Family Church Waterside

Ps Steve this week speaks about tghe Stoiry of our Lives. Do we live intentionally, or drift along? Is our life wasted or invested. This message helps us to understand the value of our days, they are never repeated! Listen with intent!

In the theme of "We Value New Life", Ps Steu speaks about Grace and Truth. Jesus dealt with people with tremendous grace but also in complete truth. The two go hand in hand not one or the other.

Ps Steu quotes 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NKJV), "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new".

As a church, we value NEW LIFE - unpacking this..

• We value the truth that everyone who accepts Jesus as Saviour is a new creation in Christ! Their once-dormant spirit is awakened and made alive to God.
• We value the truth that old things have passed away and all things have become new.
• We value the truth that we stand right before God because of His mercy and grace - not because of our works or performance.
• We value the truth that God has called us to live as new creations; He has called us to walk in righteousness, as God’s holy and set-apart people.

Its important to see oursleves as God sees us...Our ability to walk as new creations starts by accepting what God has done; seeing ourselves as God sees us. This involves letting go of the old and taking hold of the new!

Ps Steu then spoke about some situations in scripture where Jesus spoke to people with the utmost Grace but also in Truth....The Woman at the Well for example, the Prodigal Son...It is God’s mercy poured out through Jesus that welcomes us into His presence in the father’s arms.

As a church, it’s time to up our game when it comes to seeing people as God sees them. For those who are still lost, can we be ready to welcome them into God’s House with the same love and mercy that the Father showed his son in Luke 15? (The same love and mercy that our Heavenly Father showed us!).

Can we commit to being a ‘house of mercy’ rather than a ‘court of judgment’?

Ps Steu ends this challenging message with a prayer...

Dear Father, I accept that I cannot live up to your perfect standard, and I turn away from my sin. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay the price for my sin. I believe that You forgive me and make all things new. I surrender to you and want to take your path for my life. So please fill me with Your Spirit and empower me to live a life that honours You. Thank you for loving me! Amen.

Pastor Paul starts a three week series on the second Family Church value, 'We Value New Life', by exploring how through Jesus we have received the robe of righteousness (new life) as a completely free gift, as symbolised by the robe in the story of the prodigal son.

On this Resurrection Sunday, Ps Paul speaks about the story of the Passion of Jesus, how Pilate wased his hands and how the seemingly wrong person (Barabbas) was set free and the sinless Jesus was crucified for our sins. Jesus became sin in exchange for our sins. The Glorious Exchange..

Pastor Paul outlines the exciting vision for the Waterside congregation for 2026 and introduces the year's 'Next Level' Offering for Empower Centre Waterside.

Today is Vision Sunday 2026 for the whole of Family Church. Ps Steu speaks about the Mission and Vision of the church and introduces the six Family Church Values which will be expounded during the following weeks...

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.

Pastor Paul explores what it means to live as an authentic disciple (follower/apprentice) of Jesus.

Love is what defines us as Christs disciples. Daniel speaks on what the Bible says love is and why we really need it especially in the days we are living in.

Rachel continues the three part series by exploring what Biblical hope is and how this outworks in our walk with God.

Steve Smith launches a new three part series titled 'Authentic Faith' by exploring how we live by faith in an authentic way, particularly focusing on the lessons we can learn from 2 Peter 1:1-12.