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David: David's Deliverer

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David: David's Deliverer

We’ve reached the end of 2 Samuel and in it’s epilogue we find David’s song. It captures the essence of his life. It is David’s memoir-ic poem and he say’s “God is my deliverer”; David gets into trouble and God delivers him. From lions, Sauls, and personal failures God demonstrates to us through David that he can deliver us. We all face things - spiritual and natural - that work against us and in those moments it can feel like we’re up to our necks in trouble. David models a practice of calling on God when we’re in trouble. But more than that, David and the prophets point us to Jesus, the ultimate deliver. Jesus is the Son of David but he doesn’t rule as David did. Jesus rejected the nationalistic and militaristic ideas placed on the expected son of David – Jesus instead leads a kingdom not by violence, one that isn’t characterized by oppressive rule but one that is self denying, one that is marked by love. As we call on Jesus, he delivers us into his loving presence.

David: Return to God

David: Return to God

Nathan’s challenge to David is one of the most famous interactions in the whole bible. He confronts David’s sin, David confesses, God forgives. It sits at the heart of David’s story. But the episode also raises a bunch of questions concerning the suffering that David and Israel will experience as a result of David’s sin. It’s important for us from time to time to wrestle with the problem of how a good god can allow, never mind seemingly instigating suffering. But such wrestling should not take away from the main challenge of this story, and the Bible in general. The Bible is less concerned with philosophical musings or impossible questions, than it is with what God has to do with us. It’s is always personal. And it is always direct. David has lost God, and he goes through the humbling process of coming back to him. We can draw courage in being able to do the same, because Jesus always heals and always forgives.

David: The Fall of the King

David: The Fall of the King

The story of David and Bathsheba reminds us again how important it is to read an ancient Hebrew story with context and background. This story is uncomfortable! It’s uncomfortable that David did what he did to Bathsheba and Uriah, it's uncomfortable that her feelings and perspective (and name!) are barely included in the account, and it’s uncomfortable that David is still revered as Jesus’ forefather and fore-shadow, after all this. It’s a intricately woven piece of writing - with messaging in there that it’s easy to miss. With a CW on sexual abuse, let this passage speak to you like it might not have done before.

David: A Legacy of Worship

David: A Legacy of Worship

From deep lament to joyful praise, the influence that David has had over the way we worship is probably the most of any other human in history. In this talk we explore the expansive faith of David through his worship, and we learn some lesser-known stories, like that of Michal, his wife. When our identity as children of God becomes the foundation, faith and freedom in worship follows

David: An Act of Faith

David: An Act of Faith

David sparing Saul’s life was not just an act of mercy and forgiveness, but it was an act of great faith. When faced with the opportunity to take his destiny into his own hands, David chose to trust in the Lord to do what He said that He would do. This simple moment of trusting God gives us an insight into why he is one of the great heroes of the Christian faith, and encourages us put our hope in God for our own lives.

David: God's Looking Out

David: God's Looking Out

How can we be sure God is looking out for us? David faces a less than ideal scenario, his best friend’s dad is out to kill him. Saul is set on holding onto power by killing David. Jonathan, however, ensures David that their friendship is in the Lord. Meaning that their friendship with one another is like that of the Lord’s; he won’t leave David alone. And like David, if we’ve ever been alone facing less than ideal scenarios, we long to know whether or not God is looking out. Community is God’s antidote to loneliness; in the same way Jonathan was an extension of God’s love and faithfulness. Godly community is like a well that God can draw on to look out for us. In his community we find that we’re not alone, we’re not orphans. Jesus calls us his siblings, clothed in his Sonship to the Father. In his family, the Spirit empowers us to fight loneliness and stand in solidarity with one another.

David: The End of Envy

David: The End of Envy

Saul’s murderous envy of David is similar to other stories in OT- Cain and Abel and Joseph and his brothers are the best examples. Envy is serious and it can lead to violent outcomes. Unfortunately we’re all susceptible. We desire. Saul’s envy of David, leads him to obsess over David. He becomes embittered and joyless. The antidote is seen in Jonathan. Instead of envy and rivalry he chooses love. The love we need is so pure it can only come from God. And just as Jonathan gives up his claim to power, and gives himself to David, we’re called to do the something similar to Jesus. When we direct our desire towards him he fills us with a sense of identity and a fullness of love that truly satisfies.

David: The Real Hero

David: The Real Hero

David and Goliath is more than a story of the small guy overcoming the big guy. And it’s more than a moral story about the importance of faith. Rather it is about God being our champion though David. It is about him fighting for us, him holding our fears, him giving us a way through when we feel afraid. When we are able to admit our fears and our weakness, God can get to work. Ultimately David is the foreshadow of our eternal champion Jesus, who overcomes all that holds us back on the cross. Our challenge is to bring out fears to him and let him deal with them.

David: The Goodish Shepherd

David: The Goodish Shepherd

More pages of the bible are dedicated to the life and legacy of King David than any other person apart from Jesus, and in today’s talk we meet him for the first time. He is anointed as the new chosen King of Israel but Samuel the prophet, when he wasn’t even invited to anointing party (he’d been out on the fields, protecting the family sheep.) In front of 7 of his more eligible brothers, God says ’this is the one.’ It’s hard not to imagine how this must have felt to Eliab, Abinadab and the ones Samuel doesn’t even bother to name. God chooses the unexpected one over and over again, which leads us to ask why, and what does it say about Him. This one is about the human instinct to compare, and the unexpected work that God does when we’re out in the wilderness.

David: Where Delight Lies

David: Where Delight Lies

Before we get to David, we’re introduced to Saul. In a famous scene from chapter 15 we see the kind of person Saul is – he serves as a warning of what can happen when we allow pride to make a home in our hearts. Pride pushes God out and it puts us at the center. Saul, in his pride, rejects God and forfeits the call on his life. The story-teller then sets us up for the one who models the opposite of pride, humility. Jesus is the ultimate humble one who comes to us – he isn’t too great for the least of us. Jesus, in his humility, comes to us all. The invitation to us is to humbly follow him. Humility brings God in. Humility positions us to listen to his voice and that is where God’s delight lies.

David: Give it to God

David: Give it to God

We begin our series in 1 and 2 Samuel with the story of Hannah. Her culture tells her that she is valued only if she bears children, but she is barren. This causes great distress. Her husband Elkanah tries to be kind, but unwittingly simply replaces one sort of cultural expectation and oppression with another (that her worth can be found in being a loved wife). Hannah chooses instead to pray and seek God. In doing so she gives both herself and her potential pregnancy to God, and it is this process of surrender that brings joy and peace. Moreover in her rejoicing she hints at a greater peace that is to come- not just for her, but the whole world. God’s anointed Messiah is coming, the prince of peace, to end all anguish and strife. When we can come before him in prayer and submission, he carries us free from the burdens that cultural expectation look to oppress us with, and we can as Hannah did before, live in peace and joy.

Worship & Money

Worship & Money

Concluding our series on worship we consider how we treat money as an act of worship. Paul encourages us all, rich or poor, to not put our faith in money. The love of money can lead to all sorts of problems. Rather contentment is what we’re after. And it can be found by all, wealthy or not, when the whole of our lives (including our wallets) are orientated around, and given in worship to, the only One worthy of devotion. When we worship him we experience the rich provision of everything for our enjoyment that God promises.

Generosity as Worship

Generosity as Worship

Though sung worship is central to our expression of church (culturally, and certainly for us at Bread) the words translated as worship in the new testament aren’t actually to do with singing specifically at all. They build to a much more general picture full and submission and devotion, and wherever these new worshipful communities spread, generosity was their hallmark. It’s not an aspect of christianity that many of us feel most comfortable with, is it? But as Paul reminded the church in Corinth (a community particularly known for its generous promises) giving should not be done under compulsion; rather as a mark of evidence that God’s grace has been understood. Let’s return to this picture of God as the ultimate cheerful giver - the one who shows us how much He loves to gives his children good gifts - as we try to comprehend how this was always meant to work for us too.

What's the Spirit got to do with it?

What's the Spirit got to do with it?

The fullest depiction of worship services in NT is found in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. There he encourages the church to both follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. It’s always both/and not either/or. When we do both the church is edified, which is always the goal. A church full of the Spirit and full of love is the hope both for us and the world. In this talk we look specifically at the role of the gifts of tongues and prophecy to edify us all.

Why Worship?

Why Worship?

From the beginning God’s people have engaged in the regular worship of God. From a biblical perspective, not only is worship of God our highest calling, it is in fact integral to who we are. So understanding what worship is, how we do it, and practicing it enables us to become more fully ourselves. This short series covers the worship life of bread - from sung worship in services on a Sunday, to a general posture of worshipfulness throughout our daily lives, to worshipping God with our resources, our time, and our gifting. Enjoy!

Easter - Hope for us all

The details of gospel accounts of Jesus‘ resurrection never fail to blow our minds when we stop and examine. Just like much of his life and ministry, when Jesus first announced he had risen from the dead, and changed everything for the whole world forever, there was no fanfare or fireshow or thunderous display, just calm, kind words to a woman who had loved him dearly. Jesus always chooses the Mary Magdalene's, which is hope for all of us.  

Palm Sunday - Welcoming Jesus as King

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where He was welcomed by crowds of people who spread palm branches and cloaks on the road in front of Him as a sign of honour and respect. They were caught up with the joy that comes from 700 years of waiting for a mighty deliverer to free them from their oppressors. Only 5 days later this same crowd would turn against Jesus and demand that He be crucified because they didn’t understand that the kingdom Jesus came to establish was not a physical nation, but a kingdom found in the hearts of people.

Romans: Growing Up

Romans: Growing Up

Christian community is made up of lots of different people at different stages of Christian maturity. Throughout his writings Paul corrects and disciples those who are immature with regards their character and will. But for those who are simply weak in faith - those who struggle to believe everything that Jesus has done and it’s implications for them - there is grace and patience. Even for those who are misguided in their faith, those who are stronger in faith are called to be accepting and non-judgemental. The reason for this is that fundamentally, in God’s economy, love and truth are not of equal value. Love supersedes all else. It is the currency of the kingdom. By love the Spirit is given, and the Spirit it is who brings all of us to fullness of faith. So we can entrust everyone to the Spirit’s maturing. And as a result see his community grow and mature.

Romans: Lord of All

Romans: Lord of All

Paul’s closing chapters of Romans are about how Christian relationships should be defined. Chapter 13 answers the question how Spirit-filled people should relate to Government. Paul’s argument is that since God has all authority, and he allows earthly rulers to exercise some (even if God does not condone how it is used), Christians should obey all state laws (even those with which we might not agree) as an act of acknowledgment and worship of God’s supremacy and lordship. And yet of course, both Paul, the other apostles, and indeed Jesus himself disobeyed ruling authorities at times. So then, there is a line. And for Paul the line appears to be defined by the greatest commandments - to have no other God but Jesus, and to love our neighbor and do no harm to them. Any law which prevents us from doing either of these must, for the Christian, necessarily be rejected. Ultimately Paul’s concern is who is going to be Lord in our lives. The challenge for us is to allow Jesus to be Lord of it all - sometimes this will require active disobedience, probably most of the time it will require humble submission.