Topic: Spiritual Disciplines

The temptations faced by Jesus reveal common patterns in the demonic temptations that we face in our own lives.

The only measure of our progress in Christian faith is our love for others, including those we are least inclined to love.

An attitude of respectful silence is an essential part of a deep, intimate relationship with God.

Jesus preached a vision of the Kingdom of God that re-orders our lives and communities, and finds an honoured place for those often excluded for not conforming to the pervasive norms of marriage and family.

The Bible can be used to justify anything, but when it is approached humbly as a place of prayerful encounter with the risen Christ, it is alive with the breath of God and leads us to life.

Answers to prayer are not a controllable formula, but we are called to pray as part of our participation in God’s quest to bring healing, wholeness and life to a world of chaos.

Jesus has freed us to be all we were created to be and to live life to the full, not to indulge the impulses that will lead us straight back into captivity.

Jesus has sown the seeds. It is up to us to respond and even though we may get excited and the interest dissipates, or we get distracted and let the other priorities take a hold of us, or we actually feel nothing, the challenge for us is to continue our walk with God.

Staying true to the disciplines of ordinary faithfulness is part of our calling as we follow the way of Jesus Christ; and engaging in them eases our burdens considerably.

The Lord’s Prayer is given to us, the Church, as a model to shape all our praying.

The reading of scripture is one of the most important places where God has promised to become present and known to us.

The Christian life is often lived against overwhelming odds, but the presence of Christ and some basic godly resources make it a good bet.