Holy Spirit Series: Oil - Gifts of the Spirit | Helen Paynter at 8:30am | 9 May 2021

9 May 2021 - 7pm Service

Holy Spirit Series: Oil - Gifts Life of the spirit

This Sunday we continue our preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Helen Paynter on ‘Oil - Gifts of the Spirit’.

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Remember, later today at the 11am and 7pm service we’ll hear Tim Dobson and Clare Thompson share about the same topic. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Luke 4:18 & 1 Cor 12.

Jesus is the anointed one (Christ means anointed). In O.T. Israel Priests and Kings were anointed and the oil was a mark of them being given authority in their ministry and leadership. When Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah he was identifying himself with a messianic calling (Messiah means anointed). This anointing, not with Oil but with the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in words and deeds of power and authority (Luke 4:17-26) and in Luke 9 he sends his followers out with power and authority to minister.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Jesus had a ‘permanent’ anointing to minister it seems (John 1: 33 ‘remain’). Do his followers have a permanent anointing too, and if not, how do you stay in a place of anointing to minister?

2. Reading about the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, are they permanent endowments (‘our’ spiritual gifts) or do they ‘manifest’ as the Holy Spirit chooses (v 11)?

3. What contexts and conditions make receiving supernatural spiritual gifts more likely?

4. What primarily are spiritual gifts for? What is the difference (if any) between the supernatural gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 and other lists of gifts e.g. in Romans 12?

5. Could you describe your own experience of receiving spiritual gifts? Are there gifts that you have not experienced but have an appetite for? What are they and why do you want them?

6. In the light of 2 Timothy 1:6 how much a part does prayer and laying on of hands have in receiving gifts of the Spirit? How does this tie in with anointing?

Holy Spirit Series: Oil - Gifts of the Spirit | Clare Thompson at 7pm | 9 May 2021

How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?

9 May 2021 - 7pm Service

Holy Spirit Series: Oil - Gifts of the spirit

This Sunday we continue our preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Clare Thompson on ‘Oil - Gifts of the Spirit’.

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Tim Dobson speak on the same topic. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Luke 4:18 & 1 Cor 12.

Jesus is the anointed one (Christ means anointed). In O.T. Israel Priests and Kings were anointed and the oil was a mark of them being given authority in their ministry and leadership. When Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah he was identifying himself with a messianic calling (Messiah means anointed). This anointing, not with Oil but with the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in words and deeds of power and authority (Luke 4:17-26) and in Luke 9 he sends his followers out with power and authority to minister.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Jesus had a ‘permanent’ anointing to minister it seems (John 1: 33 ‘remain’). Do his followers have a permanent anointing too, and if not, how do you stay in a place of anointing to minister?

2. Reading about the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, are they permanent endowments (‘our’ spiritual gifts) or do they ‘manifest’ as the Holy Spirit chooses (v 11)?

3. What contexts and conditions make receiving supernatural spiritual gifts more likely?

4. What primarily are spiritual gifts for? What is the difference (if any) between the supernatural gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 and other lists of gifts e.g. in Romans 12?

5. Could you describe your own experience of receiving spiritual gifts? Are there gifts that you have not experienced but have an appetite for? What are they and why do you want them?

6. In the light of 2 Timothy 1:6 how much a part does prayer and laying on of hands have in receiving gifts of the Spirit? How does this tie in with anointing?

Holy Spirit Series: Oil - Gifts of the Spirit | Tim Dobson at 11am | 9 May 2021

How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?

9 May 2021 - 11am Service

Holy Spirit Series: Oil - Gifts of the Spirit

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Tim Dobson on ‘Oil - Gifts of the Spirit’.

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and Clare Thompson will be sharing a message with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Luke 4:18 & 1 Cor 12.

Jesus is the anointed one (Christ means anointed). In O.T. Israel Priests and Kings were anointed and the oil was a mark of them being given authority in their ministry and leadership. When Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah he was identifying himself with a messianic calling (Messiah means anointed). This anointing, not with Oil but with the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in words and deeds of power and authority (Luke 4:17-26) and in Luke 9 he sends his followers out with power and authority to minister.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Jesus had a ‘permanent’ anointing to minister it seems (John 1: 33 ‘remain’). Do his followers have a permanent anointing too, and if not, how do you stay in a place of anointing to minister?

2. Reading about the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, are they permanent endowments (‘our’ spiritual gifts) or do they ‘manifest’ as the Holy Spirit chooses (v 11)?

3. What contexts and conditions make receiving supernatural spiritual gifts more likely?

4. What primarily are spiritual gifts for? What is the difference (if any) between the supernatural gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 and other lists of gifts e.g. in Romans 12?

5. Could you describe your own experience of receiving spiritual gifts? Are there gifts that you have not experienced but have an appetite for? What are they and why do you want them?

6. In the light of 2 Timothy 1:6 how much a part does prayer and laying on of hands have in receiving gifts of the Spirit? How does this tie in with anointing?

Woodies Kids | The Holy Spirit (week 2)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week are learning about…

the Holy Spirit

We are thinking about how the Holy Spirit can guide us. In John 16:13 it says,

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

We watched this clip from the film Moana

Moana’s grandma helped to guide her to know what was true. She helped Moana to remember who she really is and to find her way. Just as Moana’s grandma guided her, the Holy Spirit guides us to find out the truth of who God says we are.

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Do the children have someone in their life who helps them when they are struggling? This is what the Holy Spirit does for us also.  The Holy Spirit helps us to know what is right and what is wrong.

Chat and Catch –  Focus around asking the Holy Spirit to show the children the truth of who God sees them to be.

Tell God about a person in your life who helps you when you are struggling. What are they like? How do they help you?

Thank God that he sent his Holy Spirit to help us and guide us

Ask the Holy Spirit to show/tell you 2 truths about who you are  

Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the Spirit | Dave Mitchell at 8:30am | 2 May 2021

2 May 2021 - 7pm Service

Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the spirit

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Dove - New Life of the Spirit’.

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Remember, later today at the 11am and 7pm service we’ll hear several people share about the same topic. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Genesis 8:6-12 , Luke 3 & 4 and John 1:33

The Christian revelation of the nature of God is Trinitarian. That mysterious, mind expanding doctrine has given theologians and preachers much to ponder, preach and spill ink about, but there is still mystery about the Holy Spirit’s place in the Trinity. Because the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, (we believe in One Triune God) he is a person just as the Father and the Son are persons.

Many people don’t relate to the Holy Spirit as personal as well as powerful. Even looking at symbols of the Holy Spirit can tend to make us see the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ rather than a person who you have fellowship with (Phil 2:1) can be grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3). So do keep that in mind as we look at this series based on some of the symbols of the Spirit.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What do you associate the symbol of the Dove with when you think of it? For many people it is ‘peace’. How does that link with Luke 4:1 & 2?

2. What is the link between the story of the dove in Noah’s flood, and Jesus’ baptism experience? What is the difference in the Genesis story between a Dove and a Raven?

3. If the Dove is a symbol of God’s blessing ‘new beginnings’ what part does the Spirit play in the ‘new creation’ of someone beginning the Christian life? (2 Cor 5:17)

4. What does the imagery of a Dove, coming to rest evoke in your mind? How might we welcome the Spirit resting on us?

5. Water & Spirit are linked in the gospels. What is the link between being baptised in water and baptised in the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38)

Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the Spirit | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 2nd May 2021

How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?

2 May 2021 - 7pm Service

Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the spirit

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Dove - New Life of the Spirit’. Various members of our church family will also be sharing.

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard several people share their Holy Spirit experiences. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Genesis 8:6-12 , Luke 3 & 4 and John 1:33

The Christian revelation of the nature of God is Trinitarian. That mysterious, mind expanding doctrine has given theologians and preachers much to ponder, preach and spill ink about, but there is still mystery about the Holy Spirit’s place in the Trinity. Because the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, (we believe in One Triune God) he is a person just as the Father and the Son are persons.

Many people don’t relate to the Holy Spirit as personal as well as powerful. Even looking at symbols of the Holy Spirit can tend to make us see the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ rather than a person who you have fellowship with (Phil 2:1) can be grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3). So do keep that in mind as we look at this series based on some of the symbols of the Spirit.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What do you associate the symbol of the Dove with when you think of it? For many people it is ‘peace’. How does that link with Luke 4:1 & 2?

2. What is the link between the story of the dove in Noah’s flood, and Jesus’ baptism experience? What is the difference in the Genesis story between a Dove and a Raven?

3. If the Dove is a symbol of God’s blessing ‘new beginnings’ what part does the Spirit play in the ‘new creation’ of someone beginning the Christian life? (2 Cor 5:17)

4. What does the imagery of a Dove, coming to rest evoke in your mind? How might we welcome the Spirit resting on us?

5. Water & Spirit are linked in the gospels. What is the link between being baptised in water and baptised in the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38)

Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the Spirit | Dave Mitchell at 11am | 2 May 2021

How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?

2 May 2021 - 11am Service

Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the Spirit

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Dove - New Life of the Spirit’.

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and several members of church will be sharing their Holy Spirit-stories sharing with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Genesis 8:6-12 , Luke 3 & 4 and John 1:33

The Christian revelation of the nature of God is Trinitarian. That mysterious, mind expanding doctrine has given theologians and preachers much to ponder, preach and spill ink about, but there is still mystery about the Holy Spirit’s place in the Trinity. Because the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, (we believe in One triune God) he is a person just as the Father and the Son are persons.

Many people don’t relate to the Holy Spirit as personal as well as powerful. Even looking at symbols of the Holy Spirit can tend to make us see the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ rather than a person who you have fellowship with (Phil 2:1) can be grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3). So do keep that in mind as we look at this series based on some of the symbols of the Spirit.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What do you associate the symbol of the Dove with when you think of it? For many people it is ‘peace’. How does that link with Luke 4:1 & 2?

2. What is the link between the story of the dove in Noah’s flood, and Jesus’ baptism experience? What is the difference in the Genesis story between a Dove and a Raven?

3. If the Dove is a symbol of God’s blessing ‘new beginnings’ what part does the Spirit play in the ‘new creation’ of someone beginning the Christian life? (2 Cor 5:17)

4. What does the imagery of a Dove, coming to rest evoke in your mind? How might we welcome the Spirit resting on us?

5. Water & Spirit are linked in the gospels. What is the link between being baptised in water and baptised in the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38)

Special Offering for India

At Woodlands we are having a special offering to raise funds for a charity in Tamil Nadu, India.

I’m sure you have seen some of the news about what’s happening in India at the moment. Yesterday 350,000 new cases of COVID and 2,750 deaths and that’s only what is actually reported. Oxygen is running out, ICU beds are 98% occupied in Delhi and Mumbai. It’s tragic and not least for the most vulnerable, the elderly, the infirm and the poor.

Dave Cheeseman from our church family works with ‘The Anderson Educational Trust’ in Tamil Nadu, Southern India, and they are working tirelessly identifying the very poorest of villages and doing a variety of food distributions. Thousands of eggs have been given out, rice, lentils and a weeks worth of vegetables and rice to 392 families, costing about £2/family.

PLEASE help us to support them as they continue to help the most vulnerable in these times. Even £2 or £3 helps.

Thank you for your support and love despite not knowing these people, they are beyond appreciative. 

How to Give

If you are a Woodlands church member and would like to give, follow the link below to our giving page:

• Woodlands Central India Special Offering

Woodies Kids | The Holy Spirit (week 1)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week are learning about…

the Holy Spirit

The Bible tells us in Galations 5:22-23 that we can stay connected to Jesus and walk with the Spirit as our helper then we will produce good fruit in our lives.

We watched this clip from the film Ratatouille

Linguini wasn’t very good at cooking to start with but Remy showed him how – step by step. We’re not very good at following Jesus to start with, but the Holy Spirit lives in our heart and shows us how to do it – step by step. Mostly, we get a feeling inside about whether we should do something or not do something – that’s the Holy Spirit working and helping us.

Later on in the film, Linguini tries to cook without Remy and makes a big mess of it. If we try to live without the Holy Spirit, we’ll get in a big mess too! The Holy Spirit is our friend for life – if we let him, He’ll live inside our hearts and help us to follow Jesus better and better every single day.

EcoChallenge for May: No Mow May

At Woodies, we are keen love God's creation and our People + Planet group is key in helping us to reduce our impact on the environment as a church. Our monthly EcoChallenges help everyone in church to take part from home.

May 2021: EcoChallege - “No Mow May”

Let’s be honest, trying to live in a greener way can sometimes feel like a real challenge! However, every now and then it can actually save us some work and this month’s EcoChallenge is a great example of this. Simply, if you have a lawn, all you need to do is leave your lawnmower in the shed throughout May so that flowers present in your lawn have a chance to bloom – as someone who finds mowing the lawn a real chore this is music to my ears! The point of this is to give hard-pressed pollinating insects (for example bees or butterflies) a boost by giving them more opportunities to forage for nectar on your lawn

At the end of the month you have a chance to do a bit of citizen science by counting the number of flowers present in a random square metre of your lawn. 

What if this blogpost has come too late for you and you have already mowed the lawn this month? No fear, you can always take part in #LetItBloomJune or #KneeHighJuly.

Plantlife, the organisation behind the NoMowMay campaign, have found that the optimum way to manage your lawn for pollinators is a ‘Mohican’ approach. Mowing about every four weeks is the best way to promote the growth flowers that like shorter lengths of grass, such as daisies and white clover. At the same time leaving some areas unmown for longer can allow a richer variety of flowers to flourish in your lawn.

If you would like to sign up to the campaign and take part in the flower count at the end of the month visit this site: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may

And this article gives a great summary of the Mohican approach to cutting your lawn:
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/bees-wildlife-how-to-gardening-tips-mohican-grass-cut-423589

If you’d be interested in finding out more about the Woodlands People + Planet group, or have some feedback about the challenges, connect with us:

• Email lydia.klimecki@bristol.ac.uk 

• Find us on Facebook

Holy Spirit Series

How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, our Holy Spirit series will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Here’s what our preaching topics during this series are:

• Dove: New Life of the Spirit | 2nd May 2021

• Oil: Gifts of the Spirit | 9th May 2021

• Water: Dwelling of the Spirit | 16th May 2021

• Fire: Passion of the Spirit | 23rd May 2021 (Pentecost)

• Wind: Mystery of the Spirit | 30th May 2021

We hope you can join us in person or online throughout May for this exciting series.

Remember you can book in advance to attend church in person. Capacity will be limited and COVID safe precautions will be taken. We’re also serving hot drinks outside before each service (weather dependant). Simply book online here:

• Sunday Services - Online Bookings

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TALKS FROM OUR HOLY SPIRIT SERIES

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World | Tim Dobson at 8:30am | 25th April 2021

25 April 2021 - 8:30am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World

This Sunday we finish our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Tim Dobson on ‘Restored World’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, later today at the 7pm services we’ll hear Dave Mitchell speak on the same topic. Go check it out

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 carries the hope of restored creation. God has always wanted his world to be filled with his image-bearers (Genesis 1:27-28 ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’). Here in Matthew, the disciples are called to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth (every nation) and subdue (teaching them to obey everything).

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The word for nations here is ‘ethne’ (from which we get ethnic) and was used by Jewish people to designate gentiles, non-Jews. What is the significance for the disciples of this particular call in the light of Israel being a ‘chosen people’?

2. How much do we prioritise in our sharing of Good News about Jesus people very different to ourselves? Does the commission of these eleven disciples extend to us? What does that say about the priority of the global mission for Christians?

3. How much is racial unity and inclusion an important practice for us at Woodlands? What do you think Jesus wants for us in this area?

4. We live in a world where environmental degradation, species loss and climate change are stark realities. What is the Christian response to Creation itself?

5. How might we teach people to obey the teaching of Jesus as these verses tell us to? What place does baptism have for people who are serious about obeying Jesus words?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 25 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

25 April 2021 - 7pm Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World

This Sunday we finish our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Restored World’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Tim Dobson speak. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 carries the hope of restored creation. God has always wanted his world to be filled with his image-bearers (Genesis 1:27-28 ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’). Here in Matthew, the disciples are called to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth (every nation) and subdue (teaching them to obey everything).

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The word for nations here is ‘ethne’ (from which we get ethnic) and was used by Jewish people to designate gentiles, non-Jews. What is the significance for the disciples of this particular call in the light of Israel being a ‘chosen people’?

2. How much do we prioritise in our sharing of Good News about Jesus people very different to ourselves? Does the commission of these eleven disciples extend to us? What does that say about the priority of the global mission for Christians?

3. How much is racial unity and inclusion an important practice for us at Woodlands? What do you think Jesus wants for us in this area?

4. We live in a world where environmental degradation, species loss and climate change are stark realities. What is the Christian response to Creation itself?

5. How might we teach people to obey the teaching of Jesus as these verses tell us to? What place does baptism have for people who are serious about obeying Jesus words?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World | Tim Dobson at 11am | 25 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

25 April 2021 - 11am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World

This Sunday we finish our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Tim Dobson on ‘Restored World’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and Dave Mitchell will be sharing with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 carries the hope of restored creation. God has always wanted his world to be filled with his image-bearers (Genesis 1:27-28 ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’). Here in Matthew, the disciples are called to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth (every nation) and subdue (teaching them to obey everything).

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The word for nations here is ‘ethne’ (from which we get ethnic) and was used by Jewish people to designate gentiles, non-Jews. What is the significance for the disciples of this particular call in the light of Israel being a ‘chosen people’?

2. How much do we prioritise in our sharing of Good News about Jesus people very different to ourselves? Does the commission of these eleven disciples extend to us? What does that say about the priority of the global mission for Christians?

3. How much is racial unity and inclusion an important practice for us at Woodlands? What do you think Jesus wants for us in this area?

4. We live in a world where environmental degradation, species loss and climate change are stark realities. What is the Christian response to Creation itself?

5. How might we teach people to obey the teaching of Jesus as these verses tell us to? What place does baptism have for people who are serious about obeying Jesus words?

Woodies Kids | Knowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week we Think About…

Knowing JEsus and the Holy Spirit

Lie down comfortably with eyes closed and use your mind to imagine the story.

Read the following fairly slowly allowing time for the children to respond.

“Imagine that you have been with Jesus as one of his disciples. Imagine that you have seen him die on the cross and now you are scared and going to hide out in another town. You are walking along the road - it feels like a long way! How are you feeling inside?

​Imagine that suddenly a stranger comes alongside you and starts asking why you look so sad. What do you tell him?

Now imagine that the stranger starts to explain all sorts of things about Jesus to you. What he’s saying makes lots of sense and your heart feels all funny inside

of you. Imagine that you get to the place where you’re staying and you invite the man in to have some tea with you. Before the meal, the man says thank you to God for the food and suddenly you know that it’s Jesus! How do you know? What does he look like? How does your heart feel now?

Jesus disappears. What do you do? How do you feel inside?”

Give the children some time to think about this and maybe write, draw or talk about what they experience.

Tea & Coffee on Sundays

At our Sunday services, we are serving hot drinks outside at 10.30am and 6.30pm before our services (as long as the weather is dry!). You can gather with groups of 6 people or two households. Simply submit your drink order on the booking form. Please bring your own keepie cup - this is a COVID-safe precaution and better for the environment.

Book to come to church and have tea & coffee:

• https://www.woodlandschurch.net/sundays

Here’s a short video with Tim sharing how it will work:

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church | Clare Thompson at 7pm | 18 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

18 April 2021 - 7pm Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church

This Sunday we continue our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Clare Thompson on ‘Restored Church’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Nigel Coles speak. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 20: 19-29

Sometimes the Church blows it! Sometimes our Churches are faithless, divided, abusive, materialistic, self-centred etc, lukewarm, apathetic, and a poor even negative witness. As a body of believers we can fail to fulfil our mission and even bring Christianity into disrepute. Jesus it seems loves the Church and Church history is as much a story of restoration as of failure!

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What would you say to someone who is disillusioned with Church, who might say ‘I love Jesus but I don’t want anything to do with Church’?

2. In John 20, what kind of confidence did the disciples (the nucleus of the ‘Church’ the community that Jesus came to build) have in themselves?

3. What strikes you about the phrases Jesus uses to speak to this group, ‘As the Father sent me, I’m sending you’, ‘If you forgive anyone sins they are forgiven’?

4. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in restoring Church here?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church | Nigel Coles at 11am | 18 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

18 April 2021 - 11am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church

This Sunday we continue our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Nigel Coles on ‘Restored Church’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and Clare Thompson will be sharing with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 20: 19-29

Sometimes the Church blows it! Sometimes our Churches are faithless, divided, abusive, materialistic, self-centred etc, lukewarm, apathetic, and a poor even negative witness. As a body of believers we can fail to fulfil our mission and even bring Christianity into disrepute. Jesus it seems loves the Church and Church history is as much a story of restoration as of failure!

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What would you say to someone who is disillusioned with Church, who might say ‘I love Jesus but I don’t want anything to do with Church’?

2. In John 20, what kind of confidence did the disciples (the nucleus of the ‘Church’ the community that Jesus came to build) have in themselves?

3. What strikes you about the phrases Jesus uses to speak to this group, ‘As the Father sent me, I’m sending you’, ‘If you forgive anyone sins they are forgiven’?

4. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in restoring Church here?

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