In truth, this was a cry of triumph and victory. The Lord Jesus had finished paying the price for sin. He had paid the price that satisfied God’s justice. The debt is clear for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

As a church, God has given us a vision and a mission. We envision a Christ-centred, Spiritual community, passionate for the glory of God in all things. Our mission in order to accomplish this vision is to Gather, to Grow, to Give and to Go.

Listen to this sermon to understand what this looks like.

To Grow – The church is also a community that grows together. It is through our fellowship with one another that we can grow in accordance with God’s Word. We’re called to pursue spiritual growth individually and corporately, and the two are not mutually exclusive.

Peter (2 Peter 3:1 – 18) writes to the church to encourage them to continue to grow in God’s Word in the light of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He writes this way because there were scoffers and critics in that time who made light of the Word, even going to extent of challenging what Jesus said about His return (2 Peter 3:4). Peter goes on to show them how God’s Word is effectual and ought to be trusted. God, through His Word, created the heavens and earth; and God, through His Word, destroyed it during Noah’s time. God’s Word was perfectly accomplished. That same Word reveals how God is preparing the heavens and earth for a final judgement.

The only reason that the end has not yet come is because of God’s patience, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). As believers therefore we are to grow in God’s Word by Remembering God’s Word at all times; Revering God’s Word; Trusting in God’s Word and Keeping (Obeying) God’s Word.

The story of the meeting the Lord Jesus had with the woman of Samaria (John 4) illustrates for us His overall mission in the world. It was never meant to be only for Israel, but was rather a fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham. In Genesis 12:2 God promised that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through Abraham. God’s mission has always been for the world. When the Lord Jesus met the Samaritan woman He demonstrated His willingness to cross several traditional boundaries or obstacles in meeting her. He crossed geographical, gender, ethnic, religious boundaries and even interacted with her knowing the immorality of her life. Not for a moment does the Lord appear to judge her. She is rather moved by His interaction with her and puts her faith in Him as the Messiah. Many in her village also turn to Christ in faith. Listen to this sermon to understand God’s mission in the world and how we ought to love and serve all kinds of people as well.

Genuine worship involves our feeling. The Lord Jesus speaks about the importance of the inner person in our relationship with God when He says that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37). The Spirit ministers to our hearts, enabling us to understand God in a deeper way so that we can worship. Genuine worship happens when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

The church is called to be a worshipping community. Worship is at the core of our identity as the people of God. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

The song by Matt Redman captures well the importance of our heart in worship:

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (ESV)