A journalist once asked Carl Sandburg, the famous American writer, “What is the ugliest word in the English language?” After a few minutes, Sandburg replied, “Exclusive.” The word “exclusive” feels ugly depending on whether we are included or excluded. In the early church, the conflict was about who was in and who was out. Should…
We live in a world where competition is constant. Everyone is drawn into it, often unknowingly. We run the race of trying to come in first, striving to be the best and present ourselves as the greatest. The disciples had a similar issue. They competed among themselves, wondering, “Who is the best?” Perhaps this competition…
The Pharisees sought to exhibit their religion. They were attention seekers, presenting themselves as godly, but their inward motivation was always questionable. Although they claimed to adhere to the laws, their laws were man-made, heavy, and difficult to follow. More than that, these laws kept them away from the law given by the Lord. Thus,…
History Back in 2013 a request was put to the church council regarding running a holiday bible club.A minimum of ten leaders were required before it would be launched — and after the first Sunday of asking exactly ten people came forward to offer their time and talents – we took this as God opening a door for us to share His…
Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry, but John, in his gospel, records only seven of them, referring to them as signs. These signs serve as markers, directing us to our Lord Jesus. Wonders and miracles astonish us and fill us with awe. However, when we witness miracles in our lives, which are the work of God, whether small or large,…
The day after Jesus miraculously fed five thousand men, many people eagerly sought Him, but their reasons were misguided. They were focused on their physical needs, which is understandable. However, Jesus explained that He came from heaven to offer eternal life, and they could receive this life by believing in Him. He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to…
What did Jesus show about himself through his life on earth? Did he simply present himself as a great miracle worker? A moral teacher? A social worker or reformer? A voice against oppressive political and religious systems? Yes, we can say all of these and even more. However, Jesus came to inaugurate his Kingdom, and through his life and ministry, he showed…
One of the well-known stories from the Bible is the Parable of the Sower, also called the Parable of the Soil. This story talks about four types of soil: a path with no soil, rocky ground with little soil, soil with thorns, and good soil. The seed in the story represents the word of God,…
Graduates from Kidzchurch were celebrated and prayed for as they prepare to move into the next phase of their church life. These young members have completed their time in Kidzchurch and will be joining the 1Tim4:12 youth group after the summer holidays. This transition marks an important step in their spiritual journey, as they move…
The XEE team celebrated their new graduates, Pamela Armstrong and Mary Paul, this Sunday, after a 13-week long course. This celebration, (aka ‘pin party’), involved the graduates receiving the XEE pin. XEE’s mission is to equip believers to share about Jesus within their networks, including family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and acquaintances. Their vision is for…