Christ at the heart of Christmas

This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.

Blessing in Suffering

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

My dear children

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,  how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

No Sweat

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us

Yet so close

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Standing

Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 

Justification by Faith

For I know that I am not justified by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Fear of man

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

Keep one foot in the water

Galatians is often like a good marinade, slowly transforming hard hearts to soft, gospel centred hearts. Join us as we gaze on the wonder of the gospel and trust in the life changing power of grace.

We are a gospel people

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

The call on 3ci

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

Anchored to the promises of God

And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.

Anything can happen at any time

Default

Adequate Gospel

Taking the Gospel all the way home

So that

God did this breathtaking, majestic creation, so that we would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, for he is not far from any one of us.

Open your heart

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Invitation to a transformed life

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Son of Encouragement

When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

Live Christ

We’re not lone rangers. We live Christ together, we live Christ at home and we open our homes. We don’t take the easy way out. We Live Christ through what we do every day. For to me, to Live is Christ, and to die is gain

Cut out the noise

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." 

The walk of the cross

Morning by morning, I lay the pieces of my life on Your altar, waiting for the fire to fall. Here I am, your invited guest, waiting for directions to get through enemy lines.

Outside - Inside

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Who are you, Lord?

‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting’... And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’...

Living in victory

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

Crushed and cut

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

Happy Father’s day

“Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Born to be bold

Grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness...

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Silver and Gold have I none

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

The gasp of Grace

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

What do you do when the rooster crows for you?

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Fellowship with the Holy Spirit

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The New Covenant

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God“

Why does this surprise you?

Jesus, the hidden manna.

Secrets of the Psalmist

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

The Canvas

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Anything Anything

"Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya near Cyrene, Rome both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

My Spirit

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is the place where Jesus rules without rival and throws open the floodgates of heaven.  A place where anything can happen.

Anything can happen

What does it look like to come face to face with the risen Christ?

Friday, bloody Friday

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus teaches about Prayer

So when we say “Hallowed be your name”, we’re asking: “Cause Your name to be HOLY,” We cannot make His name Holy, it is already Holy, Cause it to be Holy over me “Cause Your name to be SANCTIFIED.” 

The Voice of the Lord in the storm

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!

Hallowed Be Your Name

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Unequipped and willing

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Celebrating the lost

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Who is sitting at your table?

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 

Feast like the Father

The church was the only community where you would find a servant greeting his master with a holy kiss, because they lived free from prejudice arising from social distinctions, discrimination against the poor and partiality toward the well-to-do. Instead, in the church, masters and servants, young and old, sinful and saintly all stand equal at the cross.

The power of a peck of salt

God invites us to feast at His table, revelling in His faithfulness, rather than wandering on our own, making our way through valleys alone. Which table will you sit at this year.

Lessons from the life of Elijah

City Celebration with Terry Virgo

Pursuing God in prayer

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Grace and disgrace

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Welcome to the table

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

God with us

DefaultThe virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Absorb the insult

Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

How God loves us

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?”

Disputable matters

Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

The goodness of God

Beware of the robbers

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

A thousand and one Questions

Elected for His purpose

1001 Questions

 Elected for His purpose

The Garden

 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Living in God given privilege

 Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, for ever praised!

The Church I Grew Up In - Tasha Cobbs Leonard 

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkFopIhmFo4

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6NXh3bYzUABYU2HEneRbMC?si=HPleXXCITHGZtxQp0kbQ3A&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DWVYgpMbMPJMz

If you love the gospel, live the gospel

Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; outdo one another is showing honour.

Put your boerewors on the braai

 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.

Healing from grief

 Dolly Sonjica’s testimony of finding healing from grief after the loss of her husband and her son.

In view of God’s mercy

 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

Anointed to embrace the other side

 While on the one side the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our poverty, blindness, slavery and captivity, on the other side, He has anointed Jesus to free us by dying on our behalf. 

The role of the Spirit in the life of the Saints

 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.  And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement.

Church and the power to change a nation

 Church and the power to change a nation

Rory from Swinburne

 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

Just like Peter

 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

Keep in step with the Spirit

 It is possible to keep in step with the Spirit, allow Him to produce fruit within you, and the outflow will be glorifying to God and witnessing to others.

Pray for all

 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people…”

The Holy Spirit on Monday

 ‘Whether you are more artistically inclined like Bezalel, or more strategic like Gideon, or just in need of POWER like Samson, just ask the Holy Spirit and He will fill you where you’re, with what you need to accomplish the task set before you.’

Spirit of Sonship

 Jesus never worked for His sonship, He worked from it. When we are full of the Spirit we will know: I am a son, He loves me, He’s well pleased with me, I’m adopted into His family, I’m not shaken by my family history, I overcome the temptation of self and power, and I tell people of the Lord’s favour.

The base with no walls

The wind blows where there are no walls.

Open your hands

 The invitation is to open your hands, drop your defences and invite the Holy Spirit in.

Are you thirsty?

 How do we come to know the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The Names of God - Part 2

 He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

The Names of God

 He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

What if God really is for you?

 In Romans 8 Paul asks ‘What then shall we say in response to these things? IF God is for us, who can be against us.’ What would it mean if God really was for us?

The extravagant gift of the Holy Spirit

 He helps us, He intercedes for us and He leads us according to the will of the Father.

Lay hold of the future

 And if the Spirit of him or raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead  will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

God’s Firstborn Son

 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Minding the things of the Spirit

 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.

If you want to live you better die

 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The solution is Christ

 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

No condemnation

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Too good to be true

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Righteousness Through Faith

 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Are you running from God?

 Our hearts are prone to run from God, to turn from all that He’s done and all that He has for us. Today we look at what God has done to capture our wandering hearts.

Keep it simple, keep it real, keep it up

 Paul reminds us that worry, stress and anxiety are not meant to trap us in a valley of indecision, but rather that it should be a constant call to prayer.

Peace be with you

 “ Divine Favour, Wholeness, Wellness, Tranquility, Prosperity, Flourishing, Every kind of Good “

A tesorium and hyssop

 If your heart feels like that one person - all alone in a hazmat suit and gloves - trying to salvage something of your life, trying to clean up a mess that’s way bigger than you... The cross says - put down your gloves.

You’re Still in the Story

 We stay in the story through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit

Building a family - one at a time

Pray on the mountain

Learn how to climb the mountain. On the mountain we’ll see the promised land and the inheritance. We can only be effective if we know how to climb to the top of the mountain to be alone with God.

The God who answers with fire

 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

On Your Behalf and For Your Good

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church

The promise of prayer

 Revival waits for those who will pray with the intimacy and authority of a son. God is calling for His church to awaken again.

The practice of prayer

  At 3Ci, what does it mean to live a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work.

Teach us how to pray

Our position in prayer

 This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"

Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.City Celebration with Terry Virgo

The power of the gospel to save

 We have won an amazing victory, because what Jesus did for us.

Woman of Faith

 Far Above - Ladies event

People of Hope

 Do you know the Hope to which you have been called? How is it changing the way we live from this moment and into eternity?

Making better butter

 Paul calls us to live far above by getting to know Jesus better, getting to know his ways better and getting to know his church better.

Far Above

 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Knowing God and His people

 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. - Eph 1:15-17

David and Goliath

 The battle is the Lord’s

Recalibrate your expectation of Christ of Christmas

 Throughout the centuries Christians have celebrated Advent as a way to set their expectations on the Christ of Christmas. What are your expectations this year?

O wretched man

Who’s your master?

 Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Life in the Spirit

 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

The bride of Christ

Palingenesia

 God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth (Palingenesia)  and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Presence and Practise

 This week we step back and look at how Paul frames Romans 6,7, and 8 to better understand his overall approach to applying the gospel before we unpack these chapters in the coming weeks.

Consider the superabundance of grace

 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

How much more

 Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

Rejoice

 We rejoice in our position in Christ, we rejoice in our pain, and we rejoice in our reconciliation to our heavenly Father.

Heartbeat of God

 The posture most natural to Jesus is not a pointed finger, but open arms.

The Soundtrack of Heaven

 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.

Righteousness

 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Romans

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Audience room

 Come into the room to receive God's presence, and get to know Him, only then can we go out into the world

The power and importance of encouragement

 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them

The dusty road

 This week we look at Acts 8,9 and 10 and see how God changes the lives of his people, turning dusty roads into runways.

Beautiful

 As we explore the book of Acts everyone can find their place in the Church that is not confined to a building but is unleashed and turns the world upside down.

The church Jesus prayed for

 God is going to build a community on this earth that looks like this prayer. Full of truth, glory, power, love, forgiveness, holiness, and that’s how we overcome the world. That’s the church we pray for.

I am the vine

 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Bread from Heaven

 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

The right to become children of God

 To all who receive him, to those who believe in His name, he brings all that He is and all that He has - the entire arsenal of the power and presence of God to bear on your life, so that you can be His and live as a child of God.

The fishermen and the fish gate

 The Word of God activates His purposes in our lives, allowing a change in the atmosphere around us, putting His glory on display.

Understanding the Bible

 God’s word is given to us to feed us, fight for us and make us fruitful. But where do we even start?

The word of God came a second time

 Looking back at Luke before lock-down it is evident that God used 2019 to prepare us for what was to come in 2020. Though much of what He said was lost on us, the word of God always comes a second time.

Kingdom Culture Shock

 Jesus built a radically different, counterintuitive culture that shocked people – and set them free – and we get to be part of it.

God flavours and God colours

 God intended you to live on a mantel piece, a trophy of his grace, on a lamp-stand bringing light in a crooked and perverse world. Don’t let anything compromise your saltiness, your bright shining light, bring God-flavour to your world!

The least of these

Jesus summarises all that we are called to with the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. So it should come as no surprise that Jesus ends his ministry in Matthew 25 with a deep dive into what this looks like practically for us today.

ONE33

 Introduction to ONE33

Success, Success

 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD

Indescribable gift

 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Building and Blessing

 Wisdom has built her house, and she invites us to a feast of fruitfulness, rather than a battle for balance.

God cannot be mocked

 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Invest in dynamite

 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Open hands

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

The road to Emmaus

 Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

A Better Resurrection

 The historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is so strong that even secular sceptics, if they try to do honest history, have no way of explaining the missing body on Sunday morning besides an actual resurrection.

Peace be with you

Good Friday 2021

Tender and Flexible

 Running through all five of these Old Testament books is the truth that freedom and fruit come through abiding in Jesus: living tenderly and flexibly, no matter where we are, and what we face.

Ruth’s Return

Between the Dead Sea and dead sand, God says return to me, return to my people, return to my promises, return to my presence.

Stay free, keep moving

 Step into the story of the kinsman-redeemer who saves you and sets you free

I am Ruth

 Run to your true Boaz - Jesus Christ

Purim: it’s time to celebrate

Celebrating the eternal miracle of the survival of God’s people

Esther

 Rediscovering the power and presence of God in the book of Esther

The Rose of Sharon

Finding love, freedom, adventure and most importantly, finding Christ in the Song of Solomon.

Ecclesiastes

 In the midst of the storms of life the book of Ecclesiastes asks the question - ‘Is God’s presence enough?’

The God of Ecclesiastes

Time to return to the maker! To the God of prayer, to the God who answers prayer, to the God who makes sense of things

Bring your jar to Jesus

 In 2 Kings 4 we have a story that helps us understand how God invites us to trust Him in the midst of our lamentations.

MegaCry

 The book of Lamentations helps us connect our cries to the greatest cry in History

The God of lamentation and blessing

The Megilloth is a group of books in the Old Testament; Lamentations, Ruth, the Song of Solomon, Esther, and Ecclesiastes. These are five books which the Hebrews would read every year, and they would learn about God. Our commitment this year is to follow in their footsteps as we learn about our incredible Father.

 

For Unto Us

Join us this Christmas as we learn more about our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Prince Of Peace

 Our Prince of Peace brings us peace that does not depend on our circumstances, but rather reconciles us with our Father.

Everlasting Father - Sue

 Our Everlasting Father shows us that we are all prodigal sons, who are provided for and persistently loved.

Everlasting Father

 Let's allow our Everlasting Father, who surrounds us on every side, to set the tone of Christmas.

Wonderful Counselor

 Join us as we dive into our new series, For Unto Us, and learn about our Wonderful Counselor.

Freak, Weak and Bleak

When you are in Christ, you are in freedom. You don’t need to turn back to the weak principles of the world, because Christ is enough.

The Big Reveal

 The greatest plot twist in all of history was the big reveal of the resurrected, risen Saviour. And we get to be the big reveal of Jesus to the world because He is in us – the hope of glory. 

Five types of Christ

Jesus is the Head of the church, and when we make Him supreme, everything in our lives takes its rightful place.

In the same way

 Let us trust, that in the same way, this Gospel through the ages will take a hold of us, to redeem, restore and renew.

In Christ In Colossae

 Welcome back to church! Join us for our first Sunday back as we dive into the book of Colossians.

Courage to Cross

 In big moments of transition, we’re called to cross over into the new season with courage.

The Blessing

 The fingerprints of God from the Old Testament and into the New, shows us a Father who steps into the uncertainty of our lives to speak His blessing.

Faith & Patience

Will we come out of this stronger? Instead of becoming dull, we are encouraged to endure, and through faith and patience - inherit the promises of God.

Flourish and Grow

 Righteousness, how do we get it and what does it give us?

Open Heaven

We are building for people to come to church and live under open skies with open doors leading to new adventures.
 

Encourage one another

 We should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other on as we anticipate that day dawning

Faith

 Learning to live a life of radical risk taking obedience in the cause of Christ.

Jesus stops the meeting for one person

 An incredible gospel encounter shows us the perfect knowledge, wisdom, power and love of Jesus. He saw you before you were born,  He sees who and what you're destined to become, and He would stop a meeting just for you.

Dear friends

 Join us for the conclusion to our Rockstar series!

Between the Son and the sow

 Are you going towards the mud or the glory?

Morning star

 When all the other lights go out the morning star still shines in the dark announcing a new day.

Add to your Faith

 Join us for an overview of 2 Peter

JESUS CHRIST (C.S.)

Chief Shepherd, Creator, Christ
Jesus deals with the shadows of our past, so that even our shadows would bring healing.

Breakfast

You are invited to a miracle meal of breakfast with the Son

Suffering

Don’t waste your suffering

Speak blessing

Never retaliate, nor insult, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing—because a blessing is what God promised you.

Seek peace

If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and pursue it.

Wonder Woman vs. Superman

In complicated, uncertain times, what if God is calling wives and husbands not to be Wonder Woman or Superman, but to be rock stars?

The perfect Father

Jesus came to show us that our perfect heavenly Father has a long fuse, a short memory, a thick skin and a big heart.

To this we were called

As strangers in this world we as servants are learning to silently submit to the shepherd of our souls.

Building a Rockstar Church

The Stone, The Priests, The People

1 Peter 2 - One the great chapters of the Bible showing us the church that God is building.

Do you know how to read scripture for yourself?

1 Pet 2:2-3 - Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Crave the pure spiritual milk. What has God shown you?
Leadership in the church begins with leading your family.
Are you able to lead yourselves?
Your families?

So now….love

1 Pet 1:22 - You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
So get rid of all evil behaviour. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
1 Pet 2:1
So now Love
So that He will grant you His blessing (1 Pet 3:9)

Prayer to & Fear of God

1 Pet 1:17-And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favourites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

The only metric is Prayer and the presences of God
Living in reverent fear of God
- Are you living in constant awareness of God, like you are aware of COVID-19?

Listening, responding, making time

14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do.
1 Pet 1:14-15 NLT

Live as obedient children

God love’s to speak to His children, are you listening?
Don’t slip back
Don’t let go of what you have been given.
Be Holy. Set apart.
Find a moment to set aside to listen to what God wants to say to you.
#pressintothepresenceofGod

Prepare, exercise, hope

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
1 Pet 1:13 NLT

Prepare your minds, (baton down the hatches, put on your PPE)
Journey
Work
Running into battle
Exercise self-control (be careful who you are listening to)
Put all your hope in the gracious salvation
Seizing vs surrendering control

Moving from belief to trust

Join us as we learn from Peter about how moving from belief to trust in a time of worry and uncertainty could have eternal consequences.

The guy who falls and stands

Rockstars in our world are a picture of success and sensuality but for us, rockstar is what we get out of the books of 1 & 2 Peter. We get to follow our rockstar called Jesus, as we learn to stand through difficult times and come out celebrating on the other side, walking and leaping and praising God!

Intercede for insight

The LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. As we dive into Proverbs 2 and ask our Heavenly Father for wisdom, we’ll begin to understand what is right and just and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart from His mouth into your heart. Knowledge will fill you with joy, wise choices will watch over you and understanding will keep you safe.

Do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal

How a Christian can face trouble that it turns us into something splendid instead of crushing us. This is what 1 Peter is about. Suffering and glory are deeply connected – just look at the life of Jesus
Suffering and glory are inextricable bound up together in the Christian life.

YAHWEH is God

The book of Joel is a powerful reminder of God’s kindness when we’re faced with ruin, His kindness in leading us to repentance, and His kindness in promising restoration. Yahweh is God, and He is with us.

Lay hold of Jesus

In John chapter 1 we can see 8 different aspects of Jesus' life presented. As we lay hold of Him in these unbelievably diverse ways, some heavenly and some earthly, we are equipped for this time, because we are going to desperately need Him to minister, not only to us and to our church, but to our city, our nation, and our world.

Love your neighbour

In times of catastrophe and crisis, we often have incredible opportunities to love our neighbours. Through Jonah we can learn how to challenge our dangerous defaults and allow our faith to be of significant public use. Allowing the peace of God to flow through us as we love our neighbours in these challenging times.

8 word sermon

This Easter Sunday as we celebrate the breaking of the ultimate lockdown of death, we ask for courage to come into your hearts and homes at this time. And as Jonah emerged from his lockdown with an 8 word sermon that changed Nineveh we are trusting for our own 8 word sermons to change our lives, our loves, our cities and societies.

Jesus explaining History

Whether it's the world's history, your own history, or biblical history, it needs to be explained to us, if we are to understand it. In Luke 24 Jesus explains His story, and in so doing explains all of history, including yours, showing how we are the prized possession of the creator of this universe. Showing how we have been forgiven, how we have been cleansed and how we have been ransomed.

The Covenant, Crisis and Christ

While our city, our nation and the world are questioning everything in the midst of our current crisis, let them find the covenant of God through our lips, our lives and our hearts. As we learn to connect our current crisis, to the covenant of God and allow Christ to reign in our lives.

The merchant, the military, the majority and the man of God

Acts 27 - the merchant, the military, the majority and the man of God

There are many stories and all sorts of advice going around the internet at this time, but at this time be careful who you listen to. Are you listening to the merchants, the military, the majority or the man of God?

The Merchant         - Concerned with profit
The Military         - Concerned with power
The Majority         - Concerned with popularity
The Man of God     - Concerned for people

4 simples pieces of advice from Paul’s example:
Listen to me (Use this time to look at some of Paul's writings, Romans, Ephesians, Galatians)
Take courage (Courage comes from a man who is in a deep relationship with God.)
Stay close (Stay close to the promises, the people of God, the church God has put you in)
Break bread (Start new habits in your home by honouring Christ for everything that he's done)

There are many stories and all sorts of advice going around the internet at this time, but at this time be careful who you listen to. Are you listening to the merchants, the military, the majority or the man of God?

The Merchant         - Concerned with profit
The Military         - Concerned with power
The Majority         - Concerned with popularity
The Man of God     - Concerned for people

4 simples pieces of advice from Paul’s example:
Listen to me (Use this time to look at some of Paul's writings, Romans, Ephesians, Galatians)
Take courage (Courage comes from a man who is in a deep relationship with God.)
Stay close (Stay close to the promises, the people of God, the church God has put you in)
Break bread (Start new habits in your home by honouring Christ for everything that he's done)

The groan, goal, grace and guarantee of God!

The groan - The Spirit takes our groans and offers them perfectly to the Father.
The goal - To become like Jesus.
The grace - The chain cannot be broken - Foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified.
The guarantee - God will use all His power and all His generosity to make sure you are right.

There's a groan in your heart which is difficult to express. God will take it and offer it to the Father.
There’s a goal that God is busy with, turning you into the image of His Son. He will use everything, even bad things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
The grace chain will never be broken. They'll never ever be broken. We are foreknown, we are predestined, we are called, we are justified, we will be glorified. God is busy with that process.
The guarantee is that he will use all his power, all his generosity, all his pardon, all his mercy, to make sure that you are right.

The privilege of serving Jesus

Have we forgotten what slavery was like?

Guard your heart, your furture depends on it

Remember the Duck

Nailed it!

Don't live like a slave in your Father's house

Living like a slave in the Father’s house has been described as condemning, judgemental, anxious, insecure, marked by little intimacy and joy, no music, no dancing, deep insecurity, overly sensitive to criticism or being overlooked. Life for a slave is the same as a religious Christian; it is a joyless crushing drudgery.

The Lord's Prayer

Life is a combination of spectacular things and simple things. In almost everyone’s life there are breathtaking things and boring things. Fantastic things and familiar things. Extraordinary things and ordinary things. Awesome things and average things. Exotic things and everyday things. That’s the way life is. The Lord’s Prayer is reflective of life in this sense, encouraging and instructing us, in how to take our ordinary needs and our extraordinary thanksgivings to Our Father in prayer.

Upside Down and Inside Out

In Luke 11 Jesus shows us that, instead of making up boundaries that separate us from the world,  we can follow Him, and change the world: turning it upside down by loving God and people from the inside out.

Follow Me

The church we are building

We are one body, with many gifts, in view of God’s mercy and the songs that surround us, we offer these gifts to Him so that we can build the church and change the world!

Do not neglect the gift you received

The gift that God has placed in you, when exercised, activates the presence, the power and the purposes of God.

Formed, Conformed, Deformed, Transformed

Roots and Routes

God’s Word gives us roots – and then it gives us routes. Our roots (who we are, how we’re grounded) determine our routes (where we go, how we live). So on the cusp of a new year, what does it look like to be rooted right – making God our hope and confidence – so the route ahead becomes clear?

One Goal

Turn the other cheek

Emmanuel

A Place of Perfectly Timed Mercy and Grace

Mysterious Melchizedek

The Lamb on our lips and on our lives

Take a Look. Get a Grip.

Hebrews 12 shows us that if we Take A Look at Jesus – if we see Jesus clearly (and in His light, see ourselves more accurately) – we’re able to Get a Grip, and finish the year strong.

Look to Jesus

Religion says there’s something wrong with you and you need to fix it.
The Gospel says there’s something wrong with you and you need to look to Jesus!

Pleading with plastic for peace

The passionate commitment of the covenant of God

The Kingdom of God is at hand

What's your designation, address and priority?

In Psalm 90 Moses gives us a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest leaders our world has ever seen. Allowing us to see how he thought about himself, where he lived and what he lived for. This challenges us to ask 3 questions:

#1 What is your designation?

#2 What is your address?

#3 What is your priority?

Making sense of your past, present and future

Moses prayed, ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’ (Psalm 90:12) We believe we’re made for more than just getting through life. How do we wisely steward our one life – our past, present and future – so that our numbered days count for Christ in this life and the next?

Follow me

Where did we ever get the idea that following Jesus would lead to a life of comfort and convenience? Jesus is like smelling salts to our lives of mediocrity, waking us up as He calls us to follow Him on an adventure that gives us a radical new priority, new identity and new affection.

What we do while we wait

Walking into your inheritance is largely external - it happens to you. It can be a moment or a season when you enter a situation imposed on you by outside circumstances or events. Waiting, however, is largely an internal event. It’s where transformation happens and it’s crucial in our journey with God.

Great project, Great distraction, Great solution

Your story in His story

Praising God in the rubble and the trouble

Generous eyes

Generosity gives us the eyes to see the more that we are called to!

Another Moment

A moment

KNOW YOUR CALLING: Obvious Element. Obedience Everyday.

We know we’re made for more. We know there’s a call of God on each of our lives. But what does that even mean and how do we go about answering that call? What does it look like to go big before we go home, for eternity?

Made for More

Belaglik

God fights for your inheritance

6 Keys to taking ground

What moves you?

Luke - Part 23

Luke - Part 22 - He calls, heals, loves and fills me

Luke - Part 21 - Dinner with the Doctor

The gospels are full of accounts of Jesus healing people. In Luke 5:17-32 we see that Jesus is more intent on healing our souls than our sicknesses. But why does Jesus heal? How does He heal? Who does He heal? What should our response be when Jesus heals? What should our response be when He doesn’t heal?

Luke - Part 20 - Privilege, Promise and Pain

Luke - Part 19 - Community

The character of our shared life has the power to draw people into the kingdom of God or push them away from it. How we live together is the most persuasive sermon we will ever get to preach.

Father's Interference

Luke - Part 18 - The great adventure

Luke - Part 17 - Particularly for Rory Dyer

An appetite for more

Luke - Part 16 - The greatest invitation

As we start to immerse ourselves in the story of Jesus we see how He begins to say follow me, come change the world with me. That call goes out to ordinary men that would later become disciples of Jesus. That same call goes out to you and me, inviting us a life lived with God, to a partnership that is changing the world!

Luke - Part 15 - The Sermon that nobody likes

Luke - Part 14 - The Gospel according to Jesus

Ancient Truths for Modern Moms

As moms, we're supposed to comfort our kids - but it seems that, mostly, we need more comfort than they do. Where do we go, to find real comfort? And once we're comforted, how do we pass it on to our kids?

Luke - Part 13 - Exposing the negatives

Luke turns the genealogy around so that we will see Jesus side by side with "Adam the son of God" showing that "Jesus the son of God" is the new Adam who overcomes in the wilderness as He begins his ministry.

Luke - Part 12 - From water to wilderness

Jesus goes straight from the water (His baptism), into the wilderness (His temptation). In the water – the faith-building place of acceptance, blessing and commissioning – the Word of God came over Him. And in the wilderness – the desolate place of danger, rejection and fear – the Word of God came out of Him. This is a pattern, for us. Because for the rest of our earthly lives, it’s going to be all about the water, and the wilderness.

A Cleansing, Commissioning, Covenant

Through the first letter of the impulsive, ambitious and sometimes violent Peter we see a remarkable picture of a transformed, restored and equipped apostle (sent ones) of Jesus Christ. Peter is an example to us all of our need for covenant, cleansing and commissioning. From our sincere failed attempts at greatness to our glaring obvious shortcomings, all can be covered, all can be restored and all can even be used to the glory of God. Through Peter’s words we see Jesus and the effect of His blood impacting our lives in 5 transformative ways.

Good, Good Friday

Luke - Part 11 - The brackets of sonship

Pai lagi

Luke - Part 10 - Tone of the voice from heaven

Our biggest problem in life is that we listen to voices from earth and not from heaven. We live unsure of what God’s tone of voice says about us.

Luke - Part 9 - Ransom Stories - Tracing Luke’s preparation for Salvation

Through chapters 1, 2 & 3 Luke weaves a golden tapestry into the narrative like a string of pearls about Jesus the saviour, redeemer or ransomer. This is not just true in Luke’s gospel but all though history we have fictional and factual stories of ransoms being demanded, refused and paid. From Frank Sinatra’s son to Aldo Moro, from John Paul Getty the third to Walter Kwok Ping-sheung; story after story, ransom and ransom, confronting us with the inherent value of life especially a son or daughter’s life.

Luke - Part 8 - Baptism - What is it all about?

In Luke Chapter 3 we see how the word of the Lord came to John calling him to preach a message of baptism for the forgiveness of sin in preparation for the coming of Jesus. To understand the full implication of John’s message we need to understand baptism from a Biblical viewpoint.

Luke - Part 7 - Slow, Supernatural, Significant

How Mary fought for and defended the truth of God’s word to her can be seen by the detailed account she gives 60 years later. She clearly cemented these events into her memory, resulting in slow, supernatural, significant growth by responding to God’s word.

Luke - Part 6 - In the days of Cyril Ramaphosa how do you hear God?

Through fallen messengers with an un-fallen message, through the hardships of life and the truth of God’s word, God speaks to us, and shows us the way of humility as opposed to the way of power.

Building the Base

Luke - Part 5 - The greatest song in History

In Zechariah’ song (the Benedictus) we have a declaration of praise as we hear of our redemption, the horn of salvation, our cancelled debt and the dawning of a new day!

Luke - Part 4 - Embrace your purpose

From Mary's life and song, we can learn what it is to embrace our purpose - which is nothing more than to know God, and make Him known. (Luke 1:39-56)

Luke - Part 3 - Abundance intersects barrenness

 Receiving the gracious gift of the abundance of God to end the barrenness in our lives.

Luke - Part 2 - Introduction to the book of Luke

Church is not meant to be a preaching centre. We have been given the Word of God so that our lives, our nation and the world can be changed. Through Luke this week we learned two more reasons why we can believe the Bible.

Luke - Part 1 - Introduction to the book of Luke

Everything in life is influencing what we believe, in Luke we hear from reliable oral tradition, eye-witness testimony and detailed written record about what CS Lewis called the true myth.

Romans 8 - Part 6

What does God think of you?

The question what does God think of you, drills down to the core of our identity. It’s not what we think of ourselves that determines our identity, it’s not what others think of us, it’s not what God thinks about us, it’s what we think God thinks about us that affects our identity, and as we know our identity flows downstream and affects our entire lives.

The entire Bible is God’s answer to this question, but in Romans 8 we have one of the most detailed a. In this remarkable chapter we have one of God’s longest declarations of covenantal love towards us, where “you are described as one whom God himself finds worthy of pursuit, worthy of sacrifice and worthy of intimacy and love.”

Romans 8 - Part 5

The good news of great joy

Romans 8 - Part 4

Romans 8 - Part 3

Romans 8 - Part 2

Romans 8 - Part 1

Galatians - Part 11

Galatians - Part 10

Galatians - Part 9

In Galatians 5:1-12, Paul describes and defends the freedom, favour and faith that are ours for the taking. It’s the gospel – not our good works – that truly transforms us by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

He who began a good work in you

Ken Costa

Galatians - Part 8

Romans 8

Galatians - Part 7: You are all sons of God

Galatians - Part 6: You are all sons of God

Galatians - Part 5: Law vs Covenant

Galatians - Part 4

Galatians - Part 3

Galatians - Part 2

Galatians - Part 1

The Day of Atonement

Jesus on the cross. 
Jesus said I thirst in order to fulfil prophecy. They gave him something and then He said it is finished!! Nothing left to accomplish!!
There is nothing more that can be done.
Jesus was established as the creator of all things right in the beginning. Jesus is also the redeemer of all things right from the beginning. Jesus took full responsibility for everything created through Him.
Jesus Created and Jesus Redeemed.
He made a covenant before time began. That covenant was made with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And it was set that Jesus will lay down His life for us before time began. We are beneficiaries of that covenant, but we were not a party to it. It was set long before we were born.The perfect plan was already established.
Before time began, it was established that Jesus will be the Lamb if God. The eternal plan was established in Christ in that He would lay down His life for us and pay with His blood for us.
The Father established Jesus as the High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The eternal purpose was established in Christ.
Once it was established, then God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it and established his bride (you and I).
Every profit prophesied that the Messiah will come and John the Baptist said “There He is, the Lamb of God”! then Heavens opened and Father said that’s my beloved Son, in him I am well please.
In the OT you had to bring the lamb. It had to be spotless. The priest inspected the lamb not the person.
When John said, there is the Lamb of God, Father said, “That is My Son, I completely accept Him”. Jesus came He was the perfect lamb. He was spotless. God was pleased with Him. Jesus paid the price for us, Once and for All.
Jesus went to the cross, paid with His blood and established a perfect salvation.
Isaiah says our righteous works are like filthy rags. We can do nothing to earn our salvation. If we try, we only detract from that.
The basics of the Word is:
•    Who Jesus is.
•    What He accomplished on the cross.
Gal 3, the enemy wants to drag us away. Want to bewitch us, trying to get us to work for our salvation.
In the Gospel there is no opportunity for us to boast. It’s all works, Jesus’ works alone!! Because of His Finished work, we are saved by Grace. It is a free gift, Nothing else. Boasting excluded completely from the Gospel.
The 7 things Jesus did on the cross – the 7 Sprinklings of blood:
Liv. 16:10 – Day of atonement, lasting only one year. It was temporary. The priest will go into the Temple, sacrifice a lamb on behalf of his own sins, go into the most Holy place of atonement and make atonement for his own sin, and sprinkle blood on the altar. Then he would go out and pic one of two goats (Sacrifice goat or Azazel goat – one to send away). Which one to sacrifice and which one to send away. After sacrificing the sacrifice goat, the high priest will go into the most Holy place and poor the blood of that sacrificial goat on the mercy seat. Because of the blood on the mercy seat, no longer did Justice and Righteousness (two angles on the ark of the covenant looking onto the mercy seat) cry out against Israel, they looked upon the blood on the mercy seat and said it is forgiven for one more year.  He would then sprinkle the blood in front of the mercy seat 7 times and he would come out and lay his hands on the other goat (Azazel) and confess the sins of the nation onto the goat. This goat would then be led out and usually after days of travel, kick the goat off a cliff. You don’t want that goat to come back. Sins are paid for, but only for one year. Next year the high priest would need to do it again.

1.    Expiation – Jesus removed my sin from me and declared me righteous. My sins are paid for. Heb. 9, the currency for the cleansing of sins, is the blood of Jesus. We either pay with our blood (which cannot atone for my sin), or we accept Jesus paid with His blood.
2.    Propitiation - Jesus absorbed God’s wrath. Removal of God’s wrath for you. His blood speaks for us if we believe in His Finished work.
3.    Redemption - Jesus bought me back from bondage. I am free. My debt is paid.
4.    Justification - It is a legal term – paid for. Jesus paid the price for you so you can be declared innocent. Rom 5:9
5.    Sanctification - Jesus set me aside for sacred use, He made us holy by His blood. Heb 13:12
6.    Reconciliation - Jesus restored my full relationship with God. I can be as close to Him as I want to be.
7.    Regeneration - He doesn’t rehabilitate our sinful nature he kills it. Baptism is a sign that I died and He sealed me in Christ and nothing can change that ever again. We live in Christ. Jesus purchased a brand new life for us.

Saying Amen

Repent because God is near.
Repentance is not saying sorry; it means getting a new brain. Change the way we think and see things differently.
We mustn’t think out of the box, we must think as if there is no box.
Where we are, we can release the Kingdom. We ask Jesus to unlock the Kingdom but He has given us the keys!
Jesus did everything else – “It is Finished”. Then He gave us the keys to unlock it.
God qualified anybody who is in Christ to inherit His promises. We don’t qualify ourselves. Inheritance is not something you work for, someone else worked for it.
Jesus earned it and we got it when Jesus died as an inheritance.
Col 1:11-14 - he HAS qualified you
Rom 8:16-17 
Heb 11:39-40 - Abraham had not received his promise because Jesus had not died yet. Heb 9:16-18 - When Jesus died, we got access to our inheritance. 
Prodigal son - older brother did not understand that he did not have to work for his inheritance.
Access to our inheritance comes by FAITH! 
We are qualified by our belief in the finished work of Christ.
Rom 4:13-16 - If you believe in Jesus you are an heir of Jesus and an heir of the promises made to Abraham. 
If we come in the name of Jesus, the Father will give us what we ask for.
Rom 9:30-31 - Israel were trying to attain righteousness by keeping the law (older brother).
It doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter how I live! God gives us the power to live a life that is pleasing to God.
2 Cor 1:18 - We say Amen not by our own works but through Christ and what He has done. On this basis we have access to every promise because Jesus has taken every curse on Him.
You have access to your inheritance if you believe! We don’t ask in our name; we ask in Jesus’ name!

The crisis that nearly happened

We are the people of God

• They were people of God on the move
• They took people with them: “Come with us, we’ll do you good”
• Come with us, not to us. They people are on the move. There is an inheritance waiting.
• There is something unheard of ahead, we’re going there. Come with us.
If someone knocks on my door and ask me to go with them, I will first ask some questions:

1. Who are you?
• We are children of Abraham. God invited Abraham to go with Him. God said I’ll take you to a place. Abraham
believed God. God Started with one man but God has His eyes on all the earth, for all to become children of
God. Moses even though he could remain in the palace, saw treasures in the slave’s community, the children
of God, and decided rather to be with them.
• They were rescued slaves. God brought them out of Egypt through the red see. God told them to take a lamb
and when He sees the blood, He’ll passed over them – thus only the first born of the Egyptians died, but Israel
were saved through the blood of the lamb. Ultimately Jesus gave His blood and when God sees that blood on
our hearts, we are forgiven. As Israel, we were once slaves, now we are all free.
• God takes them to Sinai and makes a covenant with them. He calls them “His special treasure”. We are the
people of God, His special treasure”.

2. Where are you going?
• Psalms 1 is the 1st song of Moses. We going into a land. Into an inheritance. For them it was the land they
will inherent, for us it is a miniature picture of the Holy City. We need to go into all the world. All the earth
will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Come with us to experience what we experience. Live in what we
live in. Ps 2:8. God’s plan for us, is to be involved in all the nations. Where are we going? We’re going into
all the earth to preach the gospel. Matt. 28 “Go into all the nations...” At our workplace, home, city, etc.
Matt.24:14 “... then the end will come...”
• God wants a community. God wants a community that lives in contrast to the world. Live for one another.
When Peter preached 3000 people were added. Don’t just look in. Become part of the journey, don’t just
look in. We work together in community.
There are 2 cities: Babylon is on the one side, and the Holy City on the other. Which city are you in? Be added
to the people, come with us, don’t look in, rather tuck in, we going to the Holy City. Babylon will end. The
Holy City will last forever.
• He takes us not only to the land, but he is taking us into the sanctuary. From rebellion to worshiper. Now we
are God’s temple. We are not confined to a venue. We are the worshippers in spirit and in truth. Ephesians
2:21 We going into all the land, we going to build community and we going to worship Him.

3. What happens when I join you?
• Come into the body and you can be “eyes” for us. You have a part to play in the body. We all come, we all
have a part to play.
You not taking over, you only coming to play your part.

4. Why are you so confident?
• Because the Lord promised us good.
• There is faithfulness, renewing grace, He who began the good work in you will be faithful to complete it.
God’s on the move and we’re just moving with Him. Nations change when God steps in.
• God’s preparing a people and want you to be part of it.
• The invitation is here. Come with us, we’ll do you good. We carrying God’s history “His-Story” into all nations.

Sow that Seed

Gabe Phillips – September 2 - Sunday PM
Background: Sow that Seed
Matthew 4:18-22 NIV
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his
brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow
me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and
followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his
brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called
them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
If you want to grow you need to sow. It’s the law of nature.
3 Postures of sowing:
1. Lean In
- Jesus says “come”
- Jesus is not looking for the qualified, He is looking for the available.
- Breakthrough has come and His name is Jesus Christ
- Quite blaming the soil for our lack of growth
- Discipleship start with our response to follow Him.
- Intimacy with Jesus leads to influence
- “Lean In” – It starts with our response
2. Step Out
- Religion = obsessed with me. Relationship = obsessed with Jesus.
- Religion = obsessed with where you’ve been. Jesus is obsessed with where He is taking
you.
- True Obedience:
o is immediate. Delayed obedience is disobedience
o is complete. Don’t obey halfway.
o is Costly.
§ Don’t ask God to use us and then we leave because we feel used.
- Obedience is seed sown into your future.
- Radical futures demand radical obedience.
- Seeds sown in faith leads to future.
- Obedience leads to Future – “Step Out”
3. Raise Up
- It’s not about me, it’s about other people.
- Maturity is sowing seeds into other people’s lives.
- On the other side of your obedience people are waiting – “Raise Up”
Life Group Suggestions for Discussion:
Welcome to go through the notes and ask the question: What touched me through this
message?

Make a move

Gabe Phillips – September 2, Sunday AM

The Gospel is about moving forward.
Hebrews 11:24-26 (NLT)
“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of
sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt,
for he was looking ahead to his great reward.”
Moses did 3 things:
1. Make a Move to Refuse.
- He violently rejected illegitimate identity.
- Don’t tolerate what God called you to exterminate.
- Move by faith, not by intellect or reason.
- Violently refuse the words unqualified
2. Make a Move to Choose
- Faith is an active word. It’s more important what you say YES to than what you
say NO to.
- Moses chose to share in the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the
fleeting pleasures of sin.
- Sometimes God gives us off ramps. Is it your off ramp? Should you make a
move?
- We not victims of circumstance, we prisoners of hope. Do you want to get well
and be set free? Make a move.
3. Make a Move to Look Ahead
- Moses was looking ahead to his great reward.
- Don’t be overwhelmed with the right now.
- Christ is our power and pleasure.
- Christ is the rewarder, but also the great Reward
- Christ is the one who sets free, but He is also our freedom.
- Christ is the one who provides, but He is also my provision
- If our eyes are low, so our expectations.
- Where are you looking for your joy and future? Don’t be strangled by what is
around you.
John 5 - Man at the pool - Move, Just do It. (NIKE), stop the excuses.
Are you stuck:
- Between your pain and your potent?
- Between your comfort and your calling?
- Between your frustration and your future?
Today you can decide to “Make a Move”.
Life Group Suggestion for Discussion:
Welcome to go through the notes and ask the question: Where do I need to Move OR what
touched me through this message.

Courage to live in South Africa

Listen and Obey

Adrian and Antoinette Quinlivan on the coming Church plant in Stellenbosh.

The Call 2018 – Session 07

The Call 2018 – Session 06

The Call 2018 – Session 05

The Call 2018 – Session 04

The Call 2018 – Session 03

The Call 2018 – Session 02

The Call 2018 - Session 01

George Geogiou

7 People,1 Saviour – The criminal - Part 2

7 People,1 Saviour – The criminal - Part 1

7 People,1 Saviour – The sinful Woman

7 People,1 Saviour – Zacchaeus PM

Even tax collectors can meet Jesus.
Crowd hated Zacchaeus. That’s why he didn’t go into the crowd.
Maybe he wanted to see Jesus, but the crowd that followed Jesus prevented him.
We don’t, not serve Jesus in everything because we don’t love Him, but because we love something else a bit more. That is idolatry.
Idolatry doesn’t make sense, but only make sense if you love something else more than you love Jesus.
Zacchaeus loved money more. What do we love more?
If the idols get dealt with, it will be replaced with something far greater. Zacchaeus let go of his love of money, and Jesus stepped in.
We could be Zacchaeus? OR
We could be the crowd?
The crowd who followed Jesus, hated what Jesus did when He paid attention to Zacchaeus. Are we sometimes stumbling blocks for others to have an encounter with Jesus?
When Zacchaeus responded to Jesus, Jesus didn’t address his issues, Jesus loved him. Jesus was prepared to go outside of His own culture to love people.
We love influential people and talk about them. We love power.
Are we prepared to hang out with people outside of your culture and comfort? Hospitality is a Biblical requirement. Hospitality is part of the Gospel.
Corinthians = if I do not have love, I am worth nothing.
Are we loving people? Are we being hospitable?
Hospitality is not to entertain! It’s an attitude of loving people.
Luke 4 says: Jesus left. He went to the other town. We also need to continue to go. Luke 18:9....(Read the rest)
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”.......
⁃ Jesus tells a parable. We have a choice: be like the one or the other.
Luke 18:18.... (read the story)
“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”....
Zacchaeus’ story similar.
⁃ Jesus loved both, Zacchaeus and the rich you man.
⁃ The one did what Jesus said, the other did not.
⁃ The ones household was saved, the other not.
⁃ The one let go of his idol, and the other not.
What do we need to let go of in order to take hold of ..... ?
Jesus demands that we have His presence.
When we get what Jesus did and continues to do for us it will revolutionize us. Let’s allow Him to complete to good work He started in us.