Pastor’s Pen (Page 18)

Baptism

It’s great to be able to celebrate alongside those who are being baptised today! For those going through the water, it’s a response to a decision of the heart that was made some time ago: to follow Jesus Christ and acknowledge His unique capability in making us accepted for a place in Heaven. Today is…

Generosity of spirit

Today we have the opportunity to be generous! Yes, we are taking an offering to help some of the most desperate people on our planet at the moment, in Syria, but I’m not just talking about financial generosity. I’m also talking about generosity of spirit: the way we interact with those around us; how we…

Because He lives, we also shall live

It’s impossible not to be moved as we approach Easter: it is so full of emotion for those who believe. We delight in the euphoria as Jesus went into Jerusalem, to the celebratory sound of the crowd on the first Palm Sunday; a far cry from the utter suffering, pain and shame He went through…

The challenge of change

I came to the conclusion a long time ago that change is never easy: it disrupts and diverts us from pathways that many of us never really chose to walk. Maybe where we find ourselves now is the fruit of just going with the flow and it feels okay! For most of us, we will…

Our series in Acts

This morning we conclude our short series of messages centred around the first five chapters of the book of Acts. To recap, the overall challenges we’ve explored have been: to know the security and power of the gospel and the importance of being rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ to live empowered lives, filled by…

Authority is rooted in relationship

I’m really excited about our time together this morning, as we look at the power of authority. One of the keys to grasping authority has to be an understanding that we are authorised to live lives of spiritual power and purpose for today. I think one of the greatest obstacles that many Christians face is…

I will take hold of your hand

Here’s a powerful reminder of just how awesome the God we are about to corporately worship truly is: the declaration to Israel in Isaiah 42 states, ‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness. I will take hold of your hand.’ (verse 6) How great it is that the Lord’s awesomeness is not just in…

Approach Him afresh every day

I don’t know about you, but I thought last Sunday took some beating! I don’t often ‘blow our own trumpet’ at CCC, but I was truly blessed by the way we were led in worship: God’s presence was tangible, as it was as people responded to the word. This week I’m challenged not to take…

Ask for a renewed passion

As we go into the second week of our ‘Powerful Acts’ series, I’m reminded that there is power in our corporate gathering together. Not only are we told that, when two or three are gathered together in Jesus name, He has promised to be there, we are also urged by the author of Hebrews to…

You will receive power

I’m excited today to be bringing the first instalment of a short series of messages centred around the first six chapters of the book of Acts. There is so much we can learn from the whole narrative for each of our lives, yet the key common factor to the many great exploits we find in…