Severn's All You Can Eat Buffet

Day 15 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: Jesus said that you don’t have life without eating and drinking him in – how do you feel about this?---This made the Jews argue and dispute with each other, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in them. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven - not like the manna our fathers ate - they died. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things in the synagogue while he taught in Capernaum.When they heard, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard idea! Who can take it in?”But, knowing that his disciples were complaining about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this grab you as offensive? Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh counts for nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and life. But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn’t believe and trust him, and who would betray him. He said, “This is why I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless they are enabled by my Father.”After that, many of his disciples went back and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the twelve, “You don’t want to leave too, do you?”Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” Now he was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, one of the twelve but about to betray him.

Day 14 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: What does it mean to you that Jesus is the bread of life?---When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts and leads to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal on him.”So they said to him, “What must we do, so we can be doing the works of God?”Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe and trust in the one he has sent.”So they said to him, “What are you doing as a sign, so we can see and believe you? What work will you do? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”So they said to him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not go hungry, and whoever believes and trusts in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe.“Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. Whoever comes to me I will never, ever reject. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise it all up at the last day. This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes and trusts in him should have eternal life; and I will raise them up at the last day.”This made the Jews whisper and grumble about Jesus, because he said, “I am the bread which came down out of heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, ‘I have come down out of heaven?’”So Jesus answered them, “Don’t grumble amongst yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them; and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears from the Father and has learnt, comes to me.“Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. Most certainly, I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, they will live forever. And the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Day 13 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: Imagine you’re at sea right now – that might be how you are feeling about something difficult. What would it be like for Jesus to get into your boat?---When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. They got into the boat and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was dark now, and Jesus had not come to them. The sea was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid.But he said to them, “It is me, I’m here, I am. Don’t be afraid.” So they willingly took him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were going.The next day, the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea realised that there had only been one boat there, and that Jesus hadn’t entered the boat with his disciples, but his disciples had gone away alone. But then, other boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. When the crowd saw that Jesus and his disciples were not there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

If you were expecting a big inheritance, how would it affect the way you live today? Jack Saunders looks at the hope promised to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah and asks what hope we might carry through our faith in Jesus now. People following Jesus who have expected movements of renewal typically pray and invest in making disciples, especially looking to equip young people. What can we learn from this that will help us to play our parts in God’s bigger plans for now and the future?

Day 12 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: Imagine being hungry and part of the crowd, close enough to see what was going on here – would you have expected nothing, a bite of food, or a feast? How would you feel by the end of the meal?---After this, Jesus went to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd followed him because they saw his signs and miracles healing the sick. Jesus went up the mountainside, and he sat there with his disciples.Now the Jewish Passover festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where are we going to buy bread, so these can eat?” Jesus said this to test Philip, because Jesus knew what he would do.Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages wouldn’t get enough bread for everyone just to have a little bite.”One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter’s brother Andrew, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these between so many people?”Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was lots of grass there. So the people sat down – just counting the men, there were five thousand. Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he gave them out to the disciples, and the disciples gave them out to the people who were sitting down. They did the same with the fish – everyone had as much as they wanted. When people were full up, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken leftover pieces, so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve big baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.When the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus had done, they said, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.” Knowing that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Day 11 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: What does it mean to go to Jesus for life, and not just the Scriptures, church leaders or your favourite authors?---“If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. It is another who testifies about me. I know that his testimony about me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. It’s not that I am taking human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. John was the lamp that kept burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than John’s; for the works which the Father gave me to finish, t he very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have never heard his voice or seen his form. You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe the one he sent.“You keep on examining the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life in them; and those Scriptures do testify about me. But you still won’t come to me to have life. I don’t take glory from men. But I know you, and you don’t have God’s love in you.“I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If someone else comes in their own name, you will receive them. How can you believe, when you are giving and taking glory from each other, and you aren’t seeking the glory that comes from the only God?“Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is your source of hope - Moses. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Day 10 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: Who has the most authority in your life? Whose word or lead do you trust most to deal with conflicting ideas or judgements you have to make?---Later on, there was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, and has five porches. In these lay a great number of people who were sick, blind, lame, or paralysed, waiting for the water to move, because an angel went down into the pool and stirred up the water at times. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease they had. A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?”The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I’m coming, someone else steps down ahead of me.”Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”Immediately, the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and walked.Now that day was a Sabbath. So the Jews kept saying to the man who was healed, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”He answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” But the man who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into crowd there.Later, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Look, you are healed. Stop sinning, so that nothing worse happens to you.”The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”This made the Jews even more determined to kill Jesus, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.So Jesus answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing that comes from himself, only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does the same way. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him everything he does. And the Father will show him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, the Son also gives life to whoever he wants. For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgement to the Son, so that everyone will honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.“Truly, truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, they now have eternal life, and do not come into judgement, but they have passed over from death into life. Truly, truly I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, he also gave to the Son to have life in himself. And the Father gave the Son authority to judge, because he is a son of man. Don’t be surprised about this, for the time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and they will come out; those who have done good, to a resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to a resurrection of judgement.“I can do nothing by my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is correct, because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.”

What is prayer, and how does it work when we pray or intercede for other people? Owen Lynch and Bern Leckie discuss experiences of this, including times when prayer has changed things - often the person praying.What can happen when we form habits of praying for others and ask, in Jesus' words, for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done? And can it make a difference when we don't just pray alone, but pray together with other people?

Day 9 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: How has Jesus ever surprised you with what he can do? How would you want him to?---After two days, Jesus left there and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself declared that a prophet has no honour in his own country. So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him - they had seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, because they were there too. So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee, where he had made the water into wine.There was a certain royal official whose son was sick in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, the official went to Jesus and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was at the point of death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe a thing.”The official pleaded with him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”Jesus said to him, “Go on your way. Your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him, and he went on his way. While he was on his journey, his servants met him and reported, “Your boy lives!” So he asked them the time when his son began to get better. They told him, “Yesterday at 1pm, the fever left him.” Then the father realised that this was the time when Jesus said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.This was the second sign that Jesus performed, after coming from Judea into Galilee.

Day 8 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: How much are you trying to get done by your own initiative at the moment? How much could God be guiding you to be part of something bigger than you can do alone?---Just then, his disciples came. They were amazed that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why do you speak with her?” So the woman left her water pot, went away into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a man who has told me everything I’ve ever done. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city, and came to him.Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest?’ Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, they are white for harvest already. Whoever reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you haven’t worked for. Others have worked, and you have reaped the results of their work.”Many of the Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything I’ve ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you said; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Day 7 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: Is Jesus is starting a conversation with you?---When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had been told that he was making and baptising more disciples than John (although Jesus himself didn’t baptise, his disciples did this), Jesus left Judea and went back to Galilee. He needed to pass through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food.The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)Jesus answered her, “If you knew about God’s gift, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it, him and his children and his livestock?”Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give them will never thirst again; the water that I will give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I won’t get thirsty, or have to keep coming all the way here to draw.”Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.”The woman answered, “I have no husband.”Jesus said to her, “You were right to say, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands; and the man you have now is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You don’t know what you worship. We do know what we worship; for salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming, the Christ, the anointed one. When he has come, he will tell us everything.”Jesus said to her, “That’s who I am, speaking to you.”

Day 6 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: From your perspective, what difference does it make that God gives from heaven?---After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptised. John also was baptising in Enon near Salim because there was much water there. People came and were baptised; for John had not yet been thrown into prison. A dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew about purification. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you have testified about - look, he is baptising, and everyone is coming to him.”John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves witnessed that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So my joy is made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.“The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies about what he has seen and heard; and yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony has signed up to this, that God is true. For the one God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without limits. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life – instead, the wrath of God waits over him.”

What nutrition do we need to be healthy, physically or spiritually? Owen Lynch looks at the role of what we feed on, and the surprising claim from Jesus that he is real food and drink for us. What does it mean to practise feeding on Jesus?

Day 5 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: What does it mean to you to have new life because of Jesus?---Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler among the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless someone is born again, they will never see God’s Kingdom.”Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he re-enter his mother’s womb to be born?”Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God’s Kingdom. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”Jesus answered him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and you don’t understand these things? Most certainly I tell you, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, and you don’t accept our testimony. If you didn’t believe when I told you earthly things, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not judged. Whoever does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, for fear that their works would be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes to the light, so that their works may be revealed as being accomplished in God.”

Day 4 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: What would it be like to see Jesus perform a miracle in person?---On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time has not yet come.”His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”Now there were six stone water pots there, for Jewish ceremonial washing, that could hold twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. Then Jesus said, “Now draw some out, and take it to the head waiter.” So they took it.When the head waiter tasted the water which had turned into wine, and didn’t know where it came from (only the servants who had drawn the water knew), the head waiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have had a skinful, they serve the not-so-good wine. But you have kept the good wine until now!”What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee, was the first of his signs revealing his glory; and his disciples believed in him.After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.The Jewish Passover was getting near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple, he found the people who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables. He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen; and he scattered the money changers’ coins and overturned their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”So the Jews responded, “What sign can you show us? What’s your authority to do these things?”Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”The Jews said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! You are going to raise it up in three days?” But Jesus spoke about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had said.Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name after seeing his signs. But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them because he knew what people are like, and because he didn’t need anyone to testify about human nature; Jesus already knew what is in each human heart.

Day 3 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: What first excited you about Jesus? What makes you want to know him better today?---Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus walking, and said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?”They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”He said to them, “Come and see.”They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about 4pm. One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew found Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which means Christ). Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter, or rock).On the next day, Jesus decided to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found the one that Moses in the law and the prophets wrote about: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”Philip said to him, “Come and see.”Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Look, here is a true Israelite, with no deceit in him!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?”Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” Then Jesus said, “Most certainly, I tell you all, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Day 2 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten-minute podcast is part reading, part music, and part silence, all designed to help you create a space to picture and feel the scene with Jesus in it. You can use this space in lots of ways, including meditation, prayer, re-reading the passage or thinking about what it means for you today.Today's reflection: Imagine hope is not just an idea in your head, but a person you can see – and you have just recognised them for the first time. How do you feel, and what do you do?---This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and declared, “I am not the Christ.”They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”“Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”So they said to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then do you baptise if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”John answered them, “I baptise in water, but amongst you stands one you don’t know. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, because he was before me.’ I didn’t know him, but this is why I came baptising in water, so that he would be revealed to Israel.”John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. I didn’t recognise him, but the one who sent me to baptise in water said to me, ‘You will see the Spirit descending and remaining on the one who baptises in the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Day 1 of 47 going through John's gospel - more info at https://www.severnvineyard.org/time-space-jesusWhat could happen if you take time and make space with Jesus today? This ten minute podcast includes a reading, some instrumental music and some silence to help create that space, for you to use as you like. Today's suggestion for reflection: what does it mean to you that God has been revealed?---In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was there, in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness, to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was sent to testify about the light. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.He was in the world, and although the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him. But to those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become God’s children: born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh or man, but born of God.The Word became flesh and lived amongst us. We saw his glory, the glory belonging to the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about him, crying out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realised through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the closest intimacy with the Father, has revealed him.

What do we have to do to earn God’s acceptance? Owen Lynch looks at the difference between a religion driven by rules and regulations and the unconditional love of God demonstrated by Jesus and written about through much of the Bible. Jesus embraced groups who were on the fringes of society, including women, the poor and the unclean with apparently limitless love. Could we have been missing this love while distracted by other issues?

What is God like? Can we really trust that he is good? Claire Lynch looks at some difficult situations which would make us question this and how Jesus’ love and faithfulness might start to provide answers. Looking at the relationship Jesus led followers to cultivate with Father God, could this provide a context for us to learn God’s character? And instead of simply telling ourselves to believe that God is good, what would happen if we began a list of things that make life wonderful that we’d like to thank him for?

Have you ever had an encounter with Christ Jesus in nature? Owen Lynch looks at how prominently nature featured in the Psalms and was woven into Jesus’ teaching as well as Old Testament stories. Do we tend to separate spiritual and physical things, or can we learn from looking for God’s nature in the world and universe around us? This talk concludes with a visual meditation on Psalm 104, which you can do using the video and notes at Severn Vineyard's Bible Meditations page here: https://www.severnvineyard.org/bible-meditations/2023/1/22/psalm-104-visual-meditation

How scary is it to launch into new things? Owen Lynch looks at how fear gripped some of God’s people when they saw a daunting job ahead of them. Church planting also feels difficult, but Severn Vineyard exists because some people moved from jobs and communities in Nottingham, and now Severn and Field Vineyards are planting Lighthouse Vineyard in Totterdown, Bristol. Owen talks with the leaders and a family who are moving from Severn to Lighthouse to help start this new church.

How and where can we encounter Christ? Owen Lynch looks at the story of Saul who had a famous roadside meeting with the risen Jesus but later wrote about how God revealed his son "in me". Taking on his new name, Paul asked others, "Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you?" Could the life, breath and word of God also be in you? How would it change our lives to believe that we are made in God's image and have never been separate from God?

Owen Lynch interviews Dan Morrice about his experiences of finding God at work in dramatic situations, including the rescue of over 30 trapped miners in Chile. Dan shares about the heights of discovery and creativity, followed by the valleys of dealing with long COVID, and how he has encountered Christ in this range of life experience.

What kind of King is God? Claire Lynch asks if God really gives us free will or tries to manipulate and force us to obey, and punish us if we don't. If we can tell what God is like by looking at Jesus, his version of being a King seemed unexpected - instead of dominating by force, he emptied himself out in self-giving love and radical servanthood. Do we also carry this image of God in us? What does it mean for our lives if we embrace that, or if we don't? This talk concludes with a Lectio Divina meditation on Philippians 2:5-11.

How is God's work in us life changing when we are under pressure? Susie Aldridge from Dreaming the Impossible looks at how Paul remembered that we don't have to deny our difficulties or fragility but can maintain our sense of value and resilience because of what God has placed in us. This gives us power in present weakness and hope for the future. If we're focusing on temporary things instead, what difference would it make to fix our eyes on eternal stuff, and how can we do that in practice?

How can we recognise God’s presence, and where can we find this? Owen Lynch looks at ways Israel learned to follow and enshrine the presence of God, but also recognise when it seemed to be absent. Was their longing for its return fulfilled in Christ? What would this mean for us if it was? And when the writers of the New Testament point to Christ’s involvement in all of creation, does this mean we can learn to see Christ in everyone and everything? This talk concludes with a time of contemplation for us to engage with these huge questions.

What kind of person do we imagine Jesus to be? Jason Whiley looks at a way Jesus was described in the gospel stories which might surprise us, and what we might be able to learn from following Jesus' example of finding quiet places to reflect and pray. There is an example of a restful centering prayer to follow at the end.

What shapes your image of God? Claire Lynch looks at different ways people see God and how looking at Jesus can be a way to understand God. This was a surprising challenge to religious leaders in Jesus’ time, and Jesus told a famous story about God’s love and fatherhood which was a shocking contrast with what many expected. Could meeting the extravagantly loving and scandalously forgiving Father Jesus spoke about change your view of God?

Owen Lynch interviews Sam Sayer about her life journey of faith, work and health. Clips from the podcast “The Bristolian Refugee” are included - find more about this at https://thebristolcable.org/2022/09/podcast-listen-the-bristolian-refugee-by-sam-sayer/ 

Fear can play a big part in our lives right now, but what can we do about it? Dan Green looks at how we might not be able to avoid the emotion of fear, but we can stop it from taking control of us. There is lots of guidance and reassurance in the Bible about this, and the talk concludes with a meditation on Psalm 23.

Who or what is the Christ? Owen Lynch looks at what's in a name and the amazing expectations set for God's "anointed one". Rather than just being a person, those who followed Jesus came to understand the Christ as divine, not contained to one time and place but eternal and everywhere. This might be too big to get our heads around. But if we give God space to speak to us, can he expand our experience? (We're including an exercise to engage with this in the last part of this episode.)

What is God like, and how can we know? Claire Lynch starts a series of talks looking at this through experiences and stories, including a story Jesus shared about people entrusted with resources and asked to make the most of them. What would happen if they responded in kind with trust and faith, and what would happen if they didn't? Can we see these different ways of life in us, and could choosing to live with more trust and faith bring us closer to knowing God?

How important are rituals to you? Owen Lynch shares about his and the other rituals around us which seem to shape our sense of who we are as well as guiding what we do. Moses led Israel into adopting rituals like Passover which brought people into a shared sense of history, identity and purpose. As Jesus shared his last supper through a Passover meal, he fed his followers with a lasting way to remember who he was, and who they were as a result. Can we find a new sense of ourselves by looking at communion like this, and do we enjoy passing this on?Find more in this series at severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

What does it mean to meet with God outside of church? Owen Lynch shares about his experiences on sabbatical leave and looks at the story of Jacob, who had an intense encounter with God after fleeing his family. He’s also not the only person in the Old Testament to experience God’s presence far away from traditional places of worship. How do our encounters with God compare?Find more in this series at severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

How does God make the impossible possible, for us and with us?Bern Leckie and Dan Green discuss the Old Testament story of Daniel, how it demonstrates God's goodness and power, and sets a pattern for life driven by God in difficult circumstances where we might feel cut off from essentials but get to see God doing things in a new way in us.Could choosing to credit our sources, especially God, really be the key to impossible things becoming possible in our lives?Find more in this series at severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

When is it time to take time away? Owen Lynch shares some of his experience from sabbatical leave and looks at the story of Elijah, who was instructed by God to hide away for a few years. These situations are very different, but they both raise questions. Why do we often feel the need to stick around, no matter what? What would happen if we got a break and a new perspective? And could God guide us, from time to time, to retreat and reflect?

What is it like to be a leader with lots of responsibilities and a call from God to take people from where they are to somewhere else?Jess Pedersen and Bern Leckie discuss Moses, where he came from, his flaws and needs - including resilience, vision and a need to discern what was right and from God when it wasn't comfortable.How does this connect with our lives today, and how do we develop our own senses of calling, vision for our community and resilience to persist and learn while moving through life?Find more talks and discussions in this series at severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

What could happen if God gives you a word of guidance? Sue Marland looks at the story of Deborah, a judge in Old Testament times, who developed the ability to support what God wanted to support, and to oppose what God wanted to oppose. If we could have some of that ability too, what would we do with it? Could we expect to become good servant leaders like Deborah, and would we end up winning significant battles against pain, suffering and injustice?Find more in this series at severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

What difference does it make to be seen by God and carry certainty about this as well as a God-given purpose?Liz Nixon and Bern Leckie discuss how this worked for Hagar, a female servant in the Old Testament whose life was far from ideal but who ended up with huge signficance.How can we recognise God speaking and giving us purpose today? Can we be part of a body of people that seeks and affirms us in this? If so, what are we doing about it at Severn Vineyard?To find out more about The Gold Course, see severnvineyard.org/thegold, and to watch Liz's talk about Hagar and others in this series, see severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

How important is holding onto hope, and what can we do with it? Maybe even more importantly, what can God do with us when we place our hope in him and his promises?Dan Green and Bern Leckie discuss how they have seen this working in the story of Joseph and in their own lives, as well as what it means to share hope, faith and love practically among people who believe different things.Find more talks and discussions in this series at severnvineyard.org/encounterswithgod

How can God make the impossible possible? Bern Leckie looks at how God used Daniel in impossible situations, giving him wisdom to make impossible choices and do impossible jobs. These are not really stories about how good Daniel was but how amazing God is. The way God gave “living water” and connections to his presence and principles to Daniel are also available to us because of Jesus. What impossible things do we need God to do for us and want God to do with us?

What do we want to be remembered for? Jack Saunders looks at the Old Testament character of David and the range of famous stories which come to mind, from his battles as a youth to his leadership and preparation of a temple in his old age. But his memorable passion for being after God’s heart probably came from the range and depths of his worship. To be that good at worship, David must not have just shown up to lead it in public, but privately pursued worship as a passion. What space and commitments are we making in our lives to develop who we are in ways which will memorably show up in relationships with others, and what can we do if we want more of this?

What is it like to be a leader with a calling from God to pioneer into places where his ways are not always accepted?Bern Leckie discusses the story of Joshua with Jack Saunders, who is also a youth and student leader at Severn Vineyard and has a sense of his own calling to share his faith and live faithfully according to his hope in God.Can we get the full picture about the life God wants for people from Joshua's story, or do we need to look further ahead in the Bible? Where does Jesus come into all this? And if it is a good idea for us to share our faith today with people who have different beliefs, how can we do that?

How can we become more resilient to face life's challenges? Jess Pedersen looks at how Moses did this by learning to turn to God. Raised in a foreign palace, Moses grew up with a mix of beliefs and tried working out his sense of justice his own way. But his encounters with God showed the depth of love and support that he could receive from God to do almost unimaginable things and overcome incredible opposition to lead his people out of slavery. What could a close walk with God equip you for?

What difference does it make to believe we are seen and known by God? Liz Nixon looks at the story of Hagar, a character from near the beginning of the Bible who might be easy to overlook. While what she was made to do might seem difficult for us to process or accept, she was given special significance by God and her family line became important in the world. Could her encounter with God remind us about people we are overlooking in our lives? What can God do with us to address this?

What is it like to be forced unjustly from your home country, and what kind of life can you hope to find next? In Refugee Week 2022, Dan Green looks at the story of Joseph, who famously found uses for his gifts and, despite opposition and mistreatment, became a trusted leader in his adoptive country. How does his story challenge us to treat others differently, and perhaps seek to use our gifts to help others too?Find more about this story and the rest of the book of Genesis at severnvineyard.org/bible/genesis

Can we imagine waiting for a lifetime to fulfil our purpose? Jack Saunders looks at the story of Joshua and considers his decades-long wait for God to use him to lead his people into the land God promised them. The process of moving into this land probably seems to us like a strange and challenging one, but to Joshua it was a matter of obedience to God and trusting him to sort out the rest. How do we feel about that, and what could happen if we trust God more?

What can we learn from a very short story about woman who protected foreign spies and had a questionable reputation, and an enduring nickname, which sounds awful to us?Bern Leckie and Joanna Moss discuss Rahab and how her story connects with larger things about faith, justice, big changes and how we find significance in life. Joanna also shares about her experiences as a scientist and believer in God, and what has sustained her through difficult times.You can find more about the biblical books of Samuel which include Rahab and are mentioned in the discussion at https://www.severnvineyard.org/bible/1samuel

How would you like to be remembered? Joanna Moss looks at the story of a woman most commonly called “Rahab the prostitute” in history books, and why her recognition of God and practical response shaped a nation in remarkable ways. We might apply labels to ourselves and each other, but what God does with us and who he says we are could radically redefine us. Who does God say you are?