Engage with the Big Picture 

One of the most important steps in reading the Bible is to understand that it’s not just a collection of random books or isolated stories, but a unified narrative or story. The Bible tells the big story of God’s relationship with humanity, beginning with creation, moving through the history of Israel and building up to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and then leading further up to the hope and promise of the new creation because of the risen Jesus. Approaching the Bible as one grand story helps to make sense of the individual parts.

I have found The Bible Project to be a fantastic resource for understanding this big picture. They have videos and reading plans that take you through the major themes of the Bible, helping you see how everything connects. 

Understand the context 

Understanding the context in which the Bible was written is crucial. The Bible was written over centuries, by different authors, in different genres, in different cultures and historical settings.

Knowing this background can help us make sense of passages that might otherwise be confusing or seem irrelevant. 

I use Bible commentaries to help me understand the context and have found the ‘For Everyone’ series by John Goldingay and Tom Wright really helpful for understanding the context in which the Bible was written.

Read with humility and prayer 

Come to the Bible with an open heart and an open mind. Read the Bible prayerfully by asking God to help you understand what He might be saying to you through the text before you read.

Start in Genesis? End in Revelation? 

If you plan to read the Bible through in one year, then you might read the Bible from start to finish like a novel. There are various reading plans, apps and audio Bibles that you can use to help you like The Bible in One Year or the Audio Bible in One Year. 
 
However, you don’t have to read the Bible from start to finish! You can start with some of the books that are easier to engage with like the Gospel of Mark or Genesis or the New Testament Letters. 

Little and often over a lifetime 

Establishing a daily habit of reading the Bible helps you to hear from God, shape your life and provide sustenance for the journey of faith.

Whether you plan to read the Bible in one year or read through a particular book with a commentary alongside or use Lectio Divina, the important thing is to make a plan and stick to it!  
 
And don’t forget to shake things up a bit when you read the Bible. Last year I read the Bible through in one year and this year I am reading some Old Testament books with a commentary by John Goldingay alongside. Engage with the Bible little and often! Also, look at ways in which you can integrate the Bible into everyday life such as reading a psalm when you take a lunch break or praying a Bible prayer like Numbers 6 over other people.

Apply what you read  

We don’t just read the Bible to gain knowledge but also to let the Bible shape our lives. This means not just understanding the text, but letting it change how we live, interact with others and understand God. Ask God to speak to you through the text and think about how you can apply its message to your day-to-day life. 

Conclusion 

Reading the Bible is a journey that involves seeing the big picture, understanding the context, being open to new insights, reading little and often and then applying what you read. Hopefully by combining these approaches, you can engage with Scripture in a way that is both intellectually enriching and spiritually transformative.  
 
Whether you’re reading a Psalm in a time of trouble or studying a Gospel to learn more about Jesus, the key is to approach the Bible with an open heart and mind, ready to be shaped by its timeless wisdom. 

 Lord, as I read Your Word, open my heart and mind. Help me understand and apply Your truth. Guide me by Your Spirit, and draw me closer to You. Amen. 

With over 5 billion copies sold, no other book is as timelessly relevant to our lives as the Bible. Yet unpacking the depths of wisdom in it's pages can be challenging and overwhelming.

That's why we invited Andrew Ollerton over again to Trinity to lead a Deeper Day morning focused on unlocking the Bible - helping us to make sense of it, read it and apply it to our lives in ordinary and tangible ways. These sessions form a part of our Intentional Discipleship Project which hopes to help people flourish in their understanding and practice of the Christian faith. To find out more about upcoming Deeper Days with other guest speakers please visit our Intentional Discipleship Project page.

If you joined us at this Deeper Day we hope it was a blessing to you. A special thanks to Andrew Ollerton who led us so well. You can listen to the talks from Saturday below.

Session Recordings

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Psalm 90: Number our Days by Dalene Rayburn

Wherever you find yourself on the timeline of your life, you have a choice. You can look back with regret, and look forward with fear, and live a mediocre present. Or you can take hold of the truth that Jesus redeems your past, He is real in your present, and He can position you to be ready for your future. Join Dalene Reyburn in this four-part series through Psalm 90, in which we’ll echo the prayer of Moses: ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’

(If you are intending to watch this series as a Small Group, there is also a free study guide for you to follow.)

Small Group Testimonial:

We used this series and found it a very helpful resource to promote good discussion and further thinking. The video sessions were no longer than 10 minutes and the presenter raised some really good conversation starters. We took the study notes and slightly adapted them. We would recommend this as an ideal resource for those new to faith or exploring faith.

About RightNow Media

RightNow Media is a ‘Netflix of Video Bible Studies.’ This comprehensive collection of faith-based video content is accessible whenever you want, wherever you are! Create your free account today and download the app to your device.

Or create your free RightNow Media account

When Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you… apart from me you can do nothing," He was calling us to a different way of doing life — one that draws strength from connection,not self-reliance.

Abide is an invitation to stay close, especially when life feels uncertain or demanding. It's about learning to hold steady in the process, to find courage in adversity, and to cultivate the kind of resilience that grows from being deeply rooted in Him.

If you joined us at Abide '26 we hope it was helpful, hopeful and an encouragement to you. A special thanks to Arianna Walker who led us so well. You can listen to the talks from Saturday below. If you would like to find out more about Mercy UK you can do so here.

Session Recordings

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How scripture songs are good for our mind, soul and strength.

How do you like to listen to your music? Radio station in the car? A Spotify playlist plugged into headphones? We have recently bought a new hi-fi system for our kitchen, that includes a CD player. I know! How 90’s!

But it has been so much fun dusting off our old CD’s from the loft, and introducing the kids to our favourite artists. There is something really embodied about knowing a CD inside out from the images of the artwork, the order of the playlist, to remembering where you were the last time you played it. Music has that effect on us. It is powerful to evoke memories and emotions from when, where and with whom we listened to it with.

At the popular music festival Glastonbury in 2025, a primary school singing teacher called James B Partridge did a set called Primary School Assembly Bangers. He was on a small stage at the back of the site – but so many people came to watch his gig that the field overflowed; with thousands of people joining in to sing “Shine Jesus Shine” and “Sing Hosanna to the King of Kings”. That’s what music and nostalgia can do. Help you to re-call songs you haven’t sung in years in seconds. Just by hearing a few notes to a tune you are transported back to sitting in a school assembly hall singing these songs with your peers.

Kids are amazing at recalling songs they hear.

Take a song from a film or TV show and within a few repeats they are singing the song around the house like they’ve known it for years - and so are you in your sleep, am I right? For example the most recent TV hit, K-Pop Demon Hunters, is Netflix's most-watched movie ever, with over 500 million views to date. It’s full of upbeat, punchy songs with lyrics kids are memorising and repeating on an hourly basis. Golden, one of the tracks, has itself surpassed 1.5billion streams globally – and can get any one singing at the top of their lungs “now I’m shining like I'm born to be!”

Music therefore has a great way, with it’s patterns and rhythms, to help us remember both lyrics, events and emotions. Christian Neuro-scientists and therapist Jo Hargreves explained the science behind this in a recent social media post about biblical bio-hacks - ways to improve your mind and body. One of these was singing, which she explains,

stimulates the vagus nerve, which regulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). It activates the release of Oxytocin, reducing stress and enhancing feelings of connection and trust. It also increases heart rate variability, a key marker of resilience and emotional regulation.

As well as boosting our bodies in these ways, songs also affect our minds through the lyrics. Most of these popular tunes we listen to have empowering themes, encouraging us to be resilient, fight for our dreams, or explore love. But when music is this powerful, and our memory so strong to remember and recall – should we as parents be considering more carefully the content of the lyrics our kids are listening to?

Jo Hargreaves explains another bio-hack to enrich our bodies and minds is biblical meditation, which can,

…strengthen the prefrontal cortex (responsible for focus, self control, and decision making), reduce anxiety in the amygdala, and calming the fight or flight response. It also promotes neuroplasticity, helping you rewire your brain towards peace and hope.

Repeating the words of the bible therefore, is a powerful way to help re-focus our minds on positive and encouraging truth.

Imagine then what happens when you join the two bio-hacks together, putting bible truths to song. Nero-pathways will be firing all over the place, releasing oxytocin and peace throughout our bodies. Re-framing our thinking to recall Gods word and promises to us whenever we hear the tune that accompanies it. What a beautiful way to use the gift of music and scripture to fill our minds, and those of our children with the word and promises. What power for our thoughts to be filled with the encouragements of the bible, rather than just catchy pop music.

If music is therefore a mechanism to help remember things, what is it we are remembering most?

Are we rewiring our minds to remember to reach for the stars like in K-Pop’s Golden, or remembering to reach for God our very present help in times of need in Psalm 46? Are we desiring our hearts saved from the “fate of Ophelia” like Taylor Swift, or from being saved by grace into the hands of his glorious riches in Christ Jesus in Ephesians 2?

What is exciting is there are music artists out there already producing these scripture songs, in many genres and variations, so you can find something that suits your taste. Below you will find a list of them you can explore. Just this year, two new devotional books have also been published, linking scripture and songs, to help families meditate on Gods word easily, and fill their hearts and minds with is truth. The links for these are below as well.

So if you have ever found it tricky to memorise scripture, or you want to find a way to help your children bring God’s truth to mind easily in moments of trouble – why not have a listen to some scripture songs. Find the style you like, and enjoy belting out God’s word to music in you next car journey. If you find the next assembly banger – let me know!

Scripture Song Artists:

• Slugs and Bugs
• The Corner Room
• Scripture Hymnal
• Shane & Shane
• Kingdom Kids
• Seeds Kids Worship
• Poor Bishop Hooper
• Abby Houston
• Caroline Cobb
• Aaron Shust
• Ellie Holcomb
• The Village Kids

Other Resources:

Sing the Bible: 52 Bible Verses for Kids to Learn and Sing

Each week, kids will encounter a new Scripture verse and a corresponding devotion that helps them to dig deeper into God’s Word. Each colourfully illustrated devotion includes a QR code leading to a video where kids will learn the song that goes with each verse.

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We Sing!: Teaching Kids to Praise God with Heart and Voice

Through music, we can express our heartfelt praise, weave the gospel into our daily lives, and grow in our understanding of the Lord. Written by acclaimed singer and hymn writer Kristyn Getty, We Sing! beautifully highlights the power and joy of worshiping God through song.


Life is full on as a parent and it can feel like there is no space for yourself let alone God. How can you also fit in a bible study when you can barely slot in the homework due? How can you make time to answer the big questions of life kids ask when it feels you’re constantly rushing out the door? Where amongst the daily routines and added extras are Christian parents supposed to fit in growing faith in their family?

The bible encourages us that faith at home isn’t supposed to be a burden, but a blessing to our everyday family lives. After God had given Moses the ten commandments he encouraged the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 saying,

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

God wants parents, grandparents and friends to pass on and share the joys of knowing Him to their children in the everyday parts of life. This doesn’t mean adding it to the never ending to do list, but doing faith as you go and bringing God into the rhythms of your family life. Weaving the things of God alongside the activities you are already doing; like praying before a school test, praising God for a sunny day, talking about God’s generosity as you go to a party, or playing a worship song during dinner.

Sharing faith at home doesn’t have to be big and scary and take up lots of time. It can be one small thing each day, because even a small thing can have a big impact. Think about the story of the loaves and fish told in Matthew chapter 14, where Jesus takes a small packed lunch and multiplies it to feed 5000 people. God can use a small routine thing in a mundane part of our day to have a big impact, if we just invite him to be a part of it.

Small change. Big impact.

Moving our steering wheel by just one degree can dramatically change the whole direction of our journey. And so it is with sharing faith at home. Adding just one small thing into our daily routines can make a huge impact on our children’s journey of faith, planting seeds and foundations for them to build on as they grow.

So why not give it a go today and be intentional about bringing God into part of your families life today:

• Read Praise God for toast at breakfast.
• Sing a song to him on the way to footy.
• Ask how you need God’s help at dinner or read a psalm at bedtime.

It only takes one small thing and God will do the rest.

...so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it

1 Corinthians 12:25-26

When one member of Christ’s body suffers, all members suffer with them. We believe that, as Christians, we are required to support our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are suffering for their faith through prayer and also by giving financially.

What do Open Doors do?

Open Doors was started 70 years ago in 1955 by Dutch Missionary Brother Andrew who smuggled bibles into countries where bibles weren’t allowed. However, now Open Doors does so much more as it seeks to support our fellow Christians who live in places where they are being persecuted, often hounded out of their homes and even killed for their faith.

Open Doors distributes bibles so that persecuted Christians can be nourished by God’s Word and they provide training and support for Christian Leaders in order that they can remain strong in Jesus and encourage others in their faith. They also support victims of violence and disaster through trauma centres so that they can live independent, fulfilled lives.

Presently there are over 1.6 million Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa who are displaced through having been forced to flee their homes and villages due to violence and persecution for their faith.

Many live in displacement camps, in overcrowded conditions in temporary accommodation with a shortage of food and water and few possessions.

Earlier this year we were privileged to receive Abraham and Eti from Pakistan to Guernsey who were able to share first hand how frightening it can be to be a Christian in a country within the Open Doors watchlist of the Top 50 most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. We hope to have more visitors next year.

How can you get involved?

Every couple of months Open Doors publish a magazine and Prayer Diary to help focus our prayers for persecuted Christians, they also release a booklet every January telling us of the top 50 most dangerous countries in the world to be a Christian. These are all available under the Open Doors poster at the back of Church. There is an Open Doors prayer meeting which takes place the 2nd Tuesday in every month from 7 - 8pm in the Prayer Room at Church. We would love to see you there.

More information about Open Doors can be found at opendoorsuk.org 

A prayer for the persecuted church.

Father God,

We lift up our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Strengthen their faith, protect them, and remind them they are never alone. Let Your light shine through their courage.

We thank You for the work of Open Doors—bless their ministry as they serve and support those in danger for following Christ. Give them wisdom, resources, and protection.

Stir our hearts to stand with the suffering Church in prayer, in giving, and in love. May Your Kingdom come, even in the darkest places.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An Interview With Andrew Ollerton of Bible Society.

We recently had the chance to sit down with Andrew Ollerton as he visited our 6pm service. Listen in as we ask him, 'Why does he think there is an increase in those exploring faith?' and 'How does the Bible play a key role in that process?' If you'd like to listen to Andrew's sermon from that evening then make sure to find click here. 

About The Bible Course

The Bible Course resource will help you discover how Bible characters, stories, and themes are connected, from Genesis to Revelation. Learn how the narrative of the Bible can help you make sense of life.

Looking to read more books this summer? The Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic way for the whole family to have fun reading books. If you read 6 books from our book borrow box (available in the café) by 6th September then you'll receive a medal along with a prize every time you finish a book. Download the Reading Challenge Card today. Remember, pages mean prizes! Have fun!

Does God care about my work? by London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.

Where God has placed you is where he has called you to make a difference. Whether that's at home, on the factory floor, in your office, paid or unpaid - we are each to play a part in God's redemptive purposes for our island and our world. This 3 part mini-series is a great tool to help you be inspired and motivated to work for the glory of God and to serve those around you. Join Mark Greene as he explores what the Bible has to say about work and hear from others who are making a difference where they are placed.

(If you are intending to watch this series as a Small Group, there is also a free study guide for you to follow.)

About RightNow Media

RightNow Media is a ‘Netflix of Video Bible Studies.’ This comprehensive collection of faith-based video content is accessible whenever you want, wherever you are! Create your free account today and download the app to your device.

Or create your free RightNow Media account

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Luke 4: 18-19

Serving those unlike ourselves

In the introduction to the book “Enabling Church”, John Naude opens with, “The way we value people for who they are, as they are, is so important”.

Jesus reaches out to those on the margins – the broken, the lost, the weak - refugees, current and recovering addicts, low-income groups, prisoners and ex-offenders as well as those with physical and mental challenges (and often combinations of all these) to name but a few. As disciples of Christ, we are called to do the same. That includes the hardest-to-reach people - even those despised and rejected by society.

It is natural for us to serve those who are like us. We’re inclined to care for and share our lives with the people who live near us, look like us, talk like us, and live like us. It can be uncomfortable to reach out to people who aren’t like us. Yet Jesus calls us to press through our discomfort and to open our hearts to all who need the love and justice of God.

It may not always be easy

My work at Holy Trinity Church as Co-ordinator of Guernsey Caring for Ex-Offenders (GCFEO) and also as part of the Prison Chaplaincy team, has afforded me the privilege of being able to walk alongside ex-offenders and prisoners as they seek to rebuild their broken lives. It hasn’t always been easy and there have been many disappointments along the way, but being able to show and act with love, hope and mercy towards the people I have been called to serve, gives me such joy and purpose.

Reintegrating into the community after release from prison is often an incredibly difficult journey for ex-offenders.  Adjusting to life outside prison can be overwhelming. It is not just about avoiding reoffending—it's about healing, rebuilding identity, and restoring dignity.

Offering compassion, support, and opportunities to ex-offenders isn’t just the right thing to do; it's essential for building safer, more inclusive communities for everyone. Their crimes may be serious, and the pain they’ve caused is real. But as followers of Christ, we are called to believe in redemption. We believe in a Saviour who forgave the thief on the cross and ate with the outcast. His grace isn’t limited to the sins we find easier to forgive. It doesn’t mean we ignore the past or act without wisdom. But it does mean we lead with compassion, not condemnation.

10 years of GCFEO

Guernsey Caring for Ex-offenders celebrated it’s 10th anniversary on March 24th 2025. Over these 10 years I have seen many ex-offenders who, having accepted the support of GCFEO, have turned from a life of offending and with little self-worth, to become useful, trusted and worthy members of the community. This makes everything so very worthwhile. An even greater delight is when I see those who go on to lead their lives with Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

The church should be a place where even the most broken can find hope and healing.

If we believe no one is beyond God’s grace, then we must be willing to show that grace—even when it’s hard. Let’s be that kind of people. The kind that doesn’t just preach the Gospel—but lives it.

Talking Faith by the Kitchen Table Project.

Talking Faith, is a video series of conversations with Christian parents about how they have explored faith with their families at home. These 14 videos produced by the Kitchen Table Project, chat with the likes of Pete Greig from 24/7 prayer, TV presenter JB Gill, Gareth Glikeson from Rend Collective Band, and talk about ways to inspire faith in their children. Covering topics such as ‘lifes big questions’, ‘engaging with the bible’, ‘developing gratitude’, ‘equality and social justice’, ‘highs and lows of parenting,’ ‘mental wellbeing’ and more. Ranging from ten to thirty minutes, there is something for every family to relate to and learn from in growing faith at home.

Available at the Kitchen Table Project through the button below or through the YouTube player above.

Running since 2020 and with nearly 250 episodes to date, there are a wide variety of episodes to choose from.  With many episode that include discovering how to help your child in the age and stage their at, and including themes such as loss, empathy, siblings, social media, relationships, emotions and much much more.  Released twice a week, this podcast is a parents go to for ideas, encouragements and faith building home habits.

Listen to the latest episode below or listen to the whole show on Spotify or other Podcast apps.

Started in 2021 and now in its sixth season, with nearly 100 episodes to date, this podcast (from Training The Church) is hosted by some parents and Christian leaders from Texas, US,  who have conversations about the critically important and mostly ordinary work of leading our children in faith at home.  With topics including, social media, teenagers, anxiety, worship, theology, gender, sexuality, dating,  and much more, there is a rich array of content to get stuck into. 

Also including interviews with authors of new parenting books, this forty minute listen which is released every Monday, is great  for in the car, on a walk or whilst doing housework as an enriching way to join the conversations of other Christian parents and be encouraged in growing faith in your own home. Listen to the latest episode above or find it on your favourite podcasting platform.

I leaned back in the comfortable armchair and paused to reflect and think about what to say. My mentor, in her usual, perceptive way had asked me a really good question. She seemed very comfortable with the silence. I needed time to process her question and my response.

Mentoring in a work situation tends to focus on professional development, leadership skills, or guiding people into skills they want to grow in. Christian mentoring is about more than self improvement or personal development.

It’s about helping people become more and more like Jesus. Christian mentoring relationships provide an intentional way of engaging with God's agenda. Having a mentor means having a person to encourage us, to offer a fresh perspective, to support us and bring some insights from their experience and their own faith journey. A mentor can help us to reflect on what is happening, to make sense of it and to decide how to act, in order to produce a different or better outcome in a similar situation in the future.

A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of us and tells us how they did it. A mentor is someone who walks alongside us to guide us on what we can do.

Simon Sinek

The Bible knows nothing of solitary, isolated faith. We are made to function in community and share our lives with each other. Paul is a prime example. At first the believers in Jerusalem were skeptical, that the man who had been so opposed to the followers of Jesus, pursuing and persecuting them, had now become one of them. We see Barnabas bridging the gap and building relationships not only with Paul himself, but also between Paul and the church family. Barnabas was a mentor to Paul and when he needed help in Antioch, it was Paul he asked to come and work with him. In time, Paul became a mentor to other people like Titus and Timothy.

So to go back to where I started...

My mentor had asked me a question about why I felt guilty about looking after myself. I realised that as a wife, mother, caregiver, and church worker, I had become caught in a cycle of “put others first” “don’t be selfish” “take care of others before yourself.” If I wasn’t careful this was going to lead to disillusionment, frustration and exhaustion. My mentor and I discussed ways that I could make some changes and I began walking more, taking time to relax and read and not always feeling that I had to be on call all the time. It was ok not to reply to texts and emails immediately! I can also remember the joy that I felt, making a small purchase of something that I needed and choosing the item I wanted, not just something that was in the sale. That might seem trivial but it was a big step forward for me.

So would I recommend having a mentor? Absolutely. I have had several different mentors and I can honestly say that I think my Christian mentors have helped me to grow in ways that would not have happened without them.

Recall an experience where you were listened to well.

What did it feel like? How did it help you?

In our lives it can be hard to slow down and listen as so many things demand our time and energy. I know I get distracted easily.

‘I’m prone to distractions, God. I find it hard to keep my thoughts on you.’
God looked down and sighed: ‘I wish I could say the same about you. I can’t get you out of my mind.’

By Patrick Purnell, The Book of Furrows

If we can learn to sit and listen to God, enjoying His presence and His delight in us, from that place we are better equipped to listen to others. Jesus took time to rest with His Father (Mark 6:31) and then went out, listened to the crowd yet was drawn to the individual.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’

Mark 6:31

Otto Scharmer offers us 4 levels of listening (off-site link):

1. Downloading
2. Factual
3. Empathic
4. Generative

I pray that each day I may have the opportunity to step into the level of generative listening as I think it is what Jesus modelled - being fully present and engaged, connected to something larger and therefore enabling transformation. It can be a moment of holiness, a moment where God is present.

If I have been listened to I feel energised, free, able to lift my head and be who I am called to be. If we want to be good listeners we need to know that place of being heard and loved by God.

As persons are accepted and prized, they tend to develop a more caring attitude towards themselves. As persons are empathically heard, it becomes possible for them to listen more accurately to the flow of inner experiencings. As a person understands and prizes self, the self becomes more congruent with the experiencings. The person becomes more real, more genuine…there is a greater freedom to be the true whole person.

Carl Rogers

An Invitation

Who is God inviting you to listen to today? Maybe He is showing you how much He loves this person and He wants you to be His ears.

Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.

Henri Nouwen 

Next Steps

If you would like to join a community where people listen and where you can be known by others then we'd love to encourage you to join a small group. These mid-week communities meet in various places around the Island and exist to provide spaces for authentic community to flourish. Why not consider joining one today.

Talking with your Kids about Jesus by Natasha Crain.

Talking with your Kids about Jesus is a set of video resources to inspire parents to be intentional in raising their kids to know and love Jesus. Offering parents the tools and encouragements to gain confidence in having big faith conversations with their kids about who Jesus is and why he matters in our lives, and seeking to put him first. These 6 Session of 15mins in length, discuss how to have confidence to have big faith conversations, and how to discuss who Jesus is, what he said and did, and how that makes a difference in our children’s lives. 

About RightNow Media

RightNow Media is a ‘Netflix of Video Bible Studies.’ This comprehensive collection of faith-based video content is accessible whenever you want, wherever you are! Create your free account today and download the app to your device.

Or create your free RightNow Media account

This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, “We will not walk in it.”

Jeremiah 6:16

It's our prayer that at the start of this new year you will flourish under God through a life of rest, worship and delight.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

The examen is a spiritual practice which enables you to reflect on your experiences. It gives you space to review the day, week or month, think about where God has been at work and ask for His help in the season ahead. In this practice we reflect on past emotions (whether joyful or sorrowful) and ask ourselves which experiences have to us felt least alive (furthest away from God) and which have felt most alive (closest to God). We then reflect on the season ahead, whether that's a day, week or month, and consider what we may need to ask God for help with.

The examen is a process that allows us to be intentional about our calendars and engaging with our emotions so that we can offer our whole selves to God. To aid you in this practice we have put together a worksheet to help which you can download through the link below.

The Bible is full of instruction and encouragement that should lead us, as Christians to love and serve others at all times.

Jesus told us in the gospel of Matthew chapter 22, that the 2 main commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

The need around us

Jesus sets the bar high for us to put others before ourselves and to love our neighbour. He is also clear in Luke 4 that His mission is to proclaim good news to the poor, to set the captives free and bring liberty to the oppressed. And He invites us as the Church to join with Him in this mission.

Trinity has always nurtured a heart for the community but recently I was invited to join a programme, meeting with a national alliance of church-based hubs to help us build on existing Social Transformation Ministries. Over the past 9 months I have studied with others to look at how Trinity can offer our local community an even more powerful demonstration of God's hope and love.

The impact that a church can have on its community is crucial whether this is through church based projects, programmes and events or through offering time and commitment to work in partnership with local social transformation charities.

The local area around Trinity seems to have become a vibrant hub for social transformation charities - Guernsey Welfare Service, Guernsey Caring for Ex-Offenders, Action for Children, Independence, Guernsey Community Savings and Mill Street Community Cafe are all so close and all offer an opportunity for partnership to demonstrate love to our local community.

My hope now is that we will continue to explore ways in which we as a church can help those who are facing challenges in life and offer the love and hope of Jesus by offering support in a crisis, building community or helping someone make changes that will alter the course of their life for the better. As Jesus said in the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 that whatever we do for the ‘least of these’ we are doing that for Him.

This course has encouraged me to look at how Trinity can be challenged to develop our Social Transformation Initiatives. I hope to look at one project where we come alongside young men who feel like there is no escape for them apart from getting caught in a vicious cycle of unhealthy habits. Taking our place in working with Jesus to restore and repair broken lives.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:12

At Christmas

At Christmas we love to show a bit of love to others by getting involved in the Love Christmas initiative that has been running in the UK since 2020 which shares kindness and gives hope to those who need it most.

It's a joy to give out Bags of Kindness to groups that we have identified as needing a little hope and love. Make sure to look out for this initiative throughout December each year to find out how you can get involved. Social transformation is about helping to play our part in seeing people’s lives transformed by Jesus - we have the privilege of being there and providing the support and love whilst He is at work. Social transformation invites us to do what is good in God’s eyes and the prophet Micah reminds us in the Bible that what is required of us by the Lord.

Is to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

Micah 6:8

After all, as the apostle James writes, what good is it if we claim to have faith but our deeds do not reflect that. So, let’s work together to see Gods kingdom come on earth by following His lead and loving our neighbour.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23

Think
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What does it mean for you to have God with you? Maybe it’s a felt presence or maybe something you just know in your head and trust in. Who is this God for you today? Maybe He is very close or maybe distant. What do you need to say to Him today? What does He say to you?

Pray
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Emmanuel - God with us

What a beautiful gift from your generous heart of love.

In the busyness of this season we pause to thank you.

(Pause)

Thank you for the gift of your presence with us.

May we never forget your grace and kindness toward us in sending Jesus as a baby.

May your presence invade all our celebrations this season bringing light and hope to those in darkness.

May we be mindful of those who are suffering and alone and be bearers of your love to them.

Come again Jesus and bring hope to this world this Christmas time.

We thank you Emmanuel - God with us.

Amen.

If a vine doesn’t have a trellis, it will die. And if your life with Jesus doesn’t have some kind of structure to facilitate health and growth, it will wither away. Following Jesus has to make it onto your schedule and into your practices or it will simply never happen.

John Mark Comer

A healthy rule of life will mean that we are intentional with the following 4 areas: Prayer & Worship, Work, Relationships and Rest. It's our experience that when we are intentional in these areas we create space to love God and others well. That is why we have created this brief Rule of Life builder for you to get started. Prayerfully consider the following questions and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you answer them.

{#app-rule-of-life}

No one knows you. The language slows you… The things you brought from home. Look back at you; out of place here. They take on a lonely power.*

Lost

We find several stories about being lost in the Bible including the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, all found in Luke 15. One lost by nature, one by accident, one by poor choices. These are often told as stories for children, but it is so easy, as an adult, to find yourself feeling a bit lost in life. Feeling disconnected, isolated, without purpose.

I remember arriving in Guernsey and despite feeling sure this was the right place to be, I also had a sense of disorientation. I didn’t know where to find the most basic things and my inability to pronounce any of the places properly marked me out as an outsider.

A New Family

The best choice I made in those early days was to come along to church . You may not be able to instantly replicate long-standing friendships from other places, but you can instantly find yourself a new family as you step into church. I found such a warm welcome, the answers to some of my questions and a community where all held together by God’s love.

I also found that the words of the songs and prayers and what was spoken about in the talks helped build my faith, that I was in the right place and that God would lead me into this next chapter of life and help me when everything felt so new.

Belonging

Reflecting on the last two years since those early days, I can see that being part of the church family here has helped me find a new sense of purpose as I help out in different ways. Whether working in the office or serving in the café, I love having the opportunity to extend to everyone who steps through the door the same welcome I received, through joining a homegroup I am getting to know a lovely group of people more deeply as we work through the highs and lows of life together and friendships are deepening. I’m still working on the pronunciation of some places and names… I’m a work in progress!

Gradually, you will come to find your way to friends who will open doors into new belonging. Your heart will brighten with new discovery, your presence will unclench and find ease, letting your substance and promise be seen. 

Slowly, a new world will open for you. The eyes of your heart, refined by this desert time, will be free to see and celebrate the new life for which you sacrificed so much.*

Next Steps

If you relate to that sense of 'lost-ness', do come and find a place of welcome at Trinity. Perhaps visit our First Steps page to find out more.

You can chat to any member of the staff team. You can fill in a card or message us through the website to ask us to help you find a small group to join or a way you can discover and use your gifts to bless our community and find a sense of purpose and belonging.

*John O’Donohue (2007) “Benedictus: A Book of Blessings”. Bantam Press.

It is not meant to be a substitute for other types of reading but instead a reflective process that utilises silence, reflection, repetition and action in order to allow the scriptures to bring transformation to our lives and nourishment to our souls.

In this process we become aware of the acceptance or resistance that we may feel about what we are reading and ask ourselves the question - "How is the Holy Spirit leading me through this passage?"

To aid you in this practice we have put together a worksheet to help which you can download through the link below. Our hope and prayer is that it blesses you as it has us.

Modern science would add a plethora of signs other than a heavy heart. Restlessness, fatigue difficulty concentrating, irritability, disturbed sleep, overthinking, indecision, fear of making the wrong decision, avoidance of situations, procrastination, constant seeking of re-assurance. Anxiety has always been a principle factor in our existence. How do you think our anxiety today compares with the past? Lets take the advent of WW2 as a comparison.

Global war and conflict:

1939: The human toll of the Great Depression was only just passing, to be replaced by the onset of WW2, with its threat of global conflict, safety of loved ones, and the possibility of conscription. Today: Fears about geopolitical tensions (the Middle East, the U.S. and China/Russia) abound, as well as concerns over terrorism, cyber warfare, and potential for nuclear conflict.

Economic Uncertainty:

1939: Following the Great Depression, people still faced high unemployment, poverty, and economic instability. Today: Anxiety is more focused towards income inequality, job insecurity, high personal debt, and rising cost of living.

Health:

1939: Anxiety focused on physical toll of war… injury, death, and the spread of diseases by war. Mental health was misunderstood and stigmatised. Today: Our focus is drawn to the fear of pandemics, health issues and the pressures of modern lifestyles.

Technology:

1939: The destructive potential of new weapons, and concerns over the use of radio and propaganda. Today: Fears about privacy, data security, job displacement and information overload and burnout with a relentless stream of news, opinions, and comparisons with others. Medias current favourite hobby horse is of course the rise of “Artificial Intelligence” and its existential threat to humanity.

Environmental issues:

1939: Global environmental anxiety was scarcely an issue. Concerns were more localised. Today: Environmental anxiety is rife, with concerns over climate change, natural disasters, pollution, and the sustainability of natural resources.

So one could say, in the anxiety stakes, as much as things change, the more they stay the same 

What is to be our response as Christians?

Well, my starting point is an acknowledgement that we are made in Gods image and that in human form Jesus also suffered from anxiety and responded to the anxiety of others. We see his anxiety in The Garden of Gethsemane - Mark 14:32-42 and Jesus cry on the cross - Matthew 27:46.

But more often we see him calming and healing others amid their anxiety: The Calming of the Storm - Matthew 8:23-27;  The Raising of Lazarus - John 11:1-44; The Woman with the Issue of Blood - Mark 5:25-34; Jesus Comforting His Disciples at the last supper - John 14:1-4; and many more.

So we should not be surprised at our own experiences of anxiety, it is a natural human emotion... It’s just that sometimes it can overwhelm us and become disproportionate to the actual risks we face in life.

Jesus, wholly aware of this provides instruction to the disciples in Matthew 6:25-34 - "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life …”, He emphasises God's provision for all His creation, encouraging us to trust in God's care and the promise of spending eternity in God’s presence.

"Do not worry"

This is not a suggestion for their well-being but a command… “DO NOT WORRY”.  Something, hard to conjure up in the heat of our anxiety, we would be wise to reflect and ruminate on whilst we are at peace, ready to employ that deep sense of calm when anxiety rears its head.

I am reminded of a sketch, by one of my favourite comedians Bob Newhart. I wont summarise it but you can watch it here for your edification and delight. There is a lovely underlying observation embedded therein that we can be quite accepting of our own anxieties yet highly critical of others fears and worries.

Pauls advice in Philippians 4:6-7 is:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And 1 Peter 5:7; "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Next Steps

For many, having someone with whom they can talk through their anxieties can be helpful. Perhaps a trusted friend who can pray with you, a Christian mentor, or a professional counsellor through a practise such as the Guernsey Counselling Service.

When they are asked, "Who are you?" before all else, I want them to stand tall, to puff out their chests and to say in a clear, confident voice, "I am a disciple of Jesus. This is me."

Ed Drew

Raising Confident Kids is aimed at Parents who want to help their children grow up confidence in knowing what the gospel is and how it affects their lives. Ed Drew does a fantastic job of reminding us as parents of the beauty of the gospel for ourselves, and gently takes us through how it is a biblical priority for us to share it with our children. Coming alongside parents further, he then explains how we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our children in the everyday parts of life, and continues by showing how we can help them apply this good news to the challenges they face in todays culture. After discovering the joys of how the gospel, Ed Drew then talks through how it can give our children confidence in topics such as friendships, crisis, body image, pornography, sex, sexual attraction, gender, marriage and singleness . The book isn’t a long one, but packed full of powerful encouragements to help parents be intentional in growing faith at home.

A distant line separates the horizon from the huge blue cathedral like expanse overhead. No trees, no bushes, no animals, no visible movement or growth, a complete lack of life. Three weeks later flying over the same area to my surprise I spot a small lake that had appeared in the sand. I knew from the Hydrology of Chad that there are huge reserves of water, usually deep underground but at times it breaks through to the surface. It was amazing to see crystal clear water in areas that seemed to have scarcity yet now had abundance. The water had always been there it just needed bringing to the surface…

With God there is more than enough, there is abundance.

Some of the most generous people I have ever met had so little, with no obvious reserves at all, with little chance of finding resources to pay for unexpected medical or education bills or help out in family emergencies and yet they navigate life with a sense of expectation that God will provide and look after them, sharing what they have. Perhaps you have met folk who are the opposite never seeming to have enough, their conversation often revolves around costs & expense, judging people’s achievements by their earnings or how large their house is and so on. Wisdom and our responsibility do say plan, save, prepare for the future but not at the expense of being generous. Care needs to be taken that you do not take on values that say that you are responsible for everything at the expense of trusting God as provider and as the one who gives wisdom. We are called to be joyful and generous and live from a place of abundance.

I remember meeting an East German soon after the Berlin wall fell. She found that whenever she went into a German super market she always had to load her basket to the absolute brim, it cost her more than she could afford but she was always fearful that the next time she came to the supermarket it would be empty. Her head was saying of course there will be more stock but her heart was thinking what if…

Change the way we think

If you struggle with lack and scarcity why not consider changing the way you think? There is a core value that we are asked to reflect, it is to be generous like our Father, by that we mean our heavenly Father. Remember when we first encountered Jesus he was asking us to change the way we think and he is asking it again (Romans 12:1-3) to be transformed and one of the core values is to be generous. It is very hard to be generous if we always think that we never have enough i.e. that we have lack.

The Genius of Generosity

I hope you will see with me that cultivating our hearts to be Generous, so we move from perceiving our world as being one of lack, shortage and scarcity, to seeing our world as one of abundance. It amazing, & wonderful that with a heart of Generosity we can bless others, resist jealousy and live as humankind was meant to live, as a people of boundless blessing.

Imagine if you woke up every morning and declared to the day ahead:

1. I am blessed to be a blessing.
2. I have more than enough to sow into the Kingdom of God.
3. In every area of my life I live in abundance.
4. I overflow with delight as I generously give to the Lord and to others.
5. I have a unique ability to know when God is highlighting someone I should bless generously with time, money or another resource.
6. When others are generous towards me, I receive it with gladness.
   
   

Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope

Romans 15:13

As his disciples we are called to demonstrate that there is more than enough by bringing God’s generosity to the surface. 

The Prayer Course by 24/7 Prayer.

The Prayer Course is an eight-week journey through the Lord’s Prayer, with 24-7 Prayer founder Pete Greig and co-host Poppy Williams. Using a mix of discussion, testimony and teaching, join Pete & Poppy as they discuss what prayer is and how might we engage with it well. Petition, adoration, contemplation, intercession and much more. If you, or your community, are looking to grow and deepen in your prayer life then this series is for you.

(If you are intending to watch this series as a Small Group, there are also free study guides for you to follow.)

About RightNow Media

RightNow Media is a ‘Netflix of Video Bible Studies.’ This comprehensive collection of faith-based video content is accessible whenever you want, wherever you are! Create your free account today and download the app to your device.

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Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28-30

Christian pilgrimage is a sacred journey undertaken by individuals seeking spiritual growth, a deeper connection with God, and a sense of renewal in their faith. It is not about the destination but the journey. It doesn't have to be long - it could just be over an hour and your destination could be a park, a garden, a chapel, or a quiet bench by the sea.

Pilgrimage is not just the physical journey but the transformation it brings to your heart and spirit as we give thanks for what we have and ask the question - "God, what might you be saying through this experience?"

To aid you in this practice we have put together a worksheet to help which you can download through the link below.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.
Exodus 20:8

This instruction from God is for our own benefit. He is telling us to stop and have a rest, to take time to worship Him. Jesus showed us that this day is not meant to be a burden of keeping some rules but rather it is intended to help us. A rest energises us for work again and helps us to look at what is important. It changes our rhythm which we need for mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. It is a gift so enjoy this time just as God in Genesis rested and was pleased with what He had created.

Think
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Rest can mean different things to each one of us, think about what refreshes you which may be something you don’t find time for in your working week. (A swim, a walk, meeting up with friends, quietly reading, etc)

Consider how you can create a Sabbath, what would you like to have as part of your Sabbath? (Light a candle at the start, take more time to read the Bible, worship music, a family meal, etc)

Is your sabbath rest glorifying God?

Pray
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Lord Jesus thank you for the gift of sabbath.

Thank you that you showed us the way to create a rhythm of work and rest.

Thank you for your love and care which allows us time to rest.

Teach me your rhythm for my life Lord so that I may be rested and you may be glorified.

Please show me how to make more time for you and how to keep the sabbath holy.

Thank you Lord Jesus.

Amen.

Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.
Psalm 133:1

It can certainly be a pleasant place to be when we are in agreement with those around us! However, there are many times in life when we don’t agree and relationships may feel tense and even become fractured. Often these broken relationships can affect us for years. Just when we think the pain is well buried something happens to bring it to the surface again. God is working to bring us to maturity and has a very loving way of bringing issues to the surface and letting us chose if we deal with them.

If you’re not at peace with someone today ask God to help you resolve it, don’t let it become a more painful thing. Often, simply listening to the other and asking God for His heart as you listen will bring understanding, mutual encouragement and a way to be in unity.

Think
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Is there someone on your mind today who you are not at peace with? Ask God to show you Jesus’ way of love in the next step.

Are you aware of some in our church community who are in disagreement? Pray that they may find a way to be united, that their commonality may be greater than their disagreement.

Is there a place in the world on your heart today? Ask Father God to bring more of His kingdom in this place.

Pray
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As St Francis of Assissi prayed:

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy."

Lord Jesus come and bring peace and reconciliation to our world today. Thank you for the diversity and difference, may that be celebrated rather than fought over and may you raise up the peacemakers in broken communities. May our church community be a place that reflects unity, a place that glorifies you in the way we demonstrate love and care for one another. Show me today where I may be an instrument of your peace.