Author: MBC

News: Services Suspended

UPDATE: 1 APRIL 2022. Church services have resumed

22 February 2022

With the rise in Omicron infections in the North Shore area, and with one of our regular attendees becoming a close contact of a confirmed Covid case, (fortunately clear of the virus at present but in isolation), the Leadership of the Church has reluctantly taken the decision to SUSPEND Sunday services until the peak of the Omicron outbreak is over.

This decision has not been taken lightly, but noting that many of our congregation are in the age bracket where, even though vaccinated, they may be at increased risk, and, noting that additional members may be unwilling to attend services in person, we have decided to err on the side of caution.

CRAFT and MUSIC FOR ME are already in abeyance. Other activities may continue at the church under the Covid Traffic Light RED precautions already in place, though leaders of those groups will need to make their own decisions and arrangements in the event they decide to cancel and additional attention must be paid to sanitising all surfaces in areas used .

The church office will continue to operate.

The AGM will, unless the situation deteriorates markedly, be held as a hybrid session allowing those who wish to attend in person, and others by Zoom. The technical aspects are under consideration at present.

No decision has yet been made about EVERGREENS.

The Virtual Services and Enews Bulletins will continue to be promulgated, and as things change we will endeavour to keep you informed.

Please feel free to contact Pastor Brian (021 230 0390) or me (021 182 4545) if you have any concerns or wish to discuss anything.

Serving the Lord in spite of Difficulties

20 February 2022

Serving the Lord in spite of Difficulties – How will we Fare in 2022?                                              Brian Michell

2 Corinthians 4:1-12, 15-18

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Download Virtual Service (pdf)

Read the Sermon  “Serving the Lord in spite of Difficulties – How will we Fare in 2022?” – Brian Michell  (pdf)

Listen to the Reading and the Sermon  “Serving the Lord in spite of Difficulties – How will we Fare in 2022?” – Brian Michell

 

Treasure in Clay Pots

13 February 2022

2 Corinthians 4:1-7, ‘We hold this treasure in clay pots’.                                                            Brian Michell

Jeremiah 18:1-6

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

2 Corinthians 4:1-7

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Download Virtual Service (pdf)

Read the Sermon  “We hold this treasure in clay pots” – Brian Michell  (pdf)

Listen to the Reading and the Sermon  “We hold this treasure in clay pots” – Brian Michell  

 

Sermons in the Book of James

Watch Your Words

Series in JAMES #5

6 February 2022

James 3:1-12

31 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Download Virtual Service (pdf)

Watch the Sermon “Watch Your Words”   – Brian D Lima (on-line)

Read the Sermon  “Watch Your Words” – Brian D Lima  (pdf)

Sermons in the Book of James

Faith and Obedience

Series in JAMES #4

30 January 2022

James 2:14-25                                                                                    

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

 

Download Virtual Service (pdf)

Watch the Sermon “Faith and Obedience”   – Brian D Lima (on-line)

Read the Sermon  “Mercy “Faith and Obedience” – Brian D Lima  (pdf)