Campbell Street Church

God's has created us in his image and we have been created for a relationship with God.

The writer has seem that many of life's pursuits are "meaningless" ... wealth, wisdom, pleasure. But he also sees the injustice and oppression in the world. (Apologies for the poor sound quality)

People often try to find meaning in career or success … to only find out that it doesn't give them what they are looking for.

Ecclesiastes is a book written by a man who has tried all the usual ways of finding meaning and happiness in life … without success. The book opens talking about the meaninglessness of life ... but he continues to find glimmers of hope and meaning.

One of the most important parts of our life will be our relationships … especially the marriage relationship. Proverbs offers some great insights and timeless wisdom.

The desire for a good reputation is as strong today in our society as it has ever been. But as followers of Jesus we should have a different motivation when it comes to reputation.

This follows on directly from the previous chapter. The Christian life is about submitting yourself to the lordship of Jesus and living a life of gratitude & thankfulness for all that Jesus has done for us.

One of the big issues the early church had to face was the place of Old Testament Law in the life of those who've trusted in Jesus. The authority that we are to live under is the authority of Jesus ... living with Jesus as Lord (Col 2:6-7).

The Church in Colossae was started when they heard the Gospel from Epaphras. But now, some false teachers have come in and the church has been unsettled. Paul shows them that they have the truth about Jesus.

The Christians in Colosea have come to genuine faith in Jesus … but false teachers have crept in and have been offering a "counterfeit" Gospel. Paul assures them that what they have is the truth.

Different responses to the King. Saul and others refuse to acknowledge David as King. Jonathan, the rightful heir, can see that David will be king. This passages challenges us about how we live with Jesus as our king..

God is able to rescue his people by his chosen one - an unlikely saviour facing an invincible enemy using an unusual weapon. True with David ... and with the death of Jesus on the Cross.

Saul is rejected by God for his repeated disobedience. His is proud and thinks that he can decide how to act as King. Israel needs the same kind of king that we need ,.. a king who leads by example.

God had made provision to have a King ... but God didn't want them to have a king "just like the nations around them". But sadly that is the kind of King Israel want and get.

It is not God's people who use God to achieve our purposes. We are God's people and exist for his purposes. We are not able to manipulate God to achieve our ends. We should live and work for his ends.

God is the one who knows what we are like, knows what we need ... and raises up a saviour to rescue us.

The writer of this Psalm express his confidence that no matter what we face we can have confidence that God has things under control.

The disciples certainly weren't expecting Jesus to rise again from the dead ... but when they saw him alive ... the pieces fell into place. Things that Jesus said that they didn't understand all became clear.