Conrad is the pastor of Kabwata Reformed Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, and is also known as the ‘African Spurgeon’. He spoke from Titus 3 about how Christians, by the grace of God, are different. The truth about Jesus our Saviour changes us from being led astray by foolish passions. Our lives ought to bear witness to this truth. We are urged to give up folly because it not only makes us ignorant of our mortality but also leads to our very destruction. Wisdom is to rely on God and his mercy.
Author: Andrew
‘A long-distance miracle and a certain kind of faith’ (John 4:43-54)
Here Jesus is met by a royal official whose son is dying. His riches and status cannot protect him and his family from hardship and death. His faith may have only been enough for him to seek Jesus in a time of need but Jesus’ response shows that his power has no bounds – not even distance. The official’s faith grows and he trusts Jesus at his word, leaving to go home and find his son healed. John writes so that we can be encouraged to have faith even without sight just like the official and all generations since.
‘Have a Really New Year’ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
Russ Grinter asked us to consider what is noteworthy about the new year. More than wishing “happy new year” and resolving to seek happiness ourselves, in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 we read that Jesus makes us really new. From now on, our identity should be in Christ – not what we do or how the world sees us. We should not depend on our effort but on what Jesus has done as our substitute. By faith, God looks at us and sees Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus makes us really new.
‘Is anybody listening?’ (Psalm 81)
At the end of a year, Hugh Price encouraged us from Psalm 81 to focus on God and listen to him. God’s people ought to celebrate him and his goodness to them. God gives those who do not listen what they want – but it is not good. We are invited to open ourselves to God, ready to receive.
‘Jesus, the best gift’ (Matthew 2)
On Christmas morning, Andrew Kerr preached from Matthew 2 about God’s greatest gift. Wise men searched for him, the chief priests should have known more about him and Herod felt threatened by him. In his son, Jesus, God gives the world what it really needs: a better king, a better priest and a better saviour. Matthew shows us how God has promised him all those years ago. After all these years since, wise men still seek Jesus.
‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29-34)
Rory Weightman spoke from John 1:29-34 about the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John the Baptist gets our attention (“Behold!”) and uses the imagery of the Old Testament to tell us about Jesus. God provided a lamb to be a substitute payment for sin, to buy back an unfaithful people. Proven to be of God by the Spirit, Jesus willingly gave himself once and for all. He showed power over sin and death by rising again. As we read later in John 3:16, this promise is for whoever believes.
Christmas Day Service
Join us at 9.30 am on Christmas morning for a short service with carols and a message from Matthew chapter 2.
‘The unpopular (but still very true) truth’ (Matthew 7:13-29)
Jesus was a popular preacher when he spoke these words in Matthew 7:13-29, but his words are very unpopular today. He spoke of the road to life being one that has a narrow gate, of those who profess faith but do not have the fruit to show that their profession is true and of those who hear his words but do not do them. The end result of all this remains that some people who might profess to be believers, may be deluding themselves! All that Jesus taught remains the truth, no matter how unpopular it has become.
‘A tale of two donkeys’ (Numbers 22)
Rev Hugh Price preached from Numbers 22 concerning the wayward prophet Balaam who had to be restrained from doing evil by his own donkey whom God enabled to speak.
‘Trials are spelt J-O-Y’ (James 1:1-4)
The practical and helpful letter of James begins where it most hurts. Trials (whatever form they take) have a habit of testing and trying our faith. In this first installment on James, Philip Burns tackles the connection between trials and the grand purpose they serve in God’s plan to help us on the path toward maturity.