Limitless thinking comes from the root-thought that you have access to the power of God or God’s ability.

1. We Value People
2. We Value New life
3. We Value Relationship with God
4. We Value Church Family
5. We Value Gathering
6. 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.

We have been given the mandate to "stand in the gap "for our nations and those in authority. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 refers.

HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND WE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND!

Some will go to the ends of the earth, while most will stay within the shores of our own Nation. 

But the need for salvation remains the same; most of us are sent to our families, friends, neighbours and workmates. 

May we walk with beautiful feet, sharing the Love of God and the message of Salvation to many.

Like the church in Acts 2, we must devote ourselves to strong solid doctrinal teachings that help us to build strong foundations. Who and what we believe and become are shaped by these teachings as what we hear, takes root in our hearts and bears fruit.

As we grow, the importance of this is even more pronounced as the truth within the Apostolic doctrine will anchor, form and equip us for the work ahead. 

Are we devoted to the Word of God, to fellowship, prayer and the breaking of bread, these four spiritual pillars of biblical truth? The bottom line is this: are we devoted to seeking first the Kingdom of God, or are we just fitting God into our way of life?

Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Ps Geoff Speaks today on a special Encounter Sunday.....

Jesus commissioned His Church to take His message to the ends of the earth and that mission starts right where we are. God has placed each of us in unique environments filled with opportunities: in our workplaces, walking groups, schools, or even in casual encounters with neighbors we've never spoken to.

Let us open our hearts and eyes to these moments, allowing God to use us as vessels of His grace and truth. The time to share His love is now.

This week's message on Household Salvation unpacks this and challenges us to not look past those closest to us, but to also see their need for Jesus and to share Him with them.

Worship isn't confined to only when we meet together within the four walls of the places we meet. It is living a life that constantly honours and glorifies our Father in heaven..

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury for the Christian life—it is a necessity. Without Him, we can do nothing of eternal significance. But with His power, we can be bold witnesses, live holy lives, serve effectively in ministry, and experience God’s transformative work in us and through us. Let us be like the early disciples who eagerly awaited the Holy Spirit’s power and, when they received it, turned the world upside down for Christ. Today, may we surrender our lives fully to the Spirit, walk in obedience, and expect to see His power manifested in our lives. As we do, we will not only experience personal transformation but also be vessels of God’s love, truth, and power in a world that desperately needs to know Jesus. 

Because He is now resident in us, we are able to cultivate a relationship with Him that allows Him to be a part of every aspect of our lives. He is our Helper, our guide and our comforter.

Listen as Ps Camille unwraps this amazing subject. Without the Holy Spirit we are nothing, with the Holy Spirit we can do all things!

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.

1 Samuel 17:32 (NIV) says "David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Here we see how a 'yes' committed David.

Matthew 4:19-20 (NIV) says “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. This 'yes' caused action to take place...they immediately left their nest and followed Him..

A 'yes' creates shift in our lives...sometimes to a place entirely out of our comfort zone. The 'yes' of Simon, Andrew, James and John changed the course of their lives. They move from where they were to, where they where God wanted them to be.

Ps Steu's fourth 'Yes' is that a 'Yes' means a 'No'!  'Yes' to God will bring breakthrough in our lives. We become free of the things that once distracted us, deceived us, free of old ways and old habits, just by saying, "God, 'Yes', I'm gonna run hard after you". The more we burn for God, the less we will burn for the things of the world.

In summary, a 'Yes':-

• Commits us
• Causes Action
• Causes Shift
• Usually means No as well

A 'Yes' to God means

• Whole heartedly running after God
• Being fully committed to God's house not just as spectators
• Becoming servants in God's house 
• Servants becoming stewards
• People who really take ownership and fully own their responsibilities

The Old Testament sacrificial system established a structure to cover sin. But God’s plan of Redemption wasn’t over. He wanted to do away with the consequences of sin forever. 2000 years ago in steps, Jesus…and in the words of John the Baptist, he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

This is a MUST LISTEN message!!

1. God has not forgotten you.

2. God is just getting started.

3. God is working behind the scenes.

4. God will empower you.

5. God has given you the right tools.

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.

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!!

We have been called to take this love to the people around us.

We can do this because the Holy Spirit has filled our hearts with God’s love.

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.