We live in a weird society. No really, we do – we live in a WEIRD society (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic). So many of the values we take for granted are neither universal or common. And so, how did we get here? And what happens when we begin to undermine those values without even realising? Join us for a series in which look at the foundations of what it means to be Christian. We will explore the basic values that so many of us take for granted, and yet so easily forget. Join us to explore foundations that have changed the world, and still do!
‘For two hundred years we had sawed and sawed and sawed at the branch we were sitting on. And in the end, much more suddenly than anyone had foreseen, our efforts were rewarded, and down we came. But unfortunately there had been a little mistake: The thing at the bottom was not a bed of roses after all’
(George Orwell)
Series Outline
18 September
Session 1: Is There A God?
Thousands of years ago a poet wrote the words, ‘The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God!’ (Psalm 53) In a recent survey, over 40% of people in the UK say that don’t believe in God. What do we make of that? What difference does it make to how we live our lives? Without a shadow of a doubt, one man has had a greater impact on history than any other – Jesus of Nazareth. Was he a fool to believe in God?
25 September
Session 2: What’s The Probelm?
Someone once said that, ‘You can’t make progress until you know what the problem is.’The speed of change in our world is astonishing – medical advances; technological breakthroughs; political developments. And yet, despite all of that change and that good that comes from it, we can’t seem to escape the fact that there are so many problems that we create too. What if we’re part of the problem? What if the old-fashioned idea of ‘sin’ is the best news possible?
2 October
Session 3: How Do We Know?
Equality; Consent; Education for all; Science; Human Rights. They’re all things we take for granted. We presume they’re good things. But why? A look through History shows us that so many of our strongly-held values are not actually as universal as we might think. They come from somewhere. Like it or not, so many of them stem from the Bible – a book that has changed the world. And yet, it’s a book we so easily ignore or dismiss today. But what if there’s more to it than we ever realised, and it can still change our world today?
9 October
Session 4: Do We Need A Saviour?
In recent years, the self-help section of bookshops and websites has grown dramatically. It’s almost as if we know we need help, but we can’t quite work it out for ourselves. What if the centre of Christianity – Christ – is the solution we need. What if we need saving from ourselves rather than trying to help ourselves?!
16 October
Monthly Joint Sunday Gathering
Tally Ho Conference Center
23 October
Session 5: Are We Alone?
When you’re lost at night there’s two things you need – to know the way to go, and to know you’re not alone. Jesus guaranteed us both when he promised his Holy Spirit – to lead, and to accompany us. What does that mean in practice?
30 October
Generations Service
6 November
Session 6: Can We Change The World?
The late Christopher Hitchens once wrote, ‘Religion poisons everything.’ Is that true? What if the problem isn’t ‘religion’ itself, but people. Jesus’ greatest criticisms were directed at the religious leaders of his day. And yet, he also left behind a movement of people with one cause – to change the world through devotion to Him and each other. What if the problem isn’t so much the church, but when church goes wrong. What if the church is actually the greatest hope for our day.
13 November
Monthly Joint Sunday Gathering
Tally Ho Conference Center
20 November
Session 7: Can We Get Heaven On Earth?
‘Get the hell out of here.’ It’s a phrase that people sometimes say in a fit of rage. But what do we mean? Is there such a thing as ‘hell’ and ‘heaven’. Are they places you go to, or are they outdated concepts from uneducated world? In a world of pain and uncertainty, can we get heaven on earth?
27 November
Session 8: How To Make The Most Of My Life?
So what? It’s perhaps the most important question to end this teaching series on. After all is said and done, what do we do with all we have explored? What if, in light of Jesus, the rest of our lives can be the most meaningful and important yet. What does it look like to make the most of the rest of my life?
