We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, in the final talk of this series, Mal Calladine looks at how we can stretch or be stretched into something more than we have and more than we are. But how does this work, and what is stretch?

Jesus points to the essential nature of stretch for us when he talks about new life as new wine, needing stretchy new wineskins. Could it be that God isn’t calling us to stretch to reach him, but promising that our lives will change when he fills us up with his goodness?

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine looks at pilgrimage, where we move from where we are to be closer to something want or need. There are lots of examples in this talk from February 2017, including festivals, changes of rhythm and perspective, inspiring destinations and inspirational people.

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine comes with a challenging message, given in the new year of 2017, about where we might need to stop or change things instead of doing what we’ve always done.

But as Mal explains, in our understanding of church, the challenge of change is always linked to the comfort and encouragement of possibility. What change do you think God can enable in your life?

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine takes a two part look at worship. His first talk looks at why we worship and the importance of asking that question ‘why’ whenever we are looking for our purpose and forming life-giving habits instead of just sticking boring or tiring routines. What is it about worship which is essential for life?

His second talk looks at how we worship, creatively moving way beyond singing in church and looking at how God's creativity meets ours in the world.

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine looks at how we deal with the Bible or, indeed, see how the Bible might be able to deal with us. What is the Bible, and how can we relate to it? They might sound like simple questions, but you might be surprised how many good questions pop up when we take a careful look at them.

Should we look at the Bible as a set of instructions for us, or more as a story in which we have a role?

What are the different kinds of ways we can become familiar with the Bible, not just the details which sound relevant when we hear them, but the big, whole picture which puts everything into context?

Is there a best way to feed on the Bible, or can we find a range of ideas here which might work well at different times in life?

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine looks at vulnerability - including the power of it, and Mal points to a TED talk by Brene Brown called “The Power of Vulnerability” as a recommended listen too.

Mal had a lot to share about this in April 2016, so it’s presented here over two talks.

The first is about what vulnerability is and why it's essential for trust and leadership, as well as a strengthener of relationships.

The second talk includes lots of practical advice, including the need to discern where we have relationships which can cope with different amounts of emotional openness and vulnerability. Where can we build relational bridges, and where do we need to be more guarded with gates setting boundaries and conditions on access to intimacy with us?

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine talks about fasting, something we probably know either as a spiritual discipline, like giving things up for Lent, or as a diet.

But do those things make a sustainable, long lasting difference to us? Are there better ways and better reasons to fast?

Mal looks at fasting as a way of surfacing and beating "resistors" in our lives. If we can do it well, fasting can help us to know what is in our hearts, and if we can also do it with humility, it can help us to build our reliance on God.

We are looking at things Jesus did and asking if we do them too, can we become more like Jesus, and so can they become life-giving habits for us?

Today, Mal Calladine looks at prayer in a talk from November 2015, nine days after a series of terrorist attacks hit Paris and shocked the world.

In turbulent times, it’s easy to think about how things are going - even who we are - in terms of what is happening around us and what we are doing about it. But Mal draws back here to ask how our connections are working, especially our connections with God.

This isn't especially a call to "quiet times" - Mal has a surprising take on those - but it does include lots of examples of prayerful people and different kinds of prayers, pleas and questions to bring to God which can deepen and strengthen our connection with him.