How do we see ourselves, our gifts and our place among one another? Liz takes us through three things Paul wants the church to understand:

Get our thinking straight — we are to see ourselves and the gifts God has given us through grace, rather than through pride, comparison or a sense of our own importance.

The greatest gifts are for all of us — God gives gifts to each one of us, and every person has a part to play in the life of the church.

Our gifts are to bless others — our gifts are not for keeping to ourselves but for serving, encouraging and building up others, both when we gather and when we scatter.

As we recognise what God has given us, we are invited to ask whether there are gifts we are using, neglecting or being called to use again, and how they can bless others and strengthen our life together.

What does it mean for us to be part of the church God has created and placed us in? Alfred takes us through four themes:

Church is special — it is not simply a club or gathering of like-minded people, but something Jesus created, owns and builds, bringing together people with very different backgrounds, gifts and perspectives.

God has a plan — God has chosen the church to demonstrate his love, share the good news, care for the vulnerable, carry one another’s burdens, guard truth and bring his purposes into a broken world.

We have a role to play — God has given each of us gifts, skills and perspectives for the benefit of others, so we should recognise them, use them and allow them to grow rather than dismissing or burying them.

We need resilience — our differences can create friction, but they also make us stronger and better able to respond to the world around us; when we disagree, we should ask whether our feedback is necessary, kind and true.

We are not here by accident or lacking what we need: God has brought together this diverse community and given us what is needed to serve one another and the world around us, so the question is what we will do with what we have been given.

Sermon Notes:

- slides: https://www.goldhill.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rooted-Resilient.pdf

What is shaping us — the world around us, or Jesus? We are being shaped all the time by the people, ideas, habits and culture around us, often in ways we hardly notice, but Paul calls us not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As we surrender ourselves to God and spend time with him through Scripture, prayer, silence, confession, fasting, community and rest, the Holy Spirit gradually changes the way we think, react and live so that we become more like Jesus. This transformation takes time, but as we look back we can begin to see that anger has become patience, judgment has become compassion and fear has been replaced by greater trust. We are invited to choose transformation rather than conformity, beginning not with striving but with surrender.

Sermon Notes:

- Slides: https://www.goldhill.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Romans-12v2.pdf

Elisha shows us what it means to carry God’s presence into difficult and unexpected situations. In Jericho, Elisha went to the source of the problem and God healed the poisoned water, showing that he can bring change where situations seem beyond repair. In Bethel, Elisha faced people who mocked and rejected God’s authority, reminding us that we should honour God’s word and not stand in the way of his work. As we enter new seasons, we can ask the Holy Spirit to work through us so that, like Elisha, we bring God’s presence and change the atmosphere wherever we go.

God often calls people who are already being faithful in the ordinary things of life, just as Elisha was faithfully ploughing his field when Elijah came to call him. We need to recognise when God is prompting us, count the cost of following him, and sometimes “burn the plough” by closing the door on old habits, relationships, ways of thinking or securities that keep us looking backwards. Rather than seeking the “mantle” of influence or recognition, we are called to “carry the water” by serving others faithfully. When we understand how much greater God’s invitation is than what we leave behind, surrender becomes something to celebrate rather than something to mourn.

Elijah discovered that God meets us not only in the highs of life but also in the depths, when we are exhausted, discouraged and wondering whether anything we do really matters. We may find ourselves at the “broom bush”, but God does not leave us there. He cares for the whole person, gives us time to rest and recover, walks with us towards a deeper encounter with him, and helps us see our situation through a bigger story. Wherever we are on the journey, we can trust that God is present, that we are not alone, and that the depths are not our final destination.

Sermon Notes:

- Slides: https://www.goldhill.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/elijah.pdf

In a shaky world, God is still in control and can bring new life even into the dry places of our lives. Jason reminds us through Elijah that God’s blessing follows surrender, and that we need to let go of anything we are looking to for security or fulfilment that only God can provide. Faith trusts God’s promises before the circumstances change, while prayer means asking humbly, specifically and persistently, even when we cannot yet see the answer. We should not despise the small clouds, but celebrate the first signs of God’s work and keep praying, believing that small beginnings can become great things.

1. Nothing is outside of God's rule2. Before God sends his blessing, he deals with our sin3. Faith hears what physical ears can't4. Prayer really does matter5. Don't despise the little clouds

Are we trusting fully in God, or are we still giving our hearts to things that cannot satisfy? Maria reminds us through the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel that even when faith feels outnumbered, God remains faithful and worthy of our trust, worship and obedience. The false gods of our age — such as success, status, money or appearance — promise much but cannot give the hope, peace and security that only God can provide. May we examine where our own hearts have wandered and choose again to put our confidence in the living God, knowing that he never gives up on his people.

Liz encourages us to see that God still speaks, still provides what we need, and still hears every prayer and every difficult question. Elijah and the widow both chose to trust God's word before they could see how things would work out, and God proved faithful in unexpected ways. As we face uncertainty ourselves, we are invited to keep trusting, knowing that God is listening and is already at work, even when we cannot yet see it.

1  God Speaks

2. God is a God of promise and provision

3. God hears.