Cairns Road Weekly Podcast

 Today is Pentecost: the birthday of the Church! A time to welcome the Holy Spirit, who is right here, today, and here for ever. We need the Holy Spirit to live for Jesus, and to give us eyes and ears to hear God's voice in this library of 66 books. So every part of who we are can grow as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Tim 3 vs 16-17) The Old Testament is what Jesus knew as the Hebrew Bible: and Psalms was the hymn book of the Church. And it starts as it means to go on: how to delight in the law of God, meditate on it day and night, and be blessed. To live a life of meaning and purpose, resilient in the face of what life brings our way; to be a tree planted by the waters that doesn't wither, stays evergreen, and produces good fruit. To be secure in God, not just in the love of other people. We live in a world of half-truths and outright lies, where it's difficult to know what's true and what's fake. How do we know what is right and not questionable ? The psalmist says meditating on God's word will bring delight to our souls, for it is reliable and good. Living with our own and our peers' judgement and gut feelings could be called “expressive individualism”: and the Psalm says that is such a poor thing compared to God's holy word to us. 

 Hebrews 4:1–13 highlights how we respond to Christ, drawing from Psalm 95 to warn against the danger of hardening our hearts. The psalm, originally directed at the generation of Israelites who refused to enter the Promised Land, reminds us that the Holy Spirit is still speaking today—not just once in the past. Their failure, rooted in unbelief, serves as a warning for all believers. An unbelieving heart turns away from the living God, and the only safeguard is daily encouragement and a steadfast faith. True participation in Christ is shown by holding firmly to our original confidence all the way to the end; perseverance is the evidence of genuine faith. The passage also unfolds the meaning of God's rest—not simply entering Canaan, but a deeper spiritual rest marked by trust, peace, and worship, as one fellowships with God. This rest, symbolized by the Sabbath, is both a present reality and a future promise. Those who enter it, cease from their striving, just as God rested from His creative work. Yet this rest must be diligently pursued, and the danger of disobedience remains real. The section closes by pointing to the piercing power of God's Word, which exposes every thought and motive of the heart. Nothing is hidden from Him, and all must ultimately give account before the One who sees all. 

 Today's theme: God's version of what it means to be a king - which even the best of earthly kings can't deliver. We need Jesus as our king! The period from Saul to Rehoboam marks the rise and fall of Israel's united monarchy. Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, was anointed as Israel's first king (1 Samuel 10), but his disobedience led to his rejection by God (1 Samuel 15). David, a man after God's own heart, succeeded him and united the tribes, established Jerusalem as the capital, and received the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7). His son Solomon inherited the throne, known for his wisdom (1 Kings 3) and for building the First Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6–8), but his idolatry later in life provoked God's judgment (1 Kings 11). Solomon's son Rehoboam succeeded him, but his harsh response to the people's plea for lighter burdens caused ten northern tribes to break away under Jeroboam, dividing the kingdom into Israel (north) and Judah (south) (1 Kings 12). 

 In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah is fleeing for his life after the confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, where he had called down fire from heaven to prove that the Lord is the true God. Consequently, Jezebel threatens to kill him, leading Elijah to run for his life, overwhelmed with fear and despair. He isolates himself, asks God to take his life, and falls asleep under a broom tree. However, God provides for him through an angel, who gives him food and water, and Elijah journeys to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where he has a profound encounter with God—not in wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. This passage highlights Elijah's vulnerability, God's care, and the shift from dramatic displays of power to intimate, personal revelation. 

 “Solitude and silence are not self-indulgent exercises for times when an overcrowded soul needs a little time to itself. Rather, they are concrete ways of opening to the presence of God beyond human effort and beyond the human constructs that cannot fully contain the Divine.” (Ruth Barton) Following Easter, Mary Magdalene—though distressed and alone, was able to hear and respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Similarly, Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds to solitary places for prayer, demonstrating complete dependence on the Father 

 Easter – the resurrection of Jesus - is at the heart of the Christian faith. We celebrate it every Sunday: the foundation of the Gospel and the turning point of history. A peak of light and hope. In 1924, a British climber called George Mallory disappeared on the slopes of Mount Everest. He was chasing a dream that had consumed him for years. His frozen body was found in 1999, face down: it isn't known if he reached the summit or not. His son said: “The only way you conquer Everest is to come back alive. My father didn't come back”. Jesus didn't conquer a mountain: he conquered sin and death, our greatest enemies. In conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus used the picture of Moses's snake on a pole (to which the Israelites could look and live) to describe his coming crucifixion. Taking away the sin of the world, and drawing everyone to him. And then rising to declare forgiveness in the love of God. [John 3 vs 1-21] 

The reality in this passage is better than in The Chosen! Coats on the donkey and on the road. Palm branches on the road and waved high. Shouts of praise ! Noise and dust ! Jesus comes into Jerusalem. What does it all mean ? Who is this Jesus ? What did He come to do ? 

 The book of Judges is hard to read. God's people obeyed Him until Joshua died. They were supposed to drive out the Canaanites from the land, not to assimilate with them or with their gods or lifestyle, but rather to be a holy witness to the world about God. They failed and failed: time and time again God rebuked them, judged them, then rescued them when they cried out to Him. It wasn't so much that they forgot about God – there was a sanctuary at Shiloh with the Ark, and a priest; but rather that they ignored Him, copying the people around them. Judges spans around 400 years: there were many generations of this cycle of falling away and God rescuing them. 

 Fasting as a spiritual discipline can be found throughout the Scriptures, ‘though more in the Old Testament. In this passage it is linked with prayer and almsgiving quite naturally. Jesus says “when” rather than “if”, and contrasts the Pharisees, who did everything for human approval (and consequently only received human respect) from what we should do. God sees in secret: including the secrets of our hearts. Looking up to Him for blessing and grace, is the “righteousness” which pleases God. 

 God is, and He is not silent. Out of love for Him, we must listen to what He has to say to us. God made us with bodies, hearts, minds, and spirits: and longs to communicate and have fellowship with His creatures, who bear His image. He made us, knows us, loves us, and is full of grace and compassion. He asks that we love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and spirits. (Matt 10 v 27). And the first duty of love is to listen. 

 Prayer filled Jesus's life. The disciples noticed, and asked Jesus to teach them all how to pray. Jesus didn't hesitate, telling them how to approach God as “Abba in the heavens” – their vital relationship. He gives them a model, a template for their prayers: and tells a parable to encourage them. All of us need to be taught to pray, and to give our relationship with our Father in the Heavens a central place in our lives. Although the idea is certainly there in the Old Testament, referring to God as “Father” was not common in Judaism: Jesus said people who come to Him are given power to become children of God: they have intimate and privileged access to God in the Name of Jesus. 

Because of who Jesus is and what He brings, He offers a clear path through the complicated rules people follow. Jesus invites everyone to come to him, have a relationship with Him, and make Him central. He calls people to take on His yoke, which gives rest: this is counter-intuitive: how can a yoke bring rest ? Jesus looks into the peoples' tired eyes and sees into their souls. 

Jesus calls us to wholehearted devotion—living in relationship with the Father rather than seeking approval from people or material gain. Our righteousness should reflect true transformation, not religious performance. The Father sees, knows, and rewards those who seek Him in secret.

Jesus challenges the scribes and the Pharisees and exposes their hypocrisy as their attitudes and actions were not adding up with their God given authority!

The kindness of God is central to the story of salvation. In Titus 3:3-8, Paul reminds us of the transformation that takes place through God's mercy and love. This passage invites us to examine our response to His kindness which is bespoke and powerful—whether in unbelief, or misunderstanding.

Isaiah 6:1-8 calls us to stand in awe of God's holiness, confront our own sin, and respond in faith to His call. It reminds us that God works through ordinary people like us, cleansing, equipping, and sending us into the world with a mission to bring His light into dark places. Our lives should reflect His holiness and grace, inspiring others to see Him through us. 4 main ideas: 1. Wholehearted discipleship is sharpened by the perspective of who is on the throne. God, the Holy, the Most High, reigns. We should be calling to each other, like the seraphim, in worship at His “otherness”, His holiness. Seraphim means “burning ones”: since Pentecost, we are the “fiery ones”! Discipleship comes from our bowing down, and calling out. 2. Wholehearted discipleship is marked by encounter of his presence and worship. We need to be with God, become more like God, and do God's will in this world. To take something of His presence into a world that does not know Him: that our words and lives are something of a reflection of our time with Him, as we change into His likeness. 3. Wholehearted discipleship is immersed in the reality of confession. Isaiah looks  at the holiness of God and is appalled at the wickedness that is in his own heart. He confesses it openly, in God's presence – and God faithfully and justly makes atonement for his sin. We must be honest with God: God is Holy and forgiving. He is RICH in mercy 4. Wholehearted discipleship is equipped with readiness of the heart to usher in His Kingdom. God touches his lips. He is prepared for a difficult ministry: God still uses his people to do extraordinary things when they give themselves to Him. 

We're setting out on a year of wholehearted discipleship.  Being a wholehearted  disciple is not just about gritting our teeth and following the example of Jesus.  Life as a disciple of Jesus is marked by offering ourselves to God, by seeing how sin is our old boss and how God is our new boos and He is a very very good one.  

We're setting out on a year of wholehearted discipleship.  Being a wholehearted disciple is not just about gritting our teeth and following the example of Jesus.  Life as a disciple of Jesus is empowered by being united to Christ who died and is now risen.  

In this episode Maki and Peter answer questions to do:-with the parable of f the soil -is this parable about soil wholly passive on the part of the soil?Or can we learn something which is relevant to making ourselves good (or better) soil? -with the secrecy or privacy theme of Jesus' healing and teaching and its mystery in the Gospels. 

Join Peter Turnill and Maki as they look back briefly at Restore22/23 Bible reading and launch the new focus in the gospel of Luke and book of Acts for the next 6-7 months.  Restore 24 slower and deeper...still on Bible detail, but new emphasis on doctrine and discipleship (doctrine=what do we believe?; discipleship=what do we do?) Why Luke-Acts?  Gives us the whole span, not just Jesus story, but the follow on with the birth of the church and the global mission!Helps us to think about our own mission in Westbury Park and beyond !How to begin a Gospel? Each evangelist starts his own way but Luke gives us John's origin story, interwoven with Jesus'; in fact, he starts with John's parents: why?  We answer questions on how can one be led by the Spirit and what does Jesus mean with saying that the paralysed man's sins were forgiven?