Hills Church

Over the summer, we were encouraged to step out by praying for others or sharing our faith, inspired by Jesus’ words in John 14 that His followers would do the works He did—and even greater things. Now, with time to reflect, the focus turns to what actually influences our willingness to act. Our actions are shaped by what we truly believe. When it comes to faith, helping others, or sharing the gospel, the same is true. We don’t act in a vacuum; we respond based on our “why.”

Faith isn’t meant to be a transaction where we simply secure a better eternity. While heaven is central to Christian hope, this narrow view misses the ongoing reality of God’s kingdom breaking into the present through relationship, the Holy Spirit, and lived obedience. Christianity is not about managing a spiritual investment, but about responding to a living God.

Jesus’ healing of the leper in Mark 1 shows that His works weren’t just morally good deeds. They were physical expressions of spiritual truth—revealing God’s compassion, authority, and nearness. The healing restored dignity, community, and hope, pointing beyond the miracle to the Father’s heart. The man’s overflowing response wasn’t obligation; it was transformation.

Doing “greater things” flows naturally from encountering Jesus. When we’re moved by His love, sharing it with others becomes a joyful response, not an obligation.

Jesus once asked His disciples a question that still speaks powerfully today: “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). While many people in the world see Jesus as a good teacher, prophet, or historical figure, Peter declared the truth that sits at the heart of our faith—Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

In our community and across New Zealand, many people hold different ideas about who Jesus is, and many don’t know Him at all. This makes Jesus’ question deeply personal and deeply relevant. Scripture shows us that Jesus is far more than a moral example. He is God’s Anointed One—our priest, king, and prophet. As priest, He gave His own life as the perfect sacrifice. As king, He reigns with humility and love. As prophet, He reveals God fully and pours out the Holy Spirit on His people.

Jesus is also the unique Son of God—not just a title, but truly sharing in God’s nature. Because of who He is, His death and resurrection matter for everyone. His sacrifice is not only for us, but for the whole world.

This truth calls us to live authentically as followers of Jesus—loving others, living out our faith, and confidently carrying the real Jesus through our everyday lives.

As we begin a new year, we take a moment to reflect and to look forward with hope. The words from Habakkuk remind us that our faith is not dependent on everything going well. Even in seasons of uncertainty or loss, God remains our strength and our joy, and we can choose to trust Him.

Looking back, the past year has held different experiences for each of us. Some have walked through challenges they never expected, while others have known seasons of blessing and growth. Both shape us. Difficult times can build resilience and deepen our reliance on God, while times of blessing invite us to consider how we might share what we’ve received with others.

As we remember Jesus through communion, we’re reminded of the greatest gift of all—His life, death, and resurrection. This anchors us in hope and invites us to consider how God has been at work in us and how He may be leading us.

As we move into the year ahead, may we live with courage, speak with kindness, and share the hope we have in Christ with those around us.

As we reflect on the year that has been, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and goodness, even through seasons we would never have chosen. For many, this year has carried real challenges and moments of pain. Yet alongside the difficulty, there have also been moments of courage—times when people responded to the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak, act, or encourage others.

When we consider God’s goodness, our attention naturally turns to the communion table. The bread and the cup are simple, physical reminders of Jesus—His body given and His blood poured out for us. They help us understand that God’s goodness is not distant or abstract, but real, present, and something we can receive with gratitude.

The story of Moses offers a helpful picture. God’s glory is too overwhelming for human eyes to behold, yet God chooses to reveal His goodness instead. Like the sun, which we cannot look at directly but can experience through its light and warmth, we may not see God face to face, but we can see the effects of His goodness in our lives. That goodness has substance. It changes us and leaves a visible mark.

As we move forward, we do so with confidence. God’s goodness has not changed. His presence goes with us. With courage and boldness, we are invited to remain open to praying for others, sharing hope, and gently reminding the world that God is good.

As Christmas draws near, this is a moment to pause, give thanks, and reflect on God’s faithfulness through every season of church life. In times of transition and celebration, we are reminded of Jesus’ words in John 14, where He invites those who believe in Him to live as He lived and to participate in the works He began. While that invitation can feel daunting, Jesus also promises the Holy Spirit, reminding us that this life is not lived in our own strength but through God’s power at work within us.

Often, our minds jump straight to miracles when we think about the works of Jesus. Yet His invitation reaches far beyond the supernatural. It includes deepening our relationship with God, loving one another well, caring for the vulnerable, extending grace, and living with humility and obedience. These everyday acts of faithfulness are just as central to the life Jesus models.

A key question shapes it all: why do we do these things? Scripture points us to a clear purpose—to reveal the Father. Everything Jesus said and did showed the world what God is like. In the same way, our lives are meant to reflect His character so others may encounter God through us.

When our hearts are aligned with Him, there is no divide between sacred and ordinary. Every moment becomes an opportunity to glorify God as our words, actions, and lives point to His goodness wherever we are.

The disciples had proclaimed the kingdom, healed the sick, and driven out demons. But Jesus pointed to something deeper that was coming. The “greater thing” would not only be about power or activity, but about transformation from the inside out.

Scripture helps us understand this by placing love at the very centre of life with God. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is patiently described as kind, humble, enduring, and selfless. Galatians 5 speaks about the fruit of the Spirit—but fruit is singular. This invites us to see love as the fruit, with joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness as the visible evidence of that love at work in us. When that love is present, it changes how we speak, how we treat others, and how we respond to the world around us. It also gives weight and credibility to the gospel we share.

After Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples’ capacity to love grew beyond cultural and racial boundaries. As we approach Christmas, we are reminded that the greatest gift we carry is the love of Christ within us. This love sustains us, produces joy, strengthens faith and hope, and quietly reveals to the world that we belong to Jesus.

Communion invites believers to return to the awe, reverence, and holiness of Christ. For someone who did not grow up in a Christian environment, the idea of sacredness was originally shaped by a different faith tradition—where holy things were treated with deep respect. But encountering Jesus made sacredness personal: a holy God who knows each of us by name and gave himself for us. 

Over time, faith can become comfortable, and it becomes easy to lose the sense of wonder at who Jesus truly is. Communion draws us back to the reality of his sacrifice, reminding us that grace was costly and salvation came through profound surrender. Scripture affirms that through Christ, believers are made sacred—set apart as God’s dwelling place, bearers of his image, and recipients of his life breathed into them. 

Communion is not merely a ritual; it is a sacred encounter where heaven meets earth. One personal testimony shared the power of taking communion at home during moments of distress. A story of praying over a child’s persistent fungal infection—even through a simple online call using water and chocolate—became a powerful reminder of Christ’s healing presence. Within a week, the condition was completely healed. 

Others shared testimonies of learning to step out in faith, trusting that Jesus backs up our obedience. From preaching with a Spirit-given word to witnessing miraculous healing in a woman who walked again after prayer, these moments reveal the sacredness of Christ at work today. 

Communion reminds us: Jesus’ sacrifice is holy. His presence is holy. The moment is holy. As often as we take the bread and cup, we remember him with reverence, gratitude, and renewed awe. 

John 14 invites followers of Jesus to step into the life and work that He modelled—works that reflect God’s heart for people. While we often think of miracles as the “greater things,” Scripture also highlights Jesus’ quieter acts of compassion: seeking out those on the margins, restoring the broken, defending the vulnerable, and offering grace where others offered judgment. Stories like Zacchaeus and the woman caught in adultery remind us that the work of God is most often found in mercy, justice, and genuine connection with those others might overlook.

Jesus also teaches that prayer is central to living out this calling. But many struggle with the gap between what Scripture promises—“ask in my name and I will do it”—and personal experience. Yet asking is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of trust. Asking acknowledges our need, our vulnerability, and our belief that God is able and willing to respond. When we choose not to ask—whether out of pride, fear, or hesitation—we often close off opportunities for God to work through us and through others.

To ask “in Jesus’ name” is far more than adding a phrase to the end of a prayer. In biblical thought, a name represents the character, nature, and essence of a person. Praying in Jesus’ name means aligning our requests with who He is—His holiness, His love, His justice, His mercy, and His goodness. It is praying with the posture of the Lord’s Prayer: Your kingdom come, Your will be done. As we grow in this alignment, our prayers echo God’s heart, and our confidence in asking deepens.

Jesus invites us to ask boldly, trust deeply, and live in a way that reflects His nature to the world.

Jesus’ words in John 14:12 invite every believer into a life shaped by His example: doing the works He did — and even greater things. For many Christians, these words feel inspiring yet distant. It’s easy to notice a gap between what Scripture promises and what we currently experience. But instead of lowering expectations or explaining away the verse, we’re invited to let God stretch our faith and reshape our everyday living.

At the heart of “greater things” is love—not spiritual performance, dramatic moments, or outward results. 1 John 4 reminds us that God is love, and anyone who lives in His love reflects His character. Greater things begin with receiving God’s love deeply, allowing it to transform the inner life, and letting it overflow into relationships, conversations, and everyday moments.

As we walk in Christ’s love, speak His love, and share His love, the gap narrows. Jesus is lifted up, people encounter His heart, and His kingdom grows through ordinary believers taking simple, courageous steps of faith.

As Christmas draws near, it’s a time to reflect on Jesus—not just as the baby in the manger, but as the Son of God whose life and works continue to invite participation. John 14:12 reminds us that those who trust in Him are called to do the same works He did, and even greater things through His Spirit. Belief is more than acknowledging Jesus; it’s trusting Him fully, entrusting every part of life to His care, and being convinced of who He truly is.

The works of Jesus—healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding the hungry, and proclaiming good news—flowed from His relationship with the Father. Believers today are invited into that same ongoing work, regardless of background, language, or circumstance. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that God has prepared specific works in advance for each of us to do. Paying attention to these opportunities allows ordinary lives to reflect extraordinary love, compassion, and hope.

Trusting Jesus leads to growth, courage, and a deepening faith that transforms not only our own lives but also the world around us. Small acts of obedience, guided by His Spirit, allow His power to be made visible. In living this out, we participate in God’s redemptive work, pointing others to His love, mercy, and the hope found in Christ.