God, who created the Heavens and the Earth. On the Day of Pentecost after the sacrifice of Jesus, he sent ‘another comforter’ – the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. Romans 8:14-39 tell us that although creation was subjected to frustration, through God’s Spirit we have the hope that we will be set free and “brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children…that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We look forward to the time when Christ will return in glory, when everyone and all things will know that he is King. In Psalm 96 the Psalmist speaks of this hope: “Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it roar! Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate! Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully before the Lord because he is coming! He is coming to establish justice on the earth! He will establish justice in the world rightly. He will establish justice among all people fairly.” (Psalm 96:10-13).

Prayer
Father, God who is in charge of all things, thank you for the Spirit of truth that we remember at this time. Guide our nation’s leaders as they steer through perilous times. Give them wisdom and hope for the future. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen

Study by Gavin Henderson - member of the National Ministry Team for Grace Communion International in the UK

You're Included

https://www.gci.org/videos/youre-included/

Author William Paul Young is a friend of Grace Communion International whose book, The Shack, has sold over 20 million copies worldwide since it was first published in 2007, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.

Below are two interviews from the GCI web programme "You're Included" with writer Paul Young and theologian Dr. C Baxter Kruger.

Dr. Kruger uses William Young's book The Shack to discuss the triune God's love for all humanity.
Dr. C. Baxter Kruger is the founder and the president of Perichoresis, Inc. and of Mediator Lures. He obtained his doctorate working with James Torrance in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is also the author of "The Shack Revisited."
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All Rights Reserved

Paul Young talks about how "The Shack" was written, and he discusses how the nature of relationship is embedded in the Trinitarian character and nature of God. William Paul Young is the author of the best-selling novel "The Shack" and "Cross Roads." Copyright 2015 - Grace Communion International All Rights Reserved

The God Revealed in Jesus Christ

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!