To love the Word it is essential to understand its purpose. Without this, its abuse is inevitable. The Bible is not merely an historical account, a moral compass, or an ideological tool to support whatever we believe.

Knowing the ‘why’ and the ‘who’ behind the ‘what’ of the Word of God is a fundamental discovery for every believer to grow in their relationship with God. The Bible’s promises, prophesies and principles all point to God’s desire for this relationship. How this is made possible has morphed over time, as the written word of God, the Bible, introduces us to four expressions of the same entity.

When we read the Bible we are not just interacting with a book; it is a person. It is Jesus. Jesus is revealed in the beginning as God the Son, one of The Trinity of God. A little like how we understand H2O with its three forms of water, ice and steam, God is three administrations or expressions of the same entity. As one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Son is the messenger, the eternal word of God, through whom God does things only God can do.

We meet the Son of God; the representation of God in the realm of mankind, sent to us through natural birth, died for us through crucifixion to forgive our sins and give us mercy, and buried and resurrected to bring new life through salvation.

We also meet the Son of Man; the humanity of God who is the represents of man in the realm of God. He ascended to be with God interceding on our behalf - we are not alone; when we call on his name, we are BACKED! Hallelujah!

And then there is The Christ. The Anointed One has anointed us through the Holy Spirit, making it possible for us to do even more today than He did as Jesus on earth. We have been anointed through Christ as kings, priests and prophets who have the power and authority working through us to do what God wants us to do in this world - we are not limited by our limitations!

Our job is to observe the word, to study it, meditate on it and have the courage to speak it out and put it in to action. Take the time - more than once - to enjoy, and be educated and empowered by this foundational keynote message for FC Southsea. Hear how The Word of God - The Bible - points to God and our relationship with Him; the third of our six Family Church values.

Let’s commit to a Southsea built on the Word of God; a knowledge of Him, who he is, and a real relationship with Him.

And what have you forgotten that you really should be remembering?

Jesus used Passover as an opportunity to encourage us to remember what he did for us. David meanwhile committed himself to remembering what the Lord had done for him. And the prophet Isaiah tells us to forget former things.

And then there's forgiveness. Forgiveness is not so much about forgetting as it is about letting go; letting the captive free, with that captive actually often times being us!

Jesus asked his Father in heaven to forgive those who were killing him, for they do not know what they are doing! Wow - what forgiveness. And of course, he has forgiven our sins. Over and over again. So just as he forgives us, we too must continue to forgive those who sin against us.

And don't forget to forgive yourself, too.

Listen and enjoy this wonderful and timely message from Assistant Pastor Richard.

The woman in adultery was able to walk in freedom because of Jesus' grace given to her despite her sin. Jesus' truth turned the temple's tables so that the blind and lame could enter and be healed.

Jesus spoke about the two sons where the first said 'no' to his father's request at first but later changed his mind and went where he was asked to go - that's grace leading to repentance. Prophet Micaiah told the two Kings of Israel and Judah the truth and it came to be; leading to death for one and salvation - by grace - for the other.

Grace creates believers but in the end, it is living in truth that makes disciples and allows us to walk in freedom. Let's choose both grace and truth.

To surrender is to recognise that our new life is going to cost us our old one - just as the prodigal son was required to take off his old rags to put on the best robe given by his father. We need to know what it is we're still trying to cling on to.

To submit is to recognise that we can't keep doing what we've always done and expect a different result. While the robe is given to us in an instant; transformation is a process. Let God the gardener do the work He does best.

To share is to celebrate what God has done in your life. Just as the prodigal son was celebrated publicly, get ready - our new life with Jesus is there to be put on a stand by sharing our stories and giving that same grace we now know we have received.

Surrender, submit, share - where are you at with these at this time? Enjoy this message from Family Church Philippines' very own Joyce Dadero as she reaches the half-way point of her time here with us in the UK.

But salvation is not a one off event. God loves the new and he is always at work in those who come to Him. We are born again and again and again and again. Wearing white robes we can learn to walk on water, standing firm regardless of what's coming at us externally, or what we need to dispose of internally.

As vessels, Jesus invites us to carry his light burden and be guided by his easy yoke as we continue to mature in Him, and in our white robes.

But he doesn't stop there. Mesi took us through how God heals and restores us spiritually, then in our minds and emotions as we put on the clothes of righteousness, and also physically as the Lord nourishes our bodies. Imagine going from desiring pig food to sitting at a feast!

We come from a fallen lineage as humans. We live in a fallen world. We have an enemy who is trying to resist our reconciliation with God. It is not a surprise that we all experience brokenness. And therefore, it is also essential that we understand that we all need healing and restoration.

Take the time to enjoy this second message in our first Values series on People. At Family Church, we value people. That includes believing that God heals and restores all who come to him.

The new Family Church values have officially landed in Southsea. Core Leader Laura picked up the first value of 'People' and took us through what it really means to have compassion. It says that the Father was moved with compassion when he watched his lost son approaching. This is how God is towards us. He goes after the 1 even when the 99 are safe. He doesn't let a single lost coin stay missing. Jesus transcends the world's rigid boundaries and expectations to meet us wherever we are.

Are we prepared to do the same for others in this lost world?

We are in turbulent times where safe lives are not guaranteed and complacency is being shattered. So as we 'carry the ark' of God's presence and prayerfully stand at the water's edge, as a church who are both intimate and innovative, we ask God to use us to reach our local Southsea area and beyond.

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.

What is God's purpose for you in this time? And how does this interlink with that of our Southsea congregation? Indeed, God has you here for such a time as this. What is your response? What more could you be experiencing and growing in with us, and blessing and building the church with at the same time?

It was wonderful to hear Ps Steve's own testimony, from praying for his mum's healing from cancer to an unknown God in his candle-lit bright orange bedroom and REM CD, to his Gideon struggle of accepting God's calling for his life, to what the Lord has done with Steve's eventual 'yes', as he now helps lead the church.

Steve described how he later walked into a church service that many people would have faithfully served to make happen, and ended up rededicating his life to Jesus. And then following up a few years later with him doing the same on a Friday night in Family Church, which resulted in a very broken Sean Finch - now Portsmouth's Pastor Sean - stepping in for the very first time. So encouraging.

Whether you're serving coffee, putting out the banners, welcoming people, showing the slides or playing in the band, or anything else on a Sunday morning or in the week, imagine what God is about to do with your 'yes' with his plans for you, to transform lives in Southsea and beyond.

We dive into the dramatic book of Esther as a way to understand what the Bible calls 'people pleasing'. We are by design social beings. But are we prioritising other people to the extent that all we are doing is covering up pot holes in our own lives and causing more damage in the long run? Or are we allowing Jesus to cause true transformation in our lives, exposing our broken surfaces to reveal the foundations and give us a whole new fresh surface?

There are moments in life when you realise you are standing on holy ground - not because something is ending, but because something has been faithfully completed.

After 28 years of founding, leading, pastoring, and building this church and ministry, the time has come for us to step aside and step forward. To release what has been entrusted to us, and to trust God for what He has entrusted to others.

Ecclesiastes reminds us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Seasons change, not because something has failed, but because God is faithful to finish what He starts - and bold enough to begin something new. When we first said 'yes' to God all those years ago, we had little more than obedience, faith, and a burning conviction that Jesus deserved a church alive with His presence and His power. We dreamed of a people who would love God deeply, love one another fiercely, and reach the lost relentlessly. What God has done since then has exceeded anything we could have planned or imagined.

We have seen lives transformed, families restored, leaders raised, nations touched, and Jesus glorified. This house has been built on prayer, faith, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel. It has been the honour of our lives to carry that responsibility. And while this chapter closes, let me say this clearly: our voice is not stopping - it is simply shifting. The message God has placed in us, the convictions we carry, and the call to equip, awaken, and send will continue. It will simply be expressed in new spaces, new contexts, and new assignments. For those who still want that voice in their lives, it will be there - faithful to the same Jesus, shaped by the same fire.

This church was never built to rest on one person - it was built to run on mission and vision. Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase.” I may have planted, others have watered, but it has always been God who makes things grow. And He is not finished - not even close.

To those now stepping into leadership: you carry this house with heaven’s backing. God trusts you. We trust you. Lead with courage. Guard the culture. Keep Jesus at the centre. Stay hungry for His presence and bold in your faith. The best chapters are not behind you - they are ahead. To every member, volunteer, giver, intercessor, and faithful servant: thank you. Thank you for believing, for standing, for serving, for loving, and for never giving up. You are the living stones of this house, and the future is strong because you are strong.

As for us, we now step into the next adventure with the same heart that started this one - faith-filled, surrendered, and expectant. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, but knowing who was leading him. That is enough.

This is not goodbye as in separation - it is goodbye as in sending. And sending is always filled with hope.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God has been faithful. He is faithful. And He will be faithful still.

Thank you for the journey. Thank you for the trust. Thank you for the love.

The story continues...

Andy & Gina

We start by asking, 'what mountain are you looking at today?'

Following from last week's 'First Love'; this is a story of a redeeming Jesus continuing to work across and through generations of a single family.

Take a listen, as we continue on our 'First Things First' theme, to an open and honest story of how our perfect God can work through our imperfections, and work all things together for our good when we give him - eventually - the First Fruit of our lives.

The above quote was the advice given by Arnel to the congregation, as Philippa rounded up a difficult but important conversation with him and Natalie from the sofa this Sunday. We continued in our 'First Things First' series by talking about our 'First Love'. Our Assistant Pastor Philippa sensitively led our congregation through a story of a challenging history which became a beautiful picture of God's redemption in a marriage that turned to Him. What started as a childhood friendship and teenage romance, became a very broken early marriage and parent life, before leaving to work in the Middle East and then the UK, with three children left behind in the Philippines. Have a listen and get ready to be in awe and encouraged about what God's redemptive power did next, and how making Jesus your First Love can impact marriages and lives across generations.

The second week of our 'Incubator' series saw Philippa present this convicting message filled with personal accounts and testimonies of a life laid down for Jesus. Even our very homes - whether big or small - are not ours but the Lords. Remembering how God through Jesus has opened himself to us, we too must open ourselves to others - our hearts and also our homes. 

Each step proved to show how we can really follow the heart of Jesus and connect with God on a deeper level. 

The message continues to focus on the principle of sowing and reaping, with audience participation for those who were there!

Following the new series looking at 'Life is a Garden', this week Ps Sean looked specifically at what we can sow with a focus on our finances.

Amongst many scripture references, Sean looks at Luke 6:38 (NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The law of sowing and reaping is as relevant today as it was thousands of years back when the scripture was written. He follows this with Matthew 6:19..."“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".

Ps Sean points out that there are two fields we can sow into - the immediate field in front of us and the eternal field beyond our temporal lifespan. Which is worth more to sow into? The Bible tells us to set our minds on Heavenly things, not earthy things. Gaining the whole world but losing our soul is not wise..

Ps Sean goes on to speak about the love of money and our love for the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money helps us achieve many things, the key here is our heart attitude. Are we doing something because of our love of a monetary reward (perhaps), or our love for our Lord?

He ended with three key points on sowing with finances

• Get to give - not give to get
• Love is our motive - generosity, kindness, & love from the overflow of a grateful heart
• Joyful Obedience - have a merry spirit when giving

This is a challenging message!

However, when they stepped into the new life that God had prepared for them, they began living according to new principles, including the principle of ‘sowing and reaping’.

It’s important that we, as Christians, understand and live according to the principle of sowing and reaping.

A life laid down is not giving up your life in defeat, it’s placing your life in the hands of the One who gave it.

Owen Jones - 'The Attitude at the Altar' - You will be inspired and challenged to come to Jesus with an obedient attitude, laying everything at His feet, and seeking intimacy with Him. This is what leads to a changed life!

Charis Hargreaves - 'God is Moving in this Generation' - We are living in exciting times where God is moving in the younger generation, changing hearts and preparing them to live for His Kingdom. Whether younger or older, you will be inspired to find your part in what God is doing.

We are all gifted, so we need to understand how to grow and guard these gifts. Some of our most intimate moments with Christ - where we really see our gifts emerge - come when we are living outside of our comfort zone. Our Shepherd is preparing us to handle the gifts he gives as we learn to truly and fully depend on the Father.

As a church we possess the full range of spiritual gifts that are found in Jesus, but it is in growing together and celebrating each others’ gifts that we will see the fullness of this emerge - including the hugely important gift of administration. When God entrusts us with His gifts, we have a responsibility to use them well, as a witness that points back to him and that draws us closer to one other, and others to Him - even if those gifts are sometimes out of the ordinary!

As a community that is both intimate and innovate, it is time for Family Church Southsea to go on a character building journey together, ready to mature right in front of our very eyes, and seeing the salvation of Christ in ourselves and the lives of others who will come to call the church home. 

Ps Steu speaks on the story of Blind Bartimaeus, explaining that Jesus SEES us, He is moved with COMPASSION for us, and that He responds to our FAITH.

This was a shorter message as during the service people were then given the opportunity to come forward and receive prayer for miracles.

Jesus doesn't just bring physical healing - he forgives sin,and brings eternal healing for our soul!

In this one act he multiplies strength and determination,faith and an increase in a future that was limited. 

The life we live that others see needs to be salt & light to the world.

From ‘coming out’ as Christian, to seeing lives being fully set free, the Holy Spirit enables us to authentically play our parts in reaching our ‘Jerusalem’ for Jesus.

• He had the authority,
• He knew the truth,
• He knew who he was,
• He knew who the devil was and how he worked
• He spoke the truth with authority.
• We can do the same!!! 

Listen to this challenging message!

Apologies this is a part recording.

Ps Andy speaks today in the period after Christmas and before the new year. Using the theme of Psalm 84:5 (NIV) "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage", he examines how life moves from one place to another often. This may be a physical move, a change of relationship, many things, but one key ingredient is for us to keep taking steps of faith and growing in Him. A pilgrimage often involves moving to a place of unknown, many stories in scripture illustrate this. As we walk with Him, we become transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory - 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Our pilgrimage from 2024 to 2025 is to carry on growing in God. God is fully committed to growing us into who we really are. We just need to ensure we don't carry on living in the "old skin" so to speak.

Andy speaks of three common roadblocks to pilgrims....

• Fear of unknown (we need to walk by faith)
• Our limited view of our potential
• The way others see us

Additionally, three keys to pilgrimage are..

• Celebrate and commit to the next
• Build strong behind us, build a legacy to life
• Always plan to exit well

Final thoughts.....the way we leave affects the way we arrive (as we move on in our lives). Also, it will cost us our future to live in the past. Let us remain conscious that we all have an appointment in Zion - 2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) " Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing".

• Jesus stepped into the world 2000 years ago to take the sin of the world so that we could have relationship with Him.
• God came down to Earth to dwell with mankind in bodily form.
• When Mary held the baby, she held the very character of the Father in her arms.
• Jesus revealed the character of God to the world.
• He is loving, kind, trustworthy, just, fair, righteous, patient.
• The character of a person is important because it reveals who they are.

When you know a person’s character you know how they will respond…

• Who God is will determine how He acts.
• We can know what to expect from God.

God’s character is revealed through:

• The Word of God (Bible)
• The Word of God (Jesus)

In Jesus, the fullness of the Father is revealed…

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” ‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭‬‬NIV)

God’s character is also to be revealed in us!...

• We are called to be people who reveal the character of God.
• We are called to live Christ-like lives.
• Christ has been born in us and we are called to reveal Him in all areas of our lives.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬)

We are called to abide in the Vine, Jesus, so that His life can be revealed in and through our lives.

This week Ps Steu shares that an attitude of ownership will produce a caring culture. Our ability to care for one another starts with hearts that have experienced the love and care of Jesus for us personally. In building a caring culture, our aim is to demonstrate God's love to others and give them a sense of belonging and value within our church family.

Today the congregation were encouraged to really take ‘ownership’ of the church. The church belongs to Jesus, but He has called us to love it and value it as if it’s our own!