Open Heaven Church

In the Gospels, we read of John the Baptist, a man called by God to prepare the way for the arrival of Jesus. Whilst John prepared his community by baptising them with water, he claimed that Jesus would baptise them with the Holy Spirit. Since then, Christians have tried to reconcile the difference between their experience of the Holy Spirit and what they read on the pages of Scripture. How do we make sense of experience, unmet expectations, the now and the not yet?

At the beginning of John’s Gospel, we are given a glimpse of the three persons of God together; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As Jesus, the Son, is baptised, the affirming voice of God the Father is heard, and the anointing Spirit of God is revealed as a descending bird. The New Testament reveals the Holy Spirit as a gift-giver and guide. The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness. The Holy Spirit is an agent of transformation. How do we prepare for this change? How do we partner with new possibilities?

When we read the Bible as a whole, we see that God has revealed himself to us as one God in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is called ‘ruach’ in Hebrew in the Old Testament. Denoting wind or breath, it creates the image of a gentle, powerful, sustaining, yet invisible entity. The Holy Spirit empowers men and women within the Old Testament, resting on them and appearing to them. In the story of the artist Bezalel in Exodus, the Holy Spirit gives skills and abilities beyond the natural. How do we understand the Holy Spirit through scripture? How do we know the personal presence of God? How do we open ourselves to be empowered by Him?

‘Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You’ll rule the nations, your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to you—and with it, the Morning Star!’ (Revelation 2:26-28). In the second half of our series on the Book of Revelation, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into the second and third chapters of the book, also known as the Letters to the Seven Churches. 

‘This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.’ (Revelation 2:8b-9). In the second half of our series on the Book of Revelation, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into the second and third chapters of the book, also known as the Letters to the Seven Churches.

You walked away from your first love—why? In the second half of our series on the Book of Revelation, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into the second and third chapters of the book, also known as the Letters to the Seven Churches. In these seven letters, Jesus gives his specific perspective from Heaven, transforming our view of Himself and the church. In this symbolic book, the number seven is a sign of completeness. As Jesus speaks to the seven churches of Asia, he is, in turn, speaking to the whole church in every place and every age. As we understand Jesus as portrayed in Revelation, we turn our attention to our loving response. How are we, despite the turmoil of the times, to keep our love for Christ and the church from going cold?

One day, Jesus will return and set everything right forever. On that day, every tear will be wiped away. The final pages of the Bible echo its first chapters in the Book of Genesis. The story ends in a garden city, a restored and expanded Eden. The Book of Revelation presents a heavenly perspective of history, the climax of Old Testament prophecy and expectation. It’s a symbolic vision that brings hope, reveals historical patterns of empire and celebrates God’s ultimate promises. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set ‘eternity in the hearts of men’. The Book of Revelation teaches us to live hope-filled with what is inevitable in the light of eternity.

One day, Jesus will return and set everything right forever. On that day, every tear will be wiped away. The final pages of the Bible echo its first chapters in the Book of Genesis. The story ends in a garden city, a restored and expanded Eden. The Book of Revelation presents a heavenly perspective of history, the climax of Old Testament prophecy and expectation. It’s a symbolic vision that brings hope, reveals historical patterns of empire and celebrates God’s ultimate promises. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set ‘eternity in the hearts of men’. The Book of Revelation teaches us to live hope-filled with what is inevitable in the light of eternity.

What do you imagine when you think of the future? The Book of Revelation is not an ending but a beginning. In the final act of Revelation, a cosmic wedding occurs, symbolising the promised relationship between God and His people. As illustrated in the Gospels, God has come to live amongst us. All things are made new. The old passes away, and a new heaven and a new earth emerge. Humanity and all its diversity work in harmony in the presence of God, which fills the earth.

The Book of Revelation presents us with a war in which Jesus is the ultimate victor. In the book's last chapters, we read of a final battle. As the nations arrive on the battlefield, we see Jesus arrive, not dressed in armour but in kingly and priestly robes, riding a white horse. But He’s covered with blood before the battle begins. Armageddon never takes place, Jesus has already won through His blood poured out on the cross. Although Revelation doesn’t give the details, it does give the destiny of the cosmos.

Will we trust in human structures and powers, or will we worship Jesus? At first glance, Revelation is a truly terrifying text. And yet it inspires us with a first-hand look at the future work of Christ. John, the author, is revealing a drama, a tale of destruction. When you build a city on weak, human foundations, it will always fall to the ground. The historical empire of Babylon fell, and now Jesus reveals to John the unthinkable fall of Rome. In combining metaphors and prophecies from the Old Testament, John creates an archetype of military and economic power, a nation which rebels against God. “This isn’t something limited to the past or the future,” the Bible Project suggests, “it’s a portrait of the human condition.”

Who has your allegiance? Who and what are the idols of our day? Dragons, beasts and lambs. Revelation uses poetic writing to convey central truths, adopting symbolic imagery and numbers drawn from Old Testament prophecies. The author builds images rich with metaphor and allusion to talk about cosmic and earthly superpowers. As it reveals Jesus, so does it reveal the corruption of the Roman empire. It calls every Christian in every era to pull their allegiance to Christ and his Kingdom and be guarded against the allure of the world. At its impressive height, no one could have imagined the fall of the Roman Empire, and yet it is not the beast or the dragon that lasts but the eternal lamb.

The Book of Revelation includes many symbols and numbers. Whilst John, the author of Revelation, worshipped, God showed him a series of dramatic images of praise in progress. A door to heaven, a lamb sitting on the throne, and a scroll to be opened; these three images demonstrate deep truths. First, through Christ, it is safe to go through heaven’s door and approach the throne. Second, the secret of history is that God wins through sacrificial love through Jesus. And third, we reign with the ruler sitting on the throne when we participate and join in worshipping Him.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus transforms our view of Himself and the church. For the first time, the church gathering is described as ‘ecclesia’, a word reserved for when the King or Emperor summoned people to gather about the city's business. As we understand Jesus as portrayed in Revelation, we turn our attention to our loving response. How are we, despite the turmoil of the times, to keep our love for Christ and the church from going cold?

In this seminar, Phil Knox outlines the importance of connection and community in our daily lives, reflecting on the life of Jesus and allowing this to influence our approach to friendship. 

Ministry is hard graft, but with the master keys of 'place' and 'prayer', we can open doors to establish Heaven on Earth. In this second session, Phil Knox challenges us to listen and learn from our communities to understand the stories of those around us, reminding us that the miracle of Pentecost was a gift of ears as much as a gift of tongues. Through sharing stories, we will reveal and remember the faithfulness of God in our town. By committing to our place, streets, and campus, we will build relationships based on longevity and trust. Finally, as we devote ourselves to prayer, God may open a door for our message. There is a spiritual openness in our society, and people are hungry for hope.

In this first session, our guest speaker Phil Knox reminds us that to have open doors, we must also have open hearts. Phil encouraged us to work as a team by sharing a prophetic image of a rusty lock on a rusty gate. Our relationships with each other and the world around us are critical to stepping into the open doors in front of us. God invites us to play our part in rebuilding the world around us. As we invest in the relationships of those around us, our open lives will become places of transformation.

Where has our view of Jesus diminished? Through the Book of Revelation, what new aspects do we discover about who Jesus is? As we pull back the curtain on this pastoral letter written by Apostle John, we unveil a dramatic vision given by God. John exhorts the Church to see and hear the ‘Voice’ at the centre of everything, and that Voice is a person - Jesus Christ. To listen to this Voice above all the world’s many voices is to hear and see Jesus and to become oriented to the great unseen reality of His rule and reign. In looking to Christ, we experience a true apocalypse - the revelation that we do not need to fear the future or the turmoil of our present circumstances.  

It’s the end of the world! As a modern audience, we understand this as the meaning of the word ‘apocalypse’. Instead, we must understand this word as ‘uncover’ or ‘reveal’. The Bible Project define the apocalypse as “where you see the true nature of something you couldn’t see before”. An apocalypse is a revelation. But what is this revelation? In this session, we set out a roadmap for the series ahead. As New Testament scholar Dean Flemming writes, “Revelation’s poetic visions are less about describing end-times events than calling Christian communities to reimagine their world.”

On Vision Sunday we outlined the vision for Open Heaven for the year ahead, and beyond. Focusing on our three goals to go deeper, further and wider. Listen to find out more about what these goals mean for our community, how God has already been moving and how we plan to outwork them together in 2023. 

What impact has prayer had on your life? What do you pray for? 'Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.' James 5:13-15  

What are you hopeful for? How do you stay patient? We live in the now and not yet. A time when we must patiently wait for Jesus to return to make all things new. During this time, James invites us to 'stay steady and strong.' In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos, a first-century pastor, has a vision. 'And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,' and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4.   

We live in the now and not yet. A time when we must patiently wait for Jesus to return to make all things new. During this time, James invites us to 'stay steady and strong'. In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos, a first-century pastor, has a vision. 'And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,' and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4. 

How do you use your power? How do you measure success? 'You don't know the first thing about tomorrow.' Today, perhaps more than at any other time in our lives, we know this to be true. Instead of chasing the changing winds of success or progress, we work to live by the will of the Lord. James warns the arrogant and well-off. The accumulation of wealth, luxury indulgences, unfair wages, and the oppression of the powerless; will lead to terrible times.  

The apostle Paul famously wrote in Romans 7:15, 'I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.' Do we understand our wants? Are our desires misaligned? Instead of flirting with the world, James gives us two instructions. 'Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God, and he'll be there in no time.'

How would you define wisdom? Do you want to be counted wise? "This may well be a word for our day, when so many people across the world are fed up with the way their country is run, with the way their police force behaves, with the way the global economy functions... But the challenge then for God's people is to be able to tell the truth about the way the world is, and about the way wicked people are behaving, without turning into a perpetual grumble... There is still, after all, a vast amount of beauty, love, generosity, and sheer goodness in the world. Those who follow Jesus ought not only to be celebrating it but contributing to it." N.T. Wright  

"This may well be a word for our day, when so many people across the world are fed up with the way their country is run, with the way their police force behaves, with the way the global economy functions... But the challenge then for God's people is to be able to tell the truth about the way the world is, and about the way wicked people are behaving, without turning into a perpetual grumble... There is still, after all, a vast amount of beauty, love, generosity, and sheer goodness in the world. Those who follow Jesus ought not only to be celebrating it but contributing to it." N.T. Wright

Do you say what you mean? 'You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue – it's never been done. The tongue runs wild.' The tongue is a mercurial muscle. It blesses and curses. It can create harmony or chaos, make or break reputations, heal the world or send it up in flames. James calls for consistency in how we use our words. Psalm 141:3 says, 'Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.'  

How do you outwork your faith? 'Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?' James is clear; we must practically outwork our faith through good works. But we cannot separate the two; faith and works are intricately linked. The challenge is to make sure our faith is the real thing. How often do we talk about things and never move into action?

Do you favour some more than others? How do we welcome those different from us? James states things plainly; don't have favourites, and don't judge those who do. Treat everyone with love. James challenges us in how we discriminate against those that are rich or poor. N.T. Wright says, "Mercy isn't the same as… an 'anything goes' attitude to life… 'Anything' includes arrogance, corruption, blasphemy, favouritism, and lawbreaking of all kinds. If God were 'merciful' to that lot, he would be deeply unmerciful to the poor, the helpless, the innocent and the victims. And the whole gospel insists that in precisely those cases His mercy shines out most particularly."

Are you a good listener? Do you act on the instruction of others? In this passage, James urges us to listen humbly. He compels us not to act out of anger but to rid ourselves of evil. When we read God's Word, we need to do something about it, allowing it to shape and form our actions and decisions. Isaiah 55:11 says, 'So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'

Are you a good listener? Do you act on the instruction of others? In this passage, James urges us to listen humbly. He compels us not to act out of anger but to rid ourselves of evil. When we read God's Word, we need to do something about it, allowing it to shape and form our actions and decisions. Isaiah 55:11 says, 'So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'  

Do you crack under pressure? What prayers do you pray in hard times? 'Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy'. So starts the letter of James, a leader in the early church. There's nothing easy about being a follower of Jesus. But through trials and tests, prayer can transform our surroundings and mature our faith. "The question is, what is going to last?" says N.T. Wright "One day, God's Word will transform the whole creation, filling heaven and earth with His rich, wonderful light and life. Our lives, transformed by the gospel, learning to look at the world differently, standing firm against temptation, are just the start of that larger project."

How do you celebrate? In the Gospel of John, we read of Jesus’ first miracle. Along with family and friends, Jesus attends a wedding. As the celebration runs on, the wine runs out. Jesus is called upon to intervene, or else the party end. He proceeds to turn water into wine. Jesus starts as he means to go on, lavish in love. ‘In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.

How do you give thanks? What are you hopeful for? In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus transforms five loaves and two fish into enough food for five thousand. This miracle echoes stories and prophecies in the Old Testament. But the meals of Jesus also point to a future hope. The banquet is a description of God’s coming Kingdom, of its plentiful provision. ‘The meals of Jesus are a sign of hope’, says author Tim Chester, ‘It is hope for a renewed creation with bodies and food… In the meantime, every meal is a picture of God’s goodness and a reminder of his coming world.’

When did you last do the dishes? When did you last clean food off the floor? At the table, we encounter the reality of our relationships, with all their disagreements and complications. We’re provoked to love beyond our abstract or idealised idea of family and community. “At a time of deep disconnection and dislocation, it is so important that we contend and fight for relationships,” says Tim Hughes, pastor of Gas Street Church, Birmingham. “All around us, we’re surrounded by division, conflict, chaos, at both a macro and a micro-level. All around us, we’re aware of a breakdown in friendship.” So how do we bring Heaven’s reality into our relationships?

How do you give thanks? What are you hopeful for? In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus transforms five loaves and two fish into enough food for five thousand. This miracle echoes stories and prophecies in the Old Testament. But the meals of Jesus also point to a future hope. The banquet is a description of God’s coming Kingdom, of its plentiful provision. ‘The meals of Jesus are a sign of hope’, says author Tim Chester, ‘It is hope for a renewed creation with bodies and food… In the meantime, every meal is a picture of God’s goodness and a reminder of his coming world.

How do you react to God’s extravagant grace? In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares three stories in which something lost is found. These tales about a sheep, a coin and a son explain his approach to hospitality. Characters in the parables are shocked, surprised, and even angry as they reclaim what was once lost. Each story ends with a party. Each story demonstrates the scandal of God’s grace. Jesus says in Luke 5, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.

What traditions can we create as a community? Who can we invite? Traditions are rhythms of life that remind us of past, present and future events. They may celebrate joy, share sorrow, or simply mark a moment. Creating regular moments of celebration around the table can form our habits, lifestyles, and memories. As we look at scripture, we see an example in the Gospel of Luke. ‘Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’, Luke 22:19-20. 

Do you hide in the kitchen? Or do you allow others to see you as you are? 'Many people love the idea of the church as a community. But when we eat together, we encounter not some theoretical community, but real people with all their problems and quirks,’ says author Tim Chester. A table is a place where we can be our authentic selves. We have heard it said that Jesus welcomed sinners, but so too did sinners welcome Jesus. As Jesus accepted and received hospitality, he graced his hosts with honour, restoring their humanity.

Do you struggle to welcome others into your life? Do you believe that God can transform your feelings, motives or capacity? In scripture, ‘the table’ is often portrayed as a place of lavish excess. From the banquets in Esther to the hospitality of Lydia in Acts, a table is a place of generosity. Hospitality is grounded in generously giving to others and receiving the blessings they offer in return.

Who is my neighbour? What obstacles might they face in joining ‘the table’? What tables need to be overthrown to make space for those excluded? Luke 5 tells the story of a meal with a seemingly disreputable guest list. God is sitting down and eating with his enemies. ‘When persons were estranged’, says scholar Scott Bartchy, ‘a meal invitation opened the way to reconciliation.’ In the Gospel of Luke, meals become a form of enacted grace. We can create patterns of exclusion or inclusion through the invitations we make to our tables or into our homes. Are we conscious of the impact of our choices?

What is your approach to hospitality? There’s an art to engaging with one another. There’s power in a good question. In his interactions with Samaritans, leaders and tax collectors, Jesus tailored his conversation to the unique situations and people around him. ‘Hospitality involves a willingness to adjust our plans to suit specific needs’, says author Carolyn Lacey. This allows depth and openness in our relationships. And where there's an honest conversation, good things can happen.

What traditions can we create as a community? Who can we invite? Traditions are rhythms of life that remind us of past, present and future events. They may celebrate joy, share sorrow, or simply mark a moment. Creating regular moments of celebration around the table can form our habits, lifestyles, and memories. As we look at scripture, we see an example in the Gospel of Luke. ‘Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’, Luke 22:19-20.

Who is my neighbour? What obstacles might they face in joining ‘the table’? What tables need to be overthrown to make space for those excluded? Luke 5 tells the story of a meal with a seemingly disreputable guest list. God is sitting down and eating with his enemies. ‘When persons were estranged’, says scholar Scott Bartchy, ‘a meal invitation opened the way to reconciliation.’ In the Gospel of Luke, meals become a form of enacted grace. We can create patterns of exclusion or inclusion through the invitations we make to our tables or into our homes. Are we conscious of the impact of our choices?

The table can be a place of profound encounters with God and each other. The table becomes the venue for daily habits and life-changing moments. Characters encounter Jesus at the table throughout the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was available to them, interested in them and honouring to them. 

The table can be a place of profound encounters with God and each other. The table becomes the venue for daily habits and life-changing moments. Characters encounter Jesus at the table throughout the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was available to them, interested in them and honouring to them. 

In the Gospel of Luke, we meet two such troubled disciples. As they walk along the road, they open their hearts to a stranger who listens to their tale. They invite him into their home. They sit at the table, and the stranger breaks bread with them. Their eyes are opened, and they recognise the stranger as the risen Christ.

Is there a way to truly love our enemies? When is it hardest to ‘turn the other cheek’? You cannot do justice without recognising how power has been used to exploit and abuse, but you also cannot do justice without exerting power yourself. The gospel shows us a Saviour who does indeed exercise authority over us, but who uses that authority and power only to serve us, and who was willing to lose it and suffer in order to save us. Christians have intellectual and heart resources to use power in a way that does not exploit. We must never stop struggling to walk in our Saviour’s steps.

Where around you do you see environmental injustice? Could you give, act, or pray to make a difference in this situation? We recognise that living sustainably is not always easy. For the Leads, the starting point has been trying to educate themselves and make an informed decision based on what they think is best for the world. There is always a cost involved; it is just where or who that cost is. We’re delighted to have Ally Lead sharing their journey with us this week in OH1.