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Last updated 12.5pm Sunday 13 July 2026 (BAF).
Sunday 12 July 2026
Jim Harries - Mid July News
In Jim's latest news he reflects more on his visit to the UK, outlines more about Tanzania, and reports on threats to vulnerable mission by British missionaries, and also British education being made illegal in Kenya.
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Sermon Notes - (can be downloaded)
John 20 – That you might know, believe, and live
John's purpose in writing his gospel: 'that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name' (20:31)
A consistent and fundamental aspect of the gospel and the witness of the gospels is three categorical realities, namely, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God:
· Really did live
· Really did die on the cross
· Really did rise from the dead on the third day
Having stated these realities, it is also evident that they REALLY MATTER!
As the New Testament continues to record the churches spreading of the gospel, these realities continue to lie at the heart of the gospel message. Paul, addressing the resurrection to the believers in Corinth says:
· 'Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures' (1 Cor. 15:3);
· 'That he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures’ (15:4)
Paul prefaces these statements by saying: ‘For I delivered to you as of first importance, what I also received’ (15:2)
Paul then goes on to list those who were eyewitnesses to these realities, which includes:
· Peter (Cephas) v5
· The twelve (the apostles) v5, v7
· More than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive (so his readers at the time could go and ask them what they saw!) v6
· James (the brother of Jesus) v7
· Paul himself - 'one untimely born' v8
Paul reinforces the emphasis of the gospel writers, that Jesus, who is the Christ, the Son of God:
· Really did live
· Really did die on the cross
· Really did rise from the dead on the third day
This is what John is doing throughout his gospel:
JESUS REALLY DID LIVE - John begins with the glorious description of who Jesus is in his prologue, which concludes with the miracle and wonder of the INCARNATION - 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us' (1:14). John then draws upon Jesus' own words and supporting actions to reveal who Jesus said he was, which includes signs (miracles) and the I AM sayings.
JESUS REALLY DID DIE - In chapter 19 John clearly states that Jesus died on the cross (for our sins as Paul reminds us). John’s account does not leave room for any other explanation.
In chapter 20 John categorically states that Jesus REALLY DID RISE FROM THE DEAD! He does this through recounting a few resurrection appearances:
· Mary Magdalene at the garden tomb (11-18)
· Ten of the disciples, who were gathered (19-23)
·
Thomas, with the disciples (24-29)
The reason John records these resurrection appearances; is the reason he writes his whole gospel: 'that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name' (20:31)
John stresses that it is both fundamental and essential to:
· KNOW that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. KNOW that Jesus really did live, die, and rise from the dead. And to KNOW that this really matters!
· BELIEVE (this ‘knowing is more than an intellectual understanding) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. To BELIEVE he really did live, die, and rise from the dead. And to BELIEVE that this really matters!
Why does John, why does the gospel (and the gospels), and why does the early church emphasise so prominently that Jesus really lived, really died, and really rose from the dead?
The reason is profoundly straightforward! There is no salvation without it! Salvation comes only through a sinner through the work of the Holy Spirit:
· Coming to the conviction of the true nature of their sin
· Coming to the realisation that they can do nothing to atone (to make up) for their sin against our Father in heaven
· Coming to the realisation that Jesus, who is the Christ, the Son of God, though he was without sin, paid the price for our sin by dying as our substitute and that by dying and being raised from the dead a way has been made for a sinner to be reconciled to our Father in heaven
There is no other way by which salvation can come!
The call of the church, the call of every believer is to:
· KNOW that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that he really did live, die and rise from the dead so that sinners, made in the likeness and image of God could be reconciled to our Father in heaven
· BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that he really did live, die and rise from the dead so that sinners, made in the likeness and image of God could be reconciled to our Father in heaven
· LIVE in the reality that that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that he really did live, die and rise from the dead so that sinners, made in the likeness and image of God could be reconciled to our Father in heaven
And to faithfully proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God:
· Really did live
· Really did die on the cross
· Really did rise from the dead on the third day
Because it really matters!
Tuesday 7 July 2026
Latest Starfish Malawi News
The Latest Starfish Malawi news can be found on-line here. An update from Maryanne and Emmanuel Uwaezuoke will be provided in the Weekly Sheet.
Mark and Andrea Hotchkins' June prayer letter
Tuesday 30 June 2026
Jim Harries - End June News
In his latest news, Jim has come to the end of his time in the UK. While here - as well as spending as much time as he can with his mum - he has still been doing his 'African' work - preparing for activities in Africa over the next couple of months.
Jim's hosts while in the UK worship at Living Word Church, Fareham. Jim was able to have a meeting with their Pastor, Rev Chris Wickland - aka The Vexed Vicar. Jim contrasts issues affecting Christians in the UK with the global context.
Sunday 31 May 2026
Mark and Andrea Hotchkins' May prayer letter
Sunday 12 April 2026
The Marriage of Tom Ibbott and Poppy McCarthy
Yesterday, Saturday 11 April 2026 1pm
