Family Church Havant: Recent Episodes
Family Church Havant
This teaching explores Jesus as “I AM — the Resurrection and the Life,” calling us to move from belief and recognition of who He is into a lived experience of His promises through faith and obedience. Through the PAR journey — Preparation, Application and Rest — we discover how God prepares us, strengthens us in/for seasons that appear very dry or dead, brings resurrection and life through our obedience, and ultimately leads us into a season of testimony and rest in His goodness.
In John 8:12, Jesus is revealing Himself as The Light of the World, which shows that He is the only Hope in a dark, fallen world. Jesus is encouraging the believers to actively follow Him by turning away from unrighteousness and seeking His presence. To live in the Light, in submission to God’s command, implies that God is always guiding us and that there is assurance of an Eternity in His presence.
It also reminds us that God empowers us to reflect His Light and extend God’s love to the world around us, so that many can come to Salvation, only found in Jesus.
Jesus is the eternal, sustaining source of life. His body was given for us, the bread to nourish and sustain our souls.
Through lack of a deep desire to feed on the Word of God daily, we will live malnourished Christian lives. Rather than famine, we should feast on His Word and His Goodness. The battle that rages in our minds must be subject to the life-giving Word of God, revealed and understood through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 3 John 1:2 "May our bodies prosper even as our soul prospers"!
As we begin our brand-new summer series, 'I AM', we explore through this message what Jesus meant when he described himself as both the Gate and the Good Shepherd, and discover what these powerful images mean for our lives in 2026.
Today was Youth Takeover Sunday! Hear from two of our young people as they share what it means to step out in faith, followed by a reflection song performed by our youth.
As we conclude our look at our fourth Family Church value, we look at what it truly means to be a spiritual family.
As we continue to look at our fourth Family Church value, Pastor Steu calls us to consider the question: Are we merely consumers, or are we consumed with the purposes of God?
Nimi speaks on Family Value #4 - We are Family. But how are we connected with eachother, do we know eachother as family, can we forgive each other when things go wrong?
Listen to this fascinating message where Ps Nimi upwraps this topic!
Everywhere we look, the world is speaking of a 'cost of living crisis'. What does the bible teach us about how to respond?
In this short message celebrating Global Sunday, we open Scripture to discover three important truths: that God's heart is for all nations, that diversity is part of God's design, and that unity is more important than uniformity!
Ps Paula completes the mini series on our relationship with God by looking at the subject of Worship. This message breaks down the very essence of our existence, which is to worship our God, our maker, and creator. We are reminded that true worship is God-focused. Also, with reference to the Woman with the Alabaster Oil in Luke 7:36-37, we see that worship is a gift; it is for the attention of one and can sometimes be a sacrifice at a cost that goes against everyone else's beliefs.
A message on how a devoted prayer life deepens our relationship with God by fostering trust, intimacy, and guidance through daily communication with Him.
When prayer becomes a consistent priority, it strengthens faith and aligns the heart with God’s will and purpose.
Over 2026, we are taking time to articulate our Family Church values. As we begin exploring our third value, 'Relationship with God', Gerard explains how loving the Word of God is a key aspect to growing our relationship with God.
So many times we go through our journey as Christians as if it will always be mountain tops, and sometimes, we struggle when we are in the valleys.
While our faith is full of glory and hope, it also comes with moments of pain, waiting, and uncertainty. In this message, we explore the tension of living in the “now and not yet” of the Christian faith: trusting God for miracles we haven’t yet seen while holding firmly to the hope of what is still to come.
This message is a reminder to believers that we encountered Jesus Christ for a purpose beyond our personal salvation alone. It helps us to revisit our initial encounter and establish the truth that our response to the gospel of salvation was/is a door opened for a life-changing relationship, from which, when we step in and walk faithfully, solely depending on the Holy Spirit, encounters become a daily experience. It also reminds us that others are meant to encounter Jesus through our lifestyle.
What do people experience when they encounter the Church: The grace of the Father's open arms, or the legalism and judgment of the older brother? In this message, we explore the ministry of Jesus and see how encountering the fullness of grace always leads to an experience of the power of truth.
As we continue exploring the new life God has given us, we take time to reflect on what Colossians 3 teaches about living this new life - setting our minds on things above and leaving the old behind.
This message introduces our second church value, "We value New Life", represented by the robe, which is the first gift the prodigal son receives from his father upon his return. It explains the truth behind a believer becoming a new creation in the light of a divine exchange (old gone, new come), touching on 5 elements of this exchange. It is a reminder that we have received the best (finest) robe and have been saved by Grace alone; hence, living a holy life made possible by the guidance of the Holy Spirit is a way we show we value New Life.
In many senses, we are all like Barabbas - guilty and deserving of punishment. Yet Jesus took our place, bearing our punishment and carrying our cross. Then he rose again, defeating death. So the question that remains is: What is my response?
Having spoken last week about how God doesn’t just want us to be saved, but also healed and restored in every area of our lives, we give space for God to move in the lives of people.
As we continue our journey of exploring our Family Church values, we reflect on how God doesn’t just want us to be saved, but also healed and restored in every area of our lives. In a world that is constantly finding new ways to avoid the pain and dysfunction of our brokenness, our role as a church is to point to Jesus, the One who heals and restores.
As we begin our journey of exploring our Family Church values, we take time to reflect on the story of the prodigal son. There is so much to learn from what is arguably one of the greatest stories ever told. Listen in as Steve shares about the compassionate heart of God, revealing His unending mercy and grace, and how, as a church, we are called to value people in the same way our Heavenly Father does.
Having shared the Family Church vision for 2026 last Sunday, we take time to unpack what it means for us in the Havant congregation, and how YOU can get involved!
Today is Vision Sunday 2026 for the whole of Family Church. Ps Steu speaks about the Mission and Vision of the church and introduces the six Family Church Values which will be expounded during the following weeks...
- We Value People
- We Value New life
- We Value Relationship with God
- We Value Church Family
- We Value Gathering
- We Value Commissioning
Each of these is represented by a part of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) - a central Christian teaching on God's unconditional love and forgiveness. All Family Church congregations heard this message and everyone received a booklet entitled Reach, Grow, Empower, explaining these values. Please refer to www.family.church for further details.
In the final part of our The Story of My Life series, we take time to reflect on the final chapter of life, recognizing that while our story may end on earth, it continues in eternity. Through this message, our hope is that you will journey from fear, ignorance and presumption to a place of hope, knowledge, and certainty as we consider the question: 'What happens when I die?'
In the sixth part of our The Story of My Life series, Nimi reflects on how joy isn’t something we force, but rather something that grows as we walk through life with Jesus.
In the fifth part of our series, The Story of My Life, Leroy shares on the topic of doubt. Listen and learn how doubt, when managed correctly, can actually lead to a stronger faith in the God who carries us through every season of our lives.
Continuing our series, The Story of My Life, we take time to reflect on the reality that pain is an unavoidable part of life. In this message of hope, Steve explores how the presence of pain does not mean the absence of God and asks an important question: when pain arrives, where will you turn?
In the third part of our series, The Story of My Life, Steve explores how we can build healthy relationships with the people who become part of our story. We learn how receiving God’s unconditional love can heal the hurts of our past and set us up for a better future, one where love is a choice we intentionally make.
Continuing in our series, The Story of My Life, Taffie speaks about moments of hope in our lives. Listen in as she helps us understand that hope is not merely positive thinking or optimism, but a confident expectation rooted in the character and promises of God.
Listen in as we launch a brand-new series, The Story of My Life. In this message, we explore our beginnings and how truly understanding who is authoring our story can transform the way we see our identity and purpose.
Listen in as we take time to 'Pause for Thought' and reflect on all that God has been speaking and doing through this year's teaching.
As we wrap up our Jonah series, we turn our attention to chapters 3 and 4 of this ancient text. At first glance, these chapters may seem unusual, but they reveal valuable insights. By looking closely at where Jonah went wrong, we discover just how much we can learn for ourselves.
Jonah 3:1 is such an encouraging verse: 'The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.' It’s a powerful reminder that God doesn’t give up on us. He redirects, He restores, and He invites us to rise and try again. Give this message a listen, and be inspired to Go Again!”
As we continue our journey through the book of Jonah, we’re reminded that prayer and repentance open the door to restoration. God didn’t give up on Jonah, and He’ll never give up on you!
We're starting a brand-new series on the Old Testament book of Jonah. Listen in as we start exploring the lessons we can learn from this reluctant prophet. In the first part of this series, we examine the consequences of disobedience and ask ourselves the hard-hitting question: 'In what area of my life am i running from the word of God?'
On Mission Sunday, we heard from three people who went on mission trips in 2025. Listen in as they share their highlights, how the experience stretched them, and why they would encourage everyone to get involved in mission.
As we wrap up our series Life Is a Garden, Mark shares about the financial aspect of our lives and how the principle of sowing and reaping applies there, too.
As we continue our series, Life Is a Garden, we turn our attention to two key seeds we are constantly sowing into our lives: our thoughts and our words. Could it be that by changing the way we think and speak, we might uproot some weeds and cultivate a more fruitful, abundant life?
As we begin our new three-part series, Life Is a Garden, we ask important questions about what it takes to cultivate a fruitful and abundant life. In doing so, we discover that it requires intentionality, consistency, and time.
One of the aspects of the Christian life that the early church devoted themselves to was prayer. Listen in as Taffie explains how this remains so vital for us today in 2025!
The early church didn't fear or resist change; they embraced it! As a result, God used moments of change and transition to continue to multiply them. In this message, Steve talks about change in Family Church, and how in our individual lives God will often use the vehicle of change to get us from where we are to where He wants us to be!
As we continue in our 'A growing Church' message series, Steve shares why you need people, and why people need you!
Join us for a brand new teaching series, as we continue in our 'Magnify and Multiply' theme. This new series is all about 'A growing Church'. We take a deep dive into Acts 2:42-47, and begin the series by looking at what it actually means to be 'devoted to Apostolic teaching.'
Ps Andy provides an introduction to a new series of messages entitled 'A Growing Church', explaining how this fits within our overall theme of magnify & multiply for this year.
Daphine concludes our summer teaching series, '...One Another', by teaching on what the Bible has to say about honouring one another.
Continuing in our summer teaching series, '...One Another', Taffie talks about what it looks like to 'Serve one another'.
As we continue in our summer teaching series, Mark explores scripture's instruction to 'Forgive one another'.
As we continue in our summer teaching series, Nawael explores scripture's instruction to 'Encourage one another'.
As we continue in our Miracles series, Steve speaks about making the shift from just trusting God for our situations to also believing God for others.
In this message, Steve shares from the account of the widow in 1 Kings 17, and encourages us not to let the miraculous become mundane!
In this message, Leroy takes us through the story of the miraculous catch found in Luke 5, sharing how obedience opens the door to the miraculous and how encountering Jesus in the miraculous will always lead to a humble discovery of your purpose!
As we continue our series looking at multiplication by miracles, Nimi speaks from 2 Kings 4 and shares what we can learn from the widow's miracle. God is interested in the situations we go through, and therefore, we shouldn't allow any situation to swallow our voice; rather, we should cry out to Him. And when He gives us an instruction about our situation, our duty is to prepare in faith for what He will do and obey even when it doesn't make sense.
As we begin a brand new teaching series, Steve looks at the extraordinary account of thousands being fed by five loaves and two fish, and reminds us that we serve a supernatural God who can take what we offer to Him and multiply it abundantly!
Listen in as Steve interviews Gerard and Brenda about their life story, how they found faith, and the difference it has made in their lives.
As we conclude our series, 'Growing God's Family', we look at what it means for us to be ambassadors, salt & light, and how reaching people with the message begins with us living out the message.
As we continue in our series, 'Growing God's Family', we look at how reaching the world begins with reaching our world, starting with our family.
Using her personal testimony, Taffie looks at the tension between being obedient to what God is asking, whilst also waiting for what He has spoken over your life. In the waiting, though it may not always make sense, it's time to be obedient, learning to trust, seek, and be in awe of God while remaining faithful in serving God's family.
As we begin a brand new series looking at multiplication in the context of seeing people saved, Steve shares on the importance of one, and how God wants a big family!
One week on from Ressurection Sunday, we ask the question: 'what now'? In doing so, we learn that we have a message to share with others about the power of the cross! That the cross of Jesus reveals the heart of God, breaks the power of darkness, draws all people, and produces multiplication.
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we take a look at the powerful and life-changing truth that we've been rescued from the darkness of the tomb and brought into the light of God's kingdom!
As we move onto the second part of our 2025 theme 'Magnify & Multiply', Steve introduces the concept of multiplication and looks at how faith, patience, and obedience are all keys to us experiencing God's multiplication in our lives!
How does Church become 'Home'? In this message, we look at how growing our understanding of Revelation, Responsibility & Relationship could make all the difference!
As we conclude our teaching series on 'The Word', Nimi shares on submission and obedience to, and declaration of, God's word!
Nimi moves on in our series to start talking about the application of the Word of God and how knowing the Word and applying the authority of the Word can position us for victory and freedom!
In Part 3 of our series on the Word of God, we look at why the condition of our heart is so important when reading the Bible and what Jesus has to say about being 'good soil'.
As we continue in our series on the Word of God, Daphine answers the question 'What is truth?', and in doing so shows us how the real truth will set us free!
As we begin a brand new 5-part series on the Word of God, Steve leads us through some important questions about the Bible. In doing so, he shares how the written word of God is always pointing to the living word of God.
As we conclude our 3-part series on worship, we hear from a few people on how worship is far more than a song!
As we continue in our 3-part series on worship, Taffie shares on the important question - Who do we Worship?
We're kicking off our focus on 'Magnify' and 'Multiply' by preaching a 3-part series on Worship. We begin this series by exploring the fundamental question - What is Worship? Listen in, as we are reminded that we are all worshippers and that true worship isn't about our activity!
Having shared the Family Church vision for 2025 last Sunday, we take time to unpack what it means for us in the Havant congregation, and how YOU can get involved!
Ps Andy delivers a keynote message today regarding vision for the whole of Family Church during 2025. He explains how important it is for us to have a vision (Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision, the people perish) and thanks all those who have contributed in any way to the outworking of the church vision the previous year. Ps Andy then concentrates his message around two words the Lord gave him, namely Magnify and Multiply. With reference to a myriad of scriptures he explains the vision for all of the Family Church congregations tying this in with God's Word.
As we conclude our 3-part series, Steve speaks on the reality that tomorrow is unknown, and tomorrow starts today!
As we continue in our 3-part series, Steve speaks on the powerful truth that each new day is a gift, a fresh start, and an opportunity!
As we begin a brand new year, we're preaching a 3 part series on the truth that God is the God of our yesterday, our today, and our tomorrow. In this first message, we take the time to look at how God can forgive yesterday's failures, heal yesterday's hurts, and deliver us from yesterday's disappointments.
Ps Steve gives some thoughts on this most important day in the Christian calendar. We celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Join us as we remind ourselves of the hope of the Christmas narrative - that God hears us; that God can use us; and that God is with us.
Listen in as we take time to 'Pause for Thought' and reflect on all that God has been speaking and doing through this year's teaching.
On our 15th birthday as a church community, we take time to look back with thankfulness and praise, and look forward with expectancy and faith.
As we conclude our series, we look at four 'C's: Conviction, Confession, Commitment, and Celebration, and speak on how they were not only needed in Nehemiah's day, but are also needed today as we live out God's calling!
As we continue in our series, we look at how the enemy will always try to disrupt, distract, delay & ultimately destroy the work of God; yet Nehemiah gives us the correct response that will see us strengthened, focused, and victorious!
As we continue in our series looking at the journey of Nehemiah, Steve looks at the power of unity and how 'us + God = anything is possible!'
As we continue in our series looking at the journey of Nehemiah, Steve looks at how our obedience to a holy burden should always be outworked through audacious faith.
As we begin a brand new 5-part series, we take time to look at two words - build & burden. Speaking from Nehemiah 1, Steve focuses on two truths: Firstly how we can go from just building our own lives to joining in with what Jesus is building, and secondly, how Jesus invites us to trade in our heavy, worldly burdens for a 'Holy Burden' full of purpose!
In this world, there are many versions of peace but we soon find out that the world's kind of peace is fleeting. In this message, we look at the true source of peace: the Prince of peace, and how His kind of peace is everlasting.
As we celebrate Global Sunday, Bunmi shares a brief thought about the church being one body, made up of many parts.
As we conclude our 'Jesus Empowers' series, we take time to look at the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit, how they demonstrate the Holy Spirit's nature and power, and how they are to be displayed in our everyday lives.
As we continue in our series: 'Jesus Empowers', Mark shares on how each of us can experience God's supernatural power and life through the person of the Holy Spirit.
As we continue in our series: 'Jesus Empowers', Ps Steu speaks about the relationship each of us can have with the person of the Holy Spirit.
Listen in as we start a brand new series all about the Holy Spirit. In today's message, we explore who the Holy Spirit is, as well as when and why He was sent to live in the life of every believer.
Ps Andy speaks across all Family Church congregations about the next phase of our discipleship journey. At the start of the year we concentrated on two sets of teachings. The first one was called Jesus is - Christology. We looked at the person of Jesus, who the Bible reveals Him to be in the Old and the New Testaments. Following this, we moved on to a second series called Soteriology, the doctrine of salvation. We took a few weeks to study, how incredible our Salvation is, how wonderfully the Lord has saved us, what He achieved in the finished work of the Cross with Jesus.
Ps Andy then speaks about how we are to move to a third part of our discipleship series, which we are calling 'Jesus Empowers'. This is Pneumatology and it's the Doctrine or the study of the person and works of the Holy Spirit.
Ps Andy continues with an introduction to this series which again is fundamental to our understanding of our Christian walk.
As we round off our summer series, 'Love is', Steve speaks on the truth that agape love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never gives up!
Over 100 of our young people have been away at our annual summer camp. Listen as a number of our Havant youth (and their leaders) share how the week impacted them, and how they met with God in a powerful way!
As we continue in our summer series, 'Love is', we explore how important truth is when displaying real love.
As we continue in our summer series, 'Love is', we take a look at how agape love doesn't allow offence to take root.
As we continue in our summer series, 'Love is', Nimi shares how God's love for us should affect our love for others.
As we begin a brand-new summer series, 'Love is', we look at the truth that love is patient & kind, speaking about what that means for our relationship with God, and how we are to outwork these two key ingredients in our daily lives.
Throughout the bible, we are taught how to 'walk' as a follower of Jesus. In this message, we look at what it means to 'walk by the Spirit' and how that should affect our everyday lives.
Throughout the bible, we are taught how to 'walk' as a follower of Jesus. In this message, we look at what it means to 'walk by faith' and how that should affect our everyday lives.
In this message, Nawael reminds us of the authority we have as believers, and how to effectively use it in our everyday lives.
Please note, this is a part recording due to a technical error, we apologise.
As we conclude our 3-part series on Psalm 23, we look at what it means to feast at God's table, and how we can live a life of overflow!
As we continue in our 3-part series on Psalm 23, we take time to talk about the valley seasons of life: what we can learn from them, what God can do through them, and how God can even use them, for our good and for His glory!
Listen in as we start a brand new 3-part series on arguably the greatest Psalm of them all, Psalm 23! In this first part of our series, we consider how God, the perfect shepherd, looks to provide rest and restoration for us all.
Following our series on salvation, we look at sharing our salvation story with others, answering some key questions - Why don't we? Why should we? and How do we?
Concluding our series looking at the doctrine of 'Soteriology', Ps Steu speaks on the powerful subject of 'adoption' by unpacking Galatians 3:23 - Galatians 4:7
Continuing our series looking at the doctrine of 'Soteriology', Nimi shares on Justification and how it's all about Jesus!
Continuing our series looking at the doctrine of 'Soteriology', we look at the incredible gift of new life and what it truly means to be 'born again'.
As we continue our series looking at the doctrine of 'Soteriology', Taffie speaks about reconciliation - how we can be reconciled to God through salvation, how we are to also be reconciled to others, and how we carry a message of reconciliation!
As we continue our series looking at the doctrine of 'Soteriology', we explore the concept of God's redemption, looking at what it is, what it cost, and why it makes such a difference!
*We apologise that this is a part recording due to technical issues. Other congregations of Family Church will teach on this subject in following weeks.
As we start a brand new series looking at the doctrine of 'Soteriology', Ps Gina speaks about the amazing forgiveness we have received as followers of Jesus.
In this Resurrection Sunday message, we take time to look at why the Easter message really matters, and what it takes to be made right with God.
In this message, Daphine speaks about the power of one - how it only takes one person in a family, workplace, or community to make a difference for God! Using Philemon 1:6, Daphine unpacks how we can practically acknowledge every good thing we have in Jesus, in order to make the communication of our faith effective.
In the final week of our series looking at the doctrine of 'Christology', Mark explores Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King and explains how we are to also function in those roles to the world around us today!
In the 4th week of our series looking at the doctrine of 'Christology', we take time to look at four aspects of Jesus' life and ministry - His resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and future return. Listen in as we explain why these are all so important, and what they mean for us today.
As we continue our series looking at the doctrine of 'Christology', this message focuses on Jesus' humanity. Why does it matter that Jesus was 100% man as well as being 100% God, and what difference does it make to us today?
As we continue our series looking at the doctrine of 'Christology', this message explores the thought that Jesus is both fully man and fully God. We take time to explain how both of those things can be true at the same time, sharing why it's so vital for us that Jesus wasn't just a nice Jewish carpenter but was, and remains, the son of God.
As we start a 5-part series looking at the doctrine of 'Christology', we take time to unpack the truth that what Jesus said remains, who Jesus is is consistent, and what Jesus did, He continues to do!
In this message, Pastor Andy speaks about being rooted. We may have passed the stage of needing to wear "L" plates but still need to have a heart to wear "P" plates and be open to learning and developing continuously as disciples of Jesus.
Having shared the Family Church vision for 2024 last Sunday, we take time to unpack what it means for us in the Havant congregation, and how YOU can get involved!
Ps Andy speaks about the Mission, Vision and Strategy for Family Church for the forthcoming year of 2024. The Mission is summed up on three words: Reach; Grow and Empower. The Vision is based around ten areas: Congregations; Services; Communities; Impact; Discipleship; Empowered; Leaders; Young People; Governance and Premises. Pastor Andy details each of these giving insight into the Strategy - the plans, goals and activities which during the course of 2024 will outwork the Vision. This is a year for everyone to deepen their relationship with God and put down deeper roots. There is a theme of being "rooted". We want to be rooted in our faith, place focus on helping people to learn about Him, believe in Him and walk in obedience to the things that He asks.
This is a MUST LISTEN message!!
Our relationships can lead us in healthy or unhealthy directions. Listen in as we explore what the Bible says about building relationships that will help us experience a healthy and prosperous 2024.
The bible says that 'As a man thinks, so is he'. In this message, we explore why our mindset will be so key to us experiencing a healthy and prosperous 2024.
In this message, we look at how setting healthy priorities can set us up for a healthy and prosperous year ahead!
Three people in the Havant Congregation of Family Church share testimonies of thankfulness for what God has done in the past year. Ps Steve finishes with concluding remarks.
In this message, Pastor Andy speaks of how Jesus experienced the wood of the manger, the cross, and the throne, and how that affects us today!
Listen in as we take time to 'Pause for Thought' and reflect on all that God has been speaking and doing through our 'House of Prayer' series.
What does Spiritual Warfare actually mean, and how does it affect our everyday prayer life? In this final teaching of our House of Prayer series, Elly takes time to unpack these thoughts.
Is God a healer? If so, how and why does He heal? How do we pray for the sick? And what about unanswered prayer? In this message on 'Praying for the Sick' we explore all these questions and more.
God has called us not to just pray for ourselves but to also pray for others. In our latest message in our 'House of Prayer' series, we take time to explore what Intercessory Prayer is and speak about how this involves all of us!
As we continue in our series on prayer, it's important to know that there are different types of prayer. Nimi takes time to outline these differences and communicates how we can best use them effectively.
In this key message, Mark explains what it means to 'speak in tongues' and how this is a gift the Holy Spirit gives us to use in prayer.
What does it mean to pray with faith? Listen in as we continue our 'House of Prayer' series' and explore the vital ingredients of faith and patience, whilst also tackling how to deal with doubt.
As we continue in our 'House of Prayer' series, Taffie speaks about why it's so important for us to pray together and what that may look like practically.
In this message, we look at Matthew 6:6 to explore what Jesus had to say about the When, Where, and What of what Jesus calls the 'secret place'.
As we continue in our teaching series on prayer, we look at Jesus' response to his disciple's request: 'Would you teach us how to pray'.
As we start this brand new teaching series about prayer, we take a moment to understand what prayer is, and what it isn't!
Today, Pastor Andy launches a new series called House Of Prayer. This has been on his heart for a while and all FC congregation will focus on this for the rest of 2023. How can we be a praying people? Prayer is not a bolt on for church!, its a central part. Other faiths call people to prayer from tall towers, some churches ring bells. Jesus was passionate about prayer in the church 2000 years ago and is also passionate about prayer in the church today. In Matthew 16:18. He said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". We need to build a church with Jesus according to his blueprint...
When we read about the day of Pentecost, we see it today when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all flesh. But we also see it was the moment that the church was born. What was the church doing before it was born? They were praying and suddenly in their prayer meeting the Holy Spirit fell and the church of Jesus Christ was born.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) says "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land". The people called by Hs name are us Christians!, our land, our lives can be healed and our sins forgiven if we humble ourselves before our God and pray and seek Him.
Next week, we begin to unpack all this in greater detail.
September is always a good opportunity for a fresh start. With that in mind, we look at the Parable of the Sower and ask the question: Which Soil Type Are You?
As we conclude our 'Summer of Psalms' teaching series, Taffie takes us through Psalm 62.
As we continue in our 'Summer of Psalms' teaching series, we take a look at Psalm 103 and learn why God is worthy of our most passionate praise!
As we continue in our 'Summer of Psalms' teaching series, Ps Steu takes us through Psalm 27.
Join us as we ask the question: What defines you? We'll discover how what we allow to define us will always determine how we live our lives and the kind of life we’ll experience.
Family Church Pastors gather for a Round Table discussion on the true meaning of the scripture Acts 2:42 and following....
The NIV Bible titles this ‘The fellowship of the believers’
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The NKJV Bible titles this ‘A Vital Church Grows’
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [n]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
All of our Pastors draw vitally important nuggets from this scripture in relation to the future of our Church Fellowship. This is a ‘must listen’ message!!
In this message, Nawael calls us to a life of holiness so that we can be effective carriers of God's glory.
As we conclude our series on 'the armour of God', we look at how we can use God's word as a weapon, and why prayer is so important in this battle.
As we continue in our series on 'the armour of God', we look at the helmet of salvation and speak about why our daily thought-life is so important!
As we continue in our series on 'the armour of God', we look at the shoes and shield and discover how we can experience peace!
As we continue in our series on 'the armour of God', Mark shares how our use of the belt and breastplate must be rooted first and foremost in love.
As we begin a brand new teaching series, we open up Ephesians 6 and look at how God has equipped us with everything we need to live a victorious life!
As we wrap up our mini-series on the Holy Spirit, we look at how the Holy Spirit wants to empower us on a daily basis, changing not only our lives but also the lives of those around us.
As we continue in our mini-series on the Holy Spirit, we look at how the Holy Spirit wants to lead us on a daily basis.
As we start a new 3-part series on the Holy Spirit, we take time to explore how we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, and what difference that actually makes to us on a day-to-day basis.
Pastor Steu speaks about how we are recipients of His ‘all-giving’ love and how we have been called by God to take His love to others. He discusses 1 Corinthians 13:7, which reveals that God’s love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through all circumstances.
As we finish off our series on the Will of God, in this message we look at the importance of choosing God’s will over our own, even when it’s not comfortable or easy.
As we continue our series on the will of God, in this message, Steve speaks about the difference between the perfectandpermissive wills of God, looking at how we discover and walk in God's perfect will for us.
As we begin a brand new teaching series on the will of God, we take time to look at the revealed will of God in God's word.
As we continue in our teaching series on 'Pathways', we look at the pathway of Righteousness - what it is, where it leads, and how we get on it.
As we continue in our teaching series on 'Pathways', we look at the pathway of Righteousness - what it is, where it leads, and how we get on it.
As we begin a new teaching series on 'Pathways', we ask the questions, 'What path are you on, and where will it take you?'and' Are you happy with your direction of travel and potential destination?
As we conclude our Kairos series, a couple of people from our congregation share on what Kairos means to them.
Do you have anything in your life that you would label as hopeless or impossible? In this message, we speak about the incredible things that can happen when an encounter with Jesus collides with a Kairos moment.
When you're in a Kairos moment, make sure you don't miss out! Listen in as we speak on 4 ways that we can live that will see us seize God's Kairos moments!
Join us as we speak about knowing our response to this God-ordained moment we find ourselves in.
As we continue to look at this Kairos moment we are in, this message speaks of knowing our position and purpose by reminding us that our God is intentional and purposeful when it comes to our lives.
As we follow on from Vision Sunday, we continue to look at this Kairos moment by asking and answering the question: What time is it?
Today is Vision Sunday across all congregations of Family Church. Pastor Andy speaks about the vision for the church for the whole of this year 2023. Naturally the church’s mission is to reach, grow and empower people and reach those who do not yet know Jesus. However, Andy has specific words for our Vision during 2023. We are in a moment, perhaps unprecedented, where God is about to move by His Spirit, through His church, in a way people have never seen before. Pastor Andy perceives we are in a Kingdom moment; this is a moment where His Kingdom which cannot be shaken will be experienced by those who live in kingdoms that can be shaken - viewing the world.
The Bible says in Hebrews 12 we are a part of a Kingdom which cannot be shaken. We are in a world where everything is currently shaking. There will be revealing of a Kingdom and a Kingdom people which cannot be shaken because their God is God. This is a Kingdom moment, a moment when God is about to move. We must be ready for what God is about to do – a continuation of the theme of encounter.
Pastor Andy defines this as a Kairos moment – a God ordained moment in history, as opposed to Chronos (sequential and quantitative). Alternatively, view Kairos as the most opportune moment for action. Andy refers to many scriptures as examples of God ordained moments of time but perhaps the best example comes from the book of Esther. Esther was positioned to prevent destruction of the Jews, although she did have to use her influence with the king in order to do so.
As we walk through this year just maybe we also have been positioned for such a time as this. Where we have congregations in England and the Philippines with any favour that we are walking in just maybe we have been positioned in life for a time such as this for a moment that God did long before any of us were born. God says there is a year called 2023, that's the Kairos, there is a moment in that year where the world is falling and in that moment, the church is going to stand on our feet, and begin to be my body, my hands, my feet, my whole life.
Esther could have shrunk back, she could have said “I like my life, I am the Queen, I could lose everything….” She knew when she appeared before the king, he would either extend his sceptre or not. If he didn't extend his sceptre, she would have been put to death. If he extended his sceptre, she could ask for up to half of his kingdom – quite a lot of pressure! She prays and fasts and walks in before the king presenting her request. A God moment follows resulting in a complete change of the circumstances saving the Jews.
This is a Kairos moment. Esther 4:14 (NKJV) says “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” We need to awaken our hearts and say, God use me. If we are a prayer warrior, it's time to pray; if we are a giver, it’s time to give; if we are a server it’s time to serve and so on. The Kairos moment is upon us….for such a time as this.
Over the month of January, we are speaking about encountering God. In this message, we look at what we can learn from a samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus, and respond to Jesus' call to receive His living water.
Over the month of January, we are speaking about encountering God. In this message, we look at how fasting can help us overcome passivity when it comes to positioning ourselves for God encounters.
Over the month of January, we are speaking about encountering God. In this message, Ps Steu looks at the account of Jacob and what it means for us today to be a 'Jacob generation'.
In this message, we take time to look at the three gifts given by the wise men in honour of Jesus, and talk about how they remain significant to us today.
Listen in as we take time to 'Pause for Thought' and reflect on all that God has been speaking and doing through our 'Family Values' series.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Family.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Community Minded.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Empowering.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Disciples.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Commissioned.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Worshippers.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Responsive.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Honourable.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Servant Hearted.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Spiritual.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Bible Believing.
We're taking time to journey through our 'Family Values' as a church community. This week, we look at what it means to be Christ Centred.
In this message, Nimi explores why we should trust God, and how that looks in our everyday life.
When we think of 'rest', we often picture a holiday or a long sleep. However, in this message, Taffie takes us through Psalm 23 to explain how spiritual rest is vital to us living in peace in all areas of our lives.
Too many followers of Jesus spend their life 'wandering in the wilderness'. In this message, we look at how God not only wants to set us free from our old life, but also enable us to take hold of the life of abundance He now has available for us!
God's love is vital to us running the race of faith effectively. In this message, Daphine highlights factors that prevent us from receiving and displaying God's love correctly and speaks of how our fellowship with God always determines our understanding of His love.
Everywhere we look, the world is speaking of a 'cost of living crisis'. What does the bible teach us about how to respond?
Everywhere we look, the world is speaking of a 'cost of living crisis'. What does the bible teach us about how to respond?
If the enemy can steal your joy, he can steal your strength. In this message, Ps Steu explains how we can remain in a place in life where the joy of the lord is our strength!
The writer of Hebrews tells us that as we run the race, we should fix and keep our eyes on Jesus. This week we look at Jesus' offer to baptise us with the Holy Spirit, in order that we can run the race of faith with purpose and power.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that as we run the race, we should fix and keep our eyes on Jesus. This week we look at Jesus being 'our healer' of spirit, soul and body!
Description: The writer of Hebrews tells us that as we run the race, we should fix and keep our eyes on Jesus. This week we look at Jesus being 'our Redeemer'.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that as we run the race, we should fix and keep our eyes on Jesus. This week we look at Jesus being 'the way'.
On the weekend of the Platinum Jubilee, we take time to speak about faithfulness, and how it is vital to us running the race of faith well.
As we 'run the race God has set before us', we run alongside others. This week we speak about how there is a responsibility upon each of us to pass the kingdom baton on to the following generation.
As we 'run the race God has set before us', we run alongside others. This week we speak about unity and how key it is to us running well together.
As we 'run the race God has set before us', we run alongside others. This week we speak about discipleship and how faith is not only an individual pursuit, but also a team race.
As we 'run the race God has set before us', we run alongside others. This week we speak about how the Church is a gift God has given to you, to help you to 'run the race' the best you can!
As we 'run the race God has set before us', it will require patience & longsuffering. Join us as we open up God's word and learn that waiting is not just something that we do until we get what we want, waiting is a process that God uses, to turn us into who He wants us to be!
Why do we so often look for 'life' in all the wrong places? In this message we look at the question the angels posed to the women visiting the tomb: 'why do you look for the living among the dead', and ask how it applies to us in 2022!
As we 'run the race God has set before us', it will require endurance. Join us as we open up God's word and ask ourselves the question: 'Am I a fair-weather follower of Jesus'?
Continuing in our 'Running the race' theme, Ps Stacie takes time to look at how the Holy Spirit coaches us in this race, enabling us to go through the varying seasons of life which are all for our good, our growth, and God's glory!
Listen in as we take time to 'Pause for Thought' and speak on all that God has been speaking and doing through our series so far this year.
As we continue our thoughts on 'running our best lap yet', we take some time to look at the importance of our responses in life. Join us as we study the life of Joseph to see how our responses can either position us for defeat or victory!
Before we face a problem, Good has already got the solution. Join us as we discover more about 'Jehovah Ezer', who is 'the Lord my help!'
As we look to run our best lap yet as individuals and as a church, we continue looking at some of the weights and sins that the writer of Hebrews says we need to throw off in order to run effectively. This week, we look at how Jealousy can get us entangled and how God can help us walk free from it.
Hebrews 12:1 sets the challenge of 'running the race', but what race is it? The ability to "disciple" others or serve better are all goals towards the prize of righteous living and fulfilling our purposes, but this itself is not the race! The 'race' is about our relationship with the Father; how we spend time, communicate, and have an intimate relationship with Him. Join us as Mark looks at those things that can disqualify us from the prize or limit our effectiveness!
As we look to run our best lap yet as individuals and as a church, we continue looking at some of the weights and sins that the writer of Hebrews says we need to throw off in order to run effectively. This week, we look at the weight we can end up carrying because of worry.
As we look to run our best lap yet as individuals and as a church, we continue looking at some of the weights and sins that the writer of Hebrews says we need to throw off in order to run effectively. This week, we look at the entanglement anger can produce.
As we look to run our best lap yet as individuals and as a church, we look at some of the weights and sins that the writer of Hebrews says we need to throw off in order to run effectively. This week, we look at the snare of pride.
Pastor Andy delivers an absolute ‘must hear’ message for Vision Sunday 2022. This is all about running our best lap yet in the race of life. Fundamentally this is being active doing what God wants and needs us to do to make a difference to the world we live in. We are leaving a season of lockdown and moving into a season of having a mighty job to do, running with passion in our hearts for all that God wants us to achieve. Pastor Andy speaks of the story of Joseph and his amazing release from wrongful imprisonment (Genesis 39-41) to provide interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams. The doors of lockdown were opened for him then and God did incredible things with Joseph becoming in charge of Pharaoh’s palace and all his people. God will do equally incredible things with us as he did with Joseph. He came out of the prison cell ready to run his best lap yet using the gifts God had given him! Just as God used Joseph in his time He will use us individually and as a church in all the places He has positioned us. Hebrews 12, 1-2 speaks of those who ran their best race (the great cloud of witnesses) but also speaks of us as well….instructing us to throw off all sin and that which entangles us and then to run with perseverance the race set out before us fixing our eyes on Jesus who perfects our faith. Ps Andy goes on to speak of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Our hearts desire should be to say we have run the race God set before us, lived our lives in pursuit of Him and are ready to receive a crown of righteousness!
In this final message of our 'Breakthrough' series, we explore the account of Jehosophat to learn how praise is a weapon that brings about breakthrough!
Join us as we open up God's word to look at the key ingredients of breakthrough prayer.
As we continue in our 31 days of breakthrough prayer, join us as we discover how breakthrough so often happens within you, before taking place around you.
As we begin in 31 days of breakthrough prayer, do we have 'Great Expectations' for the year ahead?
We conclude our thoughts on being people of a different spirit by asking the question: What's the difference between a carnal christian and a spiritual disciple?
We continue our thoughts on being people of a different spirit by looking at what a different spirit is, how we as humans can be affected by our environment, and how we can instead influence it. To be truly different we need to really know God and dwell in His presence all the time, not just on a Sunday!
Join us as we open up God's word to continue our thoughts on not conforming to the world around us. Being people of a different spirit may not always be easy or popular, but it will bring us great rewards and will ultimately glorify God!
The Apostle Paul challenged the Church in Rome to not conform, but instead to be transformed! Join us as we look at three accounts in the Bible that show us how we can be people of a different spirit - people who shape culture instead of people who just blend in with culture!
In an age of what seems like constant bad news stories, have we lost a sense of what it truly means to 'hope'? In this message, we look at the difference between worldly hope and what God's word declares hope to truly be and speak about an account in the gospels that challenges us to keep 'daring to hope'!
Why do we speak and sing about blood? What is the significance of blood in the bible and how does that actually make a difference to our normal, everyday life? Join us as we open up God's word to look at these questions together.
In this engaging message, Ps Sean shares how our defence lawyer, Jesus, has changed our 'guilty' verdict!
So many times as Christians we get so caught up in what we can see with our physical eyes that we miss out on what God is doing in our everyday life and how He wants us to partner with Him in this adventure. In this message we will explore how our "New Norm" is to see what God sees and not what the world wants us to see.
What is the Church and what does God's word have to say about it? In this message, we explore those thoughts and look at how they apply to us personally.
We all face temptation on a daily basis. Is there any hope in defeating it? In this message, we look at God's wisdom for how to defeat temptation, in order to live in victory.
Do you manage your emotions or do your emotions manage you? In this message, we look at God's wisdom for how to handle emotions in a way that draws us to God, and not away from Him.
The decisions we make today will determine what life looks like tomorrow! How do we make wise decisions that positively affect our lives? What factors are important when making decisions? Join us as we open the Bible to find out these answers.
All of us will face disappointment at one time or another in life. All too often, our default way of dealing with disappointment leads to escapism and anger. In this message we discover a better way, and look at God's wisdom for how to handle disappointment correctly.
Conflict can happen in different settings, with different people, for different reasons. Healthy conflict will build and strengthen relationships, but avoiding conflict or handling conflict incorrectly can ruin relationships. In this message we discover God's wisdom for how to handle conflict correctly.
Join us as we begin a brand new message series, looking at God's wisdom for life. In this week's teaching we introduce the series by looking at how we can gain the most from God's word.
Distractions can draw us away from God's presence. Listen in as we talk about why and how we get distracted, before looking at some ways we can remain focused & growing in our experience of God's presence.
What is the Kingdom of God, why should we seek it first, and what happens when we do? Join us as we open up God's word to explore how the enemy of our soul tries to get us to question God's promises for us, and how desiring God's Kingdom above all other things causes us to know our identity in Christ.
Why should we aim to experience more of God's presence and how does it come about? Join us as we talk about the need for desire, time and openness.
What do we mean by God's manifest presence, and how can it make a difference to our lives?
Many people have made changes in their life as a result of much reflection during lockdown. In this short message, we look at how God may be calling us to reset our relationships and our priorities.
For many people, lockdown felt like a time when their life was on pause. However, the bible shows us that we can be continually living a purpose-filled life when we realise that God has purpose for us today, whatever we might be doing!
During lockdown people missed the warmth of embrace and closeness with their loved ones. Join us as we take a short look at God's embrace towards us and the importance of knowing Him, not just knowing about Him!
Lockdown highlighted within us certain needs. Join us as we take a short look at the importance of community, and how God himself meets that need.
Pastor Andy’s message this week is titled “Where Next”? After discussing the shape of things to come for both the previously established congregations (pre Covid) and also the newly established online congregation, he speaks about the very definition of a Christian or more usefully a Disciple, or a Believer. Are we called something yet our attributes do not confirm the name we give ourselves? If we are a follower of Jesus do we properly purpose in our hearts to follow Him? Do we dedicate in our hearts to follow Jesus in all His steps, placing our attention in Him? Jesus called people to become followers and disciples in the Gospels and He does the same today – to have a daily experience of Him in their world. Jesus calls us into a daily relational walk with Him now just as He did in the Gospels. All Jesus disciples in the gospels had security in what they did and left this and at some cost started to follow Jesus in a new journey. They did not look back. They needed to leave their previous security to join Him and follow Him into something much better. Will we lay down our comforts and put Him first in all things advancing with Him?
Join us as we wrap up our series on the Armour of God, looking specifically at the Helmet, the Sword & Prayer.
Today is the last in the current series by Pastor Andy Elmes ‘Commissioned’, with this week’s message being about Kingdom Lifestyle. We've been looking at Matthew 28 verses 19-20. God says go into all the world and make disciples baptizing them teaching them to obey. People get really carried away with loving the word grace and love and mercy, but obedience is equally a powerful word. Matthew 28, 20 does say “teaching them to obey everything”….this means, training people to abide, to walk, in obedience to all that Jesus commanded. Jesus taught about Kingdom living, a new higher way of conducting ourselves. If we look at the teachings of Jesus in the gospels He often says to his disciples “go and declare the kingdom”. When Jesus walked the Earth, He didn't preach a gospel of atonement - He was the Gospel of atonement! He spoke of a kingdom, the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven that was present now, on earth. In Matthew 5 and 6 Jesus talks about Kingdom life and how to live it. In this message Jesus suddenly begins to redefine so much of what people thought was normal, but he brings fresh definition to it and says, no, that's not how you live. This is how you live to me. That's what the Lord is asking us to do when he says “ …teach people to obey my Commandments”, - the ways that I've taught you to live. He talks about being Salt and Light and so much more in these two chapters. Romans 12:2 (NIV) says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”. This is the Holy and best possible way for us to live beyond anything we ever imagined. In those moments in the battlefield of our minds we need to make sure the way He's taught us to live overcomes any previous way we may have lived before. This is when the victory that's contained in the word breaks into our daily lives.
Join us as we continue to study Ephesians 6, looking specifically at the Shoes & Shield that form part of the Armour of God.
Pastor Andy continues his series on Commissioned, this week his title is Walking it Out. This series has been based on the incredible verses from Matthew 28:19 -20 known as the Great Commission. Andy speaks more about discipleship where we provoke each other to grow and develop a more intimate walk with the Lord than we've ever known before. We hear about each believer having a discipleship role……..being surrendered to someone so we have our own lives challenged and mentored and then also being able to help others as well. This richness gives us strength and daily growth in Christ which we need in order to prevent us stagnating in our relationship with Jesus. There are two experiences to being a Christian - we can go for a crowd experience or a disciple experience. If we go for a crowd experience, we will watch miracles. However if we go for a disciple experience, we get to handle them! Andy gives scripture references regarding how Paul speaks to the church in Corinth and elsewhere about still giving the people milk rather than solid food because they had not yet moved from being carnal Christians to spirit led ones. He warns us about not being offended regarding the purpose of the church in our lives – its easy to be led into a false sense of understanding here regarding the culture of Israel during biblical times. Andy speaks about how we want to help people to navigate their new life, the New Birth, the transformation of God that's happening in their world. So in Family Church, moving forward in regard to those who are be are giving their life to Christ in our services or in our in times when we meet each other, we want to be relational in our discipleship rather than purely educational. Andy gives a lot of details to some of the practical and exciting steps we shall be taking to outwork this vision. Next week is the final part to this series Commissioned.
Join us as we continue to study Ephesians 6, looking specifically at the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness.
Today Pastor Andy preached the next message in his series ‘Commissioned’. The title is literally ‘The Next Step’! This amazing message is another of those absolutely must hear messages in the exciting time leading up to the regathering and rebuilding of the physical church as we move out of the lockdown we have been in this past year. Andy speaks in a captivating manner to further unwind the meaning of the scriptures in Matthew 28 where Jesus gives the great commission. Making disciples has to be part of the culture of whom and what we are as a church, daily not just Sundays. Andy speaks of disciples being ‘learners’ - everything that God could do for us is given us at the moment of salvation but we spend our lives ‘learning’ what that means and living in the reality of it. Christianity is simply a walk with Jesus. Andy speaks of the heart changing moments of conversion giving rise to the born again experience, he mentions Matthew 11 where Jesus is saying to people to come to him all who are laden with their past and effectively be learners in a new life. We commit to walk with Him all the days of our lives. Andy speaks significantly of the two baptisms – of water and also of the Holy Spirit. Our water baptism representing our own death, burial and resurrection with Jesus in newness of life and the then infilling by The Holy Spirit to guide us, empower us and lead us on our way henceforth. These are two necessary experiences for us in our life of discipleship! This is indeed a most challenging and exciting message!
Today is Pentecost Sunday and saw the beginning of a new series ‘Commissioned’ with this week’s title being Outward Looking. Pastor Andy speaks of us having our marching orders from Matthew 28 and how Family Church is going to be a flourishing Church coming out of lockdown, stepping into the next season. Key points from this Great Commission will be our focus in this series – Go; Make Disciples and Teach Kingdom ways of life to people and how they can walk in obedience to the ways that Jesus has taught us to live. Those three key aspects are our focus as a church coming out of lockdown into a time of flourishing that God has got for us. To begin, we must be a people of “Go”, sitting doing nothing will not get us anywhere and certainly not see any disciples made! The Great Commission isn't a commission alone? It's a Go-Mission. It's the great Go-Mission. We need to be outward-looking. When you watch our lives, it seems often we don't believe in Him. When we're outside the church, we stay quiet, we don't tell others and we’re not outward looking. But believe the power of the Holy Ghost is coming (even on this day called Pentecost Sunday!) to shake us up to a fresh awakening to be an outward-looking people, not a ‘stay’ people. We are all entrusted with a message; all are ambassadors to carry a message that has the power to take a person from Death to Life. Every believer, every follower of Jesus has been entrusted with a message, not just to be evangelists in the church, but everywhere we go. We have the power and the authority so how can we stay quiet?
This week Pastor Andy threw away his notes so he could preach the inspired word of God, titled ‘Get Ready’. This rip-roaring message was to stir our hearts as we gently come out of lockdown. Pastor Andy spoke about the church corporately and each of us individually coming out of our various lockdowns as Peter did in Acts 12 – story of his miraculous escape from prison. Andy likened Peter’s situation to that many of us find ourselves in (lockdown can be financial, emotional, relational, physical etc.) and then looked at how the bible spoke of Peters situation and how this is relevant to us. In Acts 12, the Angel of the Lord told peter to get up, get dressed and come, then the Iron Gate opened by itself and Peter was able to walk back into Jerusalem (the prison was outside the city) as God had more in store for him. But Peter knew how Jesus had spoken to him earlier – Matthew 16; 17-19 (NIV) - Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The “gates of Hades” was in fact a cave entrance leading to underworld of false worship at that time in Caesarea Philippi, so Jesus revealed to Peter that His church would be built on the rock of the revelation that the Holy Spirit had enlightened Peter with and that this was not able to be overcome even by the worst of falsehood….this applies today as well. So as Peter slept in prison (Acts 12), the church prayed for him and he knew in his heart that although chained and guarded, he would not be overcome by Herod and his schemes. Peter knew he had Christ in his heart. Out of chaos, God brings glory, turns graves into gardens. Individually we also must look to Christ as our Messiah, be ready to get dressed, stand up and walk away from our lockdown with faith and authority that our God is unstoppable.
The message this week is titled Heavenly Hope and is the third in the series Heavenly Minded by Pastor Andy Elmes. The essence here is based on what Paul says in the book of Colossians that we are to set our mind & affections on things above not on things below. There is a very real life here and now for us to be involved in but we need to be conscious of what's happening in heaven right now but also that our true home is heaven one day. We live in an uncertain world, especially in the hopes it offers, but we need to understand as believers children of God, we have a Heavenly hope which is a certain hope which we have in this current world of uncertain hopes. Philippians 3:18-20 (NIV) says “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”. Pastor Andy explains how this verse colours in his point! If we only set our minds on earthly things we shall only ever have earthly hope. Hope is the simple belief that things can and will change. What is our hope built on - the fickle promises of man, our own intentions, our own ability or something of much greater strength, which is what God is speaking over our lives in our situation and eternity to come? We need to build our lives on that which is unshakable. The Bible says (Hebrews 12:26-27) that everything that can be shaken will be shaken to reveal that which can't be shaken - which is His kingdom and His Kingship. Faith is for the moment. We have what God has promised in the moment we live in. Hope believes that you will have the things that the Lord said you will have. Faith is for the moment, “in faith” is believing. We have what God has promised in the moment that we live, but hope is believing we have the things the Lord said we will have. Hebrews 6:17-20 (NIV) states “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”. God is unchanging and all His promises stand true. Pastor Andy ends with many scripture verses relating to Heaven. Let us keep our hope on God’s Unfailing promises.
In this study, we look at the 'cause of Christ' and how God's word teaches us that we are to be committed to the cause, united in the cause, and faithful to the cause - the greatest cause on earth!
This message is titled Heavenly Treasure and is the second in the series ‘Heavenly Minded’ by Pastor Andy Elmes. Andy recaps on last week’s message about Heavenly Rewards before again looking at scripture starting with Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV) “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”. Are we as Believers as aware as we should be about the ramifications from our life here on Earth for God? Paul says quite adamantly in Colossians 3 that we are to set our minds and hearts on things above Heavenly things, but do we? Are we as believers consumed with the life that we're living now? This life isn't the be-all and end-all. There really is an eternity. How we live now affects how we shall find rewards in heaven and also what treasures are stored for us there. Jesus openly talked on the ability to store up in heaven, a treasure. We must understand we are sojourners here. There is a life to come and it's wise for a believer to have Heavenly mindedness in their thinking. Matthew 6:19-21 says (NIV) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. We learn from these teachings of Jesus - He recognized and openly taught on the two very real realms. Yes, there's the possibility of storing up treasure here, but He also taught that while we live here we can be storing treasures there in heaven. Jesus is also saying that our hearts will be where our treasure is stored!! If our minds and our attention and our affection are set on His kingdom, the treasure that our life produces will be there. By the life we live will be located our treasure.
The Church is the household and family of God. Join us as we journey around the different rooms of Church, and see how they apply to us individually.
This week Pastor Andy begins a new series called Heavenly Minded. The first message in this series is Heavenly Rewards, as Andy begins to take some time to look at how the Bible teaches us concerning Heavenly things. We need to be wise with how we spend our time, how we love our families, how we love people around us. We need to be of use to God, understanding there's an eternal life following this temporal life. The Bible reveals to us how our minds will be fully restored; every tear will be wiped away. So we need to understand that things that we do in this life have ramifications in the life that's going to follow – in heaven. Colossians 3, early verses state (NIV) “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”. Are we heavenly minded? Many are not giving any thought to living in the light of eternity. The Bible teaches us that there are heavenly rewards for those that chose to be faithful to God in His kingdom, in this chapter of Life called the here and now. For the believer, we are able to come to the big white throne (Revelation 20: 11-14) knowing we have salvation through our faith in Christ who saves us, but the bible also speaks of another judgement which gives us inspiration to live for our Lord. The judgement seat of Christ is rewards based – 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV) “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad”. This isn't a punishment based reward or judgment. It's Jesus settling accounts with those who belong to him for how they lived out their lives on the earth before coming to their true home - eternity in heaven with him. The Bible reveals to us here that after we are saved, God Is watching how we live our lives. Do we live for others? Or do we live for ourselves? Do we live for the comfort and benefit of others? Or we just making sure we've got enough. Do we live for what matters to God? Or do we live for what matters to us? All of these things have a reward thats in heaven waiting for those who lived correctly. So our belief on Earth is what positions us in eternity - heaven or hell. But our behaviour on earth, what and who we lived for when we were here, will determine the rewards that we receive in heaven.
Join us as we begin a brand new series, 'We are Team'. This week, we see how scripture describes the Church as a body and how that impacts us individually.
Today Pastor Gina Elmes speaks about our first love, Jesus Christ. For the Christian there is one central point within our lives that all other parts of our lives should flow - our love for Christ. Together with His love for us we have relationship. Gina looks at various books of the bible (Hosea, Son of Songs) before focusing on the greatest commandment (Mark 12:20 NIV “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”). She then looks in depth at Revelation 2, 1-7 (NIV) “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God”. Pastor Gina explains the background to the Book of Revelation, the meaning behind the references to stars and lampstands then challenges us personally to see whether we have forsaken our first love for Christ, and if so will we follow the instructions given above – will we repent and put Jesus first? Matthew 6:33 (NIV) says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. If we seek Jesus first all the other things we were worried about will fall into place naturally. This is how God intended us to live.
We finish this series on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit by studying what should be the motive behind all of these gifts - Love!
Pastor Andy Elmes considers what happened next after Easter Sunday – what happened on Monday Morning? Often we pack away the major festivals (Christmas, Easter) very soon after the event and then return to ‘normal’…but what is normal and how should we approach the days afterwards. Let us not think Easter is only a weekend. Let us make what happened 2000 years ago the ‘normal’ for our life. Peter was confused…in John 21:3 we see how he went back to fishing or tries to until Jesus meets with him and restores him to his intended ministry. Are we likewise confused or are we walking in the new creation that we have become? Just as Jesus’ disciples lives were changed forever after the resurrection, so are ours, there is no going back. Jesus followed in the tracks of the Jewish festivals – Passover, Pentecost & Tabernacles are three. The 50 days after Passover and Pentecost are as important to us as they were to the disciples. Jesus was the lamb whose blood was slain for the ceremonial marking of doorposts for Passover. He is our Passover Lamb now as he was then (in Exodus 12). When we place our faith in Jesus we experience a Passover in our lives. John 1:29 states (ESV), ‘The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”’. Death and the works of the enemy have no authority over us when we have Jesus in our lives. Fifty days after Passover came another feast – the feast of Pentecost, a celebration of First Fruits. In the intervening time, Jesus did two things 1), He appeared to many as the resurrected Christ who had conquered death and sin and 2) He spent many occasions teaching his disciples and followers about the Kingdom of God. Then He sent them on their way in the great commission before ascending in to Heaven. Acts 1:1-3 describes this time (NIV) ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God’! A new way of living began – Kingdom living. In all the occasions when Jesus appeared to people (road to Emmaus etc), nobody recognised Him until He broke bread or something familiar. His spiritual, risen body was present and also our eyes need to be ready to be opened by Him daily. Let us not pack Easter away so quickly but live in the risen reality of everything Jesus did for us. Everything is now changed. The kingdom that was previously only in heaven now reigns here on earth. We are commissioned and also empowered. Let us live in the victory of the Passover.
Join us as we open up God's word to explore what the Power Gifts are, and take time to discover how they can be used in our daily lives.
Today is Easter Sunday and Pastor Andy Elmes delivers his Easter message. He refers to what Jesus did on the cross for us all 2000 years ago and quotes 1 Corinthians 15, 12-22 (NIV) “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive”. So this Resurrection Sunday is most crucial because if there had been no resurrection our hope in Christ would have been in vain. But no other person who claimed to be God or a Messiah made to it through the grave conquering death as Jesus did. Only our Lord can cause the dry bones in our lives to be risen to newness. Job 19:25 (NIV) says “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth”. Job stated these words in a time of trouble, confusion and despair, but he knows that his redeemer lives. Do we know our redeemer and do we know that he lives? Our redeemer saved us and brought us back to life, not just this Easter day but every day. He paid the price for our sins in that divine exchange on the cross. We are now righteous in His sight because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Are we ready for His second coming?, do we know Him as we should? Pastor Andy ends his message by praying for all those listening and watching that they may know the risen Jesus Christ. Amen!
Join us as we open up God's word to explore what the Utterance Gifts are, and take time to discover how they can be used in our daily lives.
This week is My Story Sunday. Pastor Andy interviews a member of our Portsmouth congregation whose life has been transformed from a ‘religious’ view of a ‘distant god’ to a personal relationship with our Lord and Father. Two other congregational members give their stories as well, illustrating how their lives have been transformed by God and how they have come to know Him as their saviour.
Join us as we open up God's word to explore what the Revelation Gifts are, and take time to discover how they can be used in our daily lives.
This week’s message is by Pastors Sean and Paula, entitled “Turn The Power On - Pause for Thought“. In their own inimitable style, Sean and Paula reflect on the last five weeks of messages from Pastor Andy in his series ‘Turn The Power On’: · Week 1 – You Shall receive Power – turning on the power of God to live a Spirit filled life · Week 2 – Be Filled with Power – know the power of God and his divine ability in our lives · Week 3 – Welcome Holy Spirit – How we need to experience the infilling or indwelling of the Holy Spirit · Week 4 – Walking with The Spirit – How the Spirit lives in us and what we can expect · Week 5 – The Overflow – Holy Spirit living in us to benefit others too Personal insight, husband and wife anecdotes and a revisit of some of the major revelations from this series of messages provides fresh perspective and personal challenge for us all regarding the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, His Temples. A ‘must hear’ message!
Join us as we continue our series of teaching on the Gifts of the Spirit. In this Study, we look at what the gifts are, answer the question of whether they are still in use today, and talk about how we can receive these heavenly gifts.
This week saw the final part of the series by Pastor Andy Elmes titled ‘Turn The Power On’, with this session specifically called ‘Overflow’. In this blockbuster preach, Pastor Andy examines the how, why, what, where and who of the Holy Spirit living in and on us not just for our own benefit but primarily also for that of others around us. Andy speaks of Jesus life described in the scriptures…after His baptism, he is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is then led to a wilderness to be temped but the tempter does not succeed and then we see Jesus in the temple reading from a scroll. In Luke Chapter 4 verses 16 to 21, Jesus went to Nazareth where He had been brought up and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue as was his custom. He stood to read and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He didn't pick this book or that section. It was preordained. He found the place where it was written “The spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight to those who are blind, to set the oppressed free and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour”. Then in verse 20, then he rolled up the scroll. So Jesus was saying that the Spirit was upon him and that Spirit was there to set people free, break dominion over sins and heal people of their sicknesses………which he proceeded to do in the rest of His ministry. But Jesus did not do this in His own strength; it was the Holy Spirit working in and through him according to The Father’s will. We too have been called to do this - the same Spirit that was in Him and on Him and with Him is in us and on us and with us today and Jesus actually said we wouldn't do the same things as him… in fact we would do more! Jesus was speaking of every believer that would be filled with his Holy Spirit having an expectation that our lives aren't just benefited personally by the indwelling of the Spirit, but to bring freedom and wholeness to others. We need to change our expectations. We need to begin to believe to see others in our world touched by the life and the power of God. When we take time to pray for them we've got to stop ignoring them and find courage and confidence that comes from the Holy Spirit to begin to say ‘Hey the same Spirit that was in Jesus that healed the sick then is the same Spirit that now is in me and the agenda of the Father's heart remains the same – that none would perish. Let us be filled with His Spirit so our cup runneth over (Psalm 23) so we also can minister to others and allow Gods Spirit to do exceedingly and abundantly what we can imagine or dream in our lives (Ephesians 3:20). We've got to come to a point where we're not just seeing the filling of the Holy Spirit for our own lives or for our benefit, but that the overflow of the Spirit of God in our life would be that which blesses the lives of others. God looks for our availability rather than our ability.
Join us as we begin a brand new series of bible teaching about the Gifts of the Spirit. In part 1, we learn what the toolbox is and how this affects our understanding of God's gifts that are available to us.
Today’s message by Pastor Andy Elmes is the fourth in the series “Turn the Power On” and is titled “Walking with the Holy Spirit”. Andy speaks about the Holy Spirit today and how He lives in us and what we can expect from this. Last week Andy spoke about us hosting the presence of God in our lives. Today Andy speaks about the purpose of God’s Spirit in our lives; we have the indwelling of God or the inner presence of God within us and ongoing unbroken fellowship with the Holy Spirit. This means an ongoing walk with the Holy Spirit every day! The Second book of Corinthians 13:14 (NIV) says “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 Holy Spirit is likened to many things in scripture….a dove representing the peace of God; fire which has refining capabilities; oil as in the power in a lamp and also for anointing and also wind, like the mighty rushing wind in our lives. Andy then spoke of four aspects that the Holy Spirit does and provides for in our lives. The Holy Spirit is our helper; we experience divine help as in John 14. This means we have an invisible assistant to help or assist us and also comfort us. God’s plan was not just to leave us after salvation but to provide the Spirit to assist us in our lives. We are not vulnerable or abandoned as orphans, we are children of God. We do need to accept this help and reach out for it though! The Holy Spirit is also our teacher. John 14, 25-25 (NIV) says “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”. The Holy Spirit comes to be the teacher within us helping us to understand what we couldn't understand with our own ability or reasoning; but without mocking or scorning. So the Spirit will help us discern what the words of scripture really mean, rather than us just reading it as any other book for example. Jesus said that when the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide us into all truth. He will not speak on His own authority, whatever He hears He will speak. The Holy Spirit is listening to the conversation of the Father and the Son and He's transmitting what's being said by God into our hearts and helping us to understand. This is Revelation knowledge - He says He will tell us things to come. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is there to be our Leader and our guide. John 16:13 (NIV) says “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth”. The Lord has provided his Spirit within our lives to guide us and to lead us in the things that we're doing, but also the things yet to come. So are we just making it on your own? The Spirit is now the leadership of God in our lives and we should be looking to Him for all direction for the way forward. We all need a guide in our lives.. In Acts 8:29 (NIV) it says “The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it”. If Philip had ignored this guidance, the eunuch he met would never have been baptised. Lastly today Andy spoke of the Holy Spirit being the refiner in our lives, to sort out and get rid of the things in our lives that ought not to be there any longer. Although we are partakers of a new divine nature, old habits die hard. The Holy Spirit is there to put these things, thinking, mentalities etc. to death. Romans 8:12-13 (NIV) says “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live”. Here, Paul is telling us that to put to death the misdeeds of the body or the old nature will enable us to live free. The key agenda that the Holy Spirit has for us is to make us Christ-like. Jesus has placed His Spirit in us and as we yield to His Spirit we become like the one whose Spirit...
This week’s message in the series Turn The Power On is titled Welcome Holy Spirit. To fully walk or experienced the power of God in our lives we must experience three baptisms spoken of in scripture. These are the baptism into Christ which is our salvation. The Holy Spirit does this. There is also the baptism in water representing the burial of the old life; this baptism is done by other believers. When a person comes out of the water of baptism, their life is being resurrected into a new way of being - the New Creation life. The third baptism is to experience the infilling or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is where the power of the Holy Spirit is released in our lives. This third baptism is spoken of in each of the four Gospels. Now if Jesus knew that he needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit to live out the life that God wanted him to on the earth, how can we presume for a moment that we don’t? John 1:32-34 (NIV) states ‘Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One”’. This was a different moment with Jesus from some in the Old Testament (Samson, Gideon…). The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus but remained with him and from this moment Jesus was led by and empowered by The Spirit in his everyday life. Having God’s Spirit come and live inside us is a very significant thing!....as His Spirit floods our lives everything else that's flooded our lives will leave. His presence will drown out every other noise in our lives. All lives have now become His Temple or His Dwelling Place. The Holy Spirit is now longer in a box or the Ark of the Covenant as in the Old Testament, but now lives and resides in us, in our human bodies! We are now invited to host the presence of God. As Spirit-filled people we now recognize the Holy Spirit is now living within us and we dedicate our lives to hosting His presence. Everything changes when we recognise this. Understanding that there is a remaining indwelling presence of God residing in us causes transformation in the life of the believer. Jesus said he would never leave us now, even until the end of the age he will be with us as we host his presence. The record of our sin has been removed – holy cannot sit next to unholy. In First Corinthians 6 verses 18 onwards, Paul addresses the Corinthian church regarding ungodly behaviour. Our lives are not our own any more, they have been bought with a price, and we are temples of the Holy Spirit. This means we are no longer mere human! Where God is celebrated all other authorities fall (1Samuel 5 :3). With God’s Spirit in us, nothing is impossible!
Join us as we open up God's word and learn together how we can 'build' successfully, using God's wisdom, strength and direction.
This is week two of a series called Turn on the Power. The message today is titled Be Filled With Power. The series is about knowing the power of God and His divine ability in our daily lives. In John 7:37-39 we see Jesus making a prophetic statement for our experience the other side of the cross where we now live! – NIV “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” In the verse here Jesus qualifies the statement by saying that this Spirit would emanate from the centre of our being, our belly, our heart, our inner most self…..So His holy spirit was not to live in buildings, but to live in those who were and are His followers. Jesus was announcing in that scripture that which was fulfilled in the day of Pentecost. A key question to ask now is how does a person experience this situation or the baptism of the Holy Spirit personally? It’s profound maybe but simple as it involves faith, just as in anything we receive from God. Did we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we believed? It's not about straining, attaining or travailing but receiving! There is no Holy Spirit part 1 and part 2! The Bible says we are born of the Spirit, belong to God and His Spirit now lives in us - we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Some people unfortunately have received the baptism of salvation, but not yet experienced the baptism or the infilling of the spirit, so have not yet experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Gods plan was to reposition us in salvation and empower us. The filling of the Holy Spirit is relationally oriented, rather than us being in a special place, building or meeting. We can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the infilling of the Spirit by other people praying for as Paul did in scripture, but also by simply coming to God and asking in prayer. Often we wait for something to ‘fall on us’ rather than experiencing something that God is now releasing from ‘within us’. This is not something outside of us but a releasing of that which is dwelling in our inner most parts (John 7 scripture again). Often when people don't experience the power of God or the ability of God in their lives, it's because a section of their lives has not yet been submitted to God. We must come before God saying “Lord, I will not hold back an area of my life”. We need to be being regularly refilled or infilled with the Holy Spirit just as our cars require refuelling. In Ephesians 5:18 scripture tells us to be filled with the Spirit rather than wine that leads to debauchery. Paul is telling us not to be satisfied with broken things giving momentary pleasure but with the Holy Spirit. Other translations say “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”. This is the present continuous tense, ie an ongoing reality or experience in the life we live for God. This needs to be our daily prayer.
God’s plan is for us to continually take new ground; His kingdom is always advancing. Join us as we open God's word to see how this truth applies to your life!
Today saw the start of a brand new series (Turn The Power On). Earlier, we spoke about being awoken by God, being set apart and living surrendered to His will, the result being that we can be ready for God to use us. If we have a desire for God to use us, this will not be in our own strength, but by God’s power and ability operating in and through us. The next four weeks is about turning the power on in our lives - living a Spirit filled life and how it was always the plan of God for us in the Salvation that he provided for us. God's plan in Salvation was not just to reposition us but also to empower our lives. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that the “the old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV verse 17). Ephesians 1:13 says that we've been sealed by the Holy Spirit but also but we would be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to know that the word of God reveals we are to be filled with the spirit for the work of regeneration. Sealing us in the Spirit labels us but being filled with the Holy Spirit enables us to live a Spirit filled life – real Christianity! Romans 8:9 even states (NIV) “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ”. A few verses later it says “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God”. In reality, it’s impossible to live the Christian life God expects without His spirit in us enabling us. We shouldn't settle for being a powerless church when the Bible says that his church should actually be a people of power and authority that make a difference on earth. The messages in this new series over the next three or four weeks will lay out how God intended us to be repositioned with a brand new life, but also that we would know His Spirit coming to live inside of us to enable and empower us to be all that he says we can be. The Bible teaches that God Almighty places His own Spirit in the lives of those he has redeemed - a powerful perhaps radical statement yet totally true. The next few weeks is about establishing the reality of this. If you've never experienced the baptism of a power of God, if you've never seen God turn up his power on in your life, why not take a moment to ask Him today. We're going to come back next week and carry on this new series about turning on the power in our lives.
Just as Nehemiah experienced, whenever we look to 'build' in life, our enemy will aim to disrupt, distract, delay and ultimately destroy the work of God. Join us as we look at what God's word teaches us about how to deal with opposition.
Sunday 7th February 2021 is My Sunday in Family Church. Today, after our Praise and Worship, three people give their story of how they came to know Jesus and how he has subsequently changed their lives for ever. Following this Pastor Andy interviews another church member as we discover how Jesus meets people in every walk of life, gives them peace, hope and love in an individual and wonderful way. The meeting today ends with opportunity for us all to resubmit our lives to The Lord and receive His Spirit.
God was able to work through Nehemiah and his people because of the unity they had. What is unity, and how do we walk in unity? Join us as Elly opens up God's word in search of these answers.
The title for this week’s message is “Pause for Thought”. Pastors Sean & Paula deliver an action packed MUST HEAR message which recaps and rediscovers the messages from January 2021 so far. Personal anecdotes and Godly insight into the gradually building themes of Awakening the Sleeping, Set Apart, All in for God, and Being Used by God bring fresh revelation and challenge to us personally regarding the true nature of our relationship with God. As Paula and Sean speak of Jesus surrendering His life for us in the most demeaning way possible how can our response be other than to wholly be available for Him and for His glory on earth?
Nehemiah and the people of God had a mind to work because they prioritised God's purposes. Join us as we study God's word to see how this applies to us today as we answer Jesus' call to 'Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Andy speaks about being used by God as we move out of the 21 days of fasting that began the year 2021. The set of messages so far this year have deliberately linked as God has inspired Andy in thought for this journey. God has awoken us and touched us with His Spirit, we made choices about being set apart for Him, we surrendered and submitted our lives unto Him and naturally now God wants to be able to use us………a wonderful destination to have arrived at in this early 2021 journey. Now our lives have become useable to Him as we belong to Him through the faith we set in Christ. We need to be ready for Gods purposes - Ephesians 2, v8-10 (NIV) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. So God had a clear agenda always to save us, set us apart as we are his workmanship in order to do good or noble works - God’s business on earth.
Join us as we open up God's word and study God's Temple, and how we ourselves are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
This week Pastor Andy speaks of being “All In” for God. The message begins by recapping on the last weeks of prayer and fasting bringing fresh presence of God to our lives. Scripture tells us if we draw closer to Him, he will draw closer to us. Recent messages have spoken of awakening to God from our slumbers, being consecrated for Him, being set apart and being part of His family. Last week referenced Romans 12 verses 1-2 (NIV) “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God”. The Lord made us holy so He could fill us with His righteousness and Spirit! It says to be transformed by the renewing of our minds allowing the Word to renew what we think not about some things but all things. So having been awoken and consecrated will we live in submission to God, to the leading of His Spirit in our lives? Daily, we must resubmit our lives. Submission is not popular in the world but scripture endorses this for the best experience with God. James 4 verse 7 (NIV) states “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. Scripture also instructs us to submit to the authority of government as well - Romans 13 verse 1 (NIV) “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God”. God is a God of authority. Likewise we submit to our spiritual leaders – Hebrews 13 verse 7 (NIV) says “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith”. What causes us to walk in submission? Ephesians 5 verse 21 (NIV) states “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”. Our revelation of God will cause us to submit to Him but we submit to each other through respect for Christ. Submission is equivalent to saying “I am all in”. Jesus said to the Pharisee (Luke 10 verse 27, NIV) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself”. That’s pretty much “all in”! All the great things that happened in the book of Acts happened because people were “all in” for God. His plans for us will not be fully evident if we are not fully “all in” for Him.
Our God is a God of redemption! Join us as we look at Nehemiah chapter 1, and learn how we can position ourselves to see God rebuild and bring Beauty for Ashes in our lives.
Pastor Andy again speaks of the breakthrough he believes will occur to us all in taking part in the twenty one days of fasting at the start of this New Year 2021. He speaks of the need for us to come before The Lord and rid ourselves of junk, pride and so forth, in bringing ourselves to God. Sometimes we need to rid ourselves of things first before we are able to come before The Lord. When we present ourselves to God, it is not the old but the new creation we present to Him. The blood of Jesus has washed away our past sins. Consecration is an interesting and important word if we live with Jesus. It means to be set apart. During Old Testament times it referred to material things being set aside, set apart for His use. Now it is relevant to us, God wants us he wants us to set our lives apart for His use. Consecration begins by us knowing we now belong to God; we have been set apart and bought at a price, by His own blood. Our lives are not our own. In 1 Corinthians 6 verse 15 (NKJV), scripture says “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” So we need to honour God with our bodies. Now we know and believe in the work of the cross, of salvation, we belong to the household of God. We need to understand this not through fear but from love. When we were our own we all messed up! Thankfully Jesus has saved us so this grace of God causes us to live a set apart life for The Lord.
This week Pastor Andy speaks about “Awakening the Sleeping”. He began by restating the invitation to a time of prayer and fasting for the first twenty one days of 2021. Fasting is not just about giving up things but being able to hear God in our spirits. Take moments not to feed our soul but our Spirits. Pray for our nation, our church, our families and ourselves. Laying aside things that get in the way of our pursuit of God will allow God to speak into our lives much more. God is in control! We should not be casual – it is vital we hear Him and see Him in our lives. We need an awakening in ourselves, in our nation, in our churches, so the hearts of men and women are awakened to the reality of God and His love. Isaiah 60 speaks of days of great darkness but these announce days of great light…that break and penetrate darkness. Let us pray prayers of awakening, an awakening that comes from heaven. An awakening in the world must start from an awakening in the church. We long in this New Year 2021 to see moves of Gods Spirit that will draw the hearts of the lost back home. But we need this in our churches and ourselves first. We need to see a move of God and kingdom mindedness rising up in the courtyards of government and the nation. But first we need to shake off slumber and awaken to a new place of intimacy with God…..walking closely with God. Oh that the church would awaken to the purposes of God – the great commission. Our lives need to crave the intimacy of God and be busy with His purposes. Romans 13, verse 11 onwards speaks of the time we are in and waking from slumber…. (NIV) “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”. Ephesians 5, verse 8 onwards encourages us regarding who we were and who we now are (NIV) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light”. This talks about our intimacy with God and then in verse 14..” This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”. Only a person who is awake can awaken another, so we need to commit to being a people who are fully awake with Him. Only the prince of peace, the touch of the Holy Spirit will awaken us. Intimacy with God will awaken us for His purpose. We pray “Lord in these next twenty one days come and lean over your bride the church and awaken her from her slumbers, give her a fresh touch of your Holy Spirit to stir and shake hearts and let us all rise from any sleeping to seek your face in true devotion”.
The week Pastor Andy looks back at the year 2020 and rather more looks forwards into the year 2021. Covid has stolen much of what we came to know as Christmas but as the 25th December emerged we were left with Jesus. Nothing had affected the fact that The Father has given us His Son to bring us back to Himself. As we stand at the door of 2021 we step out of a very unusual 2020. Although life has been hideous in some ways, elsewhere the church has blossomed for example in the small groups and community work. But we can look into 2021 with hearts full of joy rather than disillusionment because Gods word still stands. His promises remain true. He has plans for us, the church and the nation. We need to be committed to these plans as God rebuilds in 2021. Andy spoke about how we need to be ready to seize the day or even seize the year (Carpe 2021) to make full use and enjoy the new season. In Philippians 3, verse 13, Paul speaks of his life and forgetting what lays behind and reaching forward for what is yet unknown. Andy speaks about how we also need to forget the negatives and disappointments of 2020 and be found reaching forward for the plan God has for us in 2021. In the next few days we need to be getting our hearts afresh for 2021 and for what God wants to do in our lives. In Jeremiah 21 it tells of the plans God has for us….to prosper us and plans of future and hope. The year 21 is often associated with getting keys to the door. In Matthew 16 verse 19 scripture speaks of The Lord promising us the keys of the Kingdom. Keys which can loose things and also bind things. Here, Jesus was speaking to His Church. Immediately before this Jesus speaks about building His church. During 2020 we rediscovered a fresh approach ot what the church really was, certainly not a building. God is standing ready to build His Church in 2021 with spiritual keys that have the power to bind evil and loose Heaven. Andy then spoke of the invitation for Prayer and Fasting starting day one of the New Year. A time to focus and pray for our nation, government, our church and be intentional not drifting as we commence 2021. Fasting takes prayer to a new level, it cannot be casual when we fast but intentional, releasing supernatural keys for supernatural breakthroughs.
This week Pastor Andy speaks of how even when the most stringent government regulations appear to strip back everything many of us associate with Christmas, that the Kingdom of Heaven is not stripped back, and in many ways the true purpose of Christmas remains…as Jesus for us all to see. Andy goes on to remind us to have a listening ear and a warm heart for those around us, let us make sure no one goes without, no one feels cut off from the world. Stripping back the Christmas allows us to see more clearly the wonderful gift of God’s son given to us for our salvation, to give us eternal life. He is the true gift this Christmas. Jesus is the constant, the usual within these unusual times. Let us celebrate Him.
Join us as we explore God's word to see what it reveals to us about who our Heavenly Father is.
Following from last week’s message by Pastor Steve telling us not to shrink back, this week Pastor Steu addresses the subject of rebuilding our Christian lives. In 586BC the Babylonian army ransacked, set on fire and ruined the city of Jerusalem. But behind the scenes of the ensuing period of captivity God was at work. In a way, at this time we have also undergone a period of captivity where some of our freedoms have been removed. Using the Old Testament stories, in the book of Nehemiah and more, Pastor Steu prophecies over an incredible time of rebuilding in our lives just as the Jewish peoples did after their captivity in Babylon. The Temple was rebuilt, the city walls were rebuilt. We shall see renewed worship, renewed commitment to Jesus and that all ground that has been lost will be taken back. God is still at work!
This week Pastor Steve Carey speaks with a title ‘Don't Shrink Back’. His word from God is like a set of antibodies similar to a vaccine to kill off disease in our lives and release back faith. In Hebrews 10 verse 32, we read how the Hebrew believers were starting to ask questions about life as we might do now in 2020. The scripture goes on to tell us not to throw away our confidence which has great reward. We likewise must not shrink back in our lives. In Numbers 13 the Israelites are on the edge of inheriting the Promised Land and send in spies to check things out…Caleb and Joshua come back positively, but the rest came back with reports saying the opposite – that the people inhabiting the land were stronger and not able to be defeated – they felt like grasshoppers among giants. They had shrunk back! - In vision, faith and speech. Do we feel like them in 2020? Are we facing seemingly impossible mountains? Let it not be so. Let us not shrink back and be empowered by the word of God and power of His Spirit. Some key things…Let us Believe Big, God has not changed in 2020, He is faithful, loving, pure and true, unlimited by anything including Covid! His plans are not limited, shrunk, interrupted, socially distanced etc. Ephesians 3 verse 20 tells us how He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above anything we ask or think! Heaven is not bankrupt! In Proverbs 23 verse 7 we are reminded how we are what we think. This is challenging….maybe we need to think about what we think, taking our thoughts captive as per 2 Corinthians 10 verse 5. Let us not forget the basics. Now let us speak big, not complaining, criticizing, not limiting what God can do through us. Great practical tip here is to speak the word of God out loud, declaring His truths and promises. Also, let us Live Big again. Let us not shrink our lives, our social circles, our contributions to our church. Let us be givers rather than receivers only. Let us concentrate more on living what is best for Jesus, putting ourselves aside. The world of the generous get larger and larger… the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller (Proverbs 11 verse 24). Living with a generous spirit will cause our lives to change and we will not shrink back. Do we look to how God can bless us or how God can use us? The latter will cause the former. Let us this week set out to bless a few people in the ways we can and not shrink back in believing, speaking or living.
Join us as we look at God's providence and learn that He will see to it that we are provided for.
Sunday 29th November is Global Sunday, Pastor Andy Elmes has Ray Mills with him who has recently returned from the mission field in the Philippines with his wife and children. Today we are focusing on the global aspects of what Family Church is doing across the nations, as a local church but with a global vision. A video compiled by Ray showed many of the missionary peoples and their families and gave us wonderful insight into their work, their situation and cultures. After watching the video, Pastor Andy chatted with Ray about his time in the Philippines. Ray spoke of the isolation that many missionaries feel when communications are poor or their lives are distracted. Pastor Andy encouraged all of us to be focused on supporting the world wide activities of God as well as our local tasks with our prayers, our communication and our giving. Our missionaries are an extension of our church family and do not, cannot, operate alone.
Pastor Andy’s message this week begins by recounting the story In Luke Chapter 19, verse 28, and the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. However, the key here is the part where Jesus sent two disciples on ahead to locate and untie a colt that had never been ridden. He told them to say that “The Lord had Need of it”, if anyone should ask why they were taking the colt. Jesus sat on the donkey and people shouted their praises for the miracles he had done as he rode into Jerusalem….a famous bible verse. As Pastor Andy explained, this must have been a pretty amazing time for the disciples – feeling they were about the steal a donkey but apparently Jesus knew the plan for this all along. In effect, Jesus had set the donkey free from being tethered….because he had a plan for the donkeys life…to carry The Messiah. Jesus had sent His messengers on ahead carrying a message of freedom for the donkey; it was to be untied from all the things that had held it, no longer captive, no longer a slave. In the same way, Jesus has a purpose for our lives and can set us free from everything that has been binding us. But what will we do with our freedom? Jesus has a purpose for it that brings fulfilment, alternatively we can do nothing. Just as in Luke 19, we too have a purpose in life and can carry Jesus to others. The Lord has need of us! He needs us to be a soul winner, a carrier of His presence. Jesus wants us to use the freedom he has given us to take His presence to our friends, families, neighbours and so on. Someone will have been the ‘donkey’ who brought Jesus to us. They cared enough for us to make sure we spent eternity with God. God now wants to use our lives to bring freedom to people in our circles from everything that binds them. The Lord has need of us for this purpose. Will we join Him in this great Commission? If we want to get the zing back in our Christian lives then we need to start telling others about Jesus. God needs our availability not ability. Are we available?
Ever find yourself going for that snack when on a diet? Ever find yourself responding in a way you said you wouldn’t anymore? Mishandling finances? Seeking revenge when you said you’d let go? Viewing things harmful to your soul? Join us as we take time to study God’s word to discover how the Holy Spirit can help us grow in the area of self-control!
This week Pastor Andy speaks about “Keeping it Simple”. He begins by recounting the story in Gospel of Mark, Chapter 7, Verse 1 where Pharisees came asking Jesus questions about religious practices, ceremonial washing, and other traditions. Their question was based on an understanding of the law & religion only. Jesus told them in no uncertain terms that their hearts were not where their lips were, that they were hypocritical! Jesus told them they had let go of the commands of God and were holding onto the traditions of men. There is a dichotomy between the religious do’s and don’ts and a simple relationship between us and The Lord. This simple relationship is what Pastor Andy was reminding us of today. Walking with God is meant to be a heart thing, a relational experience, quite simply. Adding religion to a walk or a desire for God turns the simple into something complex and confusing. We need to purpose in keeping our walk with God as simple as the first followers of Jesus did. Religion leaves us confused but relationship with Jesus leaves us fulfilled. Pastor Andy referred to the industry wide KISS principle – Keep It Simple, Saint! We are not to get bogged down missing the point. The relationship with God is not complex - in fact it is profoundly simple. Pastor Andy has three words to guide us through these Covid times and other circumstances (like the prime minister’s podium strapline has been). These are Love, Obedience and Faith. Love, First Book of Corinthians Chapter 13 reminds us of the qualities of real love, this is the love of God defining who He is. Verse 2 reminds us we have nothing without love even if we can move mountains, have all knowledge. Other verses tell us we can do all manner of wonderful things but they are worthless without love. Obedience is the true expression of our love. Gospel of Luke Chapter 6 and verse 46 is profound - it says ‘you call me Lord but you don’t do what I say’. Recognising the Lordship of Christ is simple but we confuse it with manmade issues. In a love relationship with God we are joined at the branch of his love and the natural expression of that should now be in the heart of one who was once rebellious. The favourite word of all Christians should be obedience. There are great consequences to obedience and also disobedience…Obedience means living in accordance with His Word. Faith to really believe as the scriptures tell us many people did like the Father with his mute child who came to Jesus immediately after the transfiguration in Gospel of Mark, Chapter 9 and Verse 17. The Father cries out to Jesus saying “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” then Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit in the boy. All things are possible to those who believe. Jesus told blind Bartimaeus, “your faith has made you whole”, after he healed his sight…… Pastor Andy spoke about how God brought us into a love relationship not slavery….he never brought us into something we were not meant to enjoy. Jesus loved us first and we did nothing to deserve it. So this week we need to just concentrate on loving at God loved us, being obedient to his word and having child-like faith. The bible says we are saved when we place faith in Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 20 asks the question: 'Who can find a faithful person?'. Join us as we study God's word to see how God's spirit can help us to display faithfulness in all areas of our lives.
After a particularly poignant live remembrance service today, Pastor Geoff Speaks on the subject of Remembrance. Geoff looks back not only at what our service men and women have done for us but also what Jesus has done for us on the cross. All of us are in daily battles, some we fail to recognise. We often sit and recall events of the past so Remembrance is part of life’s journey. However we need to bring back into that Remembrance some of the things God has done in our lives and the victories overcome. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to bring into our minds such things. We all face physical, mental and spiritual battles….. Then we need to hear the word of God in our lives today. Geoff continues to speak of us having a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to live the abundant life God intends. The enemy comes to steal and destroy with anxieties, fears and troubling thoughts. The decision is ours though….to look towards our Father and choose to believe Him over our circumstances.
What is Gentleness? Is it weakness and putting up with anything and everything? Join Mavis as she opens up God's word to discover that actually there is power in 'strength under control'".
Pastor Andy’s message speaks this week about going into the harvest. Andy speaks today as his new book Soul Winner is launched [soulwinner.co.uk]. This is a crucial time for us to understand the importance of salvation on a person’s life. Pastor Andy has authored his new book to mobilize and equip God’s people to be harvesters in their daily harvest, in their local Jerusalem. In these unprecedented times, God is still God, he is still our shepherd and is still holding our hand. We need to comprehend the times we are in from a biblical lens and then be active in responding to what God needs us to do. This may be ministering to people’s needs as well as ministering to God….the two great commandments! We need to be God’s light in moments of confusion ready to step in and help people navigate through their storms. However, we must not forget that the greatest need anyone may have is salvation, as this impacts them eternally as well as on earth immediately. Mark 8:36-37 instructs us it is no use for man to gain the whole world but lose his soul. All of us need to be ministers, introducers of Jesus to friends, family and those near to us. The Harvest is calling and we must go.
Join us as we look at how both Paul and the Psalms teach us what God's goodness really is and how we can demonstrate that goodness to the world around us.
Pastor Andy continues speaking about walking with Jesus, this week Jesus the Good Shepherd. Last week we looked at Jesus the Lion of Judah as well as being the Lamb who was slain to take away our sins. The bible has portrayed Jesus in many differing ways each declaring a special part of who He is ….Son of God, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, bread of life, the True Vine and the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel of John Chapter 10, many verses are devoted to Jesus being the Good Shepherd. Verses 1 through 6 speak of us knowing the Shepherd’s voice, how the true sheep know the voice of their shepherd. Further verses speak of Jesus being the gateway to God’s field. We can enter relationship with God, come into his field of safe pasture through Jesus only. Verse 10 also speaks of the enemy, the bad shepherd whose only purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus, the good shepherd is here to give us life in all its fullness. Verse 11 tells us that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for us. In Verse 12 we find that the hireling is not the shepherd who owns the sheep so will abandon us in the face of trouble….a wolf attacks and scatters the flock of sheep in the face of a hired hand because he has no regard for the flock, he is just a hired hand. In Verses 16 to 17 scripture speaks of a gathering, the plan of God for us – bringing the different cultures into the same ‘sheep pen’, one kingdom. In the Old Testament God also reveals Himself as a shepherd. In Ezekiel 34, the first ten verses rebuke bad shepherds of the day (we still have them now!). Verses 11 through 16 prophetically speak of God being the Good Shepherd in our lives, enabling us to lay down in good rich pasture (sheep only lay down when they feel no fear). This refers to us having a sense of well-being and safety, as we should feel with God at the helm of our lives. David’s Psalm 23 reveals the same things God revealed to Ezekiel earlier. God has our back; we just need to ensure we are listening to His voice, not the myriad of others trying to deceive us. Scripture is so powerful Pastor Andy ended the service with every home reading this scripture out loud.
Psalm 23 (NKJV) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Walking with Jesus – The Lion of Judah. Pastor Andy shares today from lessons, experiences and thoughts from his recent missionary trip to Zambia where he walked with lions! Before you walk with lions you need to be a member of their pack. This means going behind them and submitting to their pace. Also, letting them let them know you are there. In Daniel Chapter 6 there was a scary moment for Daniel in the pit with lions - but he knew the greater one the creator who made him was with him. Andy became conscious of the majesty of the lions when walking with them. Jesus is the Lion of Judah but also the Lamb of God. In Revelation 5:5 scripture speaks of “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed….” then in verse 6, reference to the Lamb who was slain. We need to know that Jesus is both the lion and the lamb. Seeing Jesus as a lamb is vitally important but we need to be able to relate to him as the Lion of Judah. Both these descriptions fully relate to Him. Proverbs 30:29 speaks of the Lion being majestic in pace and mighty among beasts. When it comes to walking with Jesus, we also need to avoid familiarity, keeping an awe of God in our hearts. When walking with a lion it’s important not to touch its head or mane as this represents its authority. So even though we are heirs to the throne and can walk in friendship we should never be over familiar with The Lord. We need to walk with a healthy honour and respect in our lives for Jesus, carrying reverence in our hearts. Additionally we need to walk in step behind Jesus, as you would do if walking with lions. We are followers of Jesus, as a follower we do not push in front. However, as followers, we also do not shrink back! If we shrink back and don’t keep being part of the pack, we lose our safety from being with the mighty lion of Judah. Galatians 5:25 (NIV) tells us “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”. If we do this no matter what storms come along we have safety and victory in our lives.
Join us as we take time to look at how God can make us patient with His timing, longsuffering during trials and lovingly patient with those around us.
Pastor Andy speaks about Storm Management - Knowing How to Navigate the Storm. Last week Pastor Andy spoke about Jesus being in the boat of our storms. This week carries on reading from Psalm 46. In verse 10 the bible tells us “Be still and know that I am God”. This means let go of our striving and lean back into the Lord to experience stillness in the midst of storms, surrender our anxiety. Pastor Andy carries on from last week with four key things about storms we may all face. Firstly storms come in many forms – health, physical, mental, emotional, relational, financial, and spiritual, but Jesus is in the boat of all of these even if we face many at a time. Secondly, storms may come from different places – ourselves if we acted wrongly, the devil (but we do have authority to rebuke these!), even God might originate a storm as in Jonah Chapter 1 because Jonah was walking in disobedience and God wanted him in his perfect plan for life. Thirdly a storm we experience may have a purpose attached to it. If from the devil it’s to steal kill and destroy, perhaps to prevent you benefitting others. In Mark 4 &5 we see the purpose of the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee was to relive a man possessed by a legion of devils. Fourthly, to create simple faith in Jesus. Maybe faith isn’t effective or powerful until it’s all you have. Luke 10:19 clearly states that we have been given authority over all the works of the evil one. God is waiting for us to realise who we are in Christ, see that the keys that were stolen from Adam by the devil have been returned to us through Jesus. We must stand in the boat of our lives and speak the word of God because we have authority to do this. We do need to seek repentance, forgiveness, if necessary and also make sure our perspective on our storm is appropriate…..many people will be experiencing far worse. Life needs to be more than about our boat purely so we must be ready to assist and help others. These are all opportunities for outreach ministries. When we help other people with their storms, God will take care of ours. Proverbs 10:25 (TPT) states “The wicked are blown away by every stormy wind. But when a catastrophe comes, the lovers of God have a secure anchor”.
We live in an age where there seems to be no shortage of 'experts' on how to have peace, yet a time where levels of anxiety are at an all time high! Join us as we take time to look at the Peace of God that can be ours in Jesus"
Pastor Andy speaks this week on “Know Jesus, Know Peace”. There are many storms in our loves right now so knowing Jesus and having His peace in our lives is really important. This is increasingly a time of anxiety and worry and people are experiencing uncertainty and pressure in aspects they used to have security in. The natural response here is fear. Just because we are believers and followers of Jesus does not make us exempt of storms in our lives. Jesus never took us out of the world when we were saved so we're going to experience and encounter things that the world experiences and encounters, but our experience in these storms should be a different experience. We are part of another kingdom, an unshakable Kingdom. Hebrews 12 says that everything that can be shaken will be shaken….this is happening now! We need to be making sure that our feet and lives are grounded in this unshakeable kingdom. God is our refuge and our strength. That's the truth but the truth is being tested in our lives today. God is our ever present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46). Therefore, we will not fear…… A very important fruit of the Holy Spirit living in us is peace - not the world’s peace but the peace that passes all understanding. In Mark’s gospel, the story of the disciples being in the boat with Jesus in a storm is recounted. A great storm rises up and it causes the disciples (even though they had the presence of God in the boat) great concern. The waves began to crash and break against the boat so that it was nearly swamped as Jesus was in the stern of the boat sleeping on a cushion. We are not exempt of storms around us, but we are different because we have Jesus in the boat of our lives and we can likewise have God’s peace in our lives which passes all natural understanding during stormy times.
Could it be that even in a Covid restriction-filled time we can still know what it is to have joy? Could it be that it's time to trade in a cheap wordly imitation called 'happiness', and receive the joy God has for us. Let's open the word and find out together...
Pastor Andy speaks about us being a Missional Church. Recently back from a trip to African nations, he is keen to impart his experiences. We need to shift our thinking from being church attenders and church members to be missionaries. Right now, the world is crying out for truth. For those of us who are followers of Jesus, we have the answer! As we move forward into whatever this journey we're taking together looks like, we would dare each of us to think more missional. Let's not be caught up in an attendee way of thinking. There's no lock down on us being missional. So let's begin to turn our focus and shift on reaching people. This is a challenge to our hearts today! If you send Pastor Andy who's been unable to travel for six months to Zambia and place him in front of two hundred odd hungry missionary guys, you're going to have an explosion! But that explosion wasn't just for them. It was for all of us. I came back feeling enthused. What if we change the way we see ourselves and become a missional church more than we've ever been before. We are all missionaries in the places we live, work and relax. This is the challenge!
Learn from Jesus is the title for this week’s message given by Pastor Steuart Payne. Lockdown and loss of weekly gatherings has presented many challenges, the loss of God’s presence in a large meeting possibly the greatest. The need for our own personal relationship with God is now paramount. In Matthew 11 Jesus speaks of taking the yoke from those who are heavy laden, giving them rest. There are two actions we must take daily – coming to Him and learning from Him. Jesus is the one who releases us from every burden including all our sins. We need to draw close to Jesus, opening our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s role is to lead us and teach us every step of way as we make the choice to walk with Jesus and couple ourselves to him. Sometimes ignorance, laziness, fear of losing control or pride makes us unteachable but we need to walk with and learn from Jesus every day, not just hang out with him occasionally.
Fruits of The Spirit - Introduction What are the acts of the flesh and the 'Fruit of the Spirit'? Join us as we discover how no amount of human effort can produce spiritual fruit.
Pastor Andy speaks about Jesus being the centre of our lives, being Jesus Centric. Jesus deserves to be central to everything we are and everything we do now. We can look at an example of a person being egocentric where they are self-centred believing everything involves around them. But for followers of Jesus, He is to be the centre of all things in our lives.
The title for this week’s message by Pastor Andy is “Seeing Jesus for who He is”. This is in theme of celebrating our children. Matthew 19:13-15 (NIV) says” Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there”. Maybe we do not prevent children from coming to Jesus physically but perhaps by not allowing them to have real encounters with Jesus. We can learn from watching the way children are with Jesus. They have no agenda, but a child-like purity. In Matthew 18 Jesus tells his Disciples that if they want to become great in the Kingdom, they need to become child-like (not childish!) in our approach to God. When we are walking with the Lord, we need to have a child-like faith in acceptance of what he says. Adults often become sceptical but this robs us of receiving Jesus, but Jesus actually encourages us to be child-like in their approach. Children see and want Jesus for what He is. Often we see and want Him for what He can do for us! We need to see and know Jesus for what He really is. Jesus is a God of much more than what we usually see Him for. Even during Jesus time on earth, people missed Him because He was not what they were looking for. When the Messiah came, many could not see Him as He didn’t look like they expected or do what they thought He ought to. Such preconceived agendas are only one aspect of a hugely bigger God. The children of Israel in Exodus 24 were busy melting jewellery to make a representation of God as they wanted; meanwhile Moses was on the top of the mountain having a life changing experience! Many of Gods people could not see Jesus even when he was in the room with them as they were looking for a warrior character to overthrow the Roman Empire. Others looked for a ruling king like King David to rule as he did, but rather missed the point that Jesus’ throne was a heavenly one! Being saved from their own sins was more necessary than being saved from the Roman rule but this passed them by. Even after Jesus had died and risen before their eyes (Acts 1) the disciples ask if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Their preconditioned thinking was of a Messiah coming to overthrow natural rule, missing the point of who Jesus was and why He had come to earth. Even John the Baptist got confused for a while because what Jesus was doing didn’t register with his expectations - (Luke 7:19 NIV) says “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” John had also thought Jesus should be overthrowing Rome, not sitting with children, healing people, forgiving sins. Children tend to have an attitude of “we want to know you as you are”. Adults tend to want to fit Jesus into their self-made boxes. Jesus was God on earth, the full and total manifestation of everything God the Father was and is. Colossians 2:9 (ESV) states “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”. Jesus is not just a representative of heaven; He is the fullness of God in every respect. All we need to know about God we can see in Jesus and His Word. Let us see Jesus for who He really is. Let us have a child-like faith and a child-like approach.
Pastor Andy asks us “What is true repentance?” Recently we have focused on the gospel message, salvation, transformation, evangelism, believing and communicating the gospel. Communicating the message of Jesus is the key evangelistic activity. True salvation will allow God to move in someone’s life in a transforming way. This is often based on the decision made at the time of accepting Jesus. The difference between belonging to God and experiencing life change depends on whether true repentance has occurred. Repentance needs to be part of our invitation we make to people when giving the gospel message. The word must be understood correctly. It’s an invitation to come into a life better than anything known before. Jesus calls people to repent. Luke 13:3 or Matthew 4:17 (NIV) says “From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."” In Luke 5:32 Jesus calls sinners to repentance. In Acts 2:38, Peter preaches a similar message to that of Jesus “Repent and be baptized……” What did Jesus expect of someone who needed to repent? Old Testament repentance is more about feeling of remorse and regret. Wikipedia aligns with New Testament thinking and suggests that repentance as taught in the Bible is a call to persons to make a radical turn from one way of life to another. The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. So New Testament meaning of repentance includes sorrow and regret but includes a 180 degree turn from self towards God. Changing the way we think to bringing into alignment with Gods will brings the transformed life. The dual action is ‘turning from’ and also ‘turning towards’. Without the ‘turning towards’, we are left in no man’s land so to speak. The speed of this ‘turn’ determines the transformation experience. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) illustrates this “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. God is willing to forgive us when we turn away ‘from’ (self) and ‘towards’ (Him). There needs to be an absolute turning from our will to God’s will for our life. This is almost a reverse manoeuvre from that of Adam in Genesis when Satan deceived him. Our prayer of salvation needs to include a turning away from our way and bringing our will into God’s will. Then we will fly and soar in our lives. If we are willing to change the way we live and think our lives can change beyond our imagination. We also need to be able to apply forgiveness and grace to someone who has turned away and towards. Romans 2:4 tells us that it is God’s goodness and His Kindness that causes a person to repent.
Steve speaks about Sharing Jesus with Confidence. Steve says that he finds God is speaking the same thing across the whole people of God, so coming from Bookham Baptist Church, this message is totally in line with our current journey. Sharing Jesus with others is a key thing and our attempts can have varying success. Scripture is the greatest teacher; in John 4, Jesus shares with a Samaritan woman. He begins by asking the women for a drink. This is an act of friendship and breaks through the Jew/Samaritan barrier building a relationship lovingly (as is the gospel itself). Jesus then artfully interacts with the woman in a respectful way. The four qualities of conversation are to listen, to notice, to serve and to wonder. To listen well is really crucial. If we listen well, we will notice and will then be able to serve or pray for people. Sometimes we need to remember we are just a link in the chain of bringing someone to Christ. We need to learn from Jesus about the art of conversation. There are ways of going deep with a person by wondering rather than interrogating…..much less confrontational…. We can also notice if we listen well, notice the tone of someone’s words and this can open up a conversation. This may give us an opportunity to share about Jesus. The story we all have to tell is an amazing one. Our personal story of how grace came to us and how God filled our lives is a key one. Knowing the whole story allows us to bring connection to someone else by bringing them to part of it. Situation is important too. We don’t speak about Jesus in a vacuum. Often it starts by “how are you in this situation”, perhaps, lockdown….etc. If God has placed us in a situation, God will use us there too, however unsuited we may feel. Without the Holy Spirit there is nothing. We speak Gods work by the empowering presence of Him in our lives. In the story of the woman at the well, Jesus has a supernatural insight into the woman’s life and this opens the women’s heart. We are all called to live in the power of the spirit as Jesus did. The company of God, the presence is God is vital. Jesus told people to wait for the Holy Spirit before going out. As we begin to use spiritual gifts and insights we will not always get it right nor necessarily be successful first time, but God does also always use our mistakes! Sharing Jesus belongs to all the people of God. The words “Soul Winner” are for all of us.
Olivia asks us a key question – What do you believe about the Gospel? This is not what we have heard, or think, but what do we truly believe about the gospel. Many versions of what the gospel means exist for many people, but what does this mean for us? What we think can be fleeting but what we believe models our lives as deeply rooted convictions. What we believe determines our responses, rather than what we think. Romans 1:16 (NKJV) states “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek”. This is powerful! The gospel is the power of God to salvation for believers. It is not a story but the power of God and hence a call to action. We can know a lot about the gospel but it’s not until we believe with our hearts that our lives change. Do we know what we believe about the gospel? This is important. Sometimes we live in a glass box and we hear and know about the gospel but do not let Jesus into our lives because we have not believed His gospel message. The glass boxes need smashing! Are we hot or cold for Jesus? There is no middle ground or sitting on the fence. At some time we need to make the decision to believe the gospel for ourselves and become saved in reality. The gospel is a story of God’s love for us, a creator God loving His masterpiece of creation. But sin entered the world through Adam. Sin payments were made all the way through the Old Testament but the full payment was made by Jesus’ blood as He was sacrificed on the cross. John 3:16 (NKJV) says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Note this does not say that God tolerated the world or similar words; it is an expression of His love. It also tells us that salvation comes from believing, not doing or anything else, solely believing. This is why the question about what we believe is so crucial. It is a call to action, what do we believe? All roads do not lead to God, only Jesus leads to Lord God. We were created for relationship with God. Let us make the decision to start this relationship with God.
There are similarities but great differences between the two. In Matthew 28, the Lord asks us to be a going people, to make disciples, not just to be saved. Help the people to learn of me, believe in me and obey my words and observe my commands….are words from the Amplified version of Matthew 28. So we are to go and make disciples and teach people to obey Jesus commands. Believing is having faith in something or someone. Believing in God is a powerful thing but even demons believe in God also! - James 2:19 (NKJV) “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” So God does want us to experience the powerful salvation which comes from believing….. But also more……. being a disciple as well. In believing, lives are saved but not transformed. When lives are positioned as disciples, followers of Christ, transformation takes place. It’s an ongoing commitment to the work of the Holy Spirit within. Unlike the thief on the cross next to Jesus, we do have time in our lives for the Holy Spirit to change us. Moving from being a believer to being a disciple was Jesus’ plan in order to transform lives. This is what he called us to be. Believing is not the final thing! Jesus ministered not only to many crowds but also to his disciples when he was not with crowds. Crowds maybe are there for what they can get but disciples are there for what they can become. Being a disciple means becoming subject to the disciplines of the person you follow. A life being transformed will always involve a level of discipline in order to cause the changes required. God calls us to be subject to His teachings and truths. Do we want our lives to adhere to Jesus’ teaching? The bible calls all believers to achieve Christ-likeness choosing discipleship over pure membership. We need to let Jesus train us or disciple us into a better way of living. This means living in the Word allowing the Holy Spirit to challenge us and moving from being in a crowd experience about God to being a follower of God. Believing is belonging but disciplining is submitting, allowing changes to occur, daily. When we are living in the Word of God we will be transformed – Romans 12:2 (NKJV) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. Our thinking will be challenged and our wisdom altered, this needs to be our prayer. We must exchange incorrect philosophies for correct ones. Colossians 2:8 tells us (NIV) “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ”. The Passion Translation colours this in with even greater clarity in modern day English “Beware that no one distracts you or intimidates you in their attempt to lead you away from Christ’s fullness by pretending to be full of wisdom when they’re filled with endless arguments of human logic. For they operate with humanistic and clouded judgments based on the mindset of this world system, and not the anointed truths of the Anointed One.” So we have a choice as believers, carry on as we are or turn to God and choose His wisdom to operate in inside us. This means we redefine our belief system in accordance with Jesus words. As Jesus said, disciples live by and are obedient to His words (he was speaking to Jewish believers), read John 8:31 (NIV) “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples’”. So Jesus was speaking to people who were saved telling them they needed to hold true to His words. The same is true for us in order to be disciples.