SOUL OPEN TABLE

Revisit the work of Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025) through her 2 classic TED Talks — plus a special conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson in 2020. Her thoughts on the relationship between humans, nature and our role in protecting Earth remain as relevant as ever: http://t.ted.com/UiqOFoD

Why do people follow Jesus Christ? (One of the questions posed yesterday at our Bible study group and I am asking it now).

Are we so busy building our careers that we're neglecting the most important foundation of all: our spiritual growth? In the pursuit of success, it's easy to lose sight of our inner selves. Let's be honest, how much time and energy do we dedicate to nurturing our spiritual well-being? What practices help you stay grounded and connected to something bigger than yourself?

Question 2 - What impact do you want to make on the world?

Discipleship is about discovering your unique purpose and using your gifts to make a difference. It's about living a life that matters, a life connected to something bigger than yourself. What if the key to fulfilling your purpose is found in following Jesus's example of love and service?

Join us, as we rediscover our life purpose together.

Question 1 - What areas of your life are you longing to see real, lasting growth in?

Discipleship is a journey of intentional growth, guided by Jesus. It's not about perfection, but progress. It's about learning, changing, and becoming the person you were created to be, empowered by His grace. Imagine the potential unlocked when you surrender to His guidance and walk alongside Him.

Please join us, as we grow to be effective Disciples of Jesus Christ.

Deal with your unresolved issues

03 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘No one who has…scabs.’

Leviticus 21:18-20 NLT

To help someone with their unresolved issues, you must first deal with your own. If the medicine you’re offering hasn’t made you whole, you will have no credibility when you try to apply it to the lives of others. Does that mean if you have unresolved issues, God won’t use you? No, it’s the broken who become masters at mending. But first you must take time to be healed.

It’s hard to talk about victory when you’re experiencing defeat. When you’re bleeding spiritually and emotionally, you can’t treat people’s problems with the same kind of aggressive faith you would have if you had already worked through the problem. Is it wrong to have a broken heart? No, for God ‘heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NKJV). So let God make you whole so He can use you.

In Old Testament times, you could not serve as a priest if you had a scab, which is an unhealed wound. This is why: 1) You wouldn’t be up to par spiritually. 2) You couldn’t get close to others in case they bumped into you and knocked the protective cover off your scab. 3) You couldn’t be at your best because the pain was sapping your strength. 4) You would be afraid to talk about your scab in case people rejected you. So you would live on two levels, and become insecure, hypocritical, or controlling. 5) Worst of all, you would be so busy working for God and taking care of others, you wouldn’t have time to stop and take care of yourself. So the word for today is – deal with your unresolved issues.

Song of Songs 6-8, 2 Corinthians 1