This Sunday we kick off a new preaching series on the life of David the king who more than any other paved the way for King Jesus. But before we get to see how the Lord chose him as king, we need to see how he chose the one who chose him (Samuel). And to get to know him, we need to get to know his incredible mum. It's her example that will form the values of the king--one that was forged in the fires of deep grief.
We’d love you to join us at 10:00 on Sunday to worship King Jesus. Come early, grab a coffee and meet someone new. We hope to see you there!

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

The heart of Christianity is not a set of rules or traditions. The heart of Christianity is an announcement. Breaking news. The Author of Life was executed and then three days later His tomb was empty. 2,000 years later we're still unpacking and celebrating that announcement.

This weekend we'll be staring right into the heart of Jesus to see who it is He chooses to honour. The answer is good news for sufferers and stragglers like us

The heart of Christianity is not a set of rules or traditions. The heart of Christianity is an announcement. Breaking news. The Author of Life was executed and then three days later His tomb was empty. 2,000 years later we're still unpacking and celebrating that announcement.
This weekend we'll be staring right into the heart of Jesus to see who it is He chooses to honour. The answer is good news for sufferers and stragglers like us. 

This Sunday we remember with the whole Church the day that the Lord Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem while the onlookers celebrated Him as King. No other king in history ascended his throne as humbly as Jesus. And that should make us wonder.

Jesus is always beckoning people to look at him and not turn away in fear or disgust. Because He knows the longer we stare at the Son, the more glory we see. The more that glory changes how we see and who we are from the inside out. That’s what it means to go deeper in Him. It means to fix your eyes and don’t look away until you are totally transformed.

This week we're exploring a tough topic--pain and heartache. As Christians we're all looking forward to the world when everything sad is untrue, but why do we have to deal with so much pain in the here and now? What's the point of it all? 
The Bible, specifically, the apostle Paul in Romans 8, has some answers to that question that our hearts need to hear. Not just so we can endure in our own seasons of pain, but so that we can carry each other on our shoulders when it's their turn. 

This week we're gathering at El Shaddai in Wellington to continue our series, Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners, based on the book by Dane Ortlund. 
This week we'll be practicing our breathing-- how taking in the Bible and speaking out prayer is vital for us becoming the men and women God made us to be. And we're not doing this alone-- we're learning to use God's chosen breathing apparatus together as we dive even deeper into His grace. 

What does it mean to walk in the light? In today's world, it's possible to be seen but not really known. Our online selves, and even our in person selves hide behind filters and fast fashion. The real you is hidden from view.

But what if it's not possible to experience real joy alone? And what if not being alone means total honesty with trusted friends-- no filters, no excuses? Is that scary? Sure. Is it necessary for our growth and our joy? Absolutely.

Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we continue our series, Deeper, a series about real growth in grace for real sinners.

** PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO GATHERING AT CHRISTIES BEACH ON SUNDAY THE 15TH OF MARCH.**

What's the difference between God and idols? What is an idol anyway and do people still worship them today? Why would anybody choose an idol who can't speak over God who speaks to us all the time?

This week we're taking a deep dive into these questions--why it is that we put our trust in anything other than the God who made the galaxies. And we'll see what difference it makes for us when we trust God, not ourselves, not idols. And we'll see how trusting in the finished work of Christ for us is more than the key that starts us up--it's the engine that keeps us running to the end.

How much does God love you? What about on the days when life is beyond our ability to handle?

Human love is limited because we humans are limited creatures. God's love is as unlimited as He is. But how do we come to know it for ourselves? How do we know that it's for us and not for other people whose lives seem to be so trouble-free? We need His love even to know how much He loves us--and it really is beyond our wildest imagination.

One of the more important reasons we find it so hard to fight our indwelling sin and grow in grace is that we don't understand who we are. As Christians, we're not just saved by grace then left to our own devices. We're now and forever deeply connected to Christ himself. And that changes everything.

That we are joined or united to Christ is the most common metaphor to describe our relationship to Him. Yet it's one we struggle to truly understand. Before we dive any deeper, we'll spend some time this week looking at how our intimate spiritual connection with Jesus is the motivation, the means, and the mandate to be done with sin and to grow in grace.