Sandyhills Parish Church:Reaching out to the community.

The meaning of Luke 10:38-42 is to highlight the importance of prioritizing spiritual devotion over worldly busyness, using the contrasting sisters Mary and Martha as an example. While Martha was distracted by serving and preparing for Jesus, her sister Mary chose to sit at his feet and listen to his words. Jesus affirmed Mary's choice, calling it the "one thing" and the "good part" that would not be taken away from her, teaching that fellowship and learning from him are more essential than even good works. 

Remembrance Sunday

Luke 23:32-43 describes the crucifixion of Jesus alongside two criminals. While one criminal mocked Jesus, the other rebuked him, acknowledged their own guilt, and asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. Jesus responded by promising, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise".

Acts 2:37-41
Some of the Jews are ashamed that they put God's messiah to death. They ask Peter what to do, and he calls them to repent and be baptised in Jesus's name. Then the Holy Spirit will dwell in them too.

Isaiah 43:1-7 is a message of comfort and hope from God to His people, assuring them they are created, redeemed, and protected. God calls them by name, promising His presence through hardship and affirming their value and identity as His. The passage assures them that He will be with them through trials and will bring them back from captivity and disaster. 

Ephesians 2:11-13
We are no longer separated from God because of our sin; Jesus Christ has paid the debt by His Blood that we can be in relationship with Our Father. Do you realise what the Blood has done for us? Do you know the freedom and liberty you have in Christ?

Romans 5:8 is a verse that states, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". This verse highlights the unconditional and sacrificial nature of God's love, showing that Christ's death was a demonstration of love while humanity was still ungodly and sinful. 

Ephesians 2:10 states that believers are God's "workmanship" or "masterpiece," created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared in advance. The verse emphasizes that these good works are not for earning salvation, which is a gift of grace, but are the purpose for which believers are saved.  

Philippians 2:12,13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Haggai 2:20-23 is a prophetic passage where God promises a future of ultimate victory and stability, shaking the nations and establishing His kingdom through the line of David, symbolized by Zerubbabel. God declares that Zerubbabel will be like a signet ring, signifying his divine authority and importance as a placeholder for the coming Messiah. This prophecy provides hope and a vision of God's future kingdom, encouraging the people to remain faithful and obedient, as their actions are part of God's plan to bring about His purposes. 

Haggi 2:10-19

Having listened to the priests' rulings carefully, Haggai spoke on God's behalf to apply this principle to the people of Judah as a whole: holy things don't make unclean things holy by touch, but unclean things defile whatever they touch. Haggai makes a comparison between the people of Judah and an unclean person.

Haggi 2:1-9

God is saying that he made a promise to his people to be with them 1000 years ago and nothing has changed. Just because so much time has gone by, God will still be faithful to his promise. We sometimes can feel like the promises of God in the scriptures are so old that they cannot be relevant.

In Haggai 1:12-15, God's Word also accomplishes its purposes. In the first verses of Haggai we saw how Yahweh called out his people on their failures. They had returned from exile in Babylon and made a good start. But fifteen years later, we see that they have failed to keep their priorities straight.