All Teachings

A man can never be the same after hearing God's truth spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit; he will either obey and go forward, or ignore and die a little. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors- and they have no comforter.

There will be a time and there will be a place where God will bring justice and judgement to both the wicked and the righteous. Until then, we live in the knowledge that God is big and we are small.

God’s purposes unfold at the intersection of place and time.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.

All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. A person can do nothing better [TOV] than to eat and drink and find satisfaction [TOV] in their own toil.

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

Lord, we have heard of Your fame; we stand in awe of Your awesome deeds. Now Lord, repeat them in our day, in our time make them known.

How do you plan to build in 2025? Have you given it any thought? Do you just plan to hit repeat and hope it’s better than last year? Psalm 46 gives us clear insight on how to build a year in the ways of God.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God's abundant mercy and grace is the true essence of Christmas. It encouraged believers to reflect on the birth of Jesus as a testament to divine love and redemption.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means "God with us).

Matthew picks up on a prophecy spoken to the people of God in their darkest hour, that God wants to be with us in the darkest valleys and when we face the highest mountains. And today we are reminded that when it comes to the heart of God for His people, nothing has changed.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions

Everything in the gospel is liveable, and our task is to get it lived. It is not enough that we simply announce the gospel, explain it, or whip up enthusiasm for it. We need to live it.

They claim to know God, but by their actions, they deny Him.

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness-- a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Live and pray in light of eternity.

A prayer of blessing over the church.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You - who works for those who wait for Him.

See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

During the evening service, Nico van der Merwe wraps up our series on prayer by sharing practical tips and inspiring stories from his own experiences. Join us as he offers valuable insights and encouragement for deepening your prayer life.

Nico van der Merwe wraps up our series on prayer by sharing practical tips and inspiring stories from his own experiences. Join us as he offers valuable insights and encouragement for deepening your prayer life.

In our prayer, "Your Kingdom come," we're asking for a world where Jesus reigns as the one true King, His rule without any rivals. It's a prayer for a kingdom where He reverses the fall of humanity and restores everything back to its original, perfect design.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. - Who do you know who is far from God, but close to you?

The Lord’s Prayer - “ covers the world of everyday trifles and universal history , the world with its hours of joy and bottomless anguish , the world of citizens and soldiers , the world of monotonous routine and sudden terrible catastrophe , the world of carefree children and the problems that can shatter grown men “

I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Jonah is a picture of Jesus. There is only one that was greater than Jonah - that’s Jesus. There is a bigger grace we can draw on - Jesus, the one who call out a new name, destiny and identity.

Looking at Jonah’s prayer and the cross references to the rest of scripture, we start to see a picture of the cross and redemption.

I searched for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. - Who is on the other side of your yeas for Jesus?

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. That is what I tried to forestall (prevent/obstruct) by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Where is your Tarshish? Where in your life are you running from God? - I am Jonah when I choose to run away.

I am Jonah when I just don’t care, when I’m completely unaware, or when I’m void of prayer.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

As a community filled with big capacity leaders, influencers and culture creators, scripture calls us to have a biblical view of work as a calling, worship, and service.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

As the Father-heart of God cascades into our lives, there is a whisper for us to respond to Him rightly by knowing Him truly.

“So now I challenge you, if you are not going, do so - for each of us has a different task to do in the body of Christ. And also, I challenge and encourage you to continue to grow in Christ daily reading his word, praying, worshiping and fellowshipping. Do not be satisfied with staying the same person and doing the same mundane routine each day, but draw closer to God." - BJ Higgins

Geoff and Jane Kirsten joined us to share an exciting update on Freedom City, their thriving church and what God is doing in Lisbon, Portugal. www.freedomcity.pt

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!”

The cross of Christ is a declaration of God’s love for you, is a declaration that God understands your pain and it is the declaration that God can bring what’s dead, back to life.

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. We are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.

I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles were – free from the law.

Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

What the gospel gives us is nothing short of the full rights of a first born son. Today Rory unpacks what this means for us in our day to day relationship with God.

God is saying to us: “I’ve given you my Promise. I won't delay. At the perfect time my plan will be revealed”. This Promise Agreement is dependent only on the Promiser

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.

Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.

What would it look like if what God did in our midst this year is still reverberating through the city in 2064? What if all we need is to know Him better? Ephesians 1

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us

Christmas carols

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

For I know that I am not justified by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

Galatians is often like a good marinade, slowly transforming hard hearts to soft, gospel centred hearts. Join us as we gaze on the wonder of the gospel and trust in the life changing power of grace.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. Notes: https://downloads.3ci.co.za/Sermons/Galatians23/01_We_are_a_gospel_people_notes.pdf

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

Rory wraps up the "anything can happen" series

Taking the Gospel all the way home

God did this breathtaking, majestic creation, so that we would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, for he is not far from any one of us.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

We’re not lone rangers. We live Christ together, we live Christ at home and we open our homes. We don’t take the easy way out. We Live Christ through what we do every day. For to me, to Live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up."

Morning by morning, I lay the pieces of my life on Your altar, waiting for the fire to fall. Here I am, your invited guest, waiting for directions to get through enemy lines.

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting’... And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’...

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

“Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness... When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God“

Jesus, the hidden manna.

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness.

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They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

"Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya near Cyrene, Rome both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

In the last days, God Says, I will pour out my spirit on all people.

The Kingdom of God is the place where Jesus rules without rival and throws open the floodgates of heaven.  A place where anything can happen.

What does it look like to come face to face with the risen Christ?

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

So when we say “Hallowed be your name”, we’re asking: “Cause Your name to be HOLY,” We cannot make His name Holy, it is already Holy, Cause it to be Holy over me “Cause Your name to be SANCTIFIED.” 

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

The church was the only community where you would find a servant greeting his master with a holy kiss, because they lived free from prejudice arising from social distinctions, discrimination against the poor and partiality toward the well-to-do. Instead, in the church, masters and servants, young and old, sinful and saintly all stand equal at the cross.

God invites us to feast at His table, revelling in His faithfulness, rather than wandering on our own, making our way through valleys alone. Which table will you sit at this year.

City Celebration with Terry Virgo.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?”

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Elected for His purpose

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, for ever praised! Music: The Church I Grew Up In - Tasha Cobbs Leonard 

Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; outdo one another is showing honour.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.

Dolly Sonjica’s testimony of finding healing from grief after the loss of her husband and her son.

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

While on the one side the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our poverty, blindness, slavery and captivity, on the other side, He has anointed Jesus to free us by dying on our behalf.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement.

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

It is possible to keep in step with the Spirit, allow Him to produce fruit within you, and the outflow will be glorifying to God and witnessing to others.

‘Whether you are more artistically inclined like Bezalel, or more strategic like Gideon, or just in need of POWER like Samson, just ask the Holy Spirit and He will fill you where you’re, with what you need to accomplish the task set before you.’

Jesus never worked for His sonship, He worked from it. When we are full of the Spirit we will know: I am a son, He loves me, He’s well pleased with me, I’m adopted into His family, I’m not shaken by my family history, I overcome the temptation of self and power, and I tell people of the Lord’s favour.

The wind blows where there are no walls.

The invitation is to open your hands, drop your defences and invite the Holy Spirit in.

How do we come to know the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

In Romans 8 Paul asks ‘What then shall we say in response to these things? IF God is for us, who can be against us.’ What would it mean if God really was for us?

He helps us, He intercedes for us and He leads us according to the will of the Father.

And if the Spirit of him or raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead  will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Our hearts are prone to run from God, to turn from all that He’s done and all that He has for us. Today we look at what God has done to capture our wandering hearts.

Paul reminds us that worry, stress and anxiety are not meant to trap us in a valley of indecision, but rather that it should be a constant call to prayer.

“ Divine Favour, Wholeness, Wellness, Tranquility, Prosperity, Flourishing, Every kind of Good “

If your heart feels like that one person - all alone in a hazmat suit and gloves - trying to salvage something of your life, trying to clean up a mess that’s way bigger than you... The cross says - put down your gloves.

We stay in the story through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit

Learn how to climb the mountain. On the mountain we’ll see the promised land and the inheritance. We can only be effective if we know how to climb to the top of the mountain to be alone with God.

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church

Revival waits for those who will pray with the intimacy and authority of a son. God is calling for His church to awaken again.

At 3Ci, what does it mean to live a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work.

This, then, is how you should pray:"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"

City Celebration with Terry Virgo

We have won an amazing victory, because what Jesus did for us.

Far Above - Ladies event

Do you know the Hope to which you have been called? How is it changing the way we live from this moment and into eternity?

Paul calls us to live far above by getting to know Jesus better, getting to know his ways better and getting to know his church better.

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. - Eph 1:15-17

The battle is the Lord’s

Scripture calls us to celebrate Christmas like those taking in the harvest or warriors sharing their plunder.

Throughout the centuries Christians have celebrated Advent as a way to set their expectations on the Christ of Christmas. What are your expectations this year?

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth (Palingenesia) and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

This week we step back and look at how Paul frames Romans 6,7, and 8 to better understand his overall approach to applying the gospel before we unpack these chapters in the coming weeks.

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

We rejoice in our position in Christ, we rejoice in our pain, and we rejoice in our reconciliation to our heavenly Father.

The posture most natural to Jesus is not a pointed finger, but open arms.

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Come into the room to receive God's presence, and get to know Him, only then can we go out into the world

When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them

This week we look at Acts 8,9 and 10 and see how God changes the lives of his people, turning dusty roads into runways.

As we explore the book of Acts everyone can find their place in the Church that is not confined to a building but is unleashed and turns the world upside down.

God is going to build a community on this earth that looks like this prayer. Full of truth, glory, power, love, forgiveness, holiness, and that’s how we overcome the world. That’s the church we pray for.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

To all who receive him, to those who believe in His name, he brings all that He is and all that He has - the entire arsenal of the power and presence of God to bear on your life, so that you can be His and live as a child of God.

The Word of God activates His purposes in our lives, allowing a change in the atmosphere around us, putting His glory on display.

God’s word is given to us to feed us, fight for us and make us fruitful. But where do we even start?

Looking back at Luke before lock-down it is evident that God used 2019 to prepare us for what was to come in 2020. Though much of what He said was lost on us, the word of God always comes a second time.

Jesus built a radically different, counterintuitive culture that shocked people – and set them free – and we get to be part of it.

God intended you to live on a mantel piece, a trophy of his grace, on a lamp-stand bringing light in a crooked and perverse world. Don’t let anything compromise your saltiness, your bright shining light, bring God-flavour to your world!

Jesus summarises all that we are called to with the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. So it should come as no surprise that Jesus ends his ministry in Matthew 25 with a deep dive into what this looks like practically for us today.

Introduction to ONE33.

Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Wisdom has built her house, and she invites us to a feast of fruitfulness, rather than a battle for balance.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

The historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is so strong that even secular sceptics, if they try to do honest history, have no way of explaining the missing body on Sunday morning besides an actual resurrection.

Good Friday 2021.

Running through all five of these Old Testament books is the truth that freedom and fruit come through abiding in Jesus: living tenderly and flexibly, no matter where we are, and what we face.

Between the Dead Sea and dead sand, God says return to me, return to my people, return to my promises, return to my presence.

Step into the story of the kinsman-redeemer who saves you and sets you free.

Run to your true Boaz - Jesus Christ

Celebrating the eternal miracle of the survival of God’s people.

Rediscovering the power and presence of God in the book of Esther.

Finding love, freedom, adventure and most importantly, finding Christ in the Song of Solomon.

In the midst of the storms of life the book of Ecclesiastes asks the question - ‘Is God’s presence enough?’

Time to return to the maker! To the God of prayer, to the God who answers prayer, to the God who makes sense of things.

In 2 Kings 4 we have a story that helps us understand how God invites us to trust Him in the midst of our lamentations.

The book of Lamentations helps us connect our cries to the greatest cry in History. Click on "Notes" for a helpful resource on grief.

The Megilloth is a group of books in the Old Testament; Lamentations, Ruth, the Song of Solomon, Esther, and Ecclesiastes. These are five books which the Hebrews would read every year, and they would learn about God. Our commitment this year is to follow in their footsteps as we learn about our incredible Father.

Join us this Christmas as we learn more about our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Our Prince of Peace brings us peace that does not depend on our circumstances, but rather reconciles us with our Father.

Our Everlasting Father shows us that we are all prodigal sons, who are provided for and persistently loved.

Let's allow our Everlasting Father, who surrounds us on every side, to set the tone of Christmas.

Join us as we dive into our new series, For Unto Us, and learn about our Wonderful Counselor.

When you are in Christ, you are in freedom. You don’t need to turn back to the weak principles of the world, because Christ is enough.

The greatest plot twist in all of history was the big reveal of the resurrected, risen Saviour. And we get to be the big reveal of Jesus to the world because He is in us – the hope of glory.

Jesus is the Head of the church, and when we make Him supreme, everything in our lives takes its rightful place.

Jesus is the Head of the church, and when we make Him supreme, everything in our lives takes its rightful place.

Welcome back to church! Join us for our first Sunday back as we dive into the book of Colossians.

In big moments of transition, we’re called to cross over into the new season with courage.

Will we come out of this stronger? Instead of becoming dull, we are encouraged to endure, and through faith and patience - inherit the promises of God.

Righteousness, how do we get it and what does it give us?

We are building for people to come to church and live under open skies with open doors leading to new adventures.

We should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other on as we anticipate that day dawning

Learning to live a life of radical risk taking obedience in the cause of Christ.

An incredible gospel encounter shows us the perfect knowledge, wisdom, power and love of Jesus. He saw you before you were born, He sees who and what you're destined to become, and He would stop a meeting just for you.

Join us for the conclusion to our Rockstar series!

Are you going towards the mud or the glory?

When all the other lights go out the morning star still shines in the dark announcing a new day.

Join us for an overview of 2 Peter.

Chief Shepherd, Creator, Christ. Jesus deals with the shadows of our past, so that even our shadows would bring healing.

You are invited to a miracle meal of breakfast with the Son.

Don’t waste your suffering.

Never retaliate, nor insult, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing—because a blessing is what God promised you.

If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and pursue it.

In complicated, uncertain times, what if God is calling wives and husbands not to be Wonder Woman or Superman, but to be rock stars?

Jesus came to show us that our perfect heavenly Father has a long fuse, a short memory, a thick skin and a big heart.

As strangers in this world we as servants are learning to silently submit to the shepherd of our souls.

The Stone, The Priests, The People. 1 Peter 2 - One the great chapters of the Bible showing us the church that God is building.

1 Pet 2:2-3 - Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. Crave the pure spiritual milk. What has God shown you? Leadership in the church begins with leading your family. Are you able to lead yourselves? Your families?

1 Pet 1:22 - You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. So get rid of all evil behaviour. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 1 Pet 2:1 So now Love So that He will grant you His blessing (1 Pet 3:9)

1 Pet 1:17-And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favourites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” The only metric is Prayer and the presences of God Living in reverent fear of God
- Are you living in constant awareness of God, like you are aware of COVID-19?

15 points of readiness / personal walk with God 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do. 1 Pet 1:14-15 NLT Live as obedient children God love’s to speak to His children, are you listening?

Personal walk with God So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 1 Pet 1:13 NLT Prepare your minds, (baton down the hatches, put on your PPE) Journey Work Running into battle Exercise self-control (be careful who you are listening to).

Join us as we learn from Peter about how moving from belief to trust in a time of worry and uncertainty could have eternal consequences.

Join us for our new series through 1 and 2 Peter, Rockstar!

The LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. As we dive into Proverbs 2 and ask our Heavenly Father for wisdom, we’ll begin to understand what is right and just and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart from His mouth. Knowledge will fill you with joy, wise choices will watch over you and understanding will keep you safe.

The way that a Christian chooses to face trouble has the ability to turn us into something splendid instead of crushing us. This is what 1 Peter is about. Suffering and glory are deeply connected – just look at the life of Jesus. Suffering and glory are inextricably bound up together in the Christian life.

The book of Joel is a powerful reminder of God’s kindness when we’re faced with ruin, His kindness in leading us to repentance, and His kindness in promising restoration. Yahweh is God, and He is with us.

In John chapter 1 we can see 8 different aspects of Jesus' life presented. As we lay hold of Him in these unbelievably diverse ways, some heavenly and some earthly, we are equipped for this time, because we are going to desperately need Him to minister, not only to us and to our church, but to our city, our nation, and our world.

In times of catastrophe and crisis, we often have incredible opportunities to love our neighbours. Through Jonah we can learn how to challenge our dangerous defaults and allow our faith to be of significant public use. Allowing the peace of God to flow through us as we love our neighbours in these challenging times.

This Easter Sunday as we celebrate the breaking of the ultimate lockdown of death, we ask for courage to come into your hearts and homes at this time. And as Jonah emerged from his lockdown with an 8 word sermon that changed Nineveh we are trusting for our own 8 word sermons to change our lives, our loves, our cities and societies.

Whether it's the world's history, your own history, or biblical history, it needs to be explained to us, if we are to understand it. In Luke 24 Jesus explains His story, and in so doing explains all of history, including yours, showing how we are the prized possession of the creator of this universe. Showing how we have been forgiven, how we have been cleansed and how we have been ransomed.

While our city, our nation and the world are questioning everything in the midst of our current crisis, let them find the covenant of God through our lips, our lives and our hearts. As we learn to connect our current crisis, to the covenant of God and allow Christ to reign in our lives.

Acts 27 - the merchant, the military, the majority and the man of God. There are many stories and all sorts of advice going around the internet at this time, but at this time be careful who you listen to.

The groan - The Spirit takes our groans and offers them perfectly to the Father. The goal - To become like Jesus. The grace - The chain cannot be broken -Foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified. The guarantee - God will use all His power and all His generosity to make sure you are right.

Dear 3Ci Family, In light of ongoing leaders meetings this week, and further discussions with scientists and experts in the field of diseases, we believe that the wise course of action going forward considering the latest developments - is for us to rather meet as individuals and families in our homes.

Living like a slave in the Father’s house has been described as condemning, judgemental, anxious, insecure, marked by little intimacy and joy, no music, no dancing, deep insecurity, overly sensitive to criticism or being overlooked. Life for a slave is the same as a religious Christian; it is a joyless crushing drudgery.

Life is a combination of spectacular things and simple things. In almost everyone’s life there are breathtaking things and boring things. Fantastic things and familiar things. Extraordinary things and ordinary things. Awesome things and average things. Exotic things and everyday things. That’s the way life is.

In Luke 11 Jesus shows us that, instead of making up boundaries that separate us from the world, we can follow Him, and change the world: turning it upside down by loving God and people from the inside out.

We are one body, with many gifts, in view of God’s mercy and the songs that surround us, we offer these gifts to Him so that we can build the church and change the world!

The gift that God has placed in you, when exercised, activates the presence, the power and the purposes of God.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God’s Word gives us roots – and then it gives us routes. Our roots (who we are, how we’re grounded) determine our routes (where we go, how we live). So on the cusp of a new year, what does it look like to be rooted right – making God our hope and confidence – so the route ahead becomes clear?

Hebrews 12 shows us that if we Take A Look at Jesus – if we see Jesus clearly (and in His light, see ourselves more accurately) – we’re able to Get a Grip, and finish the year strong.

Religion says there’s something wrong with you and you need to fix it. The Gospel says there’s something wrong with you and you need to look to Jesus!

Farewell service for Geoff and Jane Kirsten and the Lisbon Church plant team.

The passionate commitment of the covenant of God. In the midst of the storms and weight of our lives, God wants us to run to Him. Allowing His covenantal nature to lift the weight and provide the strength in the storm.

In Psalm 90 Moses gives us a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest leaders our world has ever seen. Allowing us to see how he thought about himself, where he lived and what he lived for. This challenges us to ask 3 questions: #1 What is your designation? #2 What is your address? #3 What is your priority?

Moses prayed, ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’ (Psalm 90:12) We believe we’re made for more than just getting through life. How do we wisely steward our one life – our past, present and future – so that our numbered days count for Christ in this life and the next?

Where did we ever get the idea that following Jesus would lead to a life of comfort and convenience? Jesus is like smelling salts to our lives of mediocrity, waking us up as He calls us to follow Him on an adventure that gives us a radical new priority, new identity and new affection.

Walking into your inheritance is largely external - it happens to you. It can be a moment or a season when you enter a situation imposed on you by outside circumstances or events. Waiting, however, is largely an internal event. It’s where transformation happens and it’s crucial in our journey with God.

Whenever you attempt something for God there is going to be opposition that is going to bring distraction. What we need is a great solution to allow us to say OH NO to the great distraction and OH YES to the great project.

In the midst of the rubble of Jerusalem we see how Nehemiah rallies a nation and renews their vision of what they were accomplishing for God. When the leaders praise, serve and protect the people, it renews the culture and this is effective whether you are rebuilding a nation, a business or a marriage.

Generosity gives us the eyes to see the more that we are called to!

We know we’re made for more. We know there’s a call of God on each of our lives. But what does that even mean and how do we go about answering that call? What does it look like to go big before we go home, for eternity?

God has a 10 lane highway of inheritance for each and every one of us. This inheritance is ready and waiting on the other side of our obedience.

Whenever you make a decision for God there will be opposition. In Nehemiah 4 we see how the accusations begin to pile up from Sanballat & Tobiah. If you are going to build God’s way it will seem ridiculous / “belaglik” to the world and you need to be prepared for when the accusations come.

The gospels are full of accounts of Jesus healing people. In Luke 5:17-32 we see that Jesus is more intent on healing our souls than our sicknesses. But why does Jesus heal? How does He heal? Who does He heal? What should our response be when Jesus heals? What should our response be when He doesn’t heal?

The character of our shared life has the power to draw people into the kingdom of God or push them away from it. How we live together is the most persuasive sermon we will ever get to preach.

There is one thing worse than an interfering Father, it’s one who doesn’t. No matter what your story is, or what your family of origin was like, we need to turn to our heavenly Father, allowing His interference to transform our futures.

The grace of God is simultaneously the most beautiful and the most challenging of Jesus’ teachings. Through the correct lens we can understand the peoples response in Luke 4 but in their anger they missed the gracious invitation.

As we start to immerse ourselves in the story of Jesus we see how He begins to say follow me, come change the world with me. That call goes out to ordinary men that would later become disciples of Jesus. That same call goes out to you and me, inviting us a life lived with God, to a partnership that is changing the world!

How do you respond when challenged by Jesus? Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth in the early part of His ministry, preaching about the year of the Lord’s favour. The initial response is amazement at His gracious words but this amazement is quickly turned to furious anger when the people’s ideas are challenged.

As Jesus returns to Galilee, teaching in their synagogues we see how it was Jesus’ practice to gather on the sabbath, read God’s word and proclaim the Truth it contains, which was an overflow of His faith in God’s word and His ways.

As moms, we're supposed to comfort our kids - but it seems that, mostly, we need more comfort than they do. Where do we go, to find real comfort? And once we're comforted, how do we pass it on to our kids?

Luke turns the genealogy around so that we will see Jesus side by side with "Adam the son of God" showing that "Jesus the son of God" is the new Adam who overcomes in the wilderness as He begins his ministry.

Jesus goes straight from the water (His baptism), into the wilderness (His temptation). In the water – the faith-building place of acceptance, blessing and commissioning – the Word of God came over Him. And in the wilderness – the desolate place of danger, rejection and fear – the Word of God came out of Him. This is a pattern, for us.

Through the first letter of the impulsive, ambitious and sometimes violent Peter we see a remarkable picture of a transformed, restored and equipped apostle (sent ones) of Jesus Christ. Peter is an example to us all of our need for covenant, cleansing and commissioning.

In between the brackets of sonship, John the baptiser comes with a Holy Spirit filled bazooka of truth to confront and destroy everything that is holding us back from the Father and Son coming close together in perfect partnership. He takes a metaphorical axe to the root of everything holding us back: Excesses of our personalities, Religion, Culture and Pride.

Our biggest problem in life is that we listen to voices from earth and not from heaven. We live unsure of what God’s tone of voice says about us.

Through chapters 1, 2 & 3 Luke weaves a golden tapestry into the narrative like a string of pearls about Jesus the saviour, redeemer or ransomer. This is not just true in Luke’s gospel but all though history we have fictional and factual stories of ransoms being demanded, refused and paid. From Frank Sinatra’s son to Aldo Moro, from John Paul Getty the third to Walter Kwok Ping-sheung.

In Luke Chapter 3 we see how the word of the Lord came to John calling him to preach a message of baptism for the forgiveness of sin in preparation for the coming of Jesus. To understand the full implication of John’s message we need to understand baptism from a Biblical viewpoint.

How Mary fought for and defended the truth of God’s word to her can be seen by the detailed account she gives 60 years later. She clearly cemented these events into her memory, resulting in slow, supernatural, significant growth by responding to God’s word.

Through fallen messengers with an un-fallen message, through the hardships of life and the truth of God’s word, God speaks to us, and shows us the way of humility as opposed to the way of power.

In Zechariah’ song (the Benedictus) we have a declaration of praise as we hear of our redemption, the horn of salvation, our cancelled debt and the dawning of a new day!

From Mary's life and song, we can learn what it is to embrace our purpose - which is nothing more than to know God, and make Him known. (Luke 1:39-56)

Receiving the gracious gift of the abundance of God to end the barrenness in our lives.

Church is not meant to be a preaching centre. We have been given the Word of God so that our lives, our nation and the world can be changed. Through Luke this week we learned two more reasons why we can believe the Bible.

Everything in life is influencing what we believe, in Luke we hear from reliable oral tradition, eye-witness testimony and detailed written record about what CS Lewis called the true myth.

The question what does God think of you, drills down to the core of our identity. It’s not what we think of ourselves that determines our identity, it’s not what others think of us, it’s not what God thinks about us, it’s what we think God thinks about us that affects our identity, and as we know our identity flows downstream and affects our entire lives.

In Galatians 5:1-12, Paul describes and defends the freedom, favour and faith that are ours for the taking. It’s the gospel – not our good works – that truly transforms us by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 4.

The promise of God in Romans 8.

Jesus on the cross. Jesus said I thirst in order to fulfil prophecy. They gave him something and then He said it is finished!! Nothing left to accomplish!! There is nothing more that can be done. Jesus was established as the creator of all things right in the beginning. Jesus is also the redeemer of all things right from the beginning.

Repent because God is near. Repentance is not saying sorry; it means getting a new brain. Change the way we think and see things differently. We mustn’t think out of the box, we must think as if there is no box. Where we are, we can release the Kingdom.

They were people of God on the move. They took people with them: “Come with us, we’ll do you good”. Come with us, not to us. They people are on the move. There is an inheritance waiting. There is something unheard of ahead, we’re going there. Come with us.

Matthew 4:18-22 NIV “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

The Gospel is about moving forward. Hebrews 11:24-26 (NLT) “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.”

Adrian and Antoinette Quinlivan on the coming Church plant in Stellenbosh.

Even tax collectors can meet Jesus. Crowd hated Zacchaeus. That’s why he didn’t go into the crowd. Maybe he wanted to see Jesus, but the crowd that followed Jesus prevented him. We don’t, not serve Jesus in everything because we don’t love Him, but because we love something else a bit more. That is idolatry.

Exodus 3:7-8 What do we learn about God’s heart and intentions from this text? (rescue & bless) OUT OF = Rescue (deliverance) INTO = Blessing (inheritance) Main theme = The motivation for living well is found in the ‘OUT OF’ and ‘INTO’ reality of God’s saving work. NT text that supports this notion; 1 John 3:2-3. OUT OF = ‘we are children of God’ INTO = ‘we shall be like him’.

The high priest in Exodus is a shadow of our High Priest – Jesus Christ. The High Priest is not the pastor. The High Priest is Christ. Ex 39 - The robe of the high priest. The robe: BLUE, PURPLE AND SCARLET - BLUE = the color of heaven. - PURPLE = represents the king - SCARLET = color of blood All 3 points to Jesus. Breast piece of double folded Gold to show how valuable we are to God.

Presence and Purpose of God.- Story of the golden calf Ex 32:1-3 the Israelites waited long for Moses to come down from the mountain and instead of waiting, they ended up doing their own thing.

Our relationship to God demonstrated in the picture of the Tabernacle.

The Ships of 3Ci - Worship - Sonship - Discipleship George Barna: Nine key components to discipleship 1.  Passion.  2. Depth - objective is to plumb the depths of the faith and own it.  3. Maturity - reaching the highest potential in Christ. 4. Practice - Not only knowing, but being Spiritually mature. 5. Process - Not a destination but a journey. 6. Interactive - done in community, not isolation.

Who is sitting at your table?