Shofar Durbanville

The Creator Has Not Abandoned His Creation.

What if the God who created everything has not stepped away from our broken world, but has come to make all things new?

In John 1, we discover the incredible truth that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is not a distant God. He is the Creator who has returned to bring light into darkness, hope into hopelessness, and life where there is brokenness.

Through Jesus, God is at work restoring individuals, relationships, families, and communities.

Return. Redemption. Recreation.

The good news is that God's renewing work is not only a promise for someday. It begins here and now.

Where do you need to experience His light and renewal today?

📖 John 1:1–18

Die Skepper gee nie op op sy skepping nie.

In Johannes 1 ontdek ons die wonderlike waarheid dat die God wat alles geskep het, self mens geword het en onder ons kom woon het.

Jesus het nie gekom om net vir ons 'n beter manier van lewe te wys nie. Hy het gekom om alles nuut te maak — om lig in duisternis, hoop in gebrokenheid en lewe waar daar dood is, te bring.

God het ons nie verlaat nie. Hy keer terug, Hy verlos en Hy herskep.

Waar in jou lewe het jy vandag God se lig en vernuwing nodig?

Sy genade is elke dag nuut. Genade op genade.

📖 Johannes 1:1–18

God has always desired to dwell among His people, and today He invites us to be part of building His house.

Through David's story, we are reminded that God's plans are greater than our own, His generosity is abundant, and His faithfulness never changes.

With Jesus Christ as our foundation, each of us has a unique and significant role in His church. We are not simply called to attend, but to love, serve and build together.

As we commission our life group leaders, may we be a community devoted to God's Word, fellowship, prayer and one another.

You matter in God's house. What are you building on?

Wat beteken dit om God se huis te bou? In hierdie preek uit 2 Samuel 7 ontdek ons dat God se plan groter is as ons eie drome. Ons is nie net geroep om vir Hom te werk nie; ons is self deel van die tempel wat Hy bou, met Jesus Christus as die fondament. Ontdek hoe ons met nederigheid, vertroue en vreugde deel kan wees van God se koninkryk, selfs wanneer sy planne anders verloop as wat ons verwag het.

Who is the hardest person for you to love?

In the final message of our series on Luke, Daniel van Schalkwyk challenges us with one of Jesus' most difficult teachings: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who mistreat you.

But loving our enemies is more than a feeling. It is a choice to break the cycle of retaliation and respond differently, even when others have hurt us.

Through the story of Saul and Ananias in Acts 9, we see what it looks like to put this teaching into practice. Ananias obeyed God and went to a man known for persecuting Christians.

Why are we called to love those who oppose us? Because God loved us first. While we were still sinners and enemies, He took the first step towards reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

We have received grace and mercy. Now we are called to extend that same grace to others.

This week, ask yourself: Who is the hardest person for me to welcome? And what is one step I can take towards them?

Sometimes it begins with a prayer. Sometimes it begins with a conversation. But it begins when we choose to break the cycle.

Jesus vra ons om iets radikaals te doen: om ons vyande lief te hê.

Maar liefde beteken nie dat ons onreg moet ignoreer nie. Dit beteken dat ons die siklus van vergelding breek en kies om goed te doen, te bid en te seën, selfs wanneer iemand ons seergemaak het.

Waarom? Omdat Jesus ons eerste liefgehad het, selfs toe ons nog God se vyande was.

Wie is die persoon wat jy die moeilikste vind om lief te hê?

“If you love me, join me.”
In this message, Madri Bruwer reminds us that Christian ministry does not begin with everything we try to do for Jesus, but with our relationship with Him.
When we recognise how much grace we ourselves have received, the way we see others begins to change. We do not need to respond with condemnation or have every answer. We can lay down our stones, listen, love, and look to Jesusalongside others.

God has not left us empty-handed. Through the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit, we can live out His love in practical ways—in our homes, workplaces, communities and on the streets.
The invitation is simple: Stay close to Jesus. Surrender your life to Him. And ask, “Lord, what is the next step?”
Our obedience becomes a testimony to His faithfulness, and a life fully surrendered to Him can bear more fruit than we could ever imagine.

Are you running your own race, or trying to live someone else's life?

In his message, “Allowing God to Enlarge Our Hearts,”Charley Elliott explores the story of Jacob and the way wounds, comparison and generational patterns can shape our understanding of ourselves.

Jacob spent much of his life striving for blessing, believing he had to fight, deceive and outsmart others to secure his future.But when he wrestled with God, everything began to change. God called him by his own name and gave him a new identity.

The same invitation stands before us today: stop measuringyour worth against others. Bring your wounds and the lies you have believed to God, and allow His truth to transform your heart.

God wants to do more than help us succeed. He wants us tobecome people who are full of Jesus, full of joy and full of love.

Two questions toreflect on:

·       What lie have I believed about myself that iskeeping my heart small?

·       Where is God inviting me to extend the blessingand grace I have received to others?

“I will run the pathof your commandments, for you will enlarge my heart.” — Psalm 119:32

Ons is nie net geroep om te ontvang nie — ons is geroep om uitgestuur te word.

In hierdie aangrypende boodskap deel Madri Bruwer uit haar 31 jaar se betrokkenheid by Straatwerk hoe Christus gebrokenheid in hoop, nuwe lewe en aanbidding verander.

God se tafel is lank genoeg vir almal. Ons almal leef uit genade, en daarom word ons geroep om ander met dieselfde liefde en oop arms te verwelkom.

Ons hoef nie al die antwoorde te hê of elke situasie te verstaan nie. Ons kan luister, langs mense staan, risiko's in liefde neem en vertrou dat Christus deur ons sal werk.

Die uitdaging is eenvoudig, maar diep: om in Jesus se liefde te bly en gehoorsaam te gaan waar Hy ons stuur.

“Programme maak nie dissipels nie. Mense maak dissipels.”

Mag ons meer wees as mense wat net kerk toe kom. Mag ons 'n uitgestuurde span wees wat Christus se liefde in die wêreld uitleef.

Who gets a place at Jesus' table?

In Luke 19, Jesus meets Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector despised by his own community. While everyone else sees a notorious sinner, Jesus sees someone worth seeking, welcoming, and befriending.

Jesus' welcome transforms Zacchaeus' life. His response is marked by generosity, repentance, and a desire to make right the wrongs he has committed.

This sermon reminds us that we are not welcomed by God because we have earned it. We are welcomed because of His mercy.

So how should we respond?

Remember the mercy you have received.
Re-evaluate your attitudes towards those who are different from you.
Reveal Jesus by building genuine friendships with people who may feel excluded.

As Ross reminds us, the goal is to befriend our neighbours not so that they might become Christians, but because we are Christians and want to live as Jesus did.

“You are welcome at the table because of mercy.”

May our homes, churches, and communities become places where people experience the welcoming love of Jesus.