Isca Church

Laura tells us that Psalm 23 is full of really good stuff!

She invites us to read and “digest” this Psalm, saying:  “If we really take in the truths that are in this Psalm, I think it makes a big difference to how we live, how we see ourselves and the quality of our lives.”

Martin James’s preached for the first time ever yesterday – to a packed hall - he wasn't expecting that in August!

Our summer our teaching series is based on the Psalms and Martin made the bold claim that Psalm 139 was the best psalm! He loves the raw emotions expressed in it and the huge encouragement that our all-knowing creator God wants to be involved in our daily lives.

Martin encouraged us to consider these two questions in the coming week.
1. Consider the all-knowing God described in verse 1-6. Is there anything that you’ve been holding back from Him, forgetting that He knows already? Is it time to share it with Him now?

2.Consider the invitation to God in verses 23-24. Are you ready to invite Him in, to know your heart and your anxious thoughts?

John Meredith explores Psalm 1 inviting us to be intentional in our spiritual journey, growing deeper in our relationship with God and learning to delight in His instruction.

He invites us to reflect on these questions:

Do you know which direction you are going in?

Are you thirsty?

How can you “delight” in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night?

Psalm 98: A Call to Rejoice!

Norman tells us how Psalm 98 is one of my favourite psalms because it is full of joy and praise.

This psalm was used in the Feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day celebration where thousands of people gathered to praise God.

Norman invited us to ask for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, praying that our hearts would be filled with:

• rejoicing
• a deeper love for God
• a deeper commitment to God 
• a deeper desire to bless those around us.

Celebration Sunday is our monthly get together with friends from other churches across the region. Yesterday we heard lots of exciting news about how God is on the move in our region and an inspiring talk about God transforming lives through the Christian charity Tearfund.

Community news  from our regional friends in Hatherleigh Community Church. Great news – they’ve bought a community house and want to employ a part-time community worker!

Local transformation in Exeter - here in Exeter, we also have encouraging news. Andy Mulcock, who recently retired from Isca, has been appointed chair of  a community partnership responsible for deciding how a £20m government improvement grant will be spent in Whipton and Heavitree East.

Stories of transformation Claire Speake from Tearfund shared an inspiring story of how Tearfund helped transform one family’s life, and challenged us to think about what transformation could look like in our own lives.

Prayer and public life - we closed the gathering with Andy Flannagan, chair of Christians in Politics, praying for Andy Burnham as he begins his role as prime minister.

Bob's talk is entitled The Christian Hope, Our Faith and The Future - 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11. This is the penultimate talk in our Thessalonians series.

Rich encourages us to live this week revealing Jesus - in love, in mystery, in real moments.

“There is a God who reveals mysteries.” ✨
Let’s help others see He might be their answer.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 1 Thessalonians 3:13

Jen Flannagan spoke about the challenge to love the church - one another - as Paul did.  She drew out these four questions as a way of thinking about what that involves.

Jen encourages us, in our discipleship groups, to think together about what comes most easily to you and what feels most challenging:

Do I acknowledge my need and accept love and care?

Do I welcome challenge so that I grow in our faith?

Do I step towards those in need of care?

Do I offer loving challenge to help others grow?”

Cherryl invites us to reflect more deeply on the Lord’s Table as an enacted drama of redemption. She reminds us this act is a remembrance of Jesus’ death for us and it proclaims the Lord’s death until he comes.  Bread and wine are taken during the talk.

1 Thessalonians 1 – You Are Chosen

In this talk, Rich reflects on 1 Thessalonians 1 and the encouragement Paul writes to a young church whose faith was being talked about far and wide. We are reminded that we are chosen because we belong to God’s people, and that faith is something lived out together.

Rich invites us to consider what it looks like for us today, challenging modern idols of individualism and consumerism, and asking an important question: what is God doing in Isca, and is our life together pointing others towards Him?