Gracecity

It’s easier to understand people who look like us, speak like us and think like us. Yet if that’s our only lens for life, we miss out on the richness diversity can bring. Diversity is more than culture and ethnicity it’s a way of life. God’s heart for the church is for people from every nation, tribe, people-group, language, all worshipping Jesus together.

Can I really make a difference? We all long for purpose, we want our lives to matter, our efforts to count for something. We can’t do this alone! God designed us to work together with others. Just like a sports team, every player in their position, the whole team wins. It’s not a solo game! The local church is not a solo game either, it’s designed to have everyone play their unique role, working together to make a difference. Discover your unique contribution and know for sure you do make a difference.

People who knew him and knew about him thought so. They saw the difference Jesus had made in their lives. His truth was radical, yet personal. This dynamic movement called the early church spread from house to house, attracting people of all walks of life. What’s changed? Can we rediscover what the early church knew? What seismic shift do we need to experience in 2022?

If you had more money to give away would you do it? Most people would say yes, but in reality, probably wouldn’t. This is simply because there is a difference between someone who gives and someone who is generous. Generosity doesn’t have to be big gifts that cost a lot of money. There are simple ways to become generous, happier and to make a difference in this world. Are you generous?

Doing what we know is comfortable, predictable–it’s normal. Normal isn’t bad, but what if God doesn’t want us to go back to the way it was? He helps us see opportunity through disruption. What do we need to do differently?

We know every car needs the right fuel to run. Even when the car is fueled or charged up, it doesn’t go anywhere until the ignition is turned. Did you know that as people, we also need the right sort of fuel or power to live as our creator intended? How do you access this power? It’s a seismic shift.

It’s easy for us to get distracted by people, politics, finances and life’s other challenges. We can become isolated and overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. But what if Jesus has a plan? What if He knows you and wants you to experience His love? Discover His plan for you. You are not alone. You are loved and you matter.

Unity is the heart and the hope of the gospel. Jesus prayed “may they be one….Father, just as we are one.” The Treaty of Waitangi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi was intended to bring two peoples together in genuine partnership. A day of celebration, but also hurts from what happened in our history. What can bring people together and heal relational divides? What is God saying to followers of Jesus in Aotearoa NZ? What would it mean for us to say “He iwi kotahi tatou”, meaning “Now we are one”?

Is it wrong to be rich? The book of Proverbs has much to say on the topic. While it never says there's anything wrong with money or wealth, there is definitely a right and wrong way to handle the resources God bestows upon us. There is a danger to wealth that can lead us to ruin so how can we make sure we honour God with our money?

In a world of social media, the age-old problems of comparison, envy and discontent have been elevated to epidemic levels. It is so easy to grow unhappy with our lot in life while gazing enviously at the lives of others. Hear what the ancient wisdom of Proverbs can teach us about slaying the green-eyed monster of envy.