CHURCH @ HOME

Michael led the service this week with Bec bringing us the bible reading and James, Hannah and Bel leading the music. Communion was led by Steven who took inspiration from Remembrance Day and talked about those who were willing to sacrifice and lay down their lives for our freedom as a nation and reminding us that the Lord Jesus Christ willingly laid down his life for us at the Cross to restore us to back God. Then James led another interactive service with discussion on the previous week's message on the word God. He reminded us in the Old Testament that 'God' was not a name but rather what Yahweh was. Now in the new culture of the New Testament the word God changes it meaning because Jesus had come and the question of 'which god?' from the Old Testament has been answered. Now it is a challenge to us is how we talk about God, how we live out our faith in the world today and do those around us see who we are giving our devotion and loyalty to? Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"

Harlan led the service this morning and Ben, Aaron, James and Belle join him to lead the morning's music. Vivienne read the scriptures for us, this week from Zephaniah. James led communion in the middle of his sermon and the KBC kids had communion together in their Kids Bible Class. James continued his sermon series 'Communicating Christianity' this week continuing to look at the word God but this time from a New Testament perspective. James began by remind us that 400+ years have passed between the old and new and there have been many changes, the culture has changed, and Christ has come and shown the world and the church that his is Lord and God and so the use of the word God has a different interpretation now as Christ claims his rightful position and authority. The sermon ends with a challenge to us to claim Christ as our Lord and God and live that way! Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ian led the morning's worship service with the music team of James, Shona, Bel and Hannah. Callum read the scriptures to us and Steve led in communion reminding us to get to know God in a deeper way in our personal lives. Following communion, the 'sermon' portion of the service was handled a little differently as our elders, Harry James and Mark facilitated a discussion and question time and shared thoughts on last week's teaching that James brought on our understanding of the word 'God' and what it means to us and how others perceive it. There were questions and statements from the entire room and once we got going, we all felt we could honestly have kept going for much longer. It was great to learn from each other in this interactive way. The encouragement was for us to be specific when talking about our God, Yahweh, and to communicate who he is and what he has done for us more effectively when we speak to others about him. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NLT) Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

It was Operation Christmas Child Collection Day this week as we collected the shoeboxes that will be distributed by Samaritans Purse so that was a big part of our morning. Marcia led the service with James, Geoff and Michelle joining her to lead the music. Max read the bible for us for the first time before Mark lead the Operation Christmas Child portion of the morning. Michael led us around the communion table and then James began a new series entitle 'Communication Christianity'. This week looking at the word "GOD" and it's meaning in the Old Testament. James wanted us to realize if we do not understand the meaning of the word God we will not be effective in communicating to others what God is, His rank amongst other gods, His title and His personal name, Yahweh. Psalm 18:1-3 I love you, Yahweh, my strength. Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies. (World English Bible translation)

The service this week was led by Garry with his girls, Ebonnie and Abbie, joining James and Hannah in leading the morning's singing. Ebonnie also read us the bible reading. Taking his first ever time at leading communion was Doug and then Harry continued his current series "God's plan for us as the family of God". Harry began by reviewing the first 3 points of this series 1. Select Your Master builder - Christ 2. Get acquainted with the architect - God 3. Identify who is travelling with you - accept who you are and your past before moving on to todays point focusing on what God want us to display 4. Display your accessories - God's peace needs to rule - God's family is important - God's love is genuine - Our commitment is important Ephesians 2:20-21 - Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

This service was a smaller than normal service with illness, a long weekend and the start of daylight savings all affecting the numbers in attendance but praise the Lord numbers are not important! There were also a number of technical issues but hopefully you can be encouraged by this service. Mark led the morning and Ben, Aaron, Belle and Shona led the music. Ian took the communion message reminding us of the work of the cross and showed us what Christ has done. Doug continued our reading through the letters of John the Harry continued he series "God's plan for us" This week forcusing on building a family of God together, by realising what God has and can do, by recognising the negative travelling companions that are with us and affect us day to day, by accepting God's invitation to come and meet Him and rejoice because of what Christ has done and to seek after and find the Lord remembering He will be with you. How? By understanding who Jesus is, by realising what God has done and by seeking God so we can live! Psalm 95:1-7 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.

Geoff led the morning's worship service today with James, Hannah and Belle joining him to lead the music. Belle also read the scriptures to us and Harlan focused us around the communion table with thought on Matthew 5... "Blessed are the". Then Harry continued his series on "God's plan for us" by asking 'How can we satisfy our spiritual hunger?' and this week focusing on God's interactive plan. We need to remember who God is and what he says and Hide that in our hearts. Don't just memorize bible verses and then wonder why that alone doesn't satisfy our needs but rather we need to hide WHO GOD IS in our hearts! Matthew 5:13-16 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Harry began a new series this week entitle "What is God's plan for us?" and he started with the fact God is building his family and asked the question are we part of God's family and what is God's vision and goal for us as part of that family? Everything from creation to revelation, to eternity is to be focused and built on one man...Jesus our saviour! God will one day have one family, with one vision and one Father and our job until that day is to reflect Christ's glory every moment we live. Before Harry brought that message, we had our usual time of worshipping together in music which was led by James, Marcia and Steve who also led the service for us. Michelle continued our reading through the letters of John and Kelvin led us in communion. Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

This week's service was lead by James who also played the keyboard as he does most weeks. Geoff joined him on the guitar and sang and Michelle also sang as together they lead the morning's music. Hannah read the scriptures to us, Mark launched this year's Operation Christmas Child program and Harry lead the time of communion before Rob brought us a sermon from 1 Kings this time focusing us on Elijah and the widow of Zareaphath. He concluded by encouraging us to develop a deeper and effective prayer life. 1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.