Talks

Matt continued our “Who do you say I am?” Series and brought us PART 2 of “Jesus is a Friend.”

Friends of Jesus:

The disciples: Jesus says in John 15:15-16 I no longer call you servants….. Instead, I have called you friends…  They would have known Jesus has Rabi or Teacher but in this moment – Jesus was calling them FRIENDS!
Mary, Martha and Lazarus: Jesus empathised with them, ate with them, wept with them and loved them. Often meeting with them in their home, to relax in this intimate setting.
“Friend of sinners” – For example Zacchaeus! Zacchaeus was a tax collector for the Romans who cheated people out of their money.  Which meant he was despised by all the Jews in his community, yet Jesus singled him out, knew his name and invited Himself to eat in Zacchaeus’ home.  He does the same for us too!  He knows you by name and whatever you’ve done or haven’t done – he wants to come to your “HOME” today too!
Matt sang to us!  An old children’s song.. that finished with the line: “He (Jesus) wants to be your very best friend….”  He explained that he used to think that Jesus being our friend was something to learn in Sunday school, and maybe even rather “twee” but as he’s got older, come to value friendship as one of the most important things in his life. Why?
He said: “Close Friends are people who….

... I can trust deeply…
... understand me…
... “get” me…
... are in for the long haul, are loyal
... celebrate the goods time and cry with me during the struggles…
... give me the assurance that I am known and loved….

A new realisation that these qualities are also exactly the reason that we would want to know Jesus as OUR friend too today!  Earthly friends will let us down, Jesus never will.

What does it look like for you to have a friendship with Jesus today? Why not ask Him!?

Gill spoke to us on Sunday in the next part of our “Who do you say I am?” series – “Jesus is a Friend.”

She started by recognising the that God was speaking prophetically in the meeting to all of is to reiterate that we are all “Known and Loved”.

She used the incredible passage where Jesus is speaking openly and honestly to His disciples before He goes to the cross.  (John chapter 15.)  The Disciples knew Him as a Rabi, leader and teacher but in this episode, He tells them: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

The difference between servants and friends was stark.  A servant doesn’t know his masters business, but a friend does.

The ultimate act of friendship, Jesus describes in the passage is to “lay one’s life down for one’s friends.” Of course this was extreme, but would be the very thing that Jesus went on to do.  This act of friendship was based on the selfless love – Agape – which Jesus demonstrated throughout His life.

Gill shared her own personal story, of how Jesus spoke to her as a 14 year old.  He said 2 things:

1. You will share this story with a 1000 people. (Which, looking back she has now done…)

2. “I will always be your friend”  WOW!

Jesus know does the same for us.

Gill used the words of the famous hymn:

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?

Bob explains in the second part of our series “Who do you say I am?” what it means when Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd”.
Sheep are defenseless, dependent and often in danger.
A good shepherd will protect, nurture and know their sheep by name.

Will you let Jesus be YOUR good shepherd?

He will know your name:
John 10:27-28: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

He will protect, nurture and provide for you:
Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

He knows the best way for you:
Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Matt begins a new series based on Mark 8, where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do people say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?”
Part 1 “Who do you say I am?” - “Jesus is Lord”
John the Baptist had come to announce the coming of the “LORD” (John 1:19-23)
When he was asked who he was, he didn’t want the attention for himself but for Jesus:  “He (Jesus) must increase… I must decrease.”
Proclaiming “Jesus is Lord!”
This way of describing God was first revealed by God Himself to Moses when God introduced himself as “I am who I am”. This word is translated in Hebrew as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”, and today in our bibles as LORD.  It was a very a personal name, used only for God. A name so sacred and holy, the people of Israel didn’t even want to say it out loud.

When John prepared the way for Jesus, he was introducing to the world the face to go with the name “Jehovah / Yahweh” whose sandals John didn’t even feel worthy to untie.

Calling Jesus ‘LORD” was radical and dangerous in the culture at the time: Only Caesar was to be called ‘LORD.’

But declaring “Jesus IS Lord” is different to saying:  ‘Jesus is MY LORD’
What does it look like for Jesus to be Lord of MY life?
Are we ready to give up control, allow Jesus to guide the decisions in our life?
If life is a car, is Jesus in your boot (comes out only on Sundays!), in the back seat (a passenger!), in the front seat (a companion) or in the driving seat?
Or even if he is in the driving seat… are you still a “backseat driver?” telling him what to do or complaining about where he takes you? (J John)
To let Jesus be Lord of my life is a decision to be made every day. We can do it only because Jesus loves us, knows what best for us and that we can trust him.
“One day all knees will have to bow and declare him Lord, but for now we can choose to!” Phil 2:9-11

After giving us an update on what is happening with Links in Africa, our Special Guest Speaker Sam Walker talks to us about dwelling with and on Jesus, based on what we read in Luke 10:38-42 (the story of Mary and Martha) and Luke 11:1-4 (The prayer Jesus taught his disciples).

Sam touches on 5 important points:
1) Dwell with Jesus - often (Mark 1:35 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed)
2) Dwell with Jesus - when its busy
3) Dwell on Jesus - then move to action
4) Dwell on Jesus - who is at work within
5) Dwell with and on Jesus - through simple personal and communal prayer

Simply Jesus!

Gill Isterling speaks on the third part of our “Simply Jesus” theme of 2025. She looks at Colossians 1 – the supremacy of the Son of God.  God is BIGGER than we can think or imagine.  We can often put Jesus inside a box, believing we know everything about him – but we can’t contain Him as the song from Chris Tomlins song so clearly expresses:

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creations revealing Your majesty
From the colours of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God

All powerful, untameable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God

Speaking from Ephesians 1: 5-10 ….He settled on us as the focus of His love.  We are to be made WHOLE and HOLY by his love.  We will never fully understand that kind of LOVE that He has for us.

DO WE KNOW HIM?

We can encounter Jesus through different ways (worship, silence, praise, the bible). BUT WHEN WE SPEND TIME WITH HIM, we really get to know Him more deeply and we can start to become more like Him.

You cannot encounter Jesus and not be changed!

Julian of Norwich said: “God, of your goodness, give me yourself; you are enough for me, and anything less that I could ask for would not do you full honour. And if I ask anything that is less, I shall always lack something, but in you alone I have everything.”

Gill concludes with The Message Paraphrase of Matthew 11: 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Simply Jesus!

Bob’s message “Simply Jesus part 2”, challenges us to refocus on Christ’s authority and presence in our lives. He begins by reminding us that Jesus is in charge — not just of our personal faith but of everything in creation. No matter what happens in the world, Jesus will restore everything for His glory, and we can trust that He is working towards that ultimate renewal. Bob encourages us to take comfort in the fact that even when things seem out of control, Jesus knows best and can overrule any situation, guiding us in ways we may not always understand.

A central theme in Bob’s talk is that Jesus is calling His Church to be HIM HERE — to embody His love, grace, and truth in the world. This means stepping up as His representatives, bringing His light into our communities, and living with the confidence that nothing escapes His rule and reign. There is no part of our lives, no struggle, and no challenge that falls outside of His authority.

Bob finishes with a personal challenge: Are we letting Jesus take control? It’s one thing to believe in His authority, but another to actually surrender to it. He invites us to examine our hearts and ask whether we are truly allowing Jesus to lead, or if we’re still holding on to control. The call is clear—trust in His rule, step into our role as His Church, and live with the assurance that He is at work, restoring all things for His glory.

After Vision Sunday – in the first part of our new series “Simply Jesus”, Matt repeated the declarations of what we’re believing for. 
In 2025 we believe:
We will want more of JESUS!
We will learn more about JESUS!
We will understand more about JESUS!
We will focus our attention more on JESUS!
We will want to live even more FOR JESUS!
We will BECOME more like JESUS!
We will have a greater passion for JESUS!
We will think more like JESUS!
We will be moved with compassion more.. like JESUS!
We will share even more the story of JESUS!
We will recommit our lives to living for JESUS!
We will want to experience even more of the love of JESUS!
We will want to love the world… like JESUS!
We will fall even more in live with JESUS!

Our new theme / vision for the year is revealed: SIMPLY JESUS!

Matt gives us a few quotes on what has been said about Jesus. Two examples:
Billy Graham “Jesus was God spelling Himself out in language humanity could understand.”
Timothy Keller: “Jesus is the only God who, when you find Him, will satisfy you, and when you fail Him, will forgive you.”
But Jesus asks us today: But what about you? Who do YOU say that I am? Matthew Chapter 16

What an amazing explanation on why Baptism still matters today!
Baptism is one of the sacraments.
They are sacred rites or signs instituted by Jesus Christ that are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. Sacraments were called “mysteries” of the church.
And don’t we all love the wonderful testimonies of the 4 people getting baptised?