Sandyhills Parish Church:Reaching out to the community.

The power of lifted hands

Exodus 17:8-16 recounts the battle at Rephidim, where the nomadic Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Joshua led the fighting against the Amalekites with the sword, while Moses, accompanied by Aaron and Hur, stood on a nearby hill holding the staff of God. When Moses's hands were raised, Israel prevailed, but when they lowered, Amalek gained the upper hand. Aaron and Hur supported Moses's arms until sunset, securing Israel's victory through this teamwork. God commanded Moses to record this event as a memorial, and Moses built an altar and named it "The Lord is My Banner" (Jehovah-Nissi), signifying God's eternal battle against the Amalekites. 

Freedom

Galatians 5:1-6
Focus on how Christians should live in response to those truths. In short, we must resist being dragged away from the freedom we have in Christ to follow the law. We must also resist wasting our freedom on serving our sinful desires instead of serving others in love

Heart's shaped by God

Luke 10:25-37
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) teaches the moral lesson of loving your neighbour as yourself, even if they are different from you or even an enemy. It emphasises that true love and compassion are demonstrated through actions, especially towards those in need, regardless of their background or social standing. The parable challenges the idea of limiting "neighbour" to those we know or those who are like us. 

A house divided

Matthew 12:25-26. The demons are a kingdom divided against themselves. Jesus is addressing a challenge that the demon He had just cast out of this person had been cast out by Satan.

James 1:5-8 teaches that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God for it, who gives generously and without reproach. However, when asking, they should believe and not doubt, as a doubter is like a wave of the sea, unstable and unable to receive anything from the Lord. 

+ Mark11:22-24, Hebrews 11:6, Galatians 5:16, Jude 20:22

The house that stands

Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus uses the parable of the two builders to illustrate the importance of building one's life on a firm foundation of obedience to his teachings. This parable emphasizes that true faith is not just about hearing Jesus's words but also about putting them into practice. 

1 Corinthins 3:11-15Jesus lays that groundwork for believers when they receive His salvation. Christ's saving grace gives His followers a new life. Sins are wiped away so that we have a clean “work site,” so to speak. Empowered by Jesus' strength and wisdom, we can build on His foundation.

Our Need His Joy

Hebrews 12:1–2 Reminds Us To Look To Jesus

In other words, let's live this life of faith that he has called us to with joy, knowing it's not always easy, but that's the whole picture. Jesus endured the cross, scorning, and shame. He sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

What way are you Walking?

John 6:22-71 describes Jesus' discourse after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, where he identifies himself as the "bread of life" and emphasizes the necessity of believing in him for eternal life. Many in the crowd, however, struggle with this concept, focusing instead on physical sustenance and questioning his teachings. 

The Importance of Discernment

Matthew 16:5-12
Jesus warns his disciples to be wary of the "yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees," which they initially misunderstand as literal bread yeast. Jesus clarifies that he's referring to their deceptive teachings, not the bread itself. He uses the disciples' forgetfulness about the previous miraculous feedings to illustrate their lack of understanding and faith. 

Jesus - One Name

Acts 4:1-22 

.. describes the arrest and subsequent questioning of Peter and John by religious leaders in Jerusalem. The passage focuses on their bold declaration of Jesus's resurrection and healing power, despite facing opposition from the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees. The leaders are disturbed by the apostles' teaching about resurrection and the healing of a lame man, and they fear the growing influence of the apostles. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, fearlessly proclaims that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised from the dead. The leaders are astonished by their boldness and decide to threaten them and charge them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus anymore. However, they ultimately release Peter and John because they cannot find a way to punish them due to the people's praise for the miracle.

The Father's Heart

Luke 15:1-32 in the Bible contains the famous parable of the Prodigal Son. It tells the story of a son who wastes his inheritance, faces hardship, and returns home to be welcomed and celebrated by his father. This parable is one of three stories Jesus tells in Luke 15 to illustrate God's love and mercy for the lost. The other two are the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin.