Sandyhills Parish Church:Reaching out to the community.

Romans 5:8 is a verse that states, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". This verse highlights the unconditional and sacrificial nature of God's love, showing that Christ's death was a demonstration of love while humanity was still ungodly and sinful.  Ephesians 2:10 states that believers are God's "workmanship" or "masterpiece," created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared in advance. The verse emphasizes that these good works are not for earning salvation, which is a gift of grace, but are the purpose for which believers are saved.  

Philippians 2:12,13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Haggai 2:20-23 is a prophetic passage where God promises a future of ultimate victory and stability, shaking the nations and establishing His kingdom through the line of David, symbolized by Zerubbabel. God declares that Zerubbabel will be like a signet ring, signifying his divine authority and importance as a placeholder for the coming Messiah. This prophecy provides hope and a vision of God's future kingdom, encouraging the people to remain faithful and obedient, as their actions are part of God's plan to bring about His purposes. 

Haggi 2:10-19 Having listened to the priests' rulings carefully, Haggai spoke on God's behalf to apply this principle to the people of Judah as a whole: holy things don't make unclean things holy by touch, but unclean things defile whatever they touch. Haggai makes a comparison between the people of Judah and an unclean person.

Haggi 2:1-9 God is saying that he made a promise to his people to be with them 1000 years ago and nothing has changed. Just because so much time has gone by, God will still be faithful to his promise. We sometimes can feel like the promises of God in the scriptures are so old that they cannot be relevant.

In Haggai 1:12-15, God's Word also accomplishes its purposes. In the first verses of Haggai we saw how Yahweh called out his people on their failures. They had returned from exile in Babylon and made a good start. But fifteen years later, we see that they have failed to keep their priorities straight.

Consider your ways What is the meaning of Haggai 1:1-11? Well, here Haggai brings the Word of God to bear on the circumstances of the Jews. Not simply the Word of God as it was delivered to them by Haggai and Zechariah, but as well the Word of God that long before had promised poor harvests if God's people were not faithful to his covenant with them.

Ephesians 3:20 declares God's immense power, stating He can "do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think". The verse emphasizes His ability to answer prayers and fulfill hopes in ways far beyond human comprehension, utilizing the power already working within believers. This scripture highlights the boundless nature of God's ability and is ultimately a statement of praise for His glory. Revelation. 3:15-16,Ephesians 3:20-21, Ephesians 4:17-18,2 Corinthians 5:16-17, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

Exodus 17:8-16 recounts the battle at Rephidim, where the nomadic Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Joshua led the fighting against the Amalekites with the sword, while Moses, accompanied by Aaron and Hur, stood on a nearby hill holding the staff of God. When Moses's hands were raised, Israel prevailed, but when they lowered, Amalek gained the upper hand. Aaron and Hur supported Moses's arms until sunset, securing Israel's victory through this teamwork. God commanded Moses to record this event as a memorial, and Moses built an altar and named it "The Lord is My Banner" (Jehovah-Nissi), signifying God's eternal battle against the Amalekites. 

Galatians 5:1-6 Focus on how Christians should live in response to those truths. In short, we must resist being dragged away from the freedom we have in Christ to follow the law. We must also resist wasting our freedom on serving our sinful desires instead of serving others in love

Luke 10:25-37 The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) teaches the moral lesson of loving your neighbour as yourself, even if they are different from you or even an enemy. It emphasises that true love and compassion are demonstrated through actions, especially towards those in need, regardless of their background or social standing. The parable challenges the idea of limiting "neighbour" to those we know or those who are like us. 

Matthew 12:25-26. The demons are a kingdom divided against themselves. Jesus is addressing a challenge that the demon He had just cast out of this person had been cast out by Satan. James 1:5-8 teaches that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God for it, who gives generously and without reproach. However, when asking, they should believe and not doubt, as a doubter is like a wave of the sea, unstable and unable to receive anything from the Lord.  + Mark11:22-24, Hebrews 11:6, Galatians 5:16, Jude 20:22

Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus uses the parable of the two builders to illustrate the importance of building one's life on a firm foundation of obedience to his teachings. This parable emphasizes that true faith is not just about hearing Jesus's words but also about putting them into practice.  1 Corinthins 3:11-15Jesus lays that groundwork for believers when they receive His salvation. Christ's saving grace gives His followers a new life. Sins are wiped away so that we have a clean “work site,” so to speak. Empowered by Jesus' strength and wisdom, we can build on His foundation.

Hebrews 12:1–2 Reminds Us To Look To Jesus In other words, let's live this life of faith that he has called us to with joy, knowing it's not always easy, but that's the whole picture. Jesus endured the cross, scorning, and shame. He sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 6:22-71 describes Jesus' discourse after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, where he identifies himself as the "bread of life" and emphasizes the necessity of believing in him for eternal life. Many in the crowd, however, struggle with this concept, focusing instead on physical sustenance and questioning his teachings. 

Matthew 16:5-12 Jesus warns his disciples to be wary of the "yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees," which they initially misunderstand as literal bread yeast. Jesus clarifies that he's referring to their deceptive teachings, not the bread itself. He uses the disciples' forgetfulness about the previous miraculous feedings to illustrate their lack of understanding and faith. 

Acts 4:1-22  .. describes the arrest and subsequent questioning of Peter and John by religious leaders in Jerusalem. The passage focuses on their bold declaration of Jesus's resurrection and healing power, despite facing opposition from the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees. The leaders are disturbed by the apostles' teaching about resurrection and the healing of a lame man, and they fear the growing influence of the apostles. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, fearlessly proclaims that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised from the dead. The leaders are astonished by their boldness and decide to threaten them and charge them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus anymore. However, they ultimately release Peter and John because they cannot find a way to punish them due to the people's praise for the miracle.

Luke 15:1-32 in the Bible contains the famous parable of the Prodigal Son. It tells the story of a son who wastes his inheritance, faces hardship, and returns home to be welcomed and celebrated by his father. This parable is one of three stories Jesus tells in Luke 15 to illustrate God's love and mercy for the lost. The other two are the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin.

Acts 2:1-21, which describes the events of Pentecost, signifies the birth of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It highlights God's work through communities, the empowerment of individuals through the Spirit for speech, and the affirmation of diversity. The passage also points to the need to share the gospel in a way that is accessible and relevant to diverse cultural contexts. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Paul's explanation of benefits and opportunities tied to generous giving. The key point is that godly giving is a Christlike act of grace. God does not intend giving to be done as an obligation, or under a cloud of legalism. v15 Paul's message of generosity is also in 2 Corinthians 9:15. He speaks to the Corinthian believers about being cheerful givers and reminds them that their offerings serve to meet the needs of others and to bring thanksgiving and glory to God.