Transformed by the Holy Spirit – What is Christianity? (8)

If we are united to Christ, then how do we live? Do we just sit around and twiddle our thumbs? In this session we look at who the Holy Spirit is, what he does, and how God commands us to live by the power of the Spirit.

Check out all posts under the “What is Christianity?” category for more sessions of this course.

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Cultivating Patience – Practical Guide to Holiness #17

Patience is a hard value to cultivate in a society which values instant gratification. How do we grow in patience? In this session we look at what patience is (and is not), especially patience in waiting for God’s promises and patience in suffering. We finish by looking at persistence in prayer.

Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.

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Constant Prayer – Practical Guide to Holiness #13

Prayer is one of the most fundamental things there is in the Christian life. At the same time, a lot of Christians struggle with it. In this session we look at why that is and what we can do about it. How often should we pray? What is prayer, and why do we find it so difficult? How can we built more intimacy in prayer?

Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.

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Ask, Seek, Knock – Matthew 7:7-12 Sermon

Jesus’ famous words are all about prayer. But why is it that prayer so often does not feel like what he says – “ask and it shall be given”? Why do so many people find prayer such a struggle? Jesus’ words are here to encourage us to pray.

Church with UTB: This is part of Church with UTB. Please do have a look at that page for a printable order of service and an online tool with some suggested songs etc.

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Authentic Prayer – Matthew 6:5-15 – 18th June 2023

Last week we started thinking about how Jesus wants us to be authentic in our religion – not like the hypocrites. This week, he talks about prayer. What does it mean to pray authentically, not like the hypocrites?

Suggested songs

Bible readings

Catechism

The catechism videos are undated, as it’s best to work your way through in sequence. Simply pick the next one from this playlist.

Please do have a look at the Church with UTB page for a printable order of service and an online tool to help you find all the right videos / links etc.

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A new year prayer for 2023

Happy New Year from Understand the Bible! This year we will be picking up where we left off in the Firm Foundations series. (If you aren’t subscribed on YouTube or signed up to the mailing list, please do so to get the new episodes as they are made!)

I came across a lovely prayer the other day, and I would like to share it with you. It’s a prayer for the new year, taken from the Valley of Vision. (The Valley of Vision of a collection of puritan prayers and devotions). The prayer uses old-fashioned language (thees and thous), and has a few unfamiliar words, but I think it’s a lovely prayer to open the year with.

It asks the Lord to be with us in everything we do, that we may serve him and grow in our service day by day.

O LORD,
Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in thy presence, in thy service, to thy glory.
Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from thee,
but may rely on thy Spirit to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire to show forth thy praise; testify thy love, advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to they calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me they grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to teach,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.

My thy fear be my awe,
thy triumphs my joy.

Valley of Vision “New Year”

What a way to start the year! I pray this would be true of each of us in these coming twelve months, and always. God bless you through 2023!

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Lead us not into temptation – Lord’s Prayer #7

In the final part of the Lord’s Prayer series, we look at the line: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. Why do we find the Christian life a battle against evil? What are we fighting against – and how do we win?

See more courses, including the Apostle’s Creed and Ten Commandments, on the courses index.

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Forgive us our sins – Lord’s Prayer #6

Learn to pray with the Lord’s Prayer – part 6: Do we just need to pray for forgiveness once? Or every time we sin? And why is it so important to forgive others?

The Apostle’s Creed course is available as a whole course here on the website, or you can watch The God Who Dies as an individual session.

See more courses, including the Apostle’s Creed and Ten Commandments, on the courses index.

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