25 February 2024 - ENCS

Pastor Vicki spoke on Matthew chapters five to seven

Specifically the Sermon on the Mount, words from heaven

Sharing principles that also apply to our current reality

And today’s sermon entitled “An Antidote to Anxiety”

Verse nineteen says not to lay up treasures on earth

For heavenly treasures have infinitely more worth

Remember that where our treasure is, so is our heart

That provided Vicki with a concept on which to start

Vicki then asked three questions on which to reflect

First, what is the treasure we want most to collect

Second, what are we filled with - darkness or light

We cannot serve both  God and money, Vicki did cite

Third, who are we serving or who is our life’s guide

Like Daniel, before being tempted we should decide

That then led Vicki to ask what do we do from here

Anxiety arises when the above answers are not clear

As Jesus said not to be anxious, it must be doable

We should trust God’s nature, always renewable

Plus seek first His kingdom and His righteousness

Then we can say goodbye to anxiety and stress

18 Febrary 2024 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the series on Matthew today

Focusing on chapters five and six with much to say

Per Jesus in John five, reading the Word is not enough

For the Pharisees, acknowledging Him was very tough

Per Matthew five, Jesus came to fulfil the OT Laws

And therefore to release us from sin’s powerful jaws

His words really turned up the heat of righteousness

Sin is not just actions but what our thoughts express

In Matthew six, Jesus taught us how we should pray

Give honour to God, give thanks each and every day

Submit to His will, pray for sustenance and strength

And His guidance to avoid temptation at every length

Josh then talked about purpose, referring to chapter five

We are to be salt of and light for the world while alive

Letting our light shine is rightly representing the Lord

And linking back to the start, is as critical as the Word

13 February 2024 - Second Wind

Looking through the SQ App from an earlier date

Sometimes we wonder if it might in fact be too late

To find a new purpose in life we can always pray

God can always change our trajectory in a big way

Remember eighty year old Moses who was on the run

God had a plan for him despite what he had earlier done

Moses found a new purpose and changed Israel’s destiny

In both the Old and New Testaments we can clearly see

As per Second Corinthians five, whoever does believe

Is a new creation and about the past should not grieve

For no matter our age, we can always have a fresh start

Learning from mistakes and following God with our heart

11 February 2024 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the Knowing Jesus series today

Although from laryngitis his voice must rest, he did say

Pastor referred to Matthew chapters two through five

About two distinct contrasting kingdoms, he did derive

Jesus and Herod represented the clash of kingdoms

One legitimate, one illegitimate, thus two outcomes

One validated via a Micah prophecy, one invalid

One the Son, the other an imposter turned pallid

The Spirit of Two Kingdoms seen in Matthew four

Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted and more

He resisted, preferring the Spirit to flesh as a guide

Submission over power and humility over pride

The Values of God’s Kingdom, as per Matthew five

The Beatitudes say to new values we should strive

Humble, meek, and merciful may make some frown

Because these everlasting values seem upside down

4 February 2024 - ENCS

Vicki Tekwani preached this morning on quite short notice

About the person of Jesus, he delivered a magnus opus

Things like mission, vision, strategy, and denomination

Along with leadership style as well as political affiliation

These are all good but are in reality a means to an end

Knowing Christ is key, as in Philippians three Paul penned

Vicki took us to chapter sixteen of the gospel of Matthew

Jesus really wants to know who He is to me and to you

The fundamental premise is knowing and being, not doing

Our level of intimacy with Jesus is key to our well-being

To study who Jesus is, Vicky went back to Matthew one

Written after four hundred years of silence was done

Jesus is the Messiah, as prophesied in the Old Testament

To save us from our sin, He is the Saviour fro heaven sent

Per verse twenty two, He is also Immanuel or God with us

He will never forsake us nor in our suffering, kick up a fuss

Vicki’s final point was highlighting who Jesus came for

For those waiting in hope, our Lord God does not ignore

His promise and His Abrahamic covenant, God remembers

Covering all rejected, excluded, and disqualified members

Look at Jesus’ earthly geneology for many who did stray

Christ Jesus came for those willing to believe and to obey