Grosey's Messages

National Church Life Survey and Natural Church Development Reviews (2021 2022)

It was noted that over this period there had been an emphasis on reviewing our central core values as a church and how we implement these core values.

Our Core values are:

1. Jesus & the gospel - Heart of all ministry.
2. Commitment to corporate Prayer - Prayer must be a priority.
3. Service - How people are able to serve in the Church.
4. Need to review all ministries we run - as to effectiveness.
5. Joy - Tone of the Church, Celebration of God's salvation.
6. Affirmation - encourage one another.
7. Training - Discover / use gifts.
8. Vision , Mission & Purpose - Promote

Since the beginning of 2023 we have endeavoured to work these core emphases from the Session to the congregation through:

1. Preaching   We have preached several series from Ephesians, including:  the Heidelberg catechism series, Focus On The family, The Seven 'I Am' Sayings of John's gospel, Armed For Battle (from Ephesians 6), Paul's Prayers (Ephesians 1-3).   

Teaching   Our Church Membership class has incorporated material concerning the Ephesians 1, 2 (on Salvation)  and Ephesians 4 (on giftedness and ministries).  We have also circulated the sign up sheet to all attenders to find where they can fir into the membership of the church.  The church has added nearly 40 new members this year.

2. Worship. Our Worship team (s) have developed some focus on reformed methods of worship.
3. Growth groups.  There is opportunity for Growth Groups to utilise questions for Growth Groups associated to the sermon materials each week through the Church Newsletter
4. Youth & Childrens ministries

Children's and Youth ministries are early in their development and we need to begin some training for new teachers and leaders. All have done their Safe Ministry training either through the denomination or through the local church.

Some things that should be able to be improved.

Vision , Mission & Purpose -  We need to regularly (perhaps quarterly) reintroduce new attenders and established members in our core values through appropriate messages and materials.

Training - Faith Sharing & Discover / use gifts.   We need to hold further training sessions after church each week in each of these core areas perhaps twice a year.

Belonging - New growth groups, Membership course, Enquiry class for new believers.  We need to more carefully move folks from the new Members classes into new Growth Groups in order to retain our new members.

Subjugative Transformation vs  Servant-like Transformation

3 John 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.¹⁰ So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. ¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Affected by  Culture:  Pluralism         Individualism       Rights based    Power      Pride

Servant-like Transformation Gracious Modelling

Affected by Grace:     Hospitality ⁵ Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,⁶ who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.⁷ For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.⁸ Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Humility   ¹² Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. ¹³ I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.¹⁴ I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.