"We dream of being a Christ-Centered, life transforming church where people of all nations and generations feel like they belong and are joyfully engaged in Kingdom work."

In the past two weeks, we looked at what we mean by being a “Christ-Centered church” and a “Life transforming church”. This week we want to focus on for whom (people of all nations and generations) and why (kingdom work) the church exists.

Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

"We dream of being a Christ-Centered, life transforming church where people of all nations and generations feel like they belong and are joyfully engaged in Kingdom work."

Last week we looked at what we mean by being a “Christ-Centered church” and this week we are going to look at the phrase “Life transforming church” and put some understanding and context around this so that we can live out the vision as individuals and together as a church community.

John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

As we head into the New Year we are going to walk through our vision statement:

"We dream of being a Christ-Centered, life transforming church where people of all nations and generations feel like they belong and are joyfully engaged in Kingdom work."

Today we are going to look at what it means to be a Christ-Centered Church.

Matthew 7:18-20 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Sometimes it feels like we go through spiritual ups and downs. It is really easy to get discouraged with these cycles, be they personal cycles or national cycles but while God sometimes has to discipline his people, he does not give up on them. In the book of Isaiah, there is a chapter which the author gives a pep talk to a downtrodden nation and in the process gives some good advice for all of us to follow, particularly in our spiritual walk, but also life in general.

Isaiah 52:12 But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Sunday Sermon by Christopher Uchegbuo

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Happiness is the ultimate goal of most people. The Bible often tells us to rejoice. But is joy and happiness the same? And how can we actively pursue it, is it not connected to external circumstances? And what does Jesus' birth have to do with all of that? Let us find out together what the Bible tells us about all of that.

Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people..."

As we journey through Advent, we come to the theme of love. We are all aware that the word “love” is one which means very different things based on context. When someone says they “love” a movie or “love” a food, it is different from someone, even the same person, saying they love their family.

But even with that said, the love of God is hard to fully understand. I think the closest we can come to it is a parental love, which is a different thing from romantic love or close comradeship which is formed in common experience.

John 3:16-17 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

As 2024 comes to an end, once again, it can hardly be said it was a peaceful year. One of Jesus’ titles is “Prince of Peace”. He also talks a lot about having peace in the Gospels. What is the peace we have in Christ, if not yet peace of earth and goodwill toward men?

Luke 2:14 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Today is the first week of Advent, the theme of which is “Hope”. So, we will take a break from the book of Hebrews and move into the Advent season by looking at the Hope given to us by God through the incarnation.

In Hebrews chapter 9, the author dives into this idea of something greater going on as he describes what is taking place in the temple of heaven, where Jesus is our high priest, exploring themes of worship, atonement, and the supremacy of Christ's sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:14 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!