Syndal Baptist Church Audio

UNCOMMON SENSE Everybody loves a good bargain, right? Get as much as you can for as little as possible. It’s almost a sport these days! It makes sense, doesn’t it? Why would you pay full price for something when you can get it cheaper or free somewhere else? It’s just smart. But is that always the case? Does the rule always hold up? Are there times where it’s not true that the lower the cost, the greater the deal? This Sunday Bill Brown will be taking a look at a story from the life of David which seems to throw a spanner in the works of common sense. We hope you can join us to see what we might be able to learn from it!

UNCOMMON SENSE “Should I say something?” “Somebody really should say something.” We’ve all been there – knowing something isn’t right, wondering whether it’s our place to speak up, but feeling like there are a million reasons why it makes more sense to stay silent. What do you do when common sense tells you there are so many good reasons to keep your mouth shut, and so few reasons to open it? This Sunday Mike Riddell will be taking a look at a powerful story from the life of King David to see what answers we might find. We hope to see you there!

UNCOMMON SENSE It’s great when you have a decision to make and everything seems right about it. It makes sense, other people think it’s a great idea, and you even feel like God will love it. So what do we do when God says ‘no’? Why would he say no? Did we hear him wrong? Surely if everything seems to point to ‘yes’, then him saying ‘no’ must be a mistake. David found himself in this very dilemma, and thousands of years later there is still much to be learned from his experience. We hope you can join us this Sunday as Chris Danes helps us figure out what that is.

UNCOMMON SENSE Success. Prestige. Respect. Wealth. They are appealing notions, and ones which many of us strive to achieve within our lifetimes. All around us are messages which tell us to aim higher, reach further, do better, gain more; after all, that is where true purpose is found…isn’t it? It sounds like solid advice, but how solid is it? David’s best friend Jonathan was on the fast track to power and glory - he could have had it all - but he made a different choice. Why? Was it worth it? What can we learn from his story as we make our own choices today? Join us this Sunday as we explore what wisdom this amazing story has to offer.

UNCOMMON SENSE Have you ever found yourself facing a situation so uncomfortable and difficult that you would do just about anything to change it? What if the chance to change it was sitting right there, within reach? Everyone is telling you to grab it with both hands, and it seems like the obvious choice. Yet something holds you back. Something doesn’t feel quite right. David found himself at a similar crossroads with a choice to make. How did he make that choice? What can we learn from his decision? Join us this Sunday as Bill Brown takes a look at this challenging story from the life of David.

UNCOMMON SENSE Sometimes in life we find ourselves in situations which make us feel like a child who is facing down a giant. Logic and reason might tell us to run in the other direction, yet we have a sense that God might desire a different response. How do we know when to stay and when to run? How do we stand our ground when the odds are against us? Join us this Sunday as Chris Danes takes a look at the story of David and Goliath to see what it might have to teach us.

We hear all the time that Christianity is ultimately about having a relationship with Jesus, and any good relationship requires an investment of time and energy. Many of us would love to feel closer to Jesus - to know him better, to hear him more clearly, to sense his presence in our world - yet we don't know where to start and it's even harder to continue once we have. Join us today as Mandy Stark shares some thoughts about how we can spend meaningful time connecting with Jesus on a daily basis.

WALK WITH PURPOSE Our walk through life is rarely undertaken without the company of others. How we interact with those around us shapes our experience of life, and impacts on theirs. How do we best walk the journey with others? How do we make sure we don't waste the opportunity to fill our relationships with a sense of purpose every day? This Sunday, Bill Brown will be looking at what advice the Apostle Paul offers in his letter to the Thessalonians. We hope you can join us!

WALK WITH PURPOSE Purpose. It's something most of us seek as we navigate the ups and downs of life. To know where we're heading and why. For those of us following Jesus, we might have a vague sense of the direction we're heading, but struggle to know how we're meant to live day-to-day. How does our sense of purpose shape not just our destination, but the manner of our walk towards it? Join us as we seek answers from some of Paul's wise words to the Thessalonian church in our five-week series 'Walk with Purpose'.

WALK WITH PURPOSE Purpose. It's something most of us seek as we navigate the ups and downs of life. To know where we're heading and why. For those of us following Jesus, we might have a vague sense of the direction we're heading, but struggle to know how we're meant to live day-to-day. How does our sense of purpose shape not just our destination, but the manner of our walk towards it? Join us as we seek answers from some of Paul's wise words to the Thessalonian church in our five-week series 'Walk with Purpose'.

WALK WITH PURPOSE Purpose. It's something most of us seek as we navigate the ups and downs of life. To know where we're heading and why. For those of us following Jesus, we might have a vague sense of the direction we're heading, but struggle to know how we're meant to live day-to-day. How does our sense of purpose shape not just our destination, but the manner of our walk towards it? Join us as we seek answers from some of Paul's wise words to the Thessalonian church in our five-week series 'Walk with Purpose'.

WALK WITH PURPOSE Purpose. It's something most of us seek as we navigate the ups and downs of life. To know where we're heading and why. For those of us following Jesus, we might have a vague sense of the direction we're heading, but struggle to know how we're meant to live day-to-day. How does our sense of purpose shape not just our destination, but the manner of our walk towards it? Join us as we seek answers from some of Paul's wise words to the Thessalonian church in our five-week series 'Walk with Purpose'.

FACE TO FACE Sometimes we can step back and look at our friendships, our relationships with our partners or families and feel like we’re drifting apart. We can relationships which we care about but which aren’t as deep or healthy as we would like them to be, and wonder why that is. In a busy world packed with meetings, appointments, team practises, events and responsibilities, unfortunately it’s often our time with those we care most about which is pushed out of the diary. Why is this? How do we maintain healthy relationships in a busy life? How much time does it actually take for our relationships to thrive? Join us today as Chris tackles some of these questions and wraps up our Face to Face series.

FACE TO FACE Every day we cross paths with people we don’t yet know. We meet them at supermarkets, cafés, social event, workplaces and at church. The Bible tells us that every person we will ever meet is known by God and loved by God, yet for some reason we often see something else. When we meet someone new, how often do we keep the door to our lives closed? Is it possible that God might want us to open the door to someone new? If so, how do we do that? Join us today as Mandy Stark helps us consider what it might mean to extend the welcome of God to the people who might cross our path in the days and weeks to come.

FACE TO FACE Have you ever found yourself lost for words as someone shares their pain and grief with you? It can be so hard to know what to do or say when those you care about are suffering. Many of us fear saying the wrong thing and doing more harm than good. We hope you can join us this Sunday as Bill explores what it means to care well for those experiencing pain and grief.

FACE TO FACE Someone once said, “Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes.”* As life goes on, we all find ourselves facing changes which can bring fear,uncertainty, confusion and pain. It can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under our feet and we are left trying to navigate unfamiliar territory. So what can we do when we find ourselves facing such times? Is there a way to handle change well? How can we find our way through change without losing ourselves? Join us today as Chris Danes helps us consider these very questions and the role Jesus has to play in navigating change well.

FACE TO FACE At some point, all of us find ourselves hurt by others, and are guilty of hurting others. This hurt can stay with us in ways we may never have even realised. It can be easy to throw around the idea of forgiveness, yet forgiveness can be one of the hardest things to offer someone or accept ourselves. Why is it so difficult? Is it ever ok to not forgive? Is it something which you do once and then move on? What if the person doesn’t deserve to be forgiven?We hope you can join us today as Bill Brown tackles some of these tricky questions and considers what wisdom Jesus has to offer us as we wrestle with forgiveness.

FACE TO FACE Since human beings don’t all think or act the same way, conflict is likely to be part of every significant relationship at some point. Some of us run away at the slightest hint of it, others run towards it, and still others like to pretend it doesn’t exist. How we handle conflict can have a huge impact on our relationships - how deep, resilient, honest and safe they are - yet many of us struggle to know how to do it well. Join us today as Chris Danes explores how we can make the most of conflict to strengthen the relationships in our life.

FACE TO FACE Every day we can speak thousands of words to those around us, but are we using those words as well as possible? We can say a lot to someone, but still know so little about them. We can tell people all sorts of things, but leave out the stuff which really matters. We can meet someone new and find ourselves struggling to find the words to connect with them. Join us today as Bill Brown explores why our conversations matter so much and how we can make the most of them.

Today, we will be hearing from special guest Mark Purser, from Baptist World Aid.