2026 ACJV update #11

Sara and I have enjoyed having our grandchildren, oldest daughter and their pet dog staying for a few days.

It's been a joy to be together - even when the dog escaped her crate and left a squishy offering on the carpet.

One of the images used for a church is a family, or a household. When we are called to faith in Jesus and set free from our sin, God places us in a new family, the church. Like any family, the church gathers regularly to spend time together. So, we gather on Sundays to enjoy being together and to enjoy the presence of our heavenly Father and our elder brother, Jesus. When we gather on the Lord's Day, we speak to our Father in prayer, listen to him speak to us through his word, we grow more like him and we eat and drink together.

There's nothing like gathering with God’s people. It's so important that one of the authors of the Bible said this, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews chapter 10, verses 23 to 25).

So, if we are truly a part of God's family we will want to gather with his family on the Lord's Day. But sometimes we can't make it, or would like to remind ourselves what was said. So, if you want to listen to a sermon, there's a link below. However, there's something you should know: I never preach the exact sermon that I have prepared and I never preach the exact same sermon. When you're in the congregation, I'm responding to the reading of God's Word, to the people in the congregation, and hopefully to the Spirit's guidance.

It can be useful to listen to a recorded sermon, I've listened to lots, but it's not the same as being a part of the dynamic time on Sunday when 'the scripture is opened, God's voice is heard and we respond with obedience' (John Stott). 

Find out more out more about preaching here. More about Preaching

Here's the link to our sermons: ACJV Sermons

Upcoming Services

St. Peter's, Ward: Sunday October 4th, 8 am.

Seddon: Every Sunday at 10 am.

St. Georges, Kekerengu: Sunday October 25, 8 am

God bless,

John