The Flourishing Vine

We’ve reached the end of the church calendar year with Christ the King Sunday, and so that means we’ve reached the end of this season of the Flourishing Vine podcast. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope it’s provided you with encouragement in your faith, a deeper level of worship of Jesus and appreciation of God’s love for you. Hymn: "Rejoice, the Lord is King" (Charles Wesley, 1707-1788) Bible passages: Psalm 93; Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jesus continues to lead us through life's winding way, so we can sing "through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way". Hymn: "All the Way My Saviour Leads Me" (Fanny Crosby, 1875) Bible passages: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 Peter 1:3-9 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17) God surrounds us with his love, his unchanging presence guarding us through changing seasons. In our uncertainty we can trust that he knows where he is leading us, as he sets before us the hope of eternal glory. Hymn: "In heavenly love abiding" (Anna Laetitia Waring, 1850) Bible passage: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18 Prayer: Jude 24-25 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Our heavenly Father continues to walk with us through the struggles of life, leading us in his sovereign wisdom, sustaining us by his power, and tenderly caring for us by his love. Hymn: "I look to thee in every need" (Samual Longfellow, 1864) Bible passages: Psalm 16; Philippians 4:11b-20 Prayer: Ephesians 3:14-21

The second half of the Christian calendar between Pentecost and Advent is known as "Ordinary Time", so named because of the ordinal numbers by which the weeks are counted. It is a time for ongoing growth and transformation as followers of Christ, seeking to walk with him more closely as he builds his kingdom and establishes his reign in our hearts and throughout the world. This period moves towards the Christ the King Sunday in the final week of Ordinary Time. Hymn: "Speak, Lord, in the Stillness" (Emily May Grimes, 1868-1927) Bible Passages: Psalm 84; John 6:56-69

On Trinity Sunday we recognise and celebrate the nature of the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - one in three and three in one, reigning forever. Hymn: "Holy God, We Praise Your Name" (Ignaz Franz, 1771; translated by Clarence A. Walworth, 1858) Bible passage: Ephesians 1:3-14

At Pentecost we celebrate God pouring out the Holy Spirit - the Comforter, Advocate and Guide - the Spirit of Christ to dwell in the hearts of all believers. Hymn: "Come, O Come Thou Quickening Spirit" (Heinrich Held, 1664; translated by Charles Schaeffer, 1866) Bible passages: Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:10-17

This episode celebrates the ascension of the Lord Jesus as the risen, reigning, eternal Saviour and King of heaven, glorified and praised forever! Features all 12 verses of "Crown Him With Many Crowns"! Hymn: "Crown Him With Many Crowns" (Matthew Bridges (1851) and Godfrey Thring (1874)) Bible Passages: Luke 24:50-53; Colossians 3:1-4 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Hymn: "Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!" (John S. B. Monsell, 1811-1875) Bible Passages: Matthew 28:1-10; 1 Peter 1:3-9 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jesus is crucified. Hymn: "Jesus, the Crucified, pleads for me" (W. J. Sparrow-Simpson, 1859-1952)

Walk with Jesus into the garden of Gethsemane as he prays to the Father on that fateful night - the night before the cross. Poem: "See the weeping Saviour's anguish" (original, 2024)

Hosanna! Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. Hymn: "All glory, laud, and honour" (Theodulph of Orleans, 820, translated by John M. Neale, 1854)

As we continue to journey through Lent towards Easter, we humbly call out to our Saviour Jesus to meet us in our need. Hymn: "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour" (Fanny J. Crosby, 1868) Bible passage: Psalm 86 Prayer: (original) Lord Jesus, Loving and gentle Saviour, Source of all comfort and life, We come to you, poor and needy. Hear our cry, and come to us. Remember us according to your mercy. Meet our needs, forgive our sins, heal our wounds. Lead us to follow you with all trust and dependence, and fix our hearts on you through all seasons of life. Amen. Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Lent is a time of repentance, as we confess and turn away from our sin, and renew our faith and love for God. Hymn: "Sinful, sighing to be blest" (John S. B. Monsell, 1857) Bible passage: Psalm 51:1-12 Closing prayer: Jude 24-25 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Lent is a time of reflection as we ask God to search our hearts. Hymn: Search me O God (Francis Bottome, 1823-1894) Bible Passages: Psalm 139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Hebrews 4:12-13 Prayer: Psalm 119:169-176 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Today marks the beginning of the season of Lent as we journey towards Easter. Hymn: Come, let us to the Lord (John Morrison, 1781) Bible passages: Psalm 90:1-2, 10; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Joel 2:12-13; Hosea 6:1-3 Prayer: (original) Eternal God, righteous and holy, gracious and merciful, We come to you humbly with repentant hearts. May this season of Lent be one of inward renewal. Search us, O God. Teach us our mortality and remember our feeble frames. Forgive us our sins and wash us clean. Heal our wounds and bind us up. Break the hold that the idols have over us and help us to worship you. Free us from worldly passions, and increase our desire for Christ. Lead us by your Holy Spirit into the transforming power of your grace, that we may draw near to you through your Son Jesus, the one who suffered in our place, died and was raised again. We ask in his name, Amen. Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Epiphany is when we celebrate Christ in his appearing as King of all nations when the wise men came to worship him. Hymn: As with gladness men of old (William Chatterton Dix, 1859) Bible passages: Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-3 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Happy New Year! Whatever 2023 looked like for you, and whatever 2024 has in store, our God is always with us, faithful and true, and we can trust in his promises as we move into another year. Hymn: Standing at the portal of the opening year (Frances Ridley Havergal, 1873) Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 43:1-3 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Merry Christmas! Good news of great joy for all people - the Saviour of the world is born. He is Christ the Lord. Hymn: Christians, awake! by John Byrom (1749) Bible passages: Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14 Prayer: original Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

After journeying through the season of Advent, we arrive at this wondrous night, when that good news of great joy is announced, and the Saviour of the world is born. Hymn: "All praise to Thee, Eternal Lord" by Martin Luther (1524) Bible passages: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 1:26-38 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.