Journey of a Thousand Steps

How do you stocktake the year that's been and set goals for the year ahead? Would you like to try a biblical framework for your planning? As we prepare to enter the new year, this final Sunday of 2025, we considered Paul's teaching to the Corinthian church about the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.18-25). If we believe that we have been spiritually reborn in Christ and will be physically resurrected after we die, our end-goal starts in Heaven. We don't simply look to what we can achieve in the time we have on earth. We look back from who we are in Heaven, and seek obedience to the mission God has entrusted to us. This week's message comes with a practical, guided reflection to consider your priorities for the year ahead.    Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 28 December 2025 

By the end of this message we hope you will see how believable the Christmas story is - not a fariytale! So many of the details in the accounts of Jesus' birth are too random, inconvenient and imperfect to have been made up. In the middle of an economically depressed and unsafe political context; as well as a socially lonely and difficult situation, signs and wonders emerged. This is exactly how faith leads to social change. First, a small team of people are faithful to a calling, long before there is evidence that it is real. Secondly, life keeps throwing difficulties at the situation to make it even harder than it already was. As people persist in faith, early adopters arrive (shepherds). Then come the wise donors who believe, even though they come from outside of the community. Are you ready for this life?  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2025

Do you ever wonder whether the story of Jesus' birth is simply a ridiculous fairytale? As we take a close look at Joseph's story in Matthew 1.18-25, we see his anxiety and uncertainty as he faced a very hard decision. We also notice three dynamics that combined to make sense of something crazy. First, he had knowledge of the scripture and recalled the prophecy of a birth that would come only from God. Second, he had a deeply personal encounter with God through a dream, which calmed his anxiety and gave him a reason to believe in a miracle. Third, he loved Mary. Their love and faithfulness was also a confirming sign that God was at work, even in a very unexpected way. To discern what is from God, versus what is fanciful or crazy, we also need three things: knowledge of the scriptures, confidence in hearing the Holy Spirit and close friendships within the Body of Christ.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 21 December 2025 

Even the greatest of leaders experience doubt. At the end of his journey, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus - 'What on earth is going on and why are you moving so slowly?' The words in scripture read, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” ( See Matthew 12.2-12) John was under immense physical and psychological pressure as he faced imprisonment, but he was also confused by the way Jesus was starting his ministry. It seemed slow and very different to the way John had led a massive campaign for people to choose repentance. We are no different. When we are under pressures, battling pain or grief, and confused by the pace at which God is moving, we may also cry out, “Are you the one? What are you doing? Why are you moving so slowly?” Jesus answers - he will heal before he scales his work, and he won’t allow us to skip this part of the process. Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 14 December 2025  

What makes a movement last? John the Baptist built a following that scaled quickly (we know this from Christian and non-Christian historic sources)!! This week, as we continued our teaching series, 'The Sifting Years', we considered John's strategies as a leader of systemic change. His cry was to convert people to an entirely new economy - one led by God as the CEO of our lives and Prime Minister of our home country. The biblical language is that "the Kingdom of Heaven has come near." In Matthew 3.1-12 we see a leader who exemplifies this change in his own life, provides a new process for people to step into, builds a movement that is replicable and scalable, and sets a high bar. Those who don't meet the standards are called out. To truly turn away from the economy of the world and live under Heaven's Rule means three things for us today. 1. We share with those who have less than us from every pay cheque. 2. We forgive and don't leave people trapped in debt. 3. We are content with our wages and live within our means.  Imagine a nation that did all of these three things in every budget. There is one. It's the true Church and you can step into it right now. Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 7 December 2025