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After the Fire Series

What does it look like to live in step with the Spirit?

Leading on from our Holy Spirit series, over the month of June we are going to be exploring what the Church looks like after Pentecost and how we can hold onto the power of the Spirit in our everyday lives.

We’ll be looking to the Bible to see what the early Church was like after this transformed experience of the gift of the Spirit. What should we look like today if the Spirit is at work in our midst as a Church?

The series begins with messages about what it means to be a witness and share our faith, then we’re looking at how that love for Jesus can spread across the globe as we celebrate our Global Partners Weekend. After that, we’ll explore what it really means to care for the poor and how we believe everyone is a minister and has a part to play in the community.

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

  • Spreading the Flame | 6th June 2021

  • All Nations | 13th June 2021

  • Caring for the Poor | 20th June 2021

  • Community of Believers | 27th June 2021

We hope you can join us in person or online throughout June 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 before each service. Simply book online here:

TALKS FROM OUR AFTER THE FIRE SERIES

Woodies Kids | Your favourite story

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week are thinking about…

unsplash-image-GwpXDLjNZ2E.jpg

our favourite bible stories

Do you have a favourite bible story?

Why do you like that story? Is it the character you like or how God used that person?

Why not ask your family which bible stories they like and why they like them. Ask God if He wants to show you anything in those stories! You can use our chat and catch ideas below :)

Global Partners Weekend - 12 & 13 June

You’re invited to join us for our annual Woodlands Global Partners Weekend on the 12th and 13th June 2021.

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."

Join us on Zoom as we hear encouraging stories from our Global Partners. We’ll have seminars about bringing together climate change and mission plus breakout sessions for different regions.

On Saturday, we are running morning and evening sessions on Zoom and then on Sunday we will have a global theme at all our services.

book your place below…

Morning Session:
Dare to care for God’s world

Saturday, 12th June 2021
from 10.30am - 12.30pm

Join us as we take a fresh look at what the Bible says about creation care,  plus enjoy conversations with our Global Partners on what that could mean for us all.

Evening Session:
Meet our Global Partners & hear stories of faith

Saturday, 12th June 2021
from 7.45pm - 9.15pm

Join us as we host eight world ‘rooms’ so you can meet our Global Partners, hear stories of faith and find out what's been happening in their lives as they serve God across the world.

All Services at Woodlands Central
Sunday, 13th June 2021 at 8.30am // 9.30am // 11am // 7pm

Join us as we worship and share words and testimonies on the theme of world missions, we’ll also be taking an offering for short-term global outreach.




Holy Spirit Series: Fire - Passion of the Spirit | Jo Appleton at 8:30am | 23 May 2021


23 May 2021 - 8.30am Service

PENTECOST
Holy Spirit Series: Fire - Passion of the spirit

This Pentecost Sunday we continue our preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Jo Appleton on ‘Fire - Passion of the Spirit’.

This May we’re looking at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

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

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Acts 2, 1 Thessalonians 5:1 and 2 Timothy 1:6

The pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost is very much a ‘power’ event. Unlike Jesus breathing on the disciples in John 20 and giving them ‘authority’ - here they have been told to stay in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high (Luke 24:48) and it happens on the day of Pentecost. The energising power of the Spirit is like ‘wildfire’.

  1. The hallmark of the baptism of the Spirit is often said (by Pentecostals) to be ‘speaking in tongues. What does Peter seem to say the hallmark of the Spirit is? (Acts 2:17-18)

  2. John the Baptist talks prophecies Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16- 17). What is the fire for?

  3. Prophets like John the Baptist are fiery people. I coined the phrase ‘tongues of fire give fiery tongues. What is distinctive about the disciples’ ministry after the day of Pentecost?

  4. We sometimes talk about Christians being on fire. What does Paul say in 1 Thessalonians can put out the Spirit’s fire?

  5. Fire/Passion can be because of the intensity of what we love, or because of a cause, righting a wrong or an injustice. What energises you and why?

  6. Can you describe how a prophetic word has helped and strengthened you?

Holy Spirit Series: Fire - Passion of the Spirit | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 23 May 2021

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

23 May 2021 - 11am Service

PENTECOST
Holy Spirit Series: Fire - Passion of the Spirit

For Pentecost Sunday we continue our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Nigel Savage on ‘Fire - Passion of the Spirit’.

This May, we’re looking at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

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 11am service covered the same topic and Nigel Savage shared a message with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Acts 2, 1 Thessalonians 5:1 and 2 Timothy 1:6

The pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost is very much a ‘power’ event. Unlike Jesus breathing on the disciples in John 20 and giving them ‘authority’ - here they have been told to stay in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high (Luke 24:48) and it happens on the day of Pentecost. The energising power of the Spirit is like ‘wildfire’.

  1. The hallmark of the baptism of the Spirit is often said (by Pentecostals) to be ‘speaking in tongues. What does Peter seem to say the hallmark of the Spirit is? (Acts 2:17-18)

  2. John the Baptist talks prophecies Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16- 17). What is the fire for?

  3. Prophets like John the Baptist are fiery people. I coined the phrase ‘tongues of fire give fiery tongues. What is distinctive about the disciples’ ministry after the day of Pentecost?

  4. We sometimes talk about Christians being on fire. What does Paul say in 1 Thessalonians can put out the Spirit’s fire?

  5. Fire/Passion can be because of the intensity of what we love, or because of a cause, righting a wrong or an injustice. What energises you and why?

  6. Can you describe how a prophetic word has helped and strengthened you?

Holy Spirit Series: Fire - Passion of the Spirit | Nigel Savage at 11am | 23 May 2021

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

23 May 2021 - 11am Service

PENTECOST
Holy Spirit Series: Fire - Passion of the Spirit

For Pentecost Sunday we continue our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Nigel Savage on ‘Fire - Passion of the Spirit’.

This May, we’re looking at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

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 Dave Mitchell will be sharing a message with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Acts 2, 1 Thessalonians 5:1 and 2 Timothy 1:6

The pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost is very much a ‘power’ event. Unlike Jesus breathing on the disciples in John 20 and giving them ‘authority’ - here they have been told to stay in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high (Luke 24:48) and it happens on the day of Pentecost. The energising power of the Spirit is like ‘wildfire’.

  1. The hallmark of the baptism of the Spirit is often said (by Pentecostals) to be ‘speaking in tongues. What does Peter seem to say the hallmark of the Spirit is? (Acts 2:17-18)

  2. John the Baptist talks prophecies Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16- 17). What is the fire for?

  3. Prophets like John the Baptist are fiery people. I coined the phrase ‘tongues of fire give fiery tongues. What is distinctive about the disciples’ ministry after the day of Pentecost?

  4. We sometimes talk about Christians being on fire. What does Paul say in 1 Thessalonians can put out the Spirit’s fire?

  5. Fire/Passion can be because of the intensity of what we love, or because of a cause, righting a wrong or an injustice. What energises you and why?

  6. Can you describe how a prophetic word has helped and strengthened you?

Woodies Kids | Pentecost -The Holy Spirit (week 4)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week are learning about…

Pentecost

Today is Pentecost, the birthday of the church!!!

Do you remember when we spoke about when the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began talking in different languages?! The Holy Spirit spoke through them to enable them to speak to people of other nationalities about the wonderful love of Jesus.

3,000 people said YES to Jesus that day and were baptised. The disciples then travelled to different countries to share the good news of Jesus and this is how the church began to grow and spread across the world!

Holy Spirit Series: Water - Dwelling in the Spirit | Angela Moseley at 8:30am | 16 May 2021


16 May 2021 - 8.30am Service

Holy Spirit Series: Water - Dwelling in the spirit

This Sunday we continue our preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Angela Moseley on ‘Water - Dwelling in 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.

Remember, later today at the 11am and 7pm service we’ll hear Dave Mitchel and Rob Scott-Cook share about the same topic. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 7: 37-39, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 2:10-15, Ephesians 5:18 and Psalm 41

The Holy Spirit is often compared to water, most famously by Jesus in John 7:37-39.

The Holy Spirit touches our deep places (Water)- worship, healing, intercession, revelation and is in our deep places (out of your belly will flow living water) but wells up in praise, prayer, prophecy, and in searching the deep things of God (1 Cor:2:10)

  1. Can you remember and describe the experience of being spiritually thirsty? What did that lead to?

  2. How does that experience of the Spirit in ‘deep places’ link to praise and worship? (Eph 5:18- 19)

  3. The opposite of living water in our innermost being is hardness of heart. What kind of things can lead to hardness of heart?

  4. How has the pandemic and lack of opportunity to worship with others affected your sense of Spiritual refreshment or need of it?

Read Psalm 41 as an act of worship and ask God to restore your soul where you need refreshment.

Holy Spirit Series: Water - Dwelling in the Spirit | Rob Scott-Cook at 7pm | 16 May 2021

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

16 May 2021 - 7pm Service

Holy Spirit Series: Water - Dwelling in the Spirit

This Sunday we continue our preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Rob Scott-Cook on ‘Water - Dwelling in 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 | John 7: 37-39, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 2:10-15, Ephesians 5:18 and Psalm 41

The Holy Spirit is often compared to water, most famously by Jesus in John 7:37-39.

The Holy Spirit touches our deep places (Water)- worship, healing, intercession, revelation and is in our deep places (out of your belly will flow living water) but wells up in praise, prayer, prophecy, and in searching the deep things of God (1 Cor:2:10)

  1. Can you remember and describe the experience of being spiritually thirsty? What did that lead to?

  2. How does that experience of the Spirit in ‘deep places’ link to praise and worship? (Eph 5:18- 19)

  3. The opposite of living water in our innermost being is hardness of heart. What kind of things can lead to hardness of heart?

  4. How has the pandemic and lack of opportunity to worship with others affected your sense of Spiritual refreshment or need of it?

Read Psalm 41 as an act of worship and ask God to restore your soul where you need refreshment.

Holy Spirit Series: Water - Dwelling in the Spirit | Dave Mitchell at 11am | 16 May 2021

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

16 May 2021 - 11am Service

Holy Spirit Series: Water - Dwelling in the Spirit

This Sunday we continue our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Water - Dwelling in 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.

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 Rob Scott-Cook will be sharing a message with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 7: 37-39, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 2:10-15, Ephesians 5:18 and Psalm 41

The Holy Spirit is often compared to water, most famously by Jesus in John 7:37-39.

The Holy Spirit touches our deep places (Water)- worship, healing, intercession, revelation and is in our deep places (out of your belly will flow living water) but wells up in praise, prayer, prophecy, and in searching the deep things of God (1 Cor:2:10)

  1. Can you remember and describe the experience of being spiritually thirsty? What did that lead to?

  2. How does that experience of the Spirit in ‘deep places’ link to praise and worship? (Eph 5:18- 19)

  3. The opposite of living water in our innermost being is hardness of heart. What kind of things can lead to hardness of heart?

  4. How has the pandemic and lack of opportunity to worship with others affected your sense of Spiritual refreshment or need of it?

Read Psalm 41 as an act of worship and ask God to restore your soul where you need refreshment.

Student + Young Adult Worship Night

We’d love you to join our Student and Young Adults Worship Night on Thursday, 13th May from 7.30pm - 8.45pm.

Come and gather together for our first IN PERSON Worship Night where we will spend time in His presence together and reflect on the Sermon on the Mount, looking at the words of Jesus as recorded in Mathew 5, 6 and 7.

Yet another immersive experience hosted by the student and YA community - not to be missed. Book your seat online and we’ll see you on Thursday at 7.30pm.

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.

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 Church, Belgrave Road, Bristol BS8 2AA