Gospel Generosity | Part 1 | Why We Give
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Philippians 2:5-11
Read MoreThe Narrow Path | Part 8 | The Plank, the Speck and the Spirit of Condemnation
In this message, we discuss every not-Christian’s favourite Bible verse: do not judge. And the fact that this is quoted back to us so often is because the Church is infamous for its judgmental attitude.
Somehow, the Church has the manage the tension of being both wildly inclusive in the way of Jesus, and persuade people to join the journey on the narrow path. How can we do this?
According to Jesus, this means dying to our self-justification, hypocrisy and judgmental attitude, putting on humility and integrity instead so that we can walk in the way of loving correction.
Read MoreThe Narrow Path | Part 6 | Breaking Mammon’s Power
In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins to speak about our relationship to money, speaking in profound terms. His words apply equally to those who have a lot and those who have a little, because money can be or become an idol for anyone.
Jesus addresses us from the perspective that money is no neutral subject. He is making clear that there is an inherent power that money holds that will always make us desire more.
We invite you to let Jesus radically reshape your approach to possessions, and consider how you assign value, what you look to for a sense of identity and security and who you serve.
Read MoreThe Narrow Path | Part 4 | But I Say Unto You
In today’s passage, Jesus both gives the strongest possible confirmation that the law of Torah, and also says that there are sure limitations to it and we need to look beneath the surface of the law as we seek to live a life that glorifies God. After this introduction, Jesus goes through several hot topics…
Read MoreThe Narrow Path | Part 3 | The Beatitudes
In this opening statement to His great sermon, Jesus turns our whole understanding about His Kingdom upside down. From the get go, His listeners know that there is something very different about this man’s teaching, and they’d better pay attention. Interestingly, commentators wildly differ on how to take these blessing statements. Is Jesus describing good…
Read MoreThe Narrow Path | Part 1 | Intro
This message is an intro message to a 10-part series on the Sermon on the Mount. This one sermon from Jesus has been called: Jesus great Manifesto, a description of a life under the rule of God, a vision for individual and communal flourishing, the best TED-talk ever and many other things.
Jesus intention was for His followers to live these words. But how can we? It is so radical, so counter-cultural, and perhaps unattainable?
In this message, Koen is giving you a framework for approaching the Sermon on the Mount, which will serve us as a guide for the coming weeks as we work through its themes.
Read MoreEphesians | Chapter 6 | Prepare for Battle
There is a war going on all around us, and we are not civilians, but soldiers. Paul describes the average Christian as a Roman soldier with a full armour always ready for combat. What is this fight about? Who is our enemy? And how should we prepare for battle?
Read MoreEphesians | Chapter 3 | Let THAT sink in
There is something that needs to ‘sink in’ to the heart of every Christian.
If this doesn’t happen – we continue to feel powerless to the struggles we face.
If this doesn’t happen – we continue to feel shame over what we’ve done
If this doesn’t happen – we continue to feel guilt over that habits we just can’t shake.
If this doesn’t happen – we will always continue to feel unworthy, unloved and unwanted in the family of God.
What needs to sink in is simply that what the Bible says about us is actually true.
How God sees us – needs to become how we see ourselves.
What is theologically true about us, needs to become our experienced reality.
What we know needs to make that 10-inch drop from the head to the heart.
When this sinks in, a whole new world is in front of us.
If that never really sinks in, we will get stuck.
Ephesians | Chapter 2 | Grace and the Renewed People of God
In the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul is working out the implications of grace. He wants us to understand what grace means and how we can live in response to to grace.
In today’s message, we will talk about how grace reforms us to live as the renewed people of God. And this works out on two levels; the individual level and at a communal level of the church.
This message will have one theme, but be in two parts. We are first going to work out how grace reforms you and me to live as the new humanity. And then, we will look at how that same grace reforms us at a communal level into the renewed people of God.
Read MoreEphesians | Chapter 1 | The Gift Of Grace
In the letter to the Ephesians, one of Paul’s purposes is to help the readers understand the huge implications of grace. You are saved by grace, not by works, but then, what are you saved for? In this first message, we are unpacking two big words: election and inheritance, and see how they relate to the purpose of our salvation.
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