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Last updated 10.20pm Saturday 28 February 2026.
Saturday 28 February 2026
Tomorrow's Weekly Sheet
Is available to download (01/03/2026) as are the sermon notes (also below).
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Jim Harries - End-February News
Read about the widening ‘cultural gap’ that has opened up between the west and African over the last 38 years in Jim's latest update which is available to view on-line.
Sermon Notes
(Also available to download.)
Love Your Church – Witnessing
Why is it so Hard?
We all know what we the church are called to do:
‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:19-20)
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8)
We’ve heard the sermons, attended the courses and conferences, and read the books!
After worship, this is the primary task of the church and every believer, for it flows from our worship:
· We have received power from the Holy Spirit to do it
· We have been assured of the constant presence of Jesus as we do it
· We are good at witnessing in principle already, for we are ‘good-newsing’ about anything and everything but, all the time and most of it is not important!
So why do so many of us find that when it comes to telling people about the glorious, eternally significant good news about Jesus, we find it so hard? And why is there often so much tension in the church between those that find it hard and those for whom it seems to be so natural?
Loving your church by sharing the gospel To share the gospel IS an expression of our love for the church, specifically our love for the Lord of the Church, Jesus.
Called to Witness to Good News – ‘always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you’ (1 Peter 3:15)
We are off to a good start at ABC – our vision/mission statement: Our Vision is Jesus – Knowing Jesus and making him known.
The gospel is not a philosophy we are trying to convince others that it is worthwhile to follow. The gospel is a person, and he is no ordinary person: ‘He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power’ (Hebrews1:3).
John the Baptist was given the task to point people to Jesus, who he is and what it is he came to do: ‘The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29) Note, that this ministry of John the Baptist is introduced following the gospel writer’s incredible description of Jesus in John 1:1-18. The writers of the gospels are pointing people to Jesus. We are called to continue the ministry of John by pointing people to Jesus. The Puritan, John Owen, said, ‘One of the greatest privileges the believer has, both in this world and eternity is to behold the glory of Christ.’ Beholding the one who ‘is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint [character] of his nature’ and is ‘Very God of Very God’ as the Nicene Creed describes him, is too wonderful to be kept to ourselves!
When we first came to faith, we couldn’t keep quiet about Jesus, what changed? For me, being told by folk who had been in church a long time that, ‘I would soon get over it’ was a bit discouraging!
To be effective in our witness, to be prepared to ‘make a defence’ it is vital we remain enthralled and consumed by the beauty of Christ, which means being focused solely upon him.
Jesus Showed us How – ‘do it with gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:15).
‘“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16).
‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14).
‘and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)’ (Matthew 1:23).
The Father’s response to our sin, our rebellion against him was that his only begotten Son should leave the glory of heaven and enter our sin-filled world and come alongside us and ultimately lay down his life as a sacrifice for sin!
In doing so, Jesus gave EVERYTHING to communicate the love of the Father to us. This was rooted in genuine, sacrificial, and unconditional love.
To be effective in our witness we must be ready to meet people where they are, to form relationships rooted in genuine, sacrificial, unconditional love. This is what the ‘Red Dot Spot’ is all about. This is the strength of what is described as ‘Network Evangelism.’ Coming alongside people ‘with gentleness and respect’ so our lives can point them to Jesus through a whole variety of ways: invitations, hospitality, kind acts, reading Scripture and many more.
Effective witness is an all-in, long-term venture for the individual believer and the church together.
Not Just Commanded (though we are) – ‘have no fear of them, nor be troubled’ (1 Peter 3:14).
It should be the most natural thing in the world for the believer to share the gospel with others. We are sharing the best news about the best person who has ever or ever will live! The problem should be keeping us quiet!
Having discovered that we are great sinners and Christ is a great Saviour, having discovered the true nature of our sin, and the incredible cost Jesus was willing to pay to rescue us from an eternity separated from God, from hell, why would we not want to do all we can to ensure those we know avoid the same destiny we were headed for?
We have a well-rehearsed list of reasons; excuses. But that’s all they are – excuses! Do we really think God had no idea about our specific circumstances when he gave us his call to be his witnesses?
Evangelism, the sharing of the gospel with all who do not yet believe, is not a Christian hobby to be carried out when we have some spare time. It is a life and death rescue mission. Therefore, we are to lovingly and patiently help one another to witness as we ought.
It is said of the great preacher and evangelist, George Whitefield, that:
· ‘Wherever he stood behind an open Bible, [he] was thoroughly convinced that he was delivering divine truth. He firmly believed he was feeding the bread of life to starving beggars.’ Even the greatest philosopher of his day, David Hume, when challenged as to why he was running to hear Whitefield preach when he didn’t believe the message he was sharing, said, ‘No, I don’t, but he does!’
· Motivated by ‘the love of Christ demonstrated on the cross, ‘In every sermon [he] threw a lifeline to those who were drowning in the ocean of their own sin, imploring them to take hold and be saved from perishing. This demanded a note of urgency on his part.’ As a result, Whitefield, ‘often preached with a flood of tears as he cried for sinners to embrace Christ’.
The obstacle to witnessing like this for many is a misplaced fear. The fear of what people might think or do usually prevents us from sharing the gospel. Whereas, when we fear the Lord, when we have a Christ-centred reverence in our hearts, his love rather than a person’s negative response drives us to be faithful in our witness.
To be an effective witness we must recognise the seriousness of sin, and the urgency for sharing the gospel, and to do so with the conviction that comes through Spirit-inspired zeal.
No Good Without Prayer – ‘through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him’ (1 Peter 3:21-22).
Because Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, in the position of ultimate authority, we can pray confidently for the lost and our role in leading them to him. Jesus prayed before he did anything else. Without prayer intentional, earnest, persistent prayer we can never be effective in our witness.
EM Bounds – ‘What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organisations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use … The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods but through men … He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer.’
Ed Stezer, expands, ‘We need men and women who are given to prayer and to proclamation, to seeking God for people and to seeking people for God.’
CS Lewis – ‘I have two lists of names in my prayers, those for whose conversions I pray and those whose conversions I give thanks. The little trickle of transferences from List A to List B is a great comfort.’
To be effective in our witness we need to spend much time in prayer and for the church to be effective in her witness the prayer meeting will be the best attended and most eagerly anticipated event in its calendar!
One simple task: Ask the Lord to show you one person and with the help of other believers think how you might begin to witness to them.
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Sunday 8 February 2026
Heating at Church
An issue came to light when the installation engineer did his detailed survey and it became clear that the boiler initially specified was not suitable for our building. An order for a different, suitable, boiler was placed on Friday. Unfortunately, that means it will be a further four weeks, at least, before we will have heating in the church.
In the meantime we will continue to meet in the hall. Zoom will still be available - but not the same immersive experience.
Friday 28 November 2025
Family Slot Video Available
From last week:
Sunday 26 October 2025
Family Slot Video
Apologies to those on Zoom, for the technical problems this morning which meant there was no sound. Please feel free to watch and listen on line using this link.
Sunday 5 October 2025
October-December Newsletter
Is available to download.
Saturday 19 July 2025
Latest Newsletter
The August-September 2025 Newsletter is available to download (link corrected!).
Sunday 6 April 2025
Sarah Craigen Completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon
In Aid of the British Liver Trust
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| Thank you so much to those who donated whatever you can, it has really made a massive difference. |
