1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 We are one church. We love God, love people, love 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:06,960 His mission, and love His church. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:17,480 Welcome to the One Church Podcast 2025. 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:24,800 Look what the Lord has done. I'd like to thank the Father for 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:26,880 his constant goodness to us as a house. 6 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,920 I'd like to thank the trustees here on the screen right now 7 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,520 who've governed with integrity and excellence this house. 8 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:42,600 I'd like to thank our elders who've spiritually watched over 9 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,760 1 church. I'd like to thank our site 10 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,080 pastors who've LED our five sites with passion and anointing 11 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,360 over this year. I'd like to thank our amazing 12 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:59,200 staff at One Church and Open Hands who've given their all for 13 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,240 Jesus in the way they've served this year. 14 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,280 I'd like to thank the 200 people or so who serve in a leadership 15 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,600 capacity at One Church for going the extra mile. 16 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,920 And I'd like to thank you for being part of the family. 17 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,400 If you're visiting today, you're so welcome. 18 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:19,960 And what a year. 51 Sundays run and blessed. 19 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,600 All the incredible ministries of the House. 20 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,080 Blessed and the church continues to grow and thrive. 21 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:31,600 We saw 76 nationalities at our Nation's day just a few weeks 22 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,680 ago. Personally, for Susan and I, 23 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,560 this has been a wonderful year and we're so grateful for our 24 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,680 family, our two sons and daughters in law, our three 25 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,800 grandchildren. Annabelle, our eldest 26 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,640 granddaughter, was a teenager, recently became a teenager and 27 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,440 we're so proud of her, but also the sheer joy of what we get to 28 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:58,360 do and see here at one church, the fulfilment of his promise of 29 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,880 all the people, all the provision and all the places 30 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:03,480 we've needed. Thank you, Lord. 31 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:09,280 What about three people moments? Of course, this year some people 32 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,000 have moved away from one church to other parts of the world and 33 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,280 other parts of the country. But to see 420 new people added 34 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,760 to our family, wow. There have been around 70 35 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:27,160 different preachers at one church across our sites in 2025. 36 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,040 Wow. And there have been more 37 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,800 baptisms this year than any other year in our history. 38 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,360 And we want to say thank you to the Lord. 39 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:42,120 What about 3 Jesus moments? Well, in my life I think they 40 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,360 there were so many. But let me pick three out in our 41 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,880 trip to India earlier in the year, Susan and I in a prayer 42 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,320 meeting when we watched a demonised man who was thriving 43 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,680 on the floor and bound up. And then to be privileged to 44 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:59,800 pray with him, with others and see him miraculously set free, 45 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,640 full of joy, his countenance changed. 46 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:08,200 A miracle from the Lord. A Jesus moment would be when 47 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,200 James and Claire and Susan and I met Darren in an Airbnb in 48 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,080 Harrogate, managing the house we were all going to stay in, but 49 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,760 hungry and looking for faith. And what a privilege to be able 50 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,880 to meet with him the next day and lead him to Jesus. 51 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,640 And a Jesus moment for Susan and I this year would be standing at 52 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:31,840 the graveside as Marge Niblock's coffin was sown in the ground. 53 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,680 And to be able to celebrate this amazing lady and her legacy with 54 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:42,520 her family and also to remember in that moment that we all end 55 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,840 up in a box. So we need to make the most of 56 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:51,240 the life we have. Three new ministry moments would 57 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,480 be the Go Day. Hundreds of people serving in so 58 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,400 many projects, blessing others. And if you have your diary, put 59 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:02,320 this date in right now, Saturday the 6th of June 2026. 60 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,720 We want everybody to be involved next year. 61 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,560 I think I've loved the prayer tent that we developed on New 62 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,440 Year's Eve last year, a place to connect with his presence, and 63 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,360 it'll be coming back down after our Christmas services. 64 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,959 I think foundation's a new course that we pioneered to help 65 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:25,760 people new in faith become strong in faith, and I'll talk a 66 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:27,280 little bit more about that in a moment. 67 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,200 What about 3 provision moments for us as a house? 68 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:36,240 The resources to bring the rant down and the resources to put 69 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,840 the banners up. The generosity poured out to our 70 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:45,760 work in the Makuru slum, Kenya that enabled so many changes to 71 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,280 happen. And the truly incredible vision 72 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:52,480 offering that we received in November. 73 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:58,200 And already just over 50% of that has been received, meaning 74 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,800 we have all the resources we need to bring the building down 75 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,160 next door. What about 3 wider moments? 76 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,520 I think the release of Peter and Barbie Reynolds from their 77 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,440 captivity in Afghanistan was a moment to celebrate. 78 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,520 I think the amazing provision and this, I have to say, this 79 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,040 has blessed me hugely. The provision of a new home for 80 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,120 the Leicester Deaf Centre in the old Trinity Life Church building 81 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,200 which is now owned by the Redeem Worship Centre. 82 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,280 And they've moved in and ready to go. 83 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:31,840 And that's just the Lord's provision. 84 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,920 And I think also wider moments, the ongoing blessing of Open 85 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,640 Hands, which is our very heart as a church. 86 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,440 This week Beth, who manages Open Hands, wrote this. 87 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,960 We're pleased to let you all know that thanks to generous 88 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,200 donations from the One Church, Christmas Giving, Samworth 89 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,720 Brothers and the Axis Foundation, we now have all the 90 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,240 funds we need to buy a new second hand furniture van for 91 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,280 Open Hands. Let's celebrate. 92 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,880 We'll be buying the van in January. 93 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,920 And she continues this reflecting on the year. 94 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,800 We've also seen the fruit of new and strengthened partnerships 95 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,360 and I'm grateful to God's provision across the year in 96 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,760 open hands. Last week we celebrated 97 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,880 Christmas with our English students who heard about the 98 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,040 gift of Jesus. And this week, alongside 200 99 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,680 Christmas hampers making their way out into the community, we 100 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,440 had the privilege this week of furnishing 4 homes, providing 101 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,680 clothing to 45 households, supplying a week's worth of food 102 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,280 to 216 people, including 98 children, and serving a 103 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:42,440 Christmas dinner to 84 guests at π night. 104 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:47,280 That's your compassion charity. What about 3 new moments coming 105 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:50,440 to us in 2026? Well, we're going to bring down 106 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:57,960 #12 the building there starting probably the second week of 107 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:03,960 February if we can, and taking up maybe up to three months, 108 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,080 creating initially a lot of new parking spaces, but also 109 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,560 creating space for miracles as we look to rebuild. 110 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,200 It's the next step. It's the next step. 111 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,240 We're also in 2026 going to release what's going to be known 112 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:27,160 as a Next Steps course, which will help everyone who joins one 113 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,320 church to better integrate quicker and be released to be 114 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,040 who God wants them to be. I'm excited about that. 115 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,080 And we're going to start a gap year for students again, leaving 116 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,640 sixth form and university. And there'll be a number of 117 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,880 spaces people apply and be interviewed, and we're going to 118 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,280 need some of you to help us. We're going to need a few host 119 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,120 families who are willing to take somebody on into their house for 120 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,080 a few months. Can you help us? 121 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,560 And ideally, we'd love a miracle of somebody maybe in the room 122 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,240 who has a house and you'd be willing to let us use it to 123 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,880 house these amazing gap year students. 124 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,080 And if you can help us, please come and talk to me at any time. 125 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:18,320 I am available 24/7 for that. And a fourth thing, I think if 126 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,000 I'm going to say next year, as we think of what the Lord's 127 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,480 going to do, we're going to be chatting about beginning a new 128 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,200 6th One church site towards the end of the year. 129 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,000 And I'm excited about that and it's going to be a blessing. 130 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,720 What a year. So just before the start of this 131 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,440 year, if you were here in this room, you might remember and 132 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,040 that we heard some prophetic words from some of the one 133 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,600 church elders. And one of those was from Pastor 134 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,880 James. And it was very simple that we 135 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,600 were to continue. And he said we are people of 136 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,600 continuance. And the gist was keep going 137 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,760 because the Lord is going to bless you and you'll see what 138 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,280 you long for. And there are many ways that 139 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:08,360 we've continued as a church over this year, over 2025, and many 140 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:09,920 that we won't even mention today. 141 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:13,400 But if we only look at the various Bible teaching series 142 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,760 that we've covered over the year, we'll get a glimpse of how 143 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,920 we've continued and how we can continue to continue over this 144 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,400 next year. So we started and ended the year 145 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,080 with love. January had us grappling with 146 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,480 One Corinthians 13. What love is a practical 147 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,920 outworking. That love is patient, kind. 148 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,680 We grew in patience, kindness, humility, and so on. 149 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:39,520 So let's continue to love. Then we went to Exodus and face 150 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,840 to face with God LED us to the story of Moses and his 151 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,800 encounters with the Lord. Let's continue as a church to 152 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,720 seek his face. We're a Church of the altar. 153 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,720 We're not a Church of the stage. For quite a period after Easter, 154 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,840 we opened up the letter to the Colossians and we focused on 155 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,960 Christ over everything. So let's continue to keep the 156 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,680 main thing, the main thing, Jesus and the simple gospel 157 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,600 above everything. And over the summer, Find Your 158 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,280 Voice gave voice to many new preachers in the life of one 159 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,680 church. And we gained some powerful 160 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,480 revelation. So let's continue to release 161 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,760 many servants to build the Kingdom of God. 162 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,680 In September, we looked again at the power of the power of giving 163 00:10:25,680 --> 00:10:28,440 miracles, family, prayer, vision. 164 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:34,040 Let's continue to be united as a church in our core mission and 165 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:37,480 our beliefs together. And then we thought about battle 166 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,240 for your mind, and we gained greater victory. 167 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:44,320 Let's continue to know our weapons, to think Christ's 168 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,320 thoughts and to have a mind that is life and peace. 169 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,960 And we ended the year, and you should remember this one, with 170 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,000 what Jesus said is the greatest commandment. 171 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,160 So we ended with love like we started with love. 172 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,200 That is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, your 173 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,320 soul, your mind and your strength, and to love our 174 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,800 neighbours as ourselves. So let's continue because this 175 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,280 is US1 Church is all about loving God and loving people, 176 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,080 and this is what we're all about. 177 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,680 And then just as a thread throughout all this and across 178 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:17,880 the year, there's a word that's been pulsing through the prayers 179 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,680 of those who pray over the life of one church, which is the idea 180 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:26,560 of preparing the way Isaiah prophesized this in chapter 40. 181 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,680 Listen, it's the voice of someone shouting. 182 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,280 Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord. 183 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,720 Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God, fill 184 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,600 in the valleys, level the mountains and hills, straighten 185 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,720 the curves and smooth out the rough places. 186 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,960 And then the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all the 187 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,240 people will see it together. The Lord has spoken. 188 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,800 We will continue to prepare the way to see Him bring down 189 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,120 barriers of opposition, the barriers that are in our way, 190 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,880 whether it's in the church or outside of the church. 191 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,520 To see Him raise up the lowly, to see the path for Him made 192 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,760 smooth, for him to arrive. Why? 193 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,120 Because this is his heart so that the glory of the Lord may 194 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:17,000 be revealed. And as we enter 2026, let's 195 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,000 continue as he has LED us over this past year. 196 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,880 And let's expect the suddenly of God, an increase, an 197 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,120 acceleration. It's already happening. 198 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,360 But let's continue as we've seen. 199 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,920 So we believe for more. If we look, think that through 200 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,920 the year again, more love, more encounter, more simplicity, more 201 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,040 Jesus, more releasing people, more victory, more love for him 202 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,400 and for others and more of him and his glory. 203 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,880 So one church, let's continue to continue because we are a people 204 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:53,400 of continuance. I really feel this morning it's, 205 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:58,200 it's so important to remind us occasionally you get moments 206 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,800 from God where there's a, a demonstration, a miracle moment, 207 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:10,040 but largely the workings of God, in my experience, they happen 208 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:15,200 over a period of time in a life. And you can miss the moments. 209 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:19,040 And when we think of all those teaching series that have gone 210 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,840 on, all those moments, all those people in the baptism tongue, 211 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,960 all those people arriving, becoming part of God's heart, 212 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,400 the hundreds of people who found Jesus in the church this year. 213 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:33,640 Let's not miss one moment to say I will give you all the honour 214 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,240 and all the praise. And here we are in Colossians 2 215 00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,360 and I'd like to just now just preach for a few minutes. 216 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:45,520 Now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must 217 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,360 continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into 218 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,440 Him. Let your lives be built on Him. 219 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,800 Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and 220 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,640 you will overflow with thankfulness. 221 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:06,880 He is with us and we are called to continue to continue. 222 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:13,720 Firstly, to continue to accept Jesus as Lord and now just as 223 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,560 you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. 224 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:23,440 The sheer joy of being saved. I love being a Jesus follower 225 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:28,960 and the Holy Spirit is calling all of us towards Lordship in 226 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,800 every area as we go into a new year. 227 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,760 Lordship is more than Sundays. It's more than part time faith. 228 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,960 It's more than a temporary prayer. 229 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:45,200 Lordship is Lordship over me, Jesus first, a life yielded, 230 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,320 available and open to all that He has to offer. 231 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,720 It's Lordship over our relationships. 232 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,640 This means that in our friendships we build with love 233 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,480 and kindness and never selfishness and exclusivity and 234 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,240 gossip. If we're dating, lordship means 235 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,120 that our boundaries are in place, that we walk in purity 236 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,800 and we save sexual intimacy for marriage. 237 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,320 And in marriage, Lordship between a husband and wife is 238 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:22,320 maintaining honour of one another and purity between us at 239 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:26,880 all times. It's lordship over our Diaries 240 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,440 which means prioritising time as we go into this year with Jesus. 241 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:36,480 Time in church life, time with Christian friends, time building 242 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,240 bridges with people not yet Jesus followers. 243 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:49,350 If you don't sometimes plan it, it won't happen, our neighbour 244 00:15:49,350 --> 00:15:52,310 said to us yesterday. And it blessed me so much 245 00:15:53,510 --> 00:15:56,950 talking to me about how they had been so moved by the Christmas 246 00:15:56,950 --> 00:15:59,630 production. Last week they brought their 10 247 00:15:59,630 --> 00:16:02,270 year old nephew. It hasn't always been easy for 248 00:16:02,270 --> 00:16:07,280 them, this young man. And he sat on the 5th row here 249 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,840 in the 12:00 performance, and for much of it he laughed and 250 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:16,080 laughed and laughed and laughed. He did him so much good. 251 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,480 And to hear them say how much they'd loved being here for 252 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,920 that. These things take time. 253 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,520 Building bridges. It's lordship over our finances. 254 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,880 This is what it means. Meaning that we're serious to 255 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:35,480 give back to God first and we give therefore biblically and 256 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,520 generously and regularly releasing resources to the local 257 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,240 house to enable it to outwork its mission. 258 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:47,400 Lordship is freedom and blessing and how you were created to 259 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,560 live. I wonder if you'd decide again 260 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:57,680 today to continue to accept Jesus as Lord, to continue to 261 00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,240 follow him? Paul writes. 262 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,360 You must continue, continue to follow him. 263 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:07,480 I read about Simeon this week thinking of the Christmas story 264 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:13,319 and that those times reading about Simeon who dedicated Jesus 265 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,200 I think 40 days after he was born. 266 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:21,480 And this was a man who waited with a promise to see the 267 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,720 Messiah, and yet he continued in his faith. 268 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,920 He continued to follow. And we read in Luke, it says 269 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,280 there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon who was righteous 270 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,080 and devout. He was waiting. 271 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:34,200 I love that. Are you waiting? 272 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,280 He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the 273 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,120 Holy Spirit was on him. And it would been revealed to 274 00:17:40,120 --> 00:17:43,440 him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he'd seen 275 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,280 the Lord's Messiah. How was he continuing? 276 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,240 He was righteous and devout. That's Lordship. 277 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:55,680 He was waiting with expectation. That's Lordship and the Holy 278 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,600 Spirit was on him. That's Lordship. 279 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:03,640 He was continuing to follow God. If you found Jesus this year, I 280 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,600 want to say to you, there's more, there's more for you. 281 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,920 If you've not been baptised in water, do that in the first two 282 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:14,200 months of the year. Be filled with the Spirit, a 283 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:19,160 day-to-day minute relationship with Jesus when you're filled 284 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,520 with him. Everyone of us in this room can 285 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,160 speak in tongues. It's not an exclusive thing for 286 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,840 a few Christians. And if you haven't, you know in 287 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,760 the history of what we we are as a a denomination, Assemblies of 288 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:32,320 God. We used to have what would be 289 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,160 called tarrying meetings where people would wait until they 290 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,600 were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues. 291 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,760 I want to tell you, wait until you've been filled and you speak 292 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,600 in tongues. It gives you it gives you an 293 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:50,600 anointing, a strength to pray. But if you found Jesus, continue 294 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,360 to follow him because every area of your life is better with him. 295 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,440 We've never preached the gospel here that says you've now found 296 00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:59,160 Jesus. So everything will be sorted. 297 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,120 There'll be no tension, no difficulty, Everybody will love 298 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:04,800 you. It's not true, but you can 299 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,800 continue with Him because He walks with you in every season. 300 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,560 And what about all of us? Are we willing to continue to 301 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:15,640 follow Him? Because the Father is closer to 302 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,400 us than anyone else? And Jesus, who is coming soon, 303 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:26,920 He is worth following. I wonder today if you're going 304 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,600 to make a decision in a few moments like I made this morning 305 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,200 again in my devotions. As for me and my household, 306 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:39,480 we're going to serve the Lord every second of 2026. 307 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,760 I'm going to continue to follow Him. 308 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,960 Paul goes on. Continue to let your roots go 309 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:52,120 down. Roots go down into him, into 310 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:54,400 him. There's a tree near us. 311 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,480 We live on the back of a golf course and through our back gate 312 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,080 onto near the 18th T, there's a tree not far from there that 313 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:07,000 fell down a few months ago and it had roots, but it developed a 314 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,840 problem and in time it fell over because it needed stronger 315 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:15,360 roots. This is a year ahead for all of 316 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:18,360 us to let our roots grow down into Him. 317 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:26,480 We experience great freedom in our country to meet and to 318 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,640 worship and I expect that to continue. 319 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:32,840 But there are restrictions that from time to time are placed, 320 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,480 and we will face challenges as we go forward that the gospel 321 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,520 will be contested against as well as welcomed. 322 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:44,720 And we need to have strong roots, to stand strong against 323 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:51,200 every challenge, to strengthen, to go deeper, to come closer, to 324 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,920 let our roots go down, to come near to the Creator, to 325 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,480 strengthen the foundation of our lives so that we can withstand 326 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,720 any storm that comes, any difficulty. 327 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,720 I know some of you who've experienced sadness this year, 328 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,520 difficulty this year, questions this year. 329 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,960 Let your roots go down deeper. Let your response be to test 330 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:22,040 things to get stronger. For some of us, the foundations 331 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,880 course that we begins again on the 5th of January will help us 332 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,480 to get stronger. It will take us back to some 333 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,800 basics. It will help us to look at the 334 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,440 Bible. It will put strength in US and 335 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,720 energy with us. And I urge you, if you're new to 336 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:41,760 faith, to be part of that from the 5th of January for all of 337 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,400 us, the next steps part that we're going to do is going to 338 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:48,880 help us as we take the whole church through these steps in 339 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,480 April. And then every person joining 340 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,440 who is willing through these steps to help us to understand 341 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,560 not only the history of the house, but some of the strength 342 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,760 that comes in God and some of the freedom that he offers. 343 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,160 And then finding our place in the body. 344 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,480 Perhaps you need to press in for more discipleship. 345 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,880 You can ask somebody, will you spend some time with me? 346 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,400 Will you help me grow? Just ask. 347 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,040 They may say I'll find somebody for you if they can't, but 348 00:22:20,120 --> 00:22:24,160 there's always that option. And be regular in this new year, 349 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,360 part of a small group. I want to urge every adult in 350 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:33,520 this room to be in a small group, to help your roots go 351 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,800 down, to do life openness prayer for you. 352 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,640 In a small group there'll be programmes to help you get 353 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,640 stronger, to help your roots go down. 354 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,320 Susan's excited about a ladies conference here on February the 355 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,120 7th. Ladies, put it in your diary. 356 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,560 Put it in your diary. And she writes this. 357 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,080 All of us have areas in our lives where we know we need to 358 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,800 break out of restriction. We may be held by fear or guilt 359 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,800 or shame or negative thoughts or habit patterns. 360 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:07,400 Breakout is an opportunity for the women of one church to spend 361 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,360 time together in friendship and in the presence of our Heavenly 362 00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:14,040 Father who gives us the keys to free them with a visiting 363 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,680 speaker. Julie Keir from Audacious Church 364 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,640 Manchester is a pastor and also a psychotherapist who will be 365 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:24,440 speaking plus input, interviews, interaction, worship. 366 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,680 It's going to be a morning not to be missed. 367 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,840 I want to urge you ladies, we'll be, you'll be able to book into 368 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,080 that from January. Continue to accept Jesus as 369 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:34,160 well. You know, we've also got Mark 370 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:35,480 Ritchie coming. I think he's a little picture of 371 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,360 him. I'm excited about him coming 372 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,400 the, the second Sunday of February. 373 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,640 He's going to be with us in a together in the morning and in 374 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,720 the evening he's doing his new comedy show that he's just done 375 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,680 in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and he's going to bring it here. 376 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,360 And that's a night to bring hundreds of guests again who are 377 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:55,800 going to be impacted by the gospel. 378 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,640 Continue to accept Jesus as Lord, continue to follow him, to 379 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,640 continue to let your roots go down, to continue to build your 380 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:07,640 lives on him. Let your lives be built on him, 381 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:12,680 Paul says. I was so moved recently by his 382 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:17,120 testimony. He wrote this as he was baptised 383 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:19,160 and he declared it in our OB site. 384 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,880 Just recently he said this. I've been coming to church ever 385 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,160 since I was born. My mum actually worked at church 386 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:28,040 for a time and she had to go to lots of meetings because of 387 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,640 this. Now the younger me I couldn't be 388 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,640 left at home alone so I had to come along as well and these 389 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,000 meetings went on past my bedtime so I was put to sleep in lots of 390 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,480 different rooms around the church, the prayer room, the 391 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,520 cupboard and once the disabled toilet. 392 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:46,920 As a young child when I went to church it didn't really matter, 393 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,200 I would just play with my toys. Whilst worse it was happening 394 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,800 around me, it didn't really mean anything to me. 395 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,400 Playing with my toys was more fun. 396 00:24:56,280 --> 00:25:00,920 But what helped me get more engaged was going to reach the 397 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:05,480 midweek one church kids group because it woke my eyes up to 398 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,120 the reality that Christianity can be fun. 399 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:12,720 So when I was seven years old, I decided to give my life to Jesus 400 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:17,920 and and after this, through the years, God has helped me grow in 401 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,680 confidence and has given me a voice we will never despise in 402 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,160 this house. The response of a child. 403 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,320 If a child puts their hand up for something, we're going to 404 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,080 respond. We're never going to think it 405 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,640 does less. If you can get someone saved 406 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,400 when they're a child, It's actually it's it's almost more 407 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:38,280 because it saves them from so many things. 408 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:43,520 He writes this as I got older into youth, I've been on all the 409 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,080 one church youth weekends away and they really spoke to me. 410 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,360 I needed to put Jesus at the centre more. 411 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,920 Instead of making room for Jesus I needed to be putting him first 412 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:57,160 and fitting my life around him. So I started reading my Bible 413 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,760 more, praying more and before this I didn't used to like 414 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,960 talking about my faith but after this I now happily do. 415 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,920 So after this I started thinking about baptism and so I'm getting 416 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,800 baptised today because I am greatly loved by God. 417 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,840 I'm saved by God's grace. I'm the Spirit of God and me is 418 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:14,440 greater than the enemy in the world. 419 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:19,440 Some of you listen, listen, some of you, you're still running 420 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,280 after your kids when you come to church. 421 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,600 It's all right. We love you and we've been 422 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:30,520 there. We go back to moments in in the 423 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,840 Albert Hall in Nottingham where our young, our eldest son, would 424 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,400 lie on the floor because he couldn't cope with the noise. 425 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,200 And if I changed anything in the service, Susan would carry him 426 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:47,960 out screaming because I'd changed the structure for him in 427 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:49,840 in some of the challenges he was carrying. 428 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:55,000 We've been there. But one day, if you keep doing 429 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,560 the right thing, you find that the child next to you suddenly 430 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:04,760 stops and lifts their hands and it's precious and begins to 431 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,040 serve the Lord and says, can I go to midweek groups? 432 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,960 Can I be in our youth group? If they, if any child ever says 433 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,960 to you at any time, I want to go on a weekend away, listen, I 434 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,240 want to give you a word, cancel your holiday, cancel the trip 435 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,480 away. Cancel everything you can and 436 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:19,320 get them there. Why? 437 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,480 Because it's more important than anything you're doing, anything 438 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,440 you're doing. And listen, if you can't get 439 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,040 moved by that thought that that young lad came to reach on a 440 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:31,200 Tuesday night and whatever it is, you've got to take an hour's 441 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,000 holiday to get home later, earlier from work to get your 442 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,560 kid here. If you've got to book an Uber, 443 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,840 if you've got to carry them on your shoulders for 15 miles, get 444 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:44,400 them here on a Tuesday night and on a Friday night, listen to me. 445 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,360 I cannot listen. Because what happens is, is what 446 00:27:48,360 --> 00:27:51,280 happens is and, and there's no condemnation here. 447 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,800 What happens is there's so many distractions for young people, 448 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,000 so many groups they can go to, so many sports things they can 449 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,680 do, so many other things they can learn, instruments, drama, 450 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,480 everything. There's nothing wrong with that. 451 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:07,360 But when they're 16, you want to see them at the front weeping 452 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,400 with their hands raised, saying, I love Jesus and I'm going to 453 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,000 base my life on him. All our groups start back at the 454 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,680 beginning of January. Do everything you can. 455 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,360 And if your children say that they don't want to go lie on the 456 00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:22,960 floor for a few hours at night and cry out to God that they 457 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,560 would be hungry for him. Amen. 458 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,280 Set your heart to build every part of your life on Jesus. 459 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,880 The passage continues. I feel that so strongly. 460 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,520 I feel that so strongly. You know when I see my boys on 461 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:41,920 the screen, 35 and 34, My eldest son didn't want to go to our 462 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,280 youth group because he didn't fit in. 463 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:50,440 We forced him with gentleness. We broke all the rules and let 464 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:52,800 him go to the young adults group when he was 17. 465 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:56,400 I shouldn't have done it, but we did and he made friends and they 466 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,840 now both love him deeply. It's worth everything. 467 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,960 It's worth everything. Continue to build a strong 468 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,040 faith. Then your faith will grow strong 469 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,920 in the truth. Grow stronger this year. 470 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:09,720 Continue to build a strong faith. 471 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,160 Start the year. Get a new plan for your 472 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:14,600 devotions. Just start again. 473 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,240 Perhaps buy yourself a new Bible, get a little book, start 474 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:19,600 reading. Decide on the plan. 475 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,120 If you're not sure what to do, talk to Pastor Susan today. 476 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:26,440 She'll give you a plan in a moment of what you can try Bible 477 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:29,240 in a year, little bits, this, this, that, that. 478 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,920 Continue to build a strong faith, your devotions this year. 479 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,040 Get out of bed a bit earlier. Oh, I'm tired in the morning. 480 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:39,960 So what? Why is tiredness? 481 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,120 Got any? Set your alarm 15 minutes 482 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:43,520 earlier. Get downstairs. 483 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:45,280 If you have a coffee, make yourself a coffee. 484 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,960 Sit there and go. God, I'm here and he'll go. 485 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,560 I've been waiting for you. I'm so glad you've come. 486 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,080 Let's do a journey. And you leave and he's spoken to 487 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,040 you and you've got something that you carry all day. 488 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,680 Honestly, starting the day with Jesus is the most important 489 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:05,520 thing of your day. Learning how to read the Bible 490 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,080 if you get distracted by your phones, you know, we love you 491 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:11,160 version. We love the the apps, but get 492 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,720 yourself a Bible so that you're not distracted by anything else 493 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:18,480 and read it and say God speak to me and he will and learn to 494 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:20,840 speak in tongues. Walk up and down pray in the 495 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,360 language of the Spirit. Believe for the presence of God 496 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,000 to come on you continue to accept Jesus as Lord continue to 497 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:28,960 follow him continue to let your roots go down. 498 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:30,560 Continue to build your lives on him. 499 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,120 Continue to build a strong faith. 500 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:36,120 And lastly, he says, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 501 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:38,520 Continue to overflow with thankfulness. 502 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:43,120 This year, set your heart to say thank you for everything, 503 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:51,840 everything, everything. Set your heart that every single 504 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:55,480 Sunday you're in church, you're going to pick up all the litter 505 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,960 that's under your chair to thank the people that set the room. 506 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,920 Set your heart. But in church life, you're going 507 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,320 to thank the people who serve you, who say hello, give you a 508 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,880 coffee and a cake. And in work, you're going to be 509 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:15,280 grateful to your boss for your job, to the bus driver, to the 510 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,320 person who serves you on the at the till. 511 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,040 You're going to stop and say thank you. 512 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:27,960 Stop and say thank you. Set your heart to complain less 513 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,840 and less. Stop moaning. 514 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,640 You never feel better after moaning. 515 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,280 If you've got an operation delayed, or you have to wait a 516 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,160 bit longer for an appointment with the doctors, or if there's 517 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,840 a queue or a terrible driver in front of you, or if you've got a 518 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,760 neighbour that's difficult. Start thanking the law for the 519 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:54,320 privilege of having a House, of having a free health service, of 520 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:58,320 even being able to get on a bus. Set your heart to complain less 521 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,120 and less, and your heart to be grateful more and more. 522 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,520 Overflow with thankfulness. The church should be the most 523 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,800 thankful organisation in the world. 524 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,600 Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. 525 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:17,320 Start it today. Tell the person next to you, I'm 526 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:19,720 really thankful I'm sitting next to you today. 527 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:23,720 Go and tell them. Stop moaning. 528 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:30,600 Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must 529 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:35,720 continue to follow Him. You must continue to follow Him. 530 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:40,440 You must continue to let your roots go down into Him, and you 531 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:42,920 must continue to let your lives be built on Him. 532 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:49,920 Then, as you do, your faith will grow strong in the truth you 533 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:53,400 were told, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 534 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,800 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine 535 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:04,000 upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards 536 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:05,720 you and give you peace.