God requires mouldable people, those who are teachable and submissive. Don’t mistake humility for a quiet nature; a person could possess a quiet nature but lack humility.
The Exchanged Life
January 1, 2020 • Wendy Kandi • Galatians 2:20
No one can really understand and live the Christian life until they come to the point of exchange: it’s exchanging all that you are for all that He is.
When this happens, Jesus lives His life in me; working out His purpose through me! It’s Jesus reaching with myhands, speaking with my lips, seeing with my eyes and loving with my heart.
You cannot live the Christian life by simply attending church, keeping the Ten Commandments or just reading yourBible. You must die so He might live through you.
Water Baptism
January 1, 2020 • Ian Mann • Romans 6:1–7
As with human births, so it is with spiritual births. You can have a normal healthy baby born into the world with no complications or abnormalities; on the other hand you could have the exact opposite. Part of the normal birthingprocess for the new believer is water baptism.
This is a symbolic act of the old being washed away and the new being resurrected. It is an
essential part of the spirit-birthing process.
Walking In The Spirit
January 1, 2020 • Chip Kawalsingh • 1 Corinthians 2:10–14
We are a Word and Spirit church. We see both the Word and the Spirit as pivotal to the believers’ life, especially those who are part of our body (see Isaiah 2:2 & Joel 2:28). The Spirit brings life and understanding to the Word of God. Both the Word and the Spirit are needed in order to have the right balance.
Gods Pattern For Church
January 1, 2020 • Neil Gallagher • Hebrews 8:5
As we co-operate with God in the building of His church, we are obligated to build according to His pattern. Jesussaid He would build His church and the gates of hell would not be victorious against it. We are building a church in our generation that is founded on the blueprint of the New Testament. All the ingredients of the early church are available to us today, through the power of the Holy Spirit, as building materials for our own local church.
Vision and Mission For Church
January 1, 2020 • Ian Mann • Habakkuk 2:2–3
Every local church should have a sense of destiny and mission given by God. At the heart of that call are thecommands of Christ Himself to every church. But each local expression of the body of Christ has a specificrole to play in extending the Kingdom of God in its city, region and around the world. This focused perspective of ministry is what we mean by our vision and mission.
Generosity
January 1, 2020 • Kate Gooch • Proverbs 11:25
We serve a generous God. He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins: that’s generosity! As a church, we are determined to be generous with all that God has blessed us with. All that we have belongs to Him!
Where is Your Treasure?
January 1, 2020 • Tanya Goffin • Malachi 3:11–12
Is it right that the church should talk aboutmoney? Most people feel that the money they have is all theirs, and are only generous when they feel like being so. But what about systematic giving of your income to the church? Is it scriptural? What does the Bible have to say? Well, quite a lot!
Empowered Through The Spirit
January 1, 2020 • Chip Kawalsingh • 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
Gifts cannot be bought or earned. It is the Holy Spirit who decides who gets what gifts and it is through thelocal church that these gifts are developed and used. These gifts are supernatural in character and not just a refinement of physical powers or intuitions.
Created to Worship
January 1, 2020 • Sarah Kawalsingh • John 4:23–24
We were created for a purpose, and one of the amazing purposes for which God created us
is to be worshippers.
Throughout the Bible, God gives us the blueprint of how He desires to be worshipped in music and in song. For many years, God has been pouring out His Spirit in the area of praise and worship. Songs of adoration, love forJesus, thankfulness, and many more give us the opportunity to express to God how we feel.
Why Church?
January 1, 2020 • Jim Johnston • Isaiah 65:8, Hebrews 10:25
The local church is God’s instrument of change. There is no substitute for it and it is very important to our corebeliefs. Jesus himself laid His life down for the church.
We believe that church is above all other forms of Christian organisation and that God will use the church to accomplish His purpose in our city and nation.
Will Church Last?
January 1, 2020 • Neil Gallagher • Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 2:19–22
From the outside some churches may seem to be powerless and slowly dying. However, we also see from the scriptures and throughout church history that although religious institutions may be on the decline, the truechurch (or ‘the bride of Christ’) is being restored.
Spiritual Authority
January 1, 2020 • Paul Goffin • Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:17
It is important for every partner of a growing local church to have realistic expectations about their relationshipwith their pastors. Many people who come from a smaller church setting may expect to become close friendswith their pastors and receive personal attention from them during times of need, but as a church grows that isnot possible (see Acts 6).
A team is needed in order to look after the body effectively, and it is important that mature believers understand this and see how team leadership works.
Gods Pattern For Leadership
January 1, 2020 • Ian Mann • Romans 12:8, 1 Timothy 5:17
We understand that without authority and a set leadership the church will be in danger. The leadership team serves under the senior pastor. There is a set pattern and format for those who govern in church. Romans 12:8 tells us that they must do it diligently. Where there is no government there is a lack of order, chaos, anarchy and an undercurrent of the spirit of lawlessness.
Love What God Loves Ruth Gallagher
January 1, 2020 • Ruth Gallagher • Matthew 16:16–18
The goal of every believer should be to know God and to love Him. Is that true for you? You can attend church and not really know God or truly love Him. Our heart is to keep
Jesus in the centre; really loving Him above all!
