Posts tagged Encounters with God
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 13 - Moses by Owen Lynch - 4 September 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 13 - Moses by Owen Lynch - 4 September 2022

How important are rituals to you? Owen Lynch shares about his and the other rituals around us which seem to shape our sense of who we are as well as guiding what we do. Moses led Israel into adopting rituals like Passover which brought people into a shared sense of history, identity and purpose. As Jesus shared his last supper through a Passover meal, he fed his followers with a lasting way to remember who he was, and who they were as a result. Can we find a new sense of ourselves by looking at communion like this, and do we enjoy passing this on?

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Owen LynchSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Moses, Leviticus, Luke
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 12 - Jacob by Owen Lynch - 28 August 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 12 - Jacob by Owen Lynch - 28 August 2022

What does it mean to meet with God outside of church? Owen Lynch shares about his experiences on sabbatical leave and looks at the story of Jacob, who had an intense encounter with God after fleeing his family. He’s also not the only person in the Old Testament to experience God’s presence far away from traditional places of worship. How do our encounters with God compare?

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Owen LynchSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Jacob, Genesis
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 11 - Elijah' by Owen Lynch - 21 August 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 11 - Elijah' by Owen Lynch - 21 August 2022

When is it time to take time away? Owen Lynch shares some of his experience from sabbatical leave and looks at the story of Elijah, who was instructed by God to hide away for a few years. These situations are very different, but they both raise questions. Why do we often feel the need to stick around, no matter what? What would happen if we got a break and a new perspective? And could God guide us, from time to time, to retreat and reflect?

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Owen LynchSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Elijah, 1 Kings
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 10 - Deborah’ by Sue Marland - 14 August 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 10 - Deborah’ by Sue Marland - 14 August 2022

What could happen if God gives you a word of guidance? Sue Marland looks at the story of Deborah, a judge in Old Testament times, who developed the ability to support what God wanted to support, and to oppose what God wanted to oppose. If we could have some of that ability too, what would we do with it? Could we expect to become good servant leaders like Deborah, and would we end up winning significant battles against pain, suffering and injustice?

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Sue MarlandSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Deborah, Judges
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 9 - Daniel’ by Bern Leckie - 31 July 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 9 - Daniel’ by Bern Leckie - 31 July 2022

How can God make the impossible possible? Bern Leckie looks at how God used Daniel in impossible situations, giving him wisdom to make impossible choices and do impossible jobs. These are not really stories about how good Daniel was but how amazing God is. The way God gave “living water” and connections to his presence and principles to Daniel are also available to us because of Jesus. What impossible things do we need God to do for us and want God to do with us?

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Bern LeckieSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Daniel
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 8 - David’ by Jack Saunders - 24 July 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 8 - David’ by Jack Saunders - 24 July 2022

What do we want to be remembered for? Jack Saunders looks at the Old Testament character of David and the range of famous stories which come to mind, from his battles as a youth to his leadership and preparation of a temple in his old age. But his memorable passion for being after God’s heart probably came from the range and depths of his worship. To be that good at worship, David must not have just shown up to lead it in public, but privately pursued worship as a passion. What space and commitments are we making in our lives to develop who we are in ways which will memorably show up in relationships with others, and what can we do if we want more of this?

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Jack SaundersSevern VineyardEncounters with God, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Psalms
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 7 - Moses’ by Jess Pedersen - 17 July 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 7 - Moses’ by Jess Pedersen - 17 July 2022

How can we become more resilient to face life's challenges? Jess Pedersen looks at how Moses did this by learning to turn to God. Raised in a foreign palace, Moses grew up with a mix of beliefs and tried working out his sense of justice his own way. But his encounters with God showed the depth of love and support that he could receive from God to do almost unimaginable things and overcome incredible opposition to lead his people out of slavery. What could a close walk with God equip you for?

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Jess PedersenSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Moses, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 6 - Hagar’ by Liz Nixon - 10 July 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 6 - Hagar’ by Liz Nixon - 10 July 2022

What difference does it make to believe we are seen and known by God? Liz Nixon looks at the story of Hagar, a character from near the beginning of the Bible who might be easy to overlook. While what she was made to do might seem difficult for us to process or accept, she was given special significance by God and her family line became important in the world. Could her encounter with God remind us about people we are overlooking in our lives? What can God do with us to address this?

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Liz NixonSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Genesis, Hagar
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 5 - Joseph’ by Dan Green - 26 June 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 5 - Joseph’ by Dan Green - 26 June 2022

What is it like to be forced unjustly from your home country, and what kind of life can you hope to find next? In Refugee Week 2022, Dan Green looks at the story of Joseph, who famously found uses for his gifts and, despite opposition and mistreatment, became a trusted leader in his adoptive country. How does his story challenge us to treat others differently, and perhaps seek to use our gifts to help others too?

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Dan GreenSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Genesis, Joseph
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 4 - Joshua’ by Jack Saunders - 19 June 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 4 - Joshua’ by Jack Saunders - 19 June 2022

Can we imagine waiting for a lifetime to fulfil our purpose? Jack Saunders looks at the story of Joshua and considers his decades-long wait for God to use him to lead his people into the land God promised them. The process of moving into this land probably seems to us like a strange and challenging one, but to Joshua it was a matter of obedience to God and trusting him to sort out the rest. How do we feel about that, and what could happen if we trust God more?

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Jack SaundersSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Joshua
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 3 - Rahab’ by Joanna Moss - 12 June 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 3 - Rahab’ by Joanna Moss - 12 June 2022

How would you like to be remembered? Joanna Moss looks at the story of a woman most commonly called “Rahab the prostitute” in history books, and why her recognition of God and practical response shaped a nation in remarkable ways. We might apply labels to ourselves and each other, but what God does with us and who he says we are could radically redefine us. Who does God say you are?

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Joanna MossSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Rahab, Joshua
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 2 - Hannah’ by Rebecca Kishtainy - 22 May 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 2 - Hannah’ by Rebecca Kishtainy - 22 May 2022

What difference can heartfelt prayer make? Rebecca Kishtainy looks at the story of Hannah to find out. Hannah suffered for years, enduring taunting from enemies and inadequate comfort from friends. People even seemed to blame God for her situation. But a powerful, life-bringing encounter with God changed Hannah and the course of history.

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Rebecca KishtainySevern VineyardEncounters with God, 1 Samuel, Hannah
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 1 - Ruth’ by Dan Green - 15 May 2022
‘Encounters With God - Stories from the Old Testament, part 1 - Ruth’ by Dan Green - 15 May 2022

What difference can faith and faithfulness make? Dan Green looks at the story of a family which formed across the dividing lines of nations and beliefs. Small but firm personal commitments led to a big faith risk for Ruth to cross boundaries and seek acceptance, and this led to a massively world-changing family line which still seeks to include and value those who think they are outsiders today. God is at work in subtle ways to make this happen in Ruth’s story - could he be at work in similar ways in our lives now?

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Dan Green, first in seriesSevern VineyardEncounters with God, Ruth