Talks

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