Easter - The Directors Cut
This Ascension Day, read about the Easter scene too often left on the cutting room floor…
Today is marked in the church calendar as Ascension Day! It falls 40 days after Easter Sunday, and is the day that we celebrate the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. This moment is described in most detail by Luke in his gospel (Luke 24:50-53) and in the book of Acts (Acts 1:9-11), as well as featuring in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:32-36).
Steve Page has written a blog to commemorate the day, you can read it below.
Sometimes a movie gets edited down to a nice neat 3 acts, but you just know you’re missing something. There’s a story line that has no neat conclusion. Someone’s back story seems a little off. The ending feels – well, it feels unfinished, despite the high drama.
[I could add a pop culture reference here about Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but that will probably lose most of you, so I’ll keep quiet about that.]
Easter got great reviews this year – time off in the sunshine; lots of references to new starts; plenty of chocolate and a few bunnies thrown in for good measure. It gave us a much-needed lift.
But it wasn’t the director’s cut.
Triumphant entry into Jerusalem – check.
Last Supper – check.
Horrific torture and death scene on the cross – check.
Disillusioned disciples – check.
The miracle of the resurrection on Sunday morning – check.
Then what?
There’s a scene missing that fell on the cutting room floor. It’s a scene some 40 days after Resurrection Sunday and it’s celebrated by the church on 13th May this year (the 6th Thursday after Easter Sunday).
After his resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days meeting with his friends, walking with them, fishing with them, eating with them, explaining what his death and resurrection was all about. Then he re-joined his father in heaven. The Apostles Creed describes it like this:
“He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”
This is one of the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It’s why we pray to Jesus Christ and we don’t simply remember a great teacher and miracle worker. Jesus ascended to heaven.
No chocolate, no bunnies – but a resurrected and ascended God.
If you see a Christian with a smile on their face this month – it might be because we’re celebrating the Ascension. You see, it was worth waiting for that post credit scene in the director’s cut.
A Disciple’s Prayer
Steve Page shares with us what it looks like for him to pray as a disciple, and encourages us to join him
I’m been thinking a lot about prayer recently. This is partly prompted by the Sermon on the Mount series on Sundays [Matthew 6 contains The Disciple’s Prayer, taught by Jesus] and partly by Frank Skinner’s book - A Comedian’s Prayer Book - which explores his own imperfect conversations with God.
Saint Paul admonishes us: “…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…” [Philippians 4:6] and tells us that whilst “we do not know what we ought to pray for, the Sprit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” [Romans 8:26]
My daughter asked for the Book of Common Prayer for Christmas, which pleased me; I have a copy and I love the poetry and depth of phrase it contains. I also value the more off the cuff conversations I have with God – especially alongside siblings in Christ.
So what form does prayer take? What is it really about?
Is it two life-long friends side by side in silence, walking through life?
Is it the laughter and noise of family around a dinner table?
Is it a hug held in silence, punctuated with sighs and tears?
Is it an appeal for forgiveness and reconciliation?
Is it a song sung in harmony, full of the pleasure of sound and resonance?
Is it a hand instinctively reaching out and another hand taking hold?
Is it an intense Q&A, bible open, seeking truth?
Is it a plea for clarity in an argument of confusion?
Is it a pre-prepared line, borrowed from someone more versed in articulating the unsayable?
Is it a brief and to the point message, with two ticks to show receipt and a wait for a response?
Is it all of these?
And so, I start: “Our Father…” And I repeat as often as I can.
A Muslim colleague at work asked me, how often do you pray each day? I understood what he was asking – how devoted are you and how disciplined are you in your devotion? The answer is complicated, as all relationships are. I said, “sometimes only once, but often it takes all day”.
I’m still learning about prayer, as I’m still learning to recognise my Father’s voice and to listen to what he’d saying. And I expect that it’s a conversation that will last a lifetime.
‘Father, whether we are still learning how to voice our first words to you, or whether we have enjoyed a life-long walk with you, please teach us the language of prayer.’
Sharing your Faith - A perpetual motion of invitation
In our latest blog on sharing your faith - Ryan encourages us to live in a ‘perpetual motion of invitation’
Welcome to our newest post about Sharing Your Faith! In his regular posts, Ryan Bentley will be stirring us to share our faith with others, by looking at passages of scripture and giving practical tips. We hope you enjoy the blog below!
Oh! Hello, didn’t see you there. It’s been a while, let’s catch up.
Last time we got together I told you about Matthew 25, where Jesus is talking about how to treat those we serve. I had a lot of fun, you can find it here if you wanna catch up,
This time I want to bring you to where God’s heart brings me every summer. We’re still in Matthew just a few chapters behind in Matthew 18:15-20, but we’re going to look at it a little bit differently…
Matthew 18:15-20
“If your brother or sister sins,
go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.
If they listen to you, you have won them over.
But if they will not listen,
take one or two others along,
so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If they still refuse to listen,
tell it to the church;
and if they refuse to listen even to the church,
treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
We don’t have the time in this platform to go over the last portion of this scripture, but it’s worth a gander, I left it in there because I like context.
I’m more interested in verses 15-17. This is typically the pattern churches follow to “gain a brother back”. It’s used for accountability and reconciliation when someone sins or stumbles in the church. It’s a great model, when followed well. For me, this verse is MASSIVE for the HEART behind the approach.
The Heart Behind The Approach
Real quick, let’s walk through it.
1. If you have a brother who is in sin, you go to them solo. Honestly, sometimes all we need is someone to listen and care for us to come back to the fold.
2. If that doesn’t work we bring 2-3 people. Now these aren’t 2-3 randoms, but people who love and care about the person in sin.
3. Then comes the uncomfortable portion, you bring the whole church into it. Now I take this to mean church leadership and a wider community. Church here is Oikos which means community, so essentially you’d be bringing in people who are like family to the person in sin.
4. If that doesn’t work then you treat them like a Pagan or a Tax Collector.
Many have taken this to mean to excommunicate the person and cut them out of your life. Now I like to approach this differently, using a saying that is taught in Sunday School, What would Jesus do?
What Would Jesus Do?
Now isn’t it funny, Jesus wants us to treat people like Tax Collectors. Do you know of any Tax Collectors Jesus knew?
I know one!
He wrote the book of the Bible we just read from!
Ain’t that a thing, Jesus explicitly says to treat someone who is in sin and won’t repent like one of his disciples…
Not interested? Well Jesus also says to treat them like a Pagan.
Again we ask, How does Jesus treat Pagans?
Well;
He ate with them.
Healed them.
Healed their families.
Fed them.
Cast Demons out of them.
and continually invited them into his kingdom.
When it comes to sharing our faith, we need to get away from this idea of those who are in and those who are out. We need to create a perpetual motion of invitation. Constantly inviting those who don’t know Jesus to come to know him, and those who do to know him deeper. Esther-Maria wrote a marvellous blog about eternal life starting now, and it’s true! Eternal life does start now. But that isn’t just for those who know Jesus, it’s for those who don’t know him as well.
So when I sit on a park bench, and God brings this to mind, It brings me to a place surrender and peace. Knowing that I am to walk in the ways of Jesus, constantly inviting people to come to know him deeper. And a place of Peace, seeing that while I was once far off, now I am brought near, and if I ever were to fall, if I ever were to wander, Jesus would always, ALWAYS invite me back.
Ryan Bentley
Ryan moved from Birmingham in 2020 to be part of Redeemer along with his wife Sarah (our families worker) and his two kids, Rhys and Torah! He serves the church full time and his aim is to equip each of us to share the gospel with those around us on a daily basis. You can join his Faith Sharing meetup HERE or find more of his wisdom on Instagram.
#RedeemerRecommends - Women of Colour on the Word of God
#RedeemerRecommends - A book on Psalm 119 which you NEED to read, because of the quality of the devotionals, and because of the women that wrote them.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible, and when it comes up in a Bible in a Year or CBR reading plan, it can often be met with trepidation. This 176 verse poem is a challenge for even the most dedicated biblical scholar to read in one go!
And so I perhaps shouldn’t be surprised that His Testimonies, My Heritage - a series of devotionals based on the chapter - has opened my eyes to just what a glorious passage it is to read, especially when broken up into individual stanzas. Every section is a fresh reminder that in order to live a life which honours God, we must be those who are dedicated to his word!
The book includes an individual devotion for each of the 22 stanzas - or subsections - of the Psalm, interspersed with poems which are inspired by certain verses or passages.
Each devotion and poem is inspiring, challenging, eye opening, and that’s not all! Every chapter in the book is written by a woman of colour. This is one of the highlights of the book for me, the fact that the devotionals are written from a perspective from which we simply do not hear enough when studying scripture. Each of the women who have contributed to this collection brings personal testimonies and experiences into their writing, but also do an amazing job of reminding us that all Christians have a united hope and spiritual heritage rooted in the word of God.
We are living through a time in history where the unity shown within the church is a bright light amidst the darkness of division that we see throughout the rest of society. Reading this book has not only given me a greater recognition of the importance of the word of God in my life, but also has reinforced in me the importance of allowing men and women from every tribe and tongue to guide me in that study of God’s word.
I will leave you with a paragraph from the foreword of the book, written by Kim Cash Tate:
I could go on and on about this treasure. But I need you to dive in for yourself. No matter what your background or ethnicity is, you will be enriched by the window you gain into the lives of these amazing sisters in Christ. And you will be immensely blessed as they lead you, verse by verse, to a deeper understanding of this majestic psalm.
An Uncomfortable Challenge
In response to Brett McCracken’s book - Uncomfortable, Mandy issues us a challenge!
If you’ve been attending Redeemer over the past few months you will have likely heard Pete and others plugging the book - Uncomfortable: The Awkward Challenge of Christian Community. We’ve even written a review of it on the blog!
After reading the book, Mandy Hudson was inspired to go further, and to think about what it means for us at Redeemer to live uncomfortable lives. We hope that you are challenged and encouraged by what she has written.
An Uncomfortable Challenge
As I read Brett McCracken’s “Uncomfortable” I was struck with a desire to read and learn more about practical ways we as the family of God can live, learn and grow together to truly reflect the glory of Jesus. The result of my searching is below in blog form.
Have you noticed that in creating the perfect bride, the Lord has decided to unify the most disadvantaged, dysfunctional, disparate and desperate group of people you can ever imagine? This includes you and I!
Over 40 years of church life I’ve had plenty of time to observe and participate in the uncomfortable existence which is living out the Christian faith in the community of the church and out in the world. The truth is that we simply don’t fit in.
Some of us will never be “cool” or “strong”. We’ll always feel we sit on the outside of the “in” crowd, even when everyone else thinks we are in it. This is being the family of God inside the church. Outside, well that’s a different story, through Christ we are now strangers to the world. (Hebrews 11v13-15) As Jesus’ people we have a new heart and a new direction towards His kingdom.
If only that kingdom had already come and rescued us from our current uncomfortable situation. Oh, wait a minute – the Lord expects us to continue His work demonstrating that kingdom, right here, right now. That’s uncomfortable. Sometimes I think if we are the hope of the world, God help them.
Let’s not despair, Jesus is Head of the Church and has given us the power of His Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t underestimate the resources He has put in our hands, but they are not for us, they are meant to be a witness to a lost world.
I think there are three things we need to recognise if we are to live up to our calling:
We like people like us
People see through our insincerity
We need to live honestly and with integrity
It seems so natural to gravitate towards like-minded people, but even in church we miss out on the uncomfortable truth that everyone is family and therefore to be equally loved. 1 Peter 2:5 says
“You also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
This is who we are – meant for sacrificial service. This goes beyond a smile on a Sunday. We are one household. We need to look beyond ourselves. In remembering our roots in God’s mercy, we can find grace to reach out to the world, creating a space for all to live honestly with integrity.
Is it easier to live life in the shadow of the world and sin? Rather than living in the full light of Christ we prefer a kind of half-light where we try to co-exist with the world. We gather a few favoured Christian friends around us but don’t venture outside that circle. We can kid ourselves we are holy on a Sunday, but we don’t fool God or our non-Christian neighbours or colleagues who see us the rest of the week. Evangelising unbelievers is not an optional extra. We are called to preach “in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2). Let’s rely on the Lord to supply us with His strength to fulfil the great commission to go into all the world and make disciples – like Him not us.
Inside the church we need to be honest about our failings and gracious towards others. Maybe, rather than avoiding that brother or sister in Christ who really irritates us, we should remember the grace and mercy Jesus showed to us and work harder on our relationships. After all, we are all part of the redeemed Bride of Christ.
Brett McCracken doesn’t seem to have much time for “authentic” Christianity which excuses sin. Quite right. However, we do need to learn how to be authentically Christ-like towards each other and those to whom God calls us to witness. That’s an uncomfortable challenge drawing us deeper towards the heart of Jesus…
“in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)
Let’s share that kindness today.
Written by Mandy Hudson
Mandy is a member of our Redeemer Family, a teacher, and a contributor to Redeemer’s latest book - Stories of Hope. You can pick up a copy on a Sunday morning!
Poet's Corner - L'chaim
In this mont’s Poet’s Corner - Timali shows how spring can remind us of the new life that God brings to us every day!
L’chaim - To Life!
The wonderful thing about spring is that is invites us to take delight in the simplest of things: shoots of green grass, budding plants, chirping birds, bluer skies and glorious sunlight.
For some strange reason it evokes a childhood memory of singing loudly in assemblies - the hymn, ‘All things bright and beautiful’- a song of praise about everything God has created. But how often, I wonder, do we stop to consider that we, not the heavens or the plants or the animals are the masterpiece of God’s creation? In the midst of this spectacularly breathtaking universe, he has chosen to reflect his image and likeness in us mortals. In Psalm 8 David exclaims:
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
This seems all the more miraculous when we reflect on the fact that God formed, fashioned and breathed life into us. Then again when we cut ourselves off from that life, that he himself restored it through Christ’s atonement so that our spirits could be born again! Yet he didn’t stop there, again he sent his Spirit to reside in us and we are now able to be continually filled with his Spirit!
Sacrum Vitae
Blessed be your never-ending fount
that springs eternal.
The source of all life
that breathes
and pours
and floods
thrice given and thrice received
from Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Yahweh, El Elyon, Almighty God
what have we done that you love us so
and grant with such bountiful liberty your very essence
again and
again
and again,
so that this life you give
eclipses all we can imagine,
or sense or see.
We, being only finite earthen vessels
found worthy of bearing your resplendent glory!
Divinity in perpetuity imprinted on
the souls of men
Wellspring of life
bubbling,
gushing
flowing
source of everlasting regeneration.
Blessed be your never- ending fount
that springs eternal.
Dear friends, the joyous truth is that we do not need to wait for the season of Spring every year for life anew to spring forth, for there is yet a well of life within that never runs dry!
Today’s Poet’s Corner was written by Timali Ebanks, and is arranged each month by our resident poet, Steve Page.
Easter Devotionals - Matthew 27:57-66
Today, as we prepare for Easter Sunday, Kayla reads from Matthew 27, reminding us of the silence and stillness of the grave.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Kayla, and the passage is Matthew 27:57-66.
The Grave
The central claim of the historic Christian message is that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Tempting though it may be for us to jump quickly from Friday to Sunday, from cross to resurrection, Matthew pauses and brings us through the silence and stillness of the grave.
Many have tried to dismantle the hope of Christianity, suggesting that Jesus had not really died or that eager disciples had stolen his body to substantiate their claims of a risen Savior. Yet Matthew’s interlude between final breath and first appearance speaks unequivocally of a death that was real, a grave that was silent, and a situation that appeared beyond hope.
Romans were thorough in carrying out capital sentences, particularly for those accused of treason. That Joseph was able to retrieve Jesus’ body meant the executioners were satisfied with their handiwork. Jews, throughout the Old Testament, would heap rocks on the vilest of criminals to represent that for some, there would be no life beyond the grave. That a great stone would cover the entrance of the tomb meant that there was no expectation of life beyond this grave. The tomb is still, dark, silent.
This is the fate that should have been ours and the destiny of humanity. And yet, our hope is that through the one who went into the tomb before us, there is a way through and out into a new world of God’s creating. It is the hope that because one transcended the grave itself, we too may experience new life with him. Matthew’s description of the grave is a reminder that the tomb was silent and yet the silence would only last one more day.
Prayer
Our Father, remind us that the darkness of the grave will soon be overcome by the brightness of the third day. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - John 19:1-37
On Good Friday, Ross reads from John 19, take some time this morning to focus again on the cross.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Ross, and the passage is John 19:1-37.
The Cross
Re-read today's passage slowly and prayerfully, engaging your imagination as each scene unfolds. What do you see, hear, feel, smell, in each scene? What is all this meant to mean to you? Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the story of Christ’s death for you today.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, it was our sins that sent you to the cross. There we beheld our king. There you finished the work of our redemption. There we looked upon you, whom we had pierced. There redemption was accomplished. Thank you for your astonishing love. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - John 13:1-15 & Philippians 2:6-7
As we continue our Easter readings and devotionals, Ryan reads from John 13 and Philippians 2, reminding us that Jesus demonstrates his love for us by coming as a servant.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passages are read by Ryan, and the passages are John 13:1-15 & Philippians 2:6-7.
The Washing
The NIV translates verse 1: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” In this unexpected act of foot washing, Jesus was communicating something profound about the nature of divine love. Love is not simply what Jesus does, but love is who he is.
Often when we consider loving someone, we think in terms of actions and behaviors. We ask ourselves, “What’s the loving thing to do?” But Jesus’ unexpected, self-effacing act of service leads us to ask the antecedent question, “Who am I?” Without first asking this question, we can unknowingly place limits on our love because we are not operating out of a gospel-transformed identity. For example, if we functionally see ourselves as orphans needing to look out for ourselves instead of as God’s beloved children, we will limit our generosity towards others out of fear of not having enough. Likewise, if we think we are righteous by our own hard work, there will be boundaries to the way we are willing to serve others because our pride keeps us from serving those who “aren’t deserving.”
When we look to Christ we find a beautiful freedom to serve others, arising from the security of his identity: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant …” (Phil 2:6-7, NIV). Jesus was able to serve in a way that no one expected because he knew the Father’s love intimately. The same heart that led him to wash the disciples’ feet would lead him to the cross. Because of Christ we have the same privileged status and security with the Father, and so we become free to serve in the radical, loving ways in which he has served us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I forget each day who I am in Christ and the grace that envelops my life. My love has limits because I don’t embrace the truth of who you have made me to be. Help me to live out the reality of being your beloved child so that my love for others flows out of this new identity. Let me be a bewildering servant to those around me as you dismantle the limits I have placed on my love. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - Matthew 26:1-5 & 14-25
As we continue our Easter readings and devotionals, Flo reads from Matthew 26 about the plot to crucify Jesus, and his remarkable calm in the days approaching his death.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Flo, and the passage is Matthew 26:1-5 & 14-25.
The Plot
Even when Jesus’ life was slipping away from him, he remained remarkably in control. He predicted his arrest and crucifixion before the religious leaders met to conspire against him. He knew that Judas, one of his trusted apostles, would betray him. How disturbing that must have been to Judas to know that Jesus could see right through his charade. Though humans have their plots and schemes, it is God’s plan that always prevails. Nothing can interfere with what he has purposed to do. And nothing is more central to God’s eternal plan than that Jesus, the Son of Man, would be delivered up to be crucified. His final meal, the Passover, carried symbolic import and pointed to the purpose for Jesus’ death. The Passover was an annual celebration of Israel’s exodus from slavery in Egypt. Jesus’ death would be the new Passover. Those who trust in him experience the ultimate Exodus — deliverance from the slavery of sin. As a result, they enjoy the privilege of living in the freedom of his love forevermore.
When life seems chaotic, when things seem not to cohere, great comfort may be found in remembering Jesus’ own experience at the end of his life. Though humans plotted against him and succeeded in executing their plan, nevertheless they could not thwart the plan of God. What comfort there is in knowing that nothing can interfere with the plan of him who is in control! He is at work in all the particulars for his good purposes. By looking to Jesus, particularly his death for us, we discover what is central to God’s plan for us: through Jesus’ death we find life, through his blood shed for us, we experience the exodus from enslaving sin and the freedom of living in his love.
Prayer
Gracious Father, thank you for being in control of our lives, especially when we feel desperately out of control. Center us in the one who is central to your plan for the ages. Enable us, Holy Spirit, to trust in Christ that we might experience the true Exodus. And having experienced the forgiveness of sin, may we live daily in the freedom of your love, wholeheartedly devoted to you. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - Mark 14:3-9
As we continue our Easter readings and devotionals, Josh reads from Mark 14:3-9 about the anointing of Jesus, and our encouragement to be extravagant worshippers.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Josh, and the passage is Mark 14:3-9.
The Anointing
“What a waste!” That is the complaint made regarding the woman’s use of her expensive perfume to anoint Jesus. Jesus will have none of it. He finds a purely cost-benefit analysis of our actions to be inadequate and bankrupt. Even though the money from the sale of the perfume could have been used to do a lot of good things, Jesus considers her act to be completely appropriate. Why? Because it is an act of worship. And he knows that life begins with what you worship.
Worship the wrong things and nothing else will come out quite right. But worship the living God who has given himself for us in the sacrifice of Jesus and you have a new sense of what matters and you will prioritize your life accordingly. Suddenly you find yourself “wasting” your life on Jesus by giving your life to his agenda rather than your own. That will include caring about justice for the poor.
Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, Jesus is not minimizing our responsibility to the poor in this passage. He actually is quoting from Deuteronomy 15, which encourages radical generosity to the poor. However, such generosity flows from worshiping God. First things first! Put God ahead of all else as the only one worthy of your worship and you will find you are pouring yourself out in all sorts of beautiful ways in service to the world.
Prayer
Lord, too often I worship the wrong things. Help me to see that my life is to be “wasted” on you and only then will it become something beautiful for you to use in your world. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - The Cleansing
As we continue our Easter readings and devotionals, Toby reads about the cleansing of the temple, revealing how Jesus’ death changed the way we worship!
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Toby, and the passages are Mark 11:15-19, John 2:19-21 & Mark 15:38.
The Cleansing
Every year at Passover thousands of Jews came from all over Israel and Judea to offer sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem. Since many traveled long distances, they often purchased their animal sacrifices in Jerusalem rather than hauling them from home and risking an injury or a blemish that would make them an unworthy sacrifice. It was a convenience for Jewish worshippers to purchase their sacrifices once they arrived. However, the market for these transactions had been set up in the Court of the Gentiles, where non-Jewish seekers of God came to worship. Thus, at Passover, the temple courtyard was filled with livestock, sellers of livestock and money-changers, who exchanged regional currencies for Jewish money.
When Jesus saw this, he was angry — so angry that he overturned tables and placed an embargo on merchandise. But why? Weren’t the merchants just trying to help the travelers worship God? Perhaps. But they were doing it at the expense of those from “all nations” who were seeking God, counting their worship as insignificant. In calling them “robbers” Jesus may have been referring to their greedy financial transactions and the way they were robbing Gentiles of their place of worship.
Yet something else is going on. In a similar account of his cleansing the temple, Jesus was asked for a sign of his authority. He replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). But he wasn’t speaking about the building; “he was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2:21). In other words, when he died, the temple and its entire system — the priesthood, the sacrifices, the glory — died with him because he himself was the Passover Lamb, high priest and Shekinah glory. Thus, when the temple curtain split at the death of Christ (Mark 15:38), the barrier between God and humanity came down for everyone. Jesus became the “house of prayer for all nations.” Today there is no need to travel to the temple in Jerusalem to worship. Nor is there any distinction between Jewish and Gentile worshippers. Worship is no longer attached to a place, but a person. Jesus is the temple. He is where we meet God.
Prayer
Lord, we worship Jesus as the final sacrifice, priest, glory and temple. Therefore, let us join ourselves to him so that we may love his name and be his servants (Isaiah 56:6). In Christ, may all nations — those near and far — come to you in prayer (Isaiah 56:8). In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - John 12:20-33
As we continue our Easter readings and devotionals, Arlette reads John 12:20-33, we hear how Jesus’ predicted his own death on the cross, and the impact that death should have on our own lives.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Arlette, and the passage is John 12:20-33.
The Prediction
John devotes much of his Gospel to the last six days of Jesus’ life. In John 12, Jesus predicts “what kind of death he was going to die” — one that would loosen Satan’s death grip on the world, raise Jesus in victory from the horrors of the crucifixion and grave, and draw people from all over the world to him (v. 32). But here he also reiterates his sobering template for all who would follow after him and be known as his disciples.
From the early days of his ministry in John, Jesus has been alluding to his “hour” — the appointed time when he would undergo suffering and death for the sins of the world. But through this humiliation Jesus also strangely radiates the “glory” of God to humanity. God “glorifies his name” not only through the earthly ministry of Christ but also his death. John foreshadows this reality early on by concluding “we have seen (or ‘beheld’) his glory … full of grace and truth” (1:14).
Equally striking is the very human Jesus we encounter here, honest enough to admit “now is my soul troubled” (v. 27) as he starts to feel the agony he is about to undergo. It is an amazing picture of a person completely abandoned to God in the face of unspeakable pain, knowing that God’s glory ultimately is the only thing that matters. And it becomes a teaching moment for the disciples as well.
Seeds are living things that must die in order to reproduce; they carry the promise of future life. On the surface, Christ’s death looks to the world like a disaster, but by falling “into the earth” (v. 24), he is able to raise up followers and bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). However, following Christ carries a cost: many of the original disciples were to die excruciating deaths themselves, leading Tertullian to conclude that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Christ’s disciples must always “die” to themselves to find “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3-5) in Christ. Here Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s observation on discipleship rings true: “when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
Prayer
Risen Lord, you loved us so much that you died to save us from sin. We pray that this reality gives us humility, leads us to praise you always, and gives us a boldness to live fully abandoned to your loving will. In your mercy make these things so, for we pray them in your name. Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - Luke 9:18-27
As we continue our Easter readings and devotionals, Barny reads Luke 9:18-27, and we learn about God’s call on our lives.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Barny, and the passage is Luke 9:18-27.
The Call
After spending days and nights with Jesus, witnessing his words and works first hand, Peter could make an absolute confession that Jesus was the Christ, the promised one of God. Those further from Jesus were less resolute in their faiths, often believing him to be a prophet, but those who followed him regularly knew that he was not simply a messenger, but the message itself. After Peter’s confession, Jesus tried to help them understand his mission and what it looked like to follow him, but Jesus was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting, and following him was not what they thought it was going to be like.
Jesus issues a clear call to those who might follow him, that allegiance to him requires denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following him. Then and now his words are difficult. We live in a culture that teaches us to glorify ourselves and to pursue comfort, control and the satisfaction of our desires above all else. To deny oneself and pursue the things of God can feel like death, but that is what Jesus calls us to. He tells us that to follow him we will have to relinquish all control and endure suffering and rejection, but he also promises that this will make us like him. In him, triumph will come through suffering. Jesus is calling us to lose our lives as we know them, but only so that he might give us real and eternal life in him. Do you hear him calling you? Are you willing to deny yourself and take up your cross in order to follow him? Do you trust that he will lead you to life?
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you that you have revealed your Son to us, that Jesus is the Christ, the deliverer we all need. Please give us the grace we need to follow you. You alone are worthy and we want to give you our lives, but need your help to do so. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - Matthew 4:1-11
Today Shirley reads from Matthew 4, about Jesus’ time in the wilderness.
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Shirley, and the passage is Matthew 4:1-11.
The Fast
Here, we learn about three specific ways that Satan sought to tempt Jesus, each one more significant, by challenging his desire for food, urging him to display power sensationally, and encouraging him to use political power to establish God’s kingdom. In this third instance, he was tempting Jesus to bypass the cross. The devil was more than willing to give us all back to Jesus, if only Jesus would worship him instead of God. Skip the suffering, save the people, deny God, do it the easy way. For each response, Jesus relied on Scripture, the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), to resist.
These temptations occurred following Jesus’ baptism. Right after Jesus was anointed for ministry, the Spirit led him into the wilderness for 40 days and nights of fasting “to be tempted by the devil.” Jesus’ time in the desert reminds us of Moses fasting for the same period on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28). After Moses’ 40 days and nights, God gave him the Ten Commandments for the Israelites. Thus, here we see that Jesus is the new Moses come to fulfill the law that Moses was given.
Prayer
Gracious God, we praise you that you know what it is like to be tempted in every way, as we are. Thank you for showing us how to resist temptation and thank you for enduring the cross and for fulfilling the law, for our sakes, on our behalf. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Easter Devotionals - John 8:1-11
Today sees the first of our blogs to run alongside the Easter readings being posted on our YouTube, keep an eye out for more readings as we approach Easter Sunday!
As we approach Easter Sunday, we will be hearing readings from members of the Redeemer family, which we hope will help to prepare our hearts.
Alongside these readings we’ll be publishing blogs which make use of a Lenten Devotional published by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. We hope these devotionals and readings will help to reveal the comfort, challenge and joy found within the passages of scripture.
Today’s passage is read by Isaac, and is from John 8:1-11.
The Adulteress
The Law was clear — adultery was a capital offense with two guilty parties: “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die” (Deuteronomy 22:22). In accordance with the Law, therefore, the scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus with an adulterous woman to be stoned. Where was the man? They didn’t care. After all, their concern wasn’t really with the Law. Their concern was with testing Jesus.
But Jesus wasn’t fooled. He said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Of course, Jesus wasn’t making a recommendation for a new judicial system; no criminals would be held accountable if judges had to be without sin. Jesus was making a point – a point he frequently made to the Pharisees. He often said things to them like, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’” (Matthew 9:13; c.f., Matthew 12:1-8; John 7:21-23). In other words, he was telling them that they were missing the most important part of the Law – that its foundation was love (Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 7:12; Galatians 5:14). Thus, although they appeared interested in upholding the Law, they were actually breaking it because they weren’t acting on the basis of love, grace, humility and compassion.
So they went away. And Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” He didn’t say, “It doesn’t matter whether you sin.” Instead, he said, in effect, “I myself am establishing your righteousness on the foundation of love and grace. Therefore, don’t sin — not because you fear its punishment, but because you have met me and have been saved by grace.”
Prayer
Lord, We exalt the name of Jesus because his righteousness has been imputed to us through grace alone! Therefore, even as we seek to sin no more, let us long for holiness and righteousness out of a deep recognition that we have been saved by grace. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
#RedeemerRecommends - Two Blogs to Help Us Fast Well
Today on #RedeemerRecommends, we share two blogs from thinktheology.co.uk which we hope will encourage you to fast with us this lent!
This Lent, we are encouraging you to join with others at Redeemer and dedicate yourself to fasting for a day! You might choose a one off day between now and Easter, or aim to fast one day a week for the next 6 weeks, either way you can sign up and let us know you’re joining us below…
On Tuesday we published a blog all about why we’re choosing to focus on Lent this year, but we also wanted to share two blogs with you from Tim Jones over at thinktheology.co.uk. These posts educate us on what Fasting is, why we should be doing it, and how to make the most of the fasting process.
Below is a link to the first post, which focuses on the Spiritual basis of fasting, and how it can benefit us as followers of Jesus (including why that isn’t really the point!)
Tim’s second blog speaks to the practical issues of fasting, and answers some FAQs, with some tips for fully engaging in fasting wisely.
We hope these blogs help to encourage you to join us as we fast this lent, and look forward to praying with you!
Poet's Corner - A New Song
On the latest poet’s corner, Steve encourages us to sing a new song!
There are times when I feel like, and find myself, singing. But less so in lockdown in my household of one (unless I have the radio on).
One of the highlights of the past few months was sitting at home, on Zoom, in a meet up walking through Ephesians together with friends. We were invited to come with songs and hymns and songs from the Spirit, reflecting Paul's encouragement:
"... be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:18-20
What followed was the joy of joined voices giving thanks, using songs we knew from our past walk with Christ. I sang those songs well after the Zoom call closed.
Songs for New Seasons
I find that new experiences also spark new songs, and I love the new songs we hear on a Sunday and through YouTube links we've been sent. God does something new in us during every new season, and this season is no different.
Some of these songs have tunes, some do not. Some are upbeat, some are not. However each song is true, because it's born from a true experience in God's presence.
I encourage you to sing spirit-penned songs, both old and new. Some will only be heard by you and the Lord in your shower, while some can be shared with family and friends. But we're all called to sing.
A New Song
Oh Lord, grant me a new song.
A start-again-afresh-with-no-regrets song.
One with a bridge to new accord,
a song with which I can get on board.
Something that strikes a stronger chord
with those, who like me,
long to be fully factory restored.
A song with a fresher melody
(and I definitely need a different harmony),
something that's part of a wider symphony
maybe with an occasional solo part
for me.
A song that I get to sing with gusto,
maybe to a slightly quicker tempo,
a step up from my imposed Adagio,
closer to a brisker Allegretto.
Oh Lord, you see me.
You see that I long to sing.
Lord, please wipe me clean
and write a new song in me.
Amen.
Poet’s Corner is arranged each month by our resident poet, Steve Page. In addition to being a poet, Steve is a deacon at Redeemer, a true friend, a trusted advisor, and a giver of great hugs. You can find more of his poetry at hellopoetry.com and follow him on Instagram.
Lent 2021 with Redeemer - What and Why?
This year at Redeemer we’re encouraging you to observe lent and fast with us, find out what we’re doing and why here.
Lent begins tomorrow, as it does every year on Ash Wednesday, and continues for 40 days (46 if you include Sundays), until we reach Easter Sunday.
This year at Redeemer we are encouraging you to join us in observing lent in some way. But before we get on to how you can do that… What is lent, and why are we talking about it?
What is lent?
Lent has been a fixture in the traditional church calendar for many hundreds, if not thousands of years! People with much more knowledge than me are still unsure when exactly the tradition began, but it has certainly been around for a lot longer than Redeemer Church London, or any of our family members!
Traditionally, lent is a 40 day period leading up to Easter Sunday, which prepares believers for Easter through prayer, repentance and self-denial. Many Christians have used this time to commit to fasting, and give up luxuries, to reflect the 40 days which Jesus spent in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13).
Some choose not to fast on the Sundays during Lent, marking these Sundays as a day of celebration, meeting with God and sharing fellowship with other believers.
Why give something up this year?
Reason No. 1 - Unity
By choosing to observe lent, however you choose to do so, you are joining with other Christians who are doing the same. Not only those at Redeemer, but believers all over the world! Even though we are all going through different stages in our lives, facing different challenges, and fasting from different things, we are united in this season, as we seek to fix our eyes on the same God.
The past year has been tough for many reasons, not least because we’ve been unable to join regularly with other believers to worship, take heart from knowing you are joining with a great number of your brothers and sisters in Christ this lent, even if you are physically separate.
Reason No. 2 - Discipline
As Christians we are called not just to live in freedom today, but to look to the promise of an eternal relationship with God. There are joys which we will experience in the new heavens and new earth that give us strength as we endure the challenges of life right now. This lent we are choosing to sacrifice something which brings us temporary satisfaction, in order to fix our eyes on a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. By doing this we are cultivating the discipline of maintaining an eternal perspective whatever our current earthly situation.
During the pandemic it has been so easy to focus entirely on what is happening right now, but we need to lift our eyes to a God who is greater, a God who is ultimately satisfying, a God who is eternal.
Reason No. 3 - Choosing to Trust God
We live in a city and a culture which teaches us to take responsibility for fulfilling our own deep spiritual needs, to put ourselves in charge of our financial stability, our happiness, our identity, our career path. Scripture says otherwise.
God is the source of all that we need, not us. All that is good in our lives is a gift from God! (James 1:17) But we can forget this, we can try and fill the gaps in our lives with other things, be that social media, television, relationships, money, the list goes on. We can aim to make ourselves feel better by complaining, by drinking too much, by hiding ourselves away from the world. Ultimately NONE of these things will satisfy.
By choosing to fast from something this lent we transfer our faith and our trust off ourselves and back over to God, he is the one who will never let us down, who will never fall short, who will never fail to bring fulfilment and satisfaction.
Why not put your trust in God this lent.
How can I be part of lent at Redeemer?
You can join us as we fast from food for 40 days as a church! By clicking the link below you can add yourself to the list of those at Redeemer who are committing to fast for one or more days during lent. We hope to have someone at Redeemer fasting every day, from now up until Easter Sunday!
Choose to give something up! Check out our social media over the next few days to hear from some members of the Redeemer family about what they will be giving up this lent! You can do the same! I would encourage you to think first about how you would like to grow deeper in your relationship with God this term, and then think about what you might give up to make that happen!
Eternal Life Starts Now
We have another new blog writer for 2021! Esther-Maria will be sharing her passion for the word of God, and she starts by giving us eternal perspective…
We only need to look out of our windows to see that this world is a wonderful place. As I am writing this, I can hear the sounds of laughter as children make snowmen on a Sunday afternoon in January and I am reminded that God has placed us in a world, in which beauty and joy abound. However, at other times we become painfully aware of how turbulent life on this side of heaven can be. This past year has undoubtedly acted as a reminder for many of us that financial difficulties, loss, loneliness, and many other kinds of hardships, can come quickly and without warning. In such situations we can find comfort in Bible passages, such as in Revelation.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-4
The vivid and hopeful picture of heaven Revelation paints can make it easy to look forward to the time when we will be taken home by our loving Father. He will be our God and dwell with us. He will wipe every tear away. There will be only rejoicing. The difficulties of life on earth, and resulting feelings of insecurity and hopelessness, can tempt us to look forward to heaven, at the expense of knowing our eternal life has already begun. The truth is that we are not insecure and hopeless, even now.
The death of loved ones, financial hardships, persecution, and emotional weakness are nothing new to humankind. Jesus’ disciples themselves experienced such times of trouble. The same John who went on to write the Gospel of John, as well as other books in the New Testament, witnessed his brother, James, be martyred for Christ (Acts 12:2). Paul describes how he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and more (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). And even Jesus wept over the death of His friend (John 11:35), showing that even our Lord and Saviour is a compassionate God, well acquainted with sorrow and grief.
A Godly Response
In all of these stories, we see a response of rejoicing and hoping in the most dire situations. This joy and hope is a result of nothing less than the faith and trust in a relationship with Jesus Christ, our God, which does not start when we get to the wonderful heaven that is described in Revelation, but which begins right now when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. This relationship should transform our response to difficult situations life can bring our way. It has been my mistake in the past to say in difficult times, “If only I were in heaven, where I can live eternally and happily with Jesus”. Of course, heaven will take away weeping from life, but when we begin our eternal life with Jesus, it should change our entire outlook on life right then and now.
The Bible tells us we can praise God always, finding hope, joy, and strength in Him in the darkest of times. In the Old Testament, Nehemiah beautifully states that the joy of the Lord is the strength of God’s people. This should set a pattern for us, to respond by finding strength and joy in God when we are tempted to despair.
We can praise God in difficult times, because the Bible is clear to tell us that such situations and experiences will grow and mature us. Suffering allows us to learn endurance, develop our character, and grow in hope, as we see God working and helping us through (Romans 3:3-5). James gives an encouraging description of the outcomes of suffering for believers if we stand firm in God’s grace and truth.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
The trials we face in life may hurt us deeply, but they are also producing in us characteristics of a mature Christian. And while Paul assures us that the troubles we face on earth are nothing in comparison to the eternal glory awaiting us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:27), we can already rejoice in hope now and cling to God in times of trouble, knowing that He is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). We must only trust and obey God, echoing Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 26, that His will be done. But how do we do this when everything around us seems overwhelmingly negative?
Look to the Son
John states that God has given us eternal life, that this life in His Son, and that we get eternal life when we believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:11-13). It is the relationship with Jesus that should lead us in hope, strength, love, and faith as we go through life, with its ups and downs. We are not alone even now; God has already dwelled with us in human form and, after giving us Jesus, has already given us His Holy Spirit, pouring His love out over us to be with us forever. Whereas in the Old Testament, God dwelled with His people in the tabernacle, He now dwells with us in our bodies. And this is not something that can be taken away from us. Where humans may have left and hurt us, God will never leave nor forsake us. We have complete security in His love and this relationship with Him. The Gospel of John records what Jesus Himself said regarding this.
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30
Jobs may have been snatched from us throughout the past year. People may have passed away, or we may have simply not been able to see them when we would have liked to. But really this only shows what has always been true: that the things of this world are fleeting, and that the only thing which truly satisfies and lasts is our relationship with Jesus.
The Bible is abundantly clear that there is hope for all of us at the end of our walks with Jesus, if we endure and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. Peter reminds us that while life may be hard in the meantime, Jesus will establish us and restore all things when He comes again (1 Peter 5:10). More than that, James tells us that if we love God and remain steadfast in faith during trials and tests, we will receive the crown of life (James 1:12). There is so much to look forward to!
But we are not there yet and my hope is to encourage you to look to Jesus today and the beauty of a relationship with Him even now, which will transform your outlook on these trials and tests in this world. Psalm 34:18 says that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He is here for you and close to you, readily available for an intimate and life-giving relationship beginning today. When we humble ourselves before Him and cast our anxieties on Him, He is ready to lift us up and care for us (1 Peter 5:6-7). When we feel weary and burdened, He is ready to give us rest, with his beautifully gentle and humble heart (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus may have placed you in this world, but He did not leave you alone or hopeless. He is the Light of the World and Prince of Peace. All you need to do is commit your sorrows into His hands, and allow Him to be at work in you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Esther-Maria is one of our Redeemer students, a core member of our kids ministry, and is passionate about the word of God. In 2021, she’ll be sharing her thoughts on how scripture should change the way we live our lives! Check back here every month for more.