26 February 2023 - ENCS

The "what is church” series Pastor Josh did complete

Called by God, church is community where we meet

“Is it really worth it?” was the key question for today

Something often asked in tough times, Josh did say

Ephesians one says if we believe, we will get a seal

A supernatural Holy Spirit from God is what we feel

To love God, we must love others - ergo, community

As we experience this, more spiritual growth we see

We get “every spiritual blessing”, as per verse three

We are chosen, adopted as sons, accepted eternally

Having redemption through His blood and forgiveness

Obtaining an inheritance so our fear is infinitely less

Christ are us alive despite our sins, per Ephesians two

Giving us constant spiritual ‘oxygen’ helps us to renew

We have been saved entirely due to Christ's grace

And with Jesus, we will surely sit in a heavenly place

Caring for someone is oft more important than advice

Per Jesus’ wisdom and encouragement to be precise

Being in a community means having something to offer

Ensuring that our talents are used, not kept in a coffer

The church can help equip its people for such service

Building up the body of Christ without being nervous

Remember that Christ is the cornerstone of the church

We all fit together, so  let’s not leave others in a lurch

19 February 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the “What is Church” series today

Church is one body in Christ, Romans twelve does say

God sets us as He pleases per First Corinthians twelve

Into what this means for us, Pastor Josh did then delve

All we do is for the glory of God, per First Corinthians ten

First Corinthians three says Jesus is the foundation, amen

Paul also said faith should be based on the power of God

So to mere human wisdom we should never give the nod

The people who know their God, per Daniel chapter eleven

Will be strong and do great exploits with power from heaven

Second Timothy two says to be strong in Christ’s grace

This will inevitable lead to action points in our earthly race

Social responsibility is referenced in Jeremiah twenty two

Per Acts thirteen, applying our unique gifts in what we do

"Serving the city" can be also be stated as bringing good 

By helping the poor, needy, and downtrodden in the hood

In summary, Josh said church has three foundations

Missional: socially responsible, generations, nations

Spiritual: Honour God, Christ-centred, Spirit power

Relational: family, cultural and faceted every hour

12 February 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on “What is Church?”

A topic that deserves serious research

Today’s sermon was “What do we do?"

Based on the book of Acts, chapter two

In Jerusalem for Pentecost, many were

Little did they know what was to occur

Jesus had told the disciples to wait there

One assumes they spent time in prayer

The Holy Spirit suddenly filled the room

Far more powerful than mere perfume

The Spirit can change us from inside

When we allow God’s Word us to guide

As His Word can apply in every situation

For people of every age, race, and nation

Jesus was crucified for everyone’s sake

This made the unbelieving ones quake

Peter told them to “repent and believe”

And then the community would receive

Everyone was filled with awe and praise

At the Holy Spirit’s raw power and blaze

Pastor Josh in conclusion had this to say

We should proclaim, mediate, and pray

These are elements of church fellowship

And ensure in our journey we do not trip

5 February 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke about “What is Church” today

While referencing lots of Greek words, he did say

Church means different things to different people

Praying, sharing, or just a building with a steeple

Pastor Josh relied to the principle of first mention

Church appears to be a New Testament invention

Jesus asked who He was, as perMatthew sixteen

Simon Peter’s response was the best, it is seen

Since Jesus cares about individual relationships

Trying to reveal Himself before the apocalypse

It is effectively a continual journey of revelation

Allowing us to choose heaven over damnation

Church is an environment to expose God’s love

Our job is to on earth represent God from above

Similar to what Jesus told Peter, the little stone

Belief in Jesus is the solid rock, the real throne

Church means "called to a community" in Greek

Per John fifteen, it is not this world we do seek

For we are a chosen people, per First Peter two

Part of a community with many a shared value

Jesus said we should not fear physical death

For spiritual life continues after our last breath

What binds us on earth will in heaven do too

God can loose us from addictions -  it’s true

In summary, the church is a calling and a community

Connecting with other people at every opportunity

Church is also a commissioning, Josh did deduce

A people that can prevail, can bind, and can loose

29 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh concluded the “Miracles” series today

Referring to “one story, many verses”, he did say

About Lazarus, John chapter eleven does relate

He was ill and then an early death was his fate

Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary

To see him so ill would have been quite scary

Jesus was alerted to his condition in verse four

He cared for them but waiting would mean more

To Judea he ventured when the time was right

Despite Jewish opposition, Jesus had no fright

Thomas told the others to follow in verse sixteen

Even if death with Jesus was what it would mean

Lazarus had been in a tomb for four long days

Mary and Martha were in mourning, John says

Martha was focused on her pain and bother

Per Greek, Mary’s prayer was for her brother

Jesus was troubled and wept, per verse thirty five

But in response to our prayer, Jesus can thrive

Josh reached into his 80s playlist for Vanilla Ice

If there’s a problem, yo Jesus can solve it - nice

Jesus asked the crowd to roll away the stone

For a miracle they were about to be shown

Removing the stone represents seeking truth

That this leads to stench doesn’t require a sleuth

Lazarus come forth” Jesus said in a loud voice

Thanking God so that the people would rejoice

To bring dead people alive, Jesus came to earth

This can result in physical and/or spiritual rebirth

22 Janaury 2023 - ENCS

From Josh, more on the Miracle series we did hear

As we usher in the start of the Chinese New Year

Jesus turned water into wine, as written in John two

But why highlight this given all else Jesus did do?

Jesus’ mother told Him that there was no more wine

Allegorically, like when joy into lives does not shine

That Jesus could fix any problem, His mother knew

Out of respect for her, Jesus responded as if on cue

The servants obeyed Him and filled jars to the brim

Without knowing the outcome, they just trusted Him

For Jesus listens and cares about the concert we tell

And of course it is evident that He does al things well

He manifested His glory with the miracle at the feast

Thus helping the belief of His disciples to be increased

This in turn helps us to have a fulfilled life in His name

For once we believe, things will never be the same

To the Tiger Year we did say good bye

And the Rabbit says Gong Xi Fa Cai!

15 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastors Neli and Tina Atiga spoke about progress today

Progress is possible and it is also purpose, they did say

Neli and Tina both complimented and complemented

And a very powerful message they jointly presented

Neli referred to Exodus fourteen, verses six to fourteen

The Israelites yearned for where slaves they had been

Egypt was significant for Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac

All three went there at times when food they did lack

But when Moses brought the Israelites to the Red Sea

Moving towards the Promised Land, they did not agree

Akin to lifting weights to gain strength, as we know

We must be broken, rest, replace, in order to grow

But this process of progress should not be feared

Per verse fourteen, the Lord has never disappeared

Tina said we need a new wineskin in order to progress

We have had setbacks, heartaches, and often a mess

But Tina pointed out that we must recognise the pain

Not easy but failure to do so will our progress constrain

We must know our purpose, clearly rooted in our identity

God’s plans for us stand forever, per Zephaniah three

Psalm one hundred thirty nine says to God give praise

For we are fearfully and wonderfully made, to paraphrase

Our words can give death and life, per Proverbs eighteen

Speak positively so as children of God we are to be seen

Remember Proverbs chapter nineteen verse twenty one

We may have plans, but God’s purpose will be done

The Lord chose us because of our future faithfulness

Thankfully not because of our past failures or success