In Roman times it was easy to get married and also easy to get divorced. The Romans persecuted Christians. It is easy to lose your focus on Jesus with everything that is going on in the world. God does not call on us to have lots of relationships, you become a slave to sin. Finding the One is Jesus. Just to reiterate Jesus is the One!

This week in our "Making Disciples" series, Chris dives into the world of parenting through the lens of scripture. He explores the importance of intentional parenting, drawing parallels between raising children and discipling spiritual children in the church.

Here's a taste of what you'll learn:

The ABCs of Parenting: Chris shares practical advice on giving your children attention, helping them navigate difficult seasons, and implementing godly discipline.

Parenting as Discipleship: Discover how the principles of good parenting directly translate to effective spiritual guidance.

The Danger of Absent Parenting: Explore the consequences of neglecting your children's emotional and spiritual needs, illustrated by historical examples from the Bible.

Modelling True Commitment: Learn how your daily life - your marriage, hospitality, and devotion - becomes a powerful teaching tool for your children and those around you.

Whether you're a parent, a spiritual mentor, or someone who simply wants to strengthen your relationships, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

This week in our "Making Disciples" series, Adrian Porter focuses on the importance of marriage and God's blessing on this sacred union.

The message explores key scriptures like Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6, and Ephesians 5:31-32, emphasising:

* The foundation of marriage: God designed marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6).

* God's covenant in marriage: Marriage is a sacred covenant between a husband and wife, witnessed by God (Malachi 2:14).

* Sex within marriage: Sexuality is a gift from God, intended to be enjoyed within the boundaries of marriage (Ephesians 5:31-32, 1 Corinthians 6:16).

The message also emphasizes the importance of prayer: Let's pray for God's blessing on marriages in our community.

Join us as we explore how to build strong, Christ-centred marriages!

This sermon explores the Christian life as a race, drawing a parallel to a near-miss at the 1959 Isle of Man TT motorcycle races. We need to "look before we leap" just like rider Keith Heckles, but more importantly, to fix our gaze on Jesus throughout the race.

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1-2 to run with endurance, focusing on Jesus. Jesus endured the cross for us, and by looking to Him, we find strength and purpose. Imagine being mesmerized by a fire – that's how we should be with Jesus!

Running with our eyes on Jesus is important because:

1. He is God and deserves our worship.

2. He has the best plan for our lives, even when it's difficult.

This race is a marathon, not a sprint. God calls us to a life of following Him, not just dipping in and out. Just like enjoying a delicious meal, we should fully embrace the life Jesus offers – a life filled with love, joy, peace, and purpose.

Is your gaze fixed on Jesus?

This is our time to see the ripple spreading out and making Disciples to help others and starting other legacies. There are some big characters in the bible: Epaphras is one of them although he is only mentioned in the bible three times. He changed his area of the world - Turkey. Epaphras went from Colossae to Ephesus during Paul's stay at Ephesus. He was known as a servant of Christ Jesus. Paul was talking about everyone as being slaves, we are slaves to Jesus, with a master who loves us and gave his life for us. God came to set the captive free.

Feeling weak and overwhelmed? In this episode of the "Making Disciples" series, Chris Staples explores how God's power can strengthen us in our moments of weakness.

He dives into 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where Paul emphasises that God's grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness. We are also encouraged by examples in the Old Testament (Judges 6:34, 1 Chronicles 12:18, 2 Chronicles 24:20) of how the Holy Spirit clothed individuals with power to accomplish God's work.

Discover how being "Clothed in Power" from God can equip you with:

* Strength for the Weak: God empowers those who feel inadequate (Isaiah 40:29-31).

* Peace for the Troubled: The Holy Spirit replaces fear with God's love and peace (2 Timothy 1:7).

This message also explores how God can use our weaknesses to His glory.

The key people Chris mentions are:

* Gideon (Judges 6:34)

* Amasai (1 Chronicles 12:18)

* Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20)

* Disciples (Luke 24:49)

* Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)