Category: Resources

  • Peculiar People: A Christ-like Walk of Love

    Peculiar People: A Christ-like Walk of Love

    Our greatest achievement as Christians is not merely obeying verses, but “living a life that most reflects the way he would live if he were you”. This means transforming our hearts to “become lovers of others,” rather than simply conforming to information.


    As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a “peculiar people”. This “peculiar” walk often means that our faith and life choices may appear “foolish” when viewed through the lens of popular culture. Our walk is not merely about adhering to a static set of rules, but about believing what Jesus says about who we are, who He is, and about others, profoundly shaping how we interact with the world.

    There is a distinction between living a “biblical life” and a “Christ-like life”. A biblical life, as exemplified by the Pharisees, often focuses on obeying rules and preserving identity through “boundary markers of purity and law”. They were deeply committed and biblically literate, believing their unwavering pursuit of obedience to the Torah would trigger God’s promised resurrection and restoration. However, their interpretation of scripture (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) led them to believe Jesus was cursed by God because he was hung on a tree, and his followers were seen as idolatrous sinners preventing God from saving the nation. This outlook, based on Scriptural reasoning, sometimes led to coercive power and even violence.

    The Apostle Paul, then known as Saul, was once a Pharisee deeply convinced he was serving God’s will by persecuting early Christians, even giving permission for the stoning of Stephen. He believed that the presence of “sinners” among God’s people was the main obstacle to salvation. This demonstrates how a deep understanding of scripture, when applied as a “static text without its broader context,” can lead to actions contrary to God’s ultimate will.

    Paul’s life took a radical turn when he had an intimate encounter with God’s presence on the road to Damascus. This encounter transformed him from a man living a “biblical life” to one pursuing a “Christ-like life,” motivated by love rather than the perfect preservation of biblical law. The irony is that Paul, who once despised foreign cultures and sought to purify Israel, was now sent by God to preach salvation to those very nations.

    It was this transformed Paul who later wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:1-6, declaring that even if one possesses spiritual gifts, knowledge, or performs great deeds, “but do not have love, I am nothing” and “I gain nothing”. This reveals that “all actions and beliefs are secondary to the command to love sacrificially”. Paul understood that “Jesus had become the ultimate revelation of all truth in the bible through the life he lived,” and following Him meant being “driven by love,” not just pursuing perfect obedience to law.

    Jesus Himself lived out this peculiar love, often appearing “peculiar and even improper” to those focused on the law. He didn’t let “theological problems in the lives of others become more important than a person to love”. Where the law condemned, Jesus showed grace: healing on the Sabbath, dining with prostitutes and tax collectors, and protecting a woman caught in adultery from stoning, while the Pharisees cited the law. He also ministered to a Samaritan woman, breaking traditional lines of separation.

    C.S. Lewis stated, “It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God,” and that the Bible should not be used “as a sort of encyclopaedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons”. Our greatest achievement as Christians is not merely obeying verses, but “living a life that most reflects the way he would live if he were you”. This means transforming our hearts to “become lovers of others,” rather than simply conforming to information. The most important thing is “who you become,” as Dallas Willard believed. When we respond with love like Jesus, seeking to understand instead of judging like the Pharisees, we begin to “heal the root, not just the reaction”.

    Reflective Questions:

    1. Does my faith walk appear peculiar to popular culture?
    2. Where might my focus on rules hinder loving others?
    3. Am I pursuing a “biblical life” or a “Christ-like life”?
    4. How can I prioritize people over their theological problems or behaviors?
    5. What next step can I take to treat people as though Jesus died for them?

    What personal next step can you take?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us to be a peculiar people, transformed by Your love. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized law over love, and judgment over grace. Just as You transformed Paul, we pray for transformed hearts, that we may truly become lovers of others, not just conform to Your word. Help us to filter all scripture through the life of Jesus and to walk as He walked, demonstrating His love and grace to everyone we encounter. May our lives reflect the way Jesus would live if He were us, seeing hearts, healing roots, and extending Your unfailing love. Amen.

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  • Peculiar People – Walking by Faith

    Peculiar People – Walking by Faith

    the miracle you want to see may be determined by the words you’re walking on. The royal official didn’t wait for a miracle he could see; he walked into it by faith on what Jesus had said, because “no word from God will ever fail”. You may fail, but He won’t, so keep walking.


    The Bible describes Christians as a “peculiar people”. This designation isn’t about being strange for its own sake, but about living in a way that often appears foolish or illogical to the popular culture around us. This is because “God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish”. Our faith walk is unique, directed by divine wisdom rather than what makes sense to the world.

    Consider the story of a royal official from John’s gospel, chapter 4, whose son was critically ill in Capernaum. Hearing that Jesus had arrived, he desperately sought Him out, begging Jesus to come and heal his son who was “close to death”. Given his political status, his association with Jesus would have been highly noticeable, and perhaps even negatively perceived due to royal officers’ connections with Herod. His desperate pursuit of Jesus for his child’s healing might have been understandable to observers.

    However, Jesus’ response was direct and peculiar: “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”. And here begins the truly peculiar walk: “The man took Jesus at his word and departed”. Imagine the scene: he had come seeking a healer to bring back to his home, but he returned “empty handed as though his son no longer needed intervention”. People might have assumed Jesus rejected him or that he simply gave up. Yet, the truth was, he was choosing to walk in what Jesus said.

    His initial journey towards Jesus was driven by what he saw—his dying son and Jesus’ proven ability to heal others. But his walk home was directed by what Jesus said, even though it might have seemed “foolish” to those watching. Observers would likely question, “How do you trust someone’s words over and above what you’ve seen with your own eyes!”. This walk seemed “weird” because he wasn’t being directed by the situation he saw, but by the words Jesus spoke. This illustrates a profound truth: the opposite of faith is not fear, it’s control. When we can “make sense of things,” it often creates the illusion that we have a level of control. Walking by faith, therefore, means taking Jesus “at his word”—walking with “what he said” steps, not steps dictated by what we see, assume, or can logically comprehend.

    The royal official’s belief in Jesus’ words meant he walked home without expecting Jesus to be physically present for his son’s healing. His peculiar, faith-filled steps led him to the miraculous news that his “boy was living”. It’s important to recognize that his faith wasn’t necessarily a simple, unwavering confidence; he may have struggled and “clung to with every step” to a “thinning grasp” of hope. Even a “mustard seed of faith” that allows us to “continue to walk on what Jesus said” is enough, because “For no word from God will ever fail”.

    Often, the “abundant life in Christ” we are “waiting for, may actually require us walking into it”. This isn’t just about external practices, but about our internal posture. Do we truly walk as though we believe what Jesus says about who He is, who we are, and about others?. The royal official had to walk home with an “intentional posture of expectation,” even when it felt “unnatural to his own default beliefs and perceptions”. He walked “in between a bad situation he could see, and a miracle of healing he had only heard spoken”. Yet, the reward for walking in faith was a miracle he could see.

    In the scientific world, “gait analyses” study what a person’s walk reveals about them, linking it to personality, emotional state, and confidence. This prompts us to ask: “What would your spiritual stride say to someone about your faith if they were able to analyse it?”. Are we walking with a “what I see” stride, or a “He said” step?. For instance, do we walk seeing ourselves as a “broken mess,” or as “His beloved masterpiece” as He said?. Do we perceive God as a “disapproving parent,” or do we take steps in line with His word that “whoever comes to me I will never drive away”?. Do we see others as “dark forces” and seek vengeance, or do we step in line with His command to “love our enemy”?.

    What needs to change in your walk today? What “attitudes, false beliefs and negative narratives” need to stop directing your spiritual posture, and what “life-giving words from Jesus need to be paved walked on as the next step in your stride”?. Remember, the miracle you want to see may be determined by the words you’re walking on. The royal official didn’t wait for a miracle he could see; he walked into it by faith on what Jesus had said, because “no word from God will ever fail”. You may fail, but He won’t, so keep walking.

    Reflect:

    1. How does my daily “faith walk” presently appear to those “indifferent to Jesus” in my world, and does it reflect the “peculiar” nature described in 1 Peter 2:9?
    2. In what specific areas of my life am I currently directing my steps based on what I see (my circumstances, popular culture’s wisdom, or my own assumptions) rather than explicitly on “what He said”?
    3. Where do I need to release the “illusion of control” in a situation and choose to trust Jesus’ words, even when it feels “foolish” or “unnatural” to my default perceptions?
    4. Considering the “gait analyses” analogy, what might my current “spiritual stride” be communicating about my faith, especially regarding how I see myself, God, and others?
    5. What “life-giving words from Jesus” do I need to intentionally “walk on” as my next step, believing that the “miracle I want to see may be determined by the words I’m walking on” rather than waiting for it to appear first?

    What next step do you personally need to take?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unfailing Word. Grant us the courage to be a “peculiar people,” walking by faith and not by sight. Help us to take You at Your word, to step forward with a posture of expectation, even when our circumstances scream otherwise. Guide our “spiritual stride” so that it reflects our belief in who You are, who we are in You, and how we are to love others. May we always choose to walk on “what He said,” trusting that the miracles we long for may be waiting for us to walk into them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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  • Mary – A Faith for the Real World

    Mary – A Faith for the Real World

    Our lives are a puzzle, and down here, we only see “imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror”. Faith is trusting that the pieces we cannot fit together now will one day form a beautiful, complete picture.

    The life of Mary was filled with “once off” circumstances we can never imitate. A virgin birth, angelic visitations, shepherds and Magi at her doorstep, and the profound mystery of raising a child who would never sin—these events set her apart. It’s easy to place her on a pedestal, seeing her as inaccessible. Yet, the core question her story poses is, “How does it relate to us?”. The answer lies not in her unique circumstances, but in her deeply human and relatable faith as she navigated a life of unimaginable divine purpose. Her journey is a profound example of real, unwavering trust in the face of the unknown.

    At the very heart of her story is a simple, yet world-changing “yes.” The angel Gabriel appeared to a girl of perhaps only thirteen or fourteen with a message that defied all logic. She was betrothed, a legally binding arrangement, meaning a pregnancy outside of her union with Joseph would be considered adultery—a crime punishable by stoning. She was “greatly troubled” and afraid, yet her response was immediate and resolute: “I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled”. This was not a blind leap but an act of profound trust in the character of God, a choice to embrace His disruptive plan despite the immense personal risk and the certainty of scandal.

    Her journey immediately shows us that God does not leave us alone in our obedience. God’s kindness: “God knew Mary’s going to need a friend now”. Because who would believe her story? So the angel pointed her to her relative, Elizabeth. The moment Mary walked in the door, Elizabeth shouted in confirmation, “How privileged I am that the mother of my Lord has come to visit me!”. In that moment, God provided the comfort, confirmation, and community she desperately needed. This pattern of provision continued, as the Magi’s gifts of gold would later fund her family’s flight to Egypt, fulfilling scripture and keeping her son safe.

    However, faith does not exempt us from confusion or pain. Mary had to learn that while she was Jesus’ mother, she also had to become his disciple, a “big transition to make”. Imagine the panic of losing the twelve-year-old Son of God for three days, only to find Him in the temple. Her worried cry, “Didn’t you know we were worried about you?” was met with his perplexing response about being in his “Father’s business.” The scripture says she “did not understand,” but she “treasured everything in her heart”. This treasuring of mysteries would culminate in the ultimate pain, a pain foretold thirty-three years earlier when Simeon prophesied that “a sword would pierce her soul”. This prophecy became her reality as she stood at the cross, watching her son become a “bloody pulp, unrecognizable”.

    This is where her story intersects most powerfully with our own: the reality of suffering. It is often “totally inexplicable” and not something we deserve. When we suffer, it is not because “God is mad at you”. Rather, God uses it.

    “When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold”.

    Job 23:10

    Suffering has a purifying effect. In a stunning paradox, the Bible says that even Jesus, who was perfect, “learned obedience through the things that he suffered”. If He did, how much more do we? Our lives are a puzzle, and down here, we only see “imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror”. Faith is trusting that the pieces we cannot fit together now will one day form a beautiful, complete picture.

    Ultimately, Mary is not a model we are called to imitate in detail, but an “example of a real person who trusted God as an individual”. The challenge is to ask, “What can I learn from Mary about living in faith in my real world?”. If she were here, she would tell us: “You can trust Him, even though life doesn’t turn out as expected. He is good and faithful, and He keeps His promises”. He knows your name, He holds you in His hands, and He will bring you safely home.

    Reflect:

    1. Mary said “yes” to God despite knowing the potential consequences. When have you felt God asking you to do something that felt frightening or uncertain? What can you learn from Mary’s immediate trust?
    2. God provided Mary with a supportive friend and confirmation in Elizabeth just when she needed it. Who has God placed in your life to encourage and support your faith during a difficult season? Take a moment to thank God for them.
    3. Mary experienced the deep pain of watching her son suffer, a pain foretold as a “sword” piercing her soul. Reflect on a time of suffering in your own life. How does the idea that suffering can have a “purifying effect” change your perspective on that experience?
    4. The sermon uses the analogy of life being a puzzle where we only see some pieces now. What parts of your life feel like confusing “puzzle pieces” right now? How can you practice trusting that “one day all those puzzle pieces are going to be filled in”?
    5. The final challenge is not to ask “How can I be like Mary?” but “What can I learn from Mary about living in faith in my real world?”. What is one practical lesson from her trust in God that you can apply to your own unique life this week?

    What personal next step can you take?

    Closing Prayer

    Father, we thank you for the example of Mary—for her courage, her trust, and her faithfulness in a life that did not turn out as she might have expected. Help us to trust you as she did.

    Now unto You, who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

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  • Peculiar People: Navigating AI with Wisdom and Faith

    Peculiar People: Navigating AI with Wisdom and Faith

    Such emotional dependence can distort our identity and cause us to forget our necessary dependence on one another within the church community and our total dependence on Jesus Christ.

    In a world increasingly shaped by technology, we are called to be “peculiar people”. The Bible describes Christians as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). Our faith walk, rooted in God’s wisdom, may often appear foolish when compared to popular culture’s understanding. As we step into new realities, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is vital to navigate our future as followers of Jesus with intentional wisdom.

    Jesus, understanding the difficulties of human life, especially for those aligning with His will over worldly culture, prayed for us. He prayed that though we are in the world, we do not belong to it, and that we would be kept safe from the evil one (John 17:14-18 NLT). We are sent into the world with purpose, like “sheep among wolves,” and Jesus instructs us to be “as wise as snakes and as harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NIVR). This means exercising cunning and street-smarts in the face of danger, much like a snake, while maintaining the purity and peace of a dove, allowing us to proclaim truth without compromise. This wisdom is echoed by Paul, who urged early Christians to be “wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong” (Romans 16:19 NLT).

    A crucial aspect of this wisdom is recognizing and avoiding danger. The book of Proverbs states, “Wise people see danger and go to a safe place. But childish people keep on going and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NIVR). This principle applies to our interaction with AI. While not inherently against AI, or suggesting it’s the end of the world, the concern is similar to Jesus’ teaching about money: “You cannot serve two masters, you will either serve God or money.” Jesus wasn’t against people having money; “he was against money having them”. The same potential threat exists with AI – we must ensure it doesn’t “have” us.

    Leading computer scientists like Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, often referred to as “Godfathers of AI,” have expressed significant concerns. Hinton warned of problems including AI-generated misinformation and loss of human control. Bengio compared AI’s dangerous potential to a pandemic, noting its rapid intelligence doubling and tendencies for deception and cheating.

    One subtle yet profound danger to our spiritual well-being is the growing emotional dependence on AI. The Harvard Business Review noted that in 2025, the number one reason people use ChatGPT is for therapy and companionship. Studies from OpenAI and MIT Media Lab found that heavy chatbot users experienced negative outcomes, including increased loneliness, reduced real socialisation, and more signs of emotional dependence. This emotional dependence can lead to a shift where “you go from having AI as a support, to AI having you”.

    This dependence can manifest in serious ways. Reports highlight a phenomenon called “ChatGPT induced psychosis,” where users begin to believe their AI is a “sapient spiritual guide,” or even a god. Mental health providers are observing clients with amplified symptoms initiated by prolonged AI interaction, such as:

    • Grandiose delusions (“The AI said I’m chosen to spread truth.”)
    • Paranoia (“It warned me that others are spying.”)
    • Disassociation (“It understands me better than any human.”)
    • Compulsive engagement (“I can’t stop talking to it.”)

    In severe cases, individuals have been hospitalized or arrested due to behavior driven by these chatbot-fueled beliefs. AI should function as a supportive tool, a “product,” but we must be careful not to blur the lines into emotional dependence, treating it like a person. This shift can be subtle, and if we are wise, we will see the danger and adjust our course.

    Such emotional dependence can distort our identity and cause us to forget our necessary dependence on one another within the church community and our total dependence on Jesus Christ. Many signs of emotional dependence on AI mirror what we are called to find in Christ: the belief that life lacks meaning without the other, inability to find happiness or security alone, feelings of emptiness, and needing the other to build self-esteem and self-worth. This risks transferring our dependence on a perfect Savior to software that “behaves perfectly according to our preferences,” deceiving us into thinking it understands us more than anyone, including God.

    Paul’s warning in Romans 1:21-26 (NIRV) cautions against humanity turning from the Creator to worship created things. AI, designed by humans, can build responses around our preferences, making it seem like a perfect companion. It’s possible that for many, AI could become an idol—an “all knowing, ever present and ready to hear our prayers into the device from which it will respond in our favour, always”. This is a danger we must avoid: our devotion as Christ followers must never be misplaced through subtle dependence on artificial intelligence.

    The early church devoted themselves to one another, understanding that true devotion within the community allows for:

    • The unique manifestation of God’s presence (“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20 NIV)
    • Emotional healing (“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” – James 5:16 NIV)
    • Physical healing (“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” – James 5:14 NIV)
    • Personal growth (“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

    Author Jay Y. Kim emphasizes that “true human connection is fuelled by empathy,” requiring “patience, depth, and the risk of stepping into real community with real people and their real lives in real time and in real space”. This is what we are called to prioritize and protect. The goal is not to be for or against AI, but to cultivate intentional awareness in our lives, empowering us to walk by faith into our future.


    Reflect:

    1. How does the concept of being a “peculiar people” resonate with your daily life, especially in light of popular culture’s views on faith and technology?
    2. Jesus called us to be “wise as snakes and harmless as doves.” In what areas of your life, particularly concerning modern technology like AI, do you need to exercise this wisdom to navigate potential dangers without losing your “dove-like innocence”?
    3. The sources warn against emotional dependence on AI, suggesting it can lead to loneliness, disassociation, and even a distorted sense of identity. How can you intentionally protect your emotional and spiritual well-being by prioritizing real human connection and your dependence on Jesus?
    4. Considering the caution against AI becoming an “idol” in our lives, what practices or beliefs might subtly shift our devotion from God to created things, and how can we actively guard against such misplacement of devotion?
    5. The early church devoted themselves to one another for various forms of healing and growth. How can you deepen your commitment to true human connection within your community, prioritizing “patience, depth, and the risk of stepping into real community with real people”?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your timeless wisdom that guides us in every age. We pray for discernment as we navigate the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. Help us to be wise as snakes and harmless as doves, recognizing potential dangers to our spiritual well-being and adjusting our course to avoid harm. Guard our hearts from subtly shifting our dependence from You, our true Creator, to created things or software. Prevent us from falling into emotional dependence on AI, and instead, deepen our reliance on Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whom we find all meaning, happiness, and security. Empower us to prioritize genuine human connection, fostering empathy, healing, and growth within our communities, just as the early church did. May our lives truly reflect being “peculiar people,” set apart for Your glory in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube