The Pastor's Pen https://www.newlifechurch.ae Thoughts from Pastor Gareth Franks Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:14:46 -0400 https://www.churchplantmedia.com/ A Pillar Church https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/a-pillar-church https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/a-pillar-church#comments Sat, 30 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/a-pillar-church Church Family,

Thank you for your faithful prayers for brother David and me as we travelled to Scotland to minister at the Pillar International Conference. We felt carried by your support every step of the way, and I’m grateful to share a brief but joy‑filled report of what the Lord allowed us to experience.

On Thursday, 21 May, I had the privilege of preaching from 1 Thessalonians 4:11–5:13. The message was titled “The Hope that Anchors Gospel Churches.” I emphasised that because Jesus died and rose again, we have a certain, unshakeable hope in His return — a hope that anchors gospel churches with courage, clarity, and comfort. This hope turns confusion into confidence and empowers ordinary believers to have extraordinary impact.

My prayer is that New Life Church will continue to be one of these hope‑anchored churches, shining brightly for Christ in our city and beyond.

Throughout the conference, David and I were able to connect with many other Pillar churches from around the world. These conversations were rich, encouraging, and full of potential. Please continue praying with us that the seeds planted during these interactions will grow into healthy, gospel‑advancing partnerships.

We were also blessed to spend time with Doug Van Meter (pastor of Brackenhurst Baptist Church) and his wife. Doug wrote the article below, and I wanted to share it with you as an encouragement.

..................................................

In 1910, a layman by the name of John Mott organised a ten-day missions conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. Some 1,355 delegates from various parts of the world gathered to focus on the goal, in Mott’s words, “to evangelise the world in this generation.” Mott, a remarkable Christian businessman (who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for, astonishingly, establishing international Christian organisations) was instrumental in what was known as the Student Volunteer Movement, which focused on challenging young people to give their lives to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

This initial missions conference in Edinburgh continued for many years, but over the years—primarily because it minimised the centrality of the local church—it was overtaken by theological liberals and died a necessary death. Though Mott, no doubt, was a genuine Christian, unfortunately, like so many caught up in missionary zeal in the late 1800s and early 1900s, he failed to appreciate that, when it comes to gospel integrity, there is a reason God has entrusted it to his local churches. The apostle Paul understood this and thus referred to the local church as “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (i.e. the gospel truth) (1 Timothy 3:15). So, why the history lesson? Because last week I had the privilege of being in Edinburgh with brothers and sisters who likewise are committed to evangelising the world through God’s appointed means of gospel-faithful local churches.

Three years ago, Brackenhurst Baptist Church joined the Pillar Network, an international association of likeminded local churches committed, to use its motto, “equipping, planting, and revitalising churches.” [New Life Church became members of this network 1 year ago]. The network was initially founded for churches in the United States that are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. But a few years ago, the network expanded to Baptist churches internationally. There are currently 57 international churches among a total of 690 local churches. The international arm is growing rapidly.

It was an encouragement to meet many pastors from around the globe, hearing their stories, learning of their challenges, and sharing in their concern that our local churches be faithful “pillars” and supportive “buttresses” in the Lord’s mission. The preaching was sound and helpful. What a joy to hear our own Gareth Franks deliver one of the messages! The three days of fellowship reduced the size of the globe as, on numerous occasions, I said, “Yes, I know that church,” or, “I am aware of that faithful pastor.” When it comes to Reformed local churches, it is indeed a small world, and yet one where gospel fidelity is having a wide impact as local churches partner prayerfully and practically. (Actually, prayer is practical but that will require another article.)

After I participated in a panel discussion, a brother from Portugal sought me out asking me to put him in touch with Pedro in Angola. Another pastor, from Miami, Florida in the United States, asked me for our church’s name and said that he wants his church to pray regularly for us. I met a few pastors from North Africa and was encouraged by what the Lord is doing there as well as a brother who has planted the first Reformed Baptist Church in Denmark and is now planting a second church. Though less spiritual in nature, I also met a pastor from Kerala, India who was so excited to learn that we have an Oommen in our family!

The conference was held at the Charlotte Chapel, which ten years ago moved from their Rose Street location to the historic Saint George West Church building, where the likes of Robert Murry McCheyne, Thomas Chalmers, Alexander Whyte, Robert Candlish, and a host of other faithful pastors used to preach. Eric Liddell, after winning his gold medal at the 1924 Olympics and before heading to China as a missionary, also preached there. To see and hear Gareth preach from the same pulpit brought me great joy, not merely because of the historical connection but because, for over two hundred years, the gospel has been and continues to be preached in that part of Edinburgh.

After the conference ended, Jill and I toured the Edinburgh Castle and, from its vantage point, the steeple of Charlotte Chapel stands out with its turquoise- coloured copper tip resting high above the city. It truly is a lighthouse in a city darkened by secularism. Praise God for its long track record of being a biblical “pillar church.”

Though the 270 delegates at this year’s Pillar Conference is a far cry from the 1,355 delegates of the 1910 conference, we must not despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10). From what I experienced, I believe we should be encouraged by what the Lord is doing around the globe. The Lord is building his church!

At the Edinburgh conference in 1910, several well-known preachers addressed the large crowd. Praise God a lot of good came out of that. But one of the contrasts that struck me last week was that the Pillar Network is not loaded with “big name” pastors. The people who serve on staff of Pillar, for the most part, would be names most of us would not recognise. Though grateful for the Pipers, Washers, Sprouls, and MacArthurs, nevertheless the Lord is doing a wonderful work also through faithful servants who will never write a book, never be “featured,” and whose biographies will never be written. The Pillar Network may never be mentioned in future histories of the church and yet, as its churches partner together, they can anticipate the joy of one day singing God’s praises around the throne of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead to save sinners from every people under heaven. To be reminded of this was a great buttress to my own faith and a motivation to do all I can to help Brackenhurst Baptist Church to remain a “pillar church.”

Doug

 

]]> Church Family,

Thank you for your faithful prayers for brother David and me as we travelled to Scotland to minister at the Pillar International Conference. We felt carried by your support every step of the way, and I’m grateful to share a brief but joy‑filled report of what the Lord allowed us to experience.

On Thursday, 21 May, I had the privilege of preaching from 1 Thessalonians 4:11–5:13. The message was titled “The Hope that Anchors Gospel Churches.” I emphasised that because Jesus died and rose again, we have a certain, unshakeable hope in His return — a hope that anchors gospel churches with courage, clarity, and comfort. This hope turns confusion into confidence and empowers ordinary believers to have extraordinary impact.

My prayer is that New Life Church will continue to be one of these hope‑anchored churches, shining brightly for Christ in our city and beyond.

Throughout the conference, David and I were able to connect with many other Pillar churches from around the world. These conversations were rich, encouraging, and full of potential. Please continue praying with us that the seeds planted during these interactions will grow into healthy, gospel‑advancing partnerships.

We were also blessed to spend time with Doug Van Meter (pastor of Brackenhurst Baptist Church) and his wife. Doug wrote the article below, and I wanted to share it with you as an encouragement.

..................................................

In 1910, a layman by the name of John Mott organised a ten-day missions conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. Some 1,355 delegates from various parts of the world gathered to focus on the goal, in Mott’s words, “to evangelise the world in this generation.” Mott, a remarkable Christian businessman (who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for, astonishingly, establishing international Christian organisations) was instrumental in what was known as the Student Volunteer Movement, which focused on challenging young people to give their lives to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

This initial missions conference in Edinburgh continued for many years, but over the years—primarily because it minimised the centrality of the local church—it was overtaken by theological liberals and died a necessary death. Though Mott, no doubt, was a genuine Christian, unfortunately, like so many caught up in missionary zeal in the late 1800s and early 1900s, he failed to appreciate that, when it comes to gospel integrity, there is a reason God has entrusted it to his local churches. The apostle Paul understood this and thus referred to the local church as “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (i.e. the gospel truth) (1 Timothy 3:15). So, why the history lesson? Because last week I had the privilege of being in Edinburgh with brothers and sisters who likewise are committed to evangelising the world through God’s appointed means of gospel-faithful local churches.

Three years ago, Brackenhurst Baptist Church joined the Pillar Network, an international association of likeminded local churches committed, to use its motto, “equipping, planting, and revitalising churches.” [New Life Church became members of this network 1 year ago]. The network was initially founded for churches in the United States that are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. But a few years ago, the network expanded to Baptist churches internationally. There are currently 57 international churches among a total of 690 local churches. The international arm is growing rapidly.

It was an encouragement to meet many pastors from around the globe, hearing their stories, learning of their challenges, and sharing in their concern that our local churches be faithful “pillars” and supportive “buttresses” in the Lord’s mission. The preaching was sound and helpful. What a joy to hear our own Gareth Franks deliver one of the messages! The three days of fellowship reduced the size of the globe as, on numerous occasions, I said, “Yes, I know that church,” or, “I am aware of that faithful pastor.” When it comes to Reformed local churches, it is indeed a small world, and yet one where gospel fidelity is having a wide impact as local churches partner prayerfully and practically. (Actually, prayer is practical but that will require another article.)

After I participated in a panel discussion, a brother from Portugal sought me out asking me to put him in touch with Pedro in Angola. Another pastor, from Miami, Florida in the United States, asked me for our church’s name and said that he wants his church to pray regularly for us. I met a few pastors from North Africa and was encouraged by what the Lord is doing there as well as a brother who has planted the first Reformed Baptist Church in Denmark and is now planting a second church. Though less spiritual in nature, I also met a pastor from Kerala, India who was so excited to learn that we have an Oommen in our family!

The conference was held at the Charlotte Chapel, which ten years ago moved from their Rose Street location to the historic Saint George West Church building, where the likes of Robert Murry McCheyne, Thomas Chalmers, Alexander Whyte, Robert Candlish, and a host of other faithful pastors used to preach. Eric Liddell, after winning his gold medal at the 1924 Olympics and before heading to China as a missionary, also preached there. To see and hear Gareth preach from the same pulpit brought me great joy, not merely because of the historical connection but because, for over two hundred years, the gospel has been and continues to be preached in that part of Edinburgh.

After the conference ended, Jill and I toured the Edinburgh Castle and, from its vantage point, the steeple of Charlotte Chapel stands out with its turquoise- coloured copper tip resting high above the city. It truly is a lighthouse in a city darkened by secularism. Praise God for its long track record of being a biblical “pillar church.”

Though the 270 delegates at this year’s Pillar Conference is a far cry from the 1,355 delegates of the 1910 conference, we must not despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10). From what I experienced, I believe we should be encouraged by what the Lord is doing around the globe. The Lord is building his church!

At the Edinburgh conference in 1910, several well-known preachers addressed the large crowd. Praise God a lot of good came out of that. But one of the contrasts that struck me last week was that the Pillar Network is not loaded with “big name” pastors. The people who serve on staff of Pillar, for the most part, would be names most of us would not recognise. Though grateful for the Pipers, Washers, Sprouls, and MacArthurs, nevertheless the Lord is doing a wonderful work also through faithful servants who will never write a book, never be “featured,” and whose biographies will never be written. The Pillar Network may never be mentioned in future histories of the church and yet, as its churches partner together, they can anticipate the joy of one day singing God’s praises around the throne of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead to save sinners from every people under heaven. To be reminded of this was a great buttress to my own faith and a motivation to do all I can to help Brackenhurst Baptist Church to remain a “pillar church.”

Doug

 

]]> Why the Prosperity Gospel Is a Modern Golden Calf https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/a-call-to-undivided-devotion https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/a-call-to-undivided-devotion#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/a-call-to-undivided-devotion Every morning in the 1800s, a Scottish fisherman would row just beyond the harbor wall, lower his nets, bow his head, and pray aloud, “Lord, this day is Yours.” When asked why, he replied, “If I begin the day without honouring Him, I will spend the day forgetting Him.” His simple habit captured a profound truth: worship shapes life. What we think of God determines how we live before God.

That truth stands at the center of the second commandment. God forbids not only worshiping the wrong god, but worshiping the right God in the wrong way. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image… you shall not bow down to them or serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5). The issue is not art—it is false worship. It is the human impulse to reshape God into something we can manage, control, or use.

And nowhere is this more visible today than in the health, wealth and prosperity gospel.

The Prosperity Gospel: A Modern Carved Image

The prosperity gospel is not a harmless theological mistake. It is a modern golden calf—an idol crafted from Christian vocabulary but shaped by worldly desires. It promises that God exists to make us healthy, wealthy, successful, and comfortable. It offers blessing without repentance, glory without suffering, and crowns without crosses.

John Piper captures the heart of idolatry when he writes, “If we find God to be so boring or so negligible that we must put other things in his place… we not only offend him, but we also destroy ourselves.” The prosperity gospel does exactly that—it replaces the God of Scripture with a god who exists to serve our cravings.

A biblical church must guard the gospel, teach sound doctrine, and refuse to let cultural preferences reshape God. The prosperity gospel does the opposite. It reshapes God to fit the culture of greed, entitlement, and self‑fulfillment.

How the Prosperity Gospel Breaks the Second Commandment

1. It creates a false image of God. The prosperity gospel presents a god who never confronts sin, never calls for holiness, and never leads His people through suffering. This “god” is nothing more than a spiritual vending machine—insert faith, receive blessing.

But the God of Exodus 20 is a jealous God—a God who refuses to be resized, repackaged, or reinvented.

2. It turns worship into a transaction. Prosperity preachers often say things like:

  • “Sow a seed of faith and reap financial breakthrough.”
  • “If you believe enough, God must heal you.”
  • “Your words create your reality.”

This is not worship—it is manipulation. It treats God as a tool to achieve our goals. It bows to Him outwardly while serving money, comfort, and success inwardly.

Matthew Henry’s warning is painfully relevant: “Whatever is esteemed or loved, feared or served, delighted in or depended on more than God—that, whatever it is, we make a god of.”

3. It enslaves rather than frees. Every idol promises life but delivers slavery. The prosperity gospel enslaves people to:

  • guilt (“If I’m sick, I must not have enough faith.”)
  • fear (“If I don’t give, God won’t bless me.”)
  • disillusionment (“God didn’t give me what the preacher promised.”)

This is spiritual abuse disguised as spirituality.

Practical Examples of Prosperity Fraud We Must Flee

These examples are tragically common:

1. “Seed-faith” schemes - Preachers promising miracles, healing, or financial breakthrough in exchange for money. This is not generosity—it is exploitation.

2. “Name it and claim it” theology - The idea that your words have divine power to create reality. Scripture never teaches this. God speaks things into existence—not us.

3. Guaranteed healing claims - Telling suffering Christians that if they had enough faith, they would be healed. This crushes the weak and contradicts the entire New Testament, where faithful believers suffer, groan, and wait for resurrection.

4. Luxury lifestyles funded by the poor - Pastors living in mansions, flying private jets, and wearing designer clothes while demanding sacrificial giving from struggling families. This is not ministry—it is manipulation.

5. Promises of earthly success as proof of God’s favour - The idea that wealth equals blessing and poverty equals sin. This is the opposite of Jesus’ teaching.

These are not minor errors. They are false worship—modern golden calves.

Why God Speaks So Strongly: His Jealous, Saving Love

Exodus 20:5–6 tells us why God forbids idols: He is jealous for His people. Not insecure jealousy, but covenant jealousy—the fierce love of a faithful husband who refuses to let His bride destroy herself with false lovers.

God knows that idols—ancient or modern—will enslave us. He knows that the prosperity gospel will crush us. He knows that false worship will deform our souls.

So He commands us to worship Him as He truly is—not as we imagine Him to be.

The Cure for Idolatry: God Gives Us Himself

The answer to the prosperity gospel is not cynicism—it is Christ.

Jesus is the One who perfectly obeyed the first two commandments. Jesus is the One who treasured His Father above all. Jesus is the One who embraced suffering rather than earthly comfort. Jesus is the One who frees us from idols by giving us a greater treasure—Himself.

As Piper often says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” 

Worship Shapes Life

Which brings us back to the Scottish fisherman. He prayed each morning, “Lord, this day is Yours,” because he knew how easily the heart drifts. He knew that if he did not begin with honouring God, he would spend the day forgetting Him.

And that is the call of Exodus 20:4–6. Begin with honouring God. Our actions reveal our theology. What we think of God determines how we live before God. Our worship shapes life. Reject every false image. Keep the real gospel at the center, not a counterfeit one. Worship the God who will not be resized. Treasure the Christ who will not be replaced. Lay down every rival, come to the Father through His Son, and give Him the obedience that flows from love. 

]]> Every morning in the 1800s, a Scottish fisherman would row just beyond the harbor wall, lower his nets, bow his head, and pray aloud, “Lord, this day is Yours.” When asked why, he replied, “If I begin the day without honouring Him, I will spend the day forgetting Him.” His simple habit captured a profound truth: worship shapes life. What we think of God determines how we live before God.

That truth stands at the center of the second commandment. God forbids not only worshiping the wrong god, but worshiping the right God in the wrong way. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image… you shall not bow down to them or serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5). The issue is not art—it is false worship. It is the human impulse to reshape God into something we can manage, control, or use.

And nowhere is this more visible today than in the health, wealth and prosperity gospel.

The Prosperity Gospel: A Modern Carved Image

The prosperity gospel is not a harmless theological mistake. It is a modern golden calf—an idol crafted from Christian vocabulary but shaped by worldly desires. It promises that God exists to make us healthy, wealthy, successful, and comfortable. It offers blessing without repentance, glory without suffering, and crowns without crosses.

John Piper captures the heart of idolatry when he writes, “If we find God to be so boring or so negligible that we must put other things in his place… we not only offend him, but we also destroy ourselves.” The prosperity gospel does exactly that—it replaces the God of Scripture with a god who exists to serve our cravings.

A biblical church must guard the gospel, teach sound doctrine, and refuse to let cultural preferences reshape God. The prosperity gospel does the opposite. It reshapes God to fit the culture of greed, entitlement, and self‑fulfillment.

How the Prosperity Gospel Breaks the Second Commandment

1. It creates a false image of God. The prosperity gospel presents a god who never confronts sin, never calls for holiness, and never leads His people through suffering. This “god” is nothing more than a spiritual vending machine—insert faith, receive blessing.

But the God of Exodus 20 is a jealous God—a God who refuses to be resized, repackaged, or reinvented.

2. It turns worship into a transaction. Prosperity preachers often say things like:

  • “Sow a seed of faith and reap financial breakthrough.”
  • “If you believe enough, God must heal you.”
  • “Your words create your reality.”

This is not worship—it is manipulation. It treats God as a tool to achieve our goals. It bows to Him outwardly while serving money, comfort, and success inwardly.

Matthew Henry’s warning is painfully relevant: “Whatever is esteemed or loved, feared or served, delighted in or depended on more than God—that, whatever it is, we make a god of.”

3. It enslaves rather than frees. Every idol promises life but delivers slavery. The prosperity gospel enslaves people to:

  • guilt (“If I’m sick, I must not have enough faith.”)
  • fear (“If I don’t give, God won’t bless me.”)
  • disillusionment (“God didn’t give me what the preacher promised.”)

This is spiritual abuse disguised as spirituality.

Practical Examples of Prosperity Fraud We Must Flee

These examples are tragically common:

1. “Seed-faith” schemes - Preachers promising miracles, healing, or financial breakthrough in exchange for money. This is not generosity—it is exploitation.

2. “Name it and claim it” theology - The idea that your words have divine power to create reality. Scripture never teaches this. God speaks things into existence—not us.

3. Guaranteed healing claims - Telling suffering Christians that if they had enough faith, they would be healed. This crushes the weak and contradicts the entire New Testament, where faithful believers suffer, groan, and wait for resurrection.

4. Luxury lifestyles funded by the poor - Pastors living in mansions, flying private jets, and wearing designer clothes while demanding sacrificial giving from struggling families. This is not ministry—it is manipulation.

5. Promises of earthly success as proof of God’s favour - The idea that wealth equals blessing and poverty equals sin. This is the opposite of Jesus’ teaching.

These are not minor errors. They are false worship—modern golden calves.

Why God Speaks So Strongly: His Jealous, Saving Love

Exodus 20:5–6 tells us why God forbids idols: He is jealous for His people. Not insecure jealousy, but covenant jealousy—the fierce love of a faithful husband who refuses to let His bride destroy herself with false lovers.

God knows that idols—ancient or modern—will enslave us. He knows that the prosperity gospel will crush us. He knows that false worship will deform our souls.

So He commands us to worship Him as He truly is—not as we imagine Him to be.

The Cure for Idolatry: God Gives Us Himself

The answer to the prosperity gospel is not cynicism—it is Christ.

Jesus is the One who perfectly obeyed the first two commandments. Jesus is the One who treasured His Father above all. Jesus is the One who embraced suffering rather than earthly comfort. Jesus is the One who frees us from idols by giving us a greater treasure—Himself.

As Piper often says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” 

Worship Shapes Life

Which brings us back to the Scottish fisherman. He prayed each morning, “Lord, this day is Yours,” because he knew how easily the heart drifts. He knew that if he did not begin with honouring God, he would spend the day forgetting Him.

And that is the call of Exodus 20:4–6. Begin with honouring God. Our actions reveal our theology. What we think of God determines how we live before God. Our worship shapes life. Reject every false image. Keep the real gospel at the center, not a counterfeit one. Worship the God who will not be resized. Treasure the Christ who will not be replaced. Lay down every rival, come to the Father through His Son, and give Him the obedience that flows from love. 

]]> The Law Rooted in Love https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/the-law-rooted-in-love https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/the-law-rooted-in-love#comments Sat, 07 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/the-law-rooted-in-love When Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope, the crowd roared with confidence. They had watched him walk the rope blindfolded, push a wheelbarrow across it, even cook an omelet on it. So when he asked, “Do you believe I can carry a man across in this wheelbarrow?” the crowd shouted, “Yes!” But when he followed with, “Who will get in the wheelbarrow?”—no one moved.

They believed about him, but they didn’t trust in him.

That moment captures something essential about the Christian life. God does not invite us to admire Him from a distance. He calls us to trust Him personally. And nowhere is that clearer than in the opening words of the Ten Commandments.

Before God gives a single command—before He says one “You shall” or “You shall not”—He begins with Himself. Exodus 20 doesn’t begin with demands; it begins with deliverance. The Ten Commandments are not a moral ladder we climb to earn God’s favor. They are the response of a rescued people learning how to live free.

The first words in Exodus 20 are simple: “And God spoke…” The God who thundered on Sinai is the God who speaks. The Hebrew word here—Elohim—is the same name used in Genesis 1. Just as creation began with “And God said,” the moral order begins the same way. The same God who spoke galaxies into existence now speaks His law into existence. These words were written, Exodus says, by His very finger.

Before God tells Israel what to do, He tells them who is speaking. Obedience is not about rule‑keeping; it is about responding to the God who reveals Himself. Like sheep who recognize the voice of their shepherd, God’s people are meant to lean forward when He speaks. In a world full of competing voices—our fears, our desires, our culture—God’s voice cuts through the noise.

And then God says, in verse 2, something even more astonishing: “I am the LORD your God.” Not “I will be your God if you obey.” Not “I might be your God if you perform well.” But “I am already your God—therefore obey.”

Relationship precedes requirement. The word “your” in Hebrew is singular. Even though millions stood at Sinai, God addressed each Israelite as if they were the only one standing there. His covenant love is not general—it is personal. His commands are not abstract—they are addressed to you. God is not simply forming a nation; He is forming a people whose hearts He claims one by one.

And like any loving Father, He gives limits. Love often says “No.” Parents know this instinctively. I remember once telling one of my children not to play with matches while I was burning leaves. He didn’t listen—and came running back with singed eyebrows and smoking hair. He learned that day that a father’s “no” is rooted in love.

God’s “no” is the same. His commands protect us. His limits are expressions of His love.

But the most beautiful truth in these opening verses is this: “…who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Before God commands anything, He reminds Israel of what He has already done. The law is rooted in freedom. The God who commands is the God who rescues. Israel is not obeying to get out of Egypt. They obey because they are already out. The law protects freedom. The law reflects God’s saving character. The law teaches redeemed people how to live redeemed lives.

This is the same truth Paul celebrates in Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Redemption begins with God, not with us. Jesus echoes this in John 15:16: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” From Exodus to the Gospels to the Epistles, Scripture sings the same melody: God chooses, God calls, God rescues.

John Newton understood this. Once a slave‑ship captain, he was rescued by grace during a violent storm. Over time, the gospel transformed him. He left the slave trade, became a pastor, and joined Wilberforce in the fight to abolish slavery. Near the end of his life, nearly blind, he said, “I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

Newton didn’t obey to earn God’s love. He obeyed because he had been rescued by grace.

That is exactly what God is teaching Israel in Exodus 20. Before a single command is given, God declares, “I brought you out.” Obedience is not the price of redemption—it is the fruit of it. The cross comes before discipleship. Rescue comes before righteousness.

And this is where the Blondin illustration comes full circle. God does not ask us to admire Him from the sidelines. He calls us to trust Him—to get in the wheelbarrow, so to speak. To take Him at His Word. To believe that His commands are rooted in love, His limits are for our good, and His ways lead to life.

Exodus 20:1–2 is not a preface to the law—it is the foundation of the law. It tells us that God speaks, so we listen. God relates, so we trust. God saves, so we obey. This is the rhythm of the Christian life. This is the pattern of grace. This is the heartbeat of the gospel.

Before God ever says, “You shall,” He says, “I am.” Before He commands, He commits. Before He requires, He rescues.

Pray with me, that as we study these 10 Commandments, we will hear His voice, rest in His love, and walk in the freedom He has won for us.

  

Click on the link to learn more: https://www.newlifechurch.ae/sermons/sermon/2026-02-01/the-law-rooted-in-love

]]> When Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope, the crowd roared with confidence. They had watched him walk the rope blindfolded, push a wheelbarrow across it, even cook an omelet on it. So when he asked, “Do you believe I can carry a man across in this wheelbarrow?” the crowd shouted, “Yes!” But when he followed with, “Who will get in the wheelbarrow?”—no one moved.

They believed about him, but they didn’t trust in him.

That moment captures something essential about the Christian life. God does not invite us to admire Him from a distance. He calls us to trust Him personally. And nowhere is that clearer than in the opening words of the Ten Commandments.

Before God gives a single command—before He says one “You shall” or “You shall not”—He begins with Himself. Exodus 20 doesn’t begin with demands; it begins with deliverance. The Ten Commandments are not a moral ladder we climb to earn God’s favor. They are the response of a rescued people learning how to live free.

The first words in Exodus 20 are simple: “And God spoke…” The God who thundered on Sinai is the God who speaks. The Hebrew word here—Elohim—is the same name used in Genesis 1. Just as creation began with “And God said,” the moral order begins the same way. The same God who spoke galaxies into existence now speaks His law into existence. These words were written, Exodus says, by His very finger.

Before God tells Israel what to do, He tells them who is speaking. Obedience is not about rule‑keeping; it is about responding to the God who reveals Himself. Like sheep who recognize the voice of their shepherd, God’s people are meant to lean forward when He speaks. In a world full of competing voices—our fears, our desires, our culture—God’s voice cuts through the noise.

And then God says, in verse 2, something even more astonishing: “I am the LORD your God.” Not “I will be your God if you obey.” Not “I might be your God if you perform well.” But “I am already your God—therefore obey.”

Relationship precedes requirement. The word “your” in Hebrew is singular. Even though millions stood at Sinai, God addressed each Israelite as if they were the only one standing there. His covenant love is not general—it is personal. His commands are not abstract—they are addressed to you. God is not simply forming a nation; He is forming a people whose hearts He claims one by one.

And like any loving Father, He gives limits. Love often says “No.” Parents know this instinctively. I remember once telling one of my children not to play with matches while I was burning leaves. He didn’t listen—and came running back with singed eyebrows and smoking hair. He learned that day that a father’s “no” is rooted in love.

God’s “no” is the same. His commands protect us. His limits are expressions of His love.

But the most beautiful truth in these opening verses is this: “…who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Before God commands anything, He reminds Israel of what He has already done. The law is rooted in freedom. The God who commands is the God who rescues. Israel is not obeying to get out of Egypt. They obey because they are already out. The law protects freedom. The law reflects God’s saving character. The law teaches redeemed people how to live redeemed lives.

This is the same truth Paul celebrates in Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Redemption begins with God, not with us. Jesus echoes this in John 15:16: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” From Exodus to the Gospels to the Epistles, Scripture sings the same melody: God chooses, God calls, God rescues.

John Newton understood this. Once a slave‑ship captain, he was rescued by grace during a violent storm. Over time, the gospel transformed him. He left the slave trade, became a pastor, and joined Wilberforce in the fight to abolish slavery. Near the end of his life, nearly blind, he said, “I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

Newton didn’t obey to earn God’s love. He obeyed because he had been rescued by grace.

That is exactly what God is teaching Israel in Exodus 20. Before a single command is given, God declares, “I brought you out.” Obedience is not the price of redemption—it is the fruit of it. The cross comes before discipleship. Rescue comes before righteousness.

And this is where the Blondin illustration comes full circle. God does not ask us to admire Him from the sidelines. He calls us to trust Him—to get in the wheelbarrow, so to speak. To take Him at His Word. To believe that His commands are rooted in love, His limits are for our good, and His ways lead to life.

Exodus 20:1–2 is not a preface to the law—it is the foundation of the law. It tells us that God speaks, so we listen. God relates, so we trust. God saves, so we obey. This is the rhythm of the Christian life. This is the pattern of grace. This is the heartbeat of the gospel.

Before God ever says, “You shall,” He says, “I am.” Before He commands, He commits. Before He requires, He rescues.

Pray with me, that as we study these 10 Commandments, we will hear His voice, rest in His love, and walk in the freedom He has won for us.

  

Click on the link to learn more: https://www.newlifechurch.ae/sermons/sermon/2026-02-01/the-law-rooted-in-love

]]> See You Later https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/see-you-later https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/see-you-later#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/see-you-later Over the last couple of months, we, as a church, have had to say many farewells. We had farewells for Pedro and Victorina, who have been with NLC for 9 years, as well as Heather, who has been with us for 10 years, and then we said farewell to 3 of our students, Ezra, Eden, and Lurushka, who started college in the US.  And as is our custom, we say “See you later”, rather than “Goodbye”. This tradition was started before I joined New Life Church, and it’s something I hope we continue into the future.

The idea behind this is that we are not saying goodbye forever; rather, we are saying farewell until we see you again. Hopefully, we will see each other again on this earth in another geographical place, and if we don’t, we will see each other again in heaven.   

This summer, Keri and I got to enjoy ‘seeing again’ former members of NLC who had left Abu Dhabi to go back home to the US. The Rackleys had served at New Life Church for 6 years before they moved back to Bloomington in 2019. Hunter served with me as an elder and Heather served on the Communications team and with the Children’s ministry while we were still in the Zoo. It was good to see Graham and Griffin growing up physically as well as spiritually in their love for the Lord. We got to spend the night with this dear family on our way down to Louisville. Our time was spent laughing, sharing and reminiscing about our time together in the UAE. Even though so much time had passed since we had last seen each other, it was so easy to pick up from where we had left off. And even though there were a few more wrinkles on our faces and a few more grey hairs on our heads, the time we were away from each other seemed to evaporate as we joyfully gave thanks to the Lord for the bonds we have built in Christ.

I thanked the Lord for this “See You Later” on this side of eternity. But this got me thinking and reflecting on this privilege that we have as believers in Jesus Christ.

If we do not get the opportunity of seeing our brothers and sisters in Christ again on this earth, we will certainly get to see them again in heaven.

The Bible gives us some beautiful hints that we’ll recognize each other in heaven. In Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31), all three—Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man—were clearly identifiable after death. And when Jesus was transfigured, His disciples saw Him talking with Moses and Elijah, who also recognized one another (Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–8; Luke 9:28–36). After His resurrection, Jesus was recognized by many, including His closest friends (John 20:16, 20; 21:12). Since we’re promised glorified bodies like His (1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:49, 53), it’s comforting to believe that we’ll know and be known by those we love—just as they recognized Him.

For believers, one of the sweetest joys of heaven will be reuniting with loved ones who shared our faith—family and friends who went ahead of us to be with the Lord. While that reunion will be deeply meaningful, our greatest joy will always be found in Jesus Himself. Heaven is centered on Christ and His redeeming love, and everything we experience there—worship, wonder, and fellowship—will be enriched by His presence. It’s comforting to think we’ll know and enjoy one another for eternity, but even more so to know we’ll do so in the company of our Saviour, who makes heaven truly glorious.

I thank the Lord for the privilege of being part of New Life Church and for all the bonds in Christ that we build together. I look forward to the day when we will all be able to reunite with our loved ones and worship our Lord and Saviour together in perfection, without sin and without weakness in His presence for all eternity!

But until that day comes, pray with me that while we are still together, we will not take for granted this privilege of building our bonds together in Christ. Pray with me that we will “not neglect to meet together”, regularly encouraging, edifying, and supporting each other, as we anticipate the return of Jesus.  

 

]]> Over the last couple of months, we, as a church, have had to say many farewells. We had farewells for Pedro and Victorina, who have been with NLC for 9 years, as well as Heather, who has been with us for 10 years, and then we said farewell to 3 of our students, Ezra, Eden, and Lurushka, who started college in the US.  And as is our custom, we say “See you later”, rather than “Goodbye”. This tradition was started before I joined New Life Church, and it’s something I hope we continue into the future.

The idea behind this is that we are not saying goodbye forever; rather, we are saying farewell until we see you again. Hopefully, we will see each other again on this earth in another geographical place, and if we don’t, we will see each other again in heaven.   

This summer, Keri and I got to enjoy ‘seeing again’ former members of NLC who had left Abu Dhabi to go back home to the US. The Rackleys had served at New Life Church for 6 years before they moved back to Bloomington in 2019. Hunter served with me as an elder and Heather served on the Communications team and with the Children’s ministry while we were still in the Zoo. It was good to see Graham and Griffin growing up physically as well as spiritually in their love for the Lord. We got to spend the night with this dear family on our way down to Louisville. Our time was spent laughing, sharing and reminiscing about our time together in the UAE. Even though so much time had passed since we had last seen each other, it was so easy to pick up from where we had left off. And even though there were a few more wrinkles on our faces and a few more grey hairs on our heads, the time we were away from each other seemed to evaporate as we joyfully gave thanks to the Lord for the bonds we have built in Christ.

I thanked the Lord for this “See You Later” on this side of eternity. But this got me thinking and reflecting on this privilege that we have as believers in Jesus Christ.

If we do not get the opportunity of seeing our brothers and sisters in Christ again on this earth, we will certainly get to see them again in heaven.

The Bible gives us some beautiful hints that we’ll recognize each other in heaven. In Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31), all three—Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man—were clearly identifiable after death. And when Jesus was transfigured, His disciples saw Him talking with Moses and Elijah, who also recognized one another (Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–8; Luke 9:28–36). After His resurrection, Jesus was recognized by many, including His closest friends (John 20:16, 20; 21:12). Since we’re promised glorified bodies like His (1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:49, 53), it’s comforting to believe that we’ll know and be known by those we love—just as they recognized Him.

For believers, one of the sweetest joys of heaven will be reuniting with loved ones who shared our faith—family and friends who went ahead of us to be with the Lord. While that reunion will be deeply meaningful, our greatest joy will always be found in Jesus Himself. Heaven is centered on Christ and His redeeming love, and everything we experience there—worship, wonder, and fellowship—will be enriched by His presence. It’s comforting to think we’ll know and enjoy one another for eternity, but even more so to know we’ll do so in the company of our Saviour, who makes heaven truly glorious.

I thank the Lord for the privilege of being part of New Life Church and for all the bonds in Christ that we build together. I look forward to the day when we will all be able to reunite with our loved ones and worship our Lord and Saviour together in perfection, without sin and without weakness in His presence for all eternity!

But until that day comes, pray with me that while we are still together, we will not take for granted this privilege of building our bonds together in Christ. Pray with me that we will “not neglect to meet together”, regularly encouraging, edifying, and supporting each other, as we anticipate the return of Jesus.  

 

]]> Good Luck or Good God? https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/good-luck-or-good-god- https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/good-luck-or-good-god-#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/good-luck-or-good-god- On Sunday night in the car, on our way back from church, we had some good discussion about the sermon from Ephesians 6:21-24. My children were fascinated by the meaning of Tychicus, and the circumstances around him that would have caused his parents to call him “Lucky”. This got me thinking. So I decided to do a little more digging and write this article.

As we already know, Tychicus was the apostle Paul’s scribe and courier who delivered the epistle to the Ephesian church. Tychicus was sent not only to deliver the letter but also to encourage the Ephesian church about Paul’s condition in prison.

As I mentioned on Sunday, the name 'Tychicus' comes from the Greek word tyche, the word for fortune, fortunate or luck. What I learned since then is that Tyche was one of the many gods of Greek Mythology. She was considered the Greek goddess of Success, Fortune, Luck, and Prosperity. Greeks believed that she had the power to define the fate and fortune of people and also of entire cities; thus, she was highly revered.

So, it seems fair to conclude that Tychicus' parents were ‘god’-fearing people, or at least superstitious parents who wanted the blessings of this Greek goddess by naming their son after her.

I did a little more digging. In Hinduism there is a similar god by the name of Lakshmi. She is the Hindu goddess of wealth, good fortune, beauty, and abundance. When we first moved to India, we stayed in Kolhapur where the famous Mahalaxmi temple is situated. There is a 2 feet x 8.5 inch image of Lakshmi carved in black stone in this temple where millions of worshippers come visit each year. A little more about that later.

I also discovered that there was an Egyptian god of luck, Bes. This god was considered extremely good luck. He was supposed to watch over the common man, children, women in childbirth, and anyone else who needed protection from evil. 

Even in Norse mythology there was a ‘god’ of luck. Gefion was an old-Scandinavian vegetation and fertility goddess, especially connected with the plough. She was considered the patron of virgins and the bringer of good luck and prosperity.

I also discovered that Hotei is the Buddhist god of luck and that in China they used to have a god of wisdom, luck and happiness that they called Fukurokuju.

Many other similar gods of luck exist in various religions. So why isn't luck considered a Christian concept or ideology?

Luck, by its very definition, means success or failure brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. The concept of Luck is not biblical. Believing in luck is essentially a belief that something other than God has the power to affect our lives. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and in control.

From an earthly perspective, things may seem to happen at random, but throughout the whole of Scripture, it is clear that God is in control of all of His creation and is somehow able to take the random acts of natural law, the free will of both good and evil men, and the wicked intent of demons and combine them all to accomplish His good and perfect will (Genesis 50:20; Job chapters 1 and 42; John 9:1-7). And Christians, specifically, are given the promise that God works all things, whether seemingly good or bad, together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Tychicus reminds me of the parents we met on a train in India while traveling back home to Kolhapur. I started a conversation with these parents who were traveling with their 9-month-old son to visit the Mahalaxmi temple. They were proud parents, and both Keri and I doted on their son. They told us that they were going to give the goddess Mahalaxmi an offering of gold equivalent to the weight of their son for changing ten years of bad luck by giving them this son. 

We tried our best to show these parents that the God who had blessed them with their son is called ‘Yahweh’. God reveals to us in His Word that not only does the life he gives begin at conception, but He knows who we are even before then (Jeremiah 1:5). 

Psalm 139:13–14 tells us of the majestic work of God working in the womb. God himself wonderfully forms a child in his image. This is not ‘luck’ or chance or good fortune. No, this is the hand of our awesome God.  For any event of life; no matter how small (Matthew 10:29-31) or how large (Daniel 4:35; Proverbs 21:1), God is sovereign over all (Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:9-10), and thus nothing is merely the matter of chance.

The next time you are tempted to wish someone ‘good luck’, remember Tychicus. Remember how our sovereign God can pull out of the pagan world one whose parents named him Lucky, so that he would become the church’s encourager by reminding us that even though the world believes in luck, God is in-control. God works all things, whether seemingly good or bad, together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It's not 'good-luck' but rather our good God. Let’s make sure we give God the glory and not all these human-generated false world-views.

 

 

]]> On Sunday night in the car, on our way back from church, we had some good discussion about the sermon from Ephesians 6:21-24. My children were fascinated by the meaning of Tychicus, and the circumstances around him that would have caused his parents to call him “Lucky”. This got me thinking. So I decided to do a little more digging and write this article.

As we already know, Tychicus was the apostle Paul’s scribe and courier who delivered the epistle to the Ephesian church. Tychicus was sent not only to deliver the letter but also to encourage the Ephesian church about Paul’s condition in prison.

As I mentioned on Sunday, the name 'Tychicus' comes from the Greek word tyche, the word for fortune, fortunate or luck. What I learned since then is that Tyche was one of the many gods of Greek Mythology. She was considered the Greek goddess of Success, Fortune, Luck, and Prosperity. Greeks believed that she had the power to define the fate and fortune of people and also of entire cities; thus, she was highly revered.

So, it seems fair to conclude that Tychicus' parents were ‘god’-fearing people, or at least superstitious parents who wanted the blessings of this Greek goddess by naming their son after her.

I did a little more digging. In Hinduism there is a similar god by the name of Lakshmi. She is the Hindu goddess of wealth, good fortune, beauty, and abundance. When we first moved to India, we stayed in Kolhapur where the famous Mahalaxmi temple is situated. There is a 2 feet x 8.5 inch image of Lakshmi carved in black stone in this temple where millions of worshippers come visit each year. A little more about that later.

I also discovered that there was an Egyptian god of luck, Bes. This god was considered extremely good luck. He was supposed to watch over the common man, children, women in childbirth, and anyone else who needed protection from evil. 

Even in Norse mythology there was a ‘god’ of luck. Gefion was an old-Scandinavian vegetation and fertility goddess, especially connected with the plough. She was considered the patron of virgins and the bringer of good luck and prosperity.

I also discovered that Hotei is the Buddhist god of luck and that in China they used to have a god of wisdom, luck and happiness that they called Fukurokuju.

Many other similar gods of luck exist in various religions. So why isn't luck considered a Christian concept or ideology?

Luck, by its very definition, means success or failure brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. The concept of Luck is not biblical. Believing in luck is essentially a belief that something other than God has the power to affect our lives. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and in control.

From an earthly perspective, things may seem to happen at random, but throughout the whole of Scripture, it is clear that God is in control of all of His creation and is somehow able to take the random acts of natural law, the free will of both good and evil men, and the wicked intent of demons and combine them all to accomplish His good and perfect will (Genesis 50:20; Job chapters 1 and 42; John 9:1-7). And Christians, specifically, are given the promise that God works all things, whether seemingly good or bad, together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Tychicus reminds me of the parents we met on a train in India while traveling back home to Kolhapur. I started a conversation with these parents who were traveling with their 9-month-old son to visit the Mahalaxmi temple. They were proud parents, and both Keri and I doted on their son. They told us that they were going to give the goddess Mahalaxmi an offering of gold equivalent to the weight of their son for changing ten years of bad luck by giving them this son. 

We tried our best to show these parents that the God who had blessed them with their son is called ‘Yahweh’. God reveals to us in His Word that not only does the life he gives begin at conception, but He knows who we are even before then (Jeremiah 1:5). 

Psalm 139:13–14 tells us of the majestic work of God working in the womb. God himself wonderfully forms a child in his image. This is not ‘luck’ or chance or good fortune. No, this is the hand of our awesome God.  For any event of life; no matter how small (Matthew 10:29-31) or how large (Daniel 4:35; Proverbs 21:1), God is sovereign over all (Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:9-10), and thus nothing is merely the matter of chance.

The next time you are tempted to wish someone ‘good luck’, remember Tychicus. Remember how our sovereign God can pull out of the pagan world one whose parents named him Lucky, so that he would become the church’s encourager by reminding us that even though the world believes in luck, God is in-control. God works all things, whether seemingly good or bad, together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It's not 'good-luck' but rather our good God. Let’s make sure we give God the glory and not all these human-generated false world-views.

 

 

]]> Why a Sermon Series on Exodus? https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/why-a-sermon-series-on-exodus https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/why-a-sermon-series-on-exodus#comments Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0400 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/why-a-sermon-series-on-exodus My hope and prayer as we start this new sermon series is that Exodus will bring us face to face with our incomparable and inexhaustible God and that we will learn to see and cherish Christ afresh in all our daily activities. Pray with me that we will be drawn to rest in the hope that God sovereignly saves a special people for his own glory.

Exodus is very much a book of two halves. In the first half (Ex 1–18), the LORD frees the Israelites from Egypt. In the second half (Ex 19–40), the LORD instructs the Israelites on what kind of people they are to be now that he has freed them. 

God didn’t set Israel free from slavery to Pharaoh so that they could invent their own identities and design their own lifestyles. No, he set them free so that they would belong to him. The exodus was a transfer of ownership, from one master to another. As Alastair Roberts and Andrew Wilson stated in their book 'Echoes of Exodus', “Those who serve Pharaoh become beasts and perish. Those who serve the Lord become priests and flourish”. 

In the context of the exodus, “Let my people go!” is not a complete sentence. That phrase almost always concludes with: “that they may serve me” (7:16; 8:1; 8:30; 9:1; 9:13, etc.). Exodus will help us learn that only in total service to God can we find perfect freedom.

The subtitle of our sermon series is SAVED TO WORSHIP. God rescues a people who are unable to rescue themselves not so they can become ‘beasts and perish’, but rather so they can worship their redeemer and glorify him with all of their lives. Exodus will remind Christians that our freedom is not for the purpose of personal autonomy; it is for worship. We are not only set free but also set apart – to be a holy, counter-cultural nation of missionaries who demonstrate and declare the glory of the God who saves people who cannot save themselves. We are not our own; we were bought with a price, and we must live lives that align with who God is and what He has done.

Jesus is the new Moses who has come to set the captives free. Jesus is the spotless lamb who was sacrificed to protect his people from God’s judgment.

Without Christ, we are all slaves to something; whether it is sinful habits, shame from our pasts, or anxiety about our futures, we all experience a sense of captivity to these domineering masters. Therefore, it is exceedingly good news to be reminded that God loves to free people who cannot free themselves.

Pray with me as we prepare for this sermon series. Join us on Sundays and invite your friends. We would love for you to participate in our Growth groups during the week as we discuss these passages of scripture and help each other apply them practically to our everyday lives. Come be blessed and be a blessing as we help one another remember that we are saved to worship.

Please click on this link to watch a short animated video that gives a short overview of the book of Exodus: https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-exodus/

]]> My hope and prayer as we start this new sermon series is that Exodus will bring us face to face with our incomparable and inexhaustible God and that we will learn to see and cherish Christ afresh in all our daily activities. Pray with me that we will be drawn to rest in the hope that God sovereignly saves a special people for his own glory.

Exodus is very much a book of two halves. In the first half (Ex 1–18), the LORD frees the Israelites from Egypt. In the second half (Ex 19–40), the LORD instructs the Israelites on what kind of people they are to be now that he has freed them. 

God didn’t set Israel free from slavery to Pharaoh so that they could invent their own identities and design their own lifestyles. No, he set them free so that they would belong to him. The exodus was a transfer of ownership, from one master to another. As Alastair Roberts and Andrew Wilson stated in their book 'Echoes of Exodus', “Those who serve Pharaoh become beasts and perish. Those who serve the Lord become priests and flourish”. 

In the context of the exodus, “Let my people go!” is not a complete sentence. That phrase almost always concludes with: “that they may serve me” (7:16; 8:1; 8:30; 9:1; 9:13, etc.). Exodus will help us learn that only in total service to God can we find perfect freedom.

The subtitle of our sermon series is SAVED TO WORSHIP. God rescues a people who are unable to rescue themselves not so they can become ‘beasts and perish’, but rather so they can worship their redeemer and glorify him with all of their lives. Exodus will remind Christians that our freedom is not for the purpose of personal autonomy; it is for worship. We are not only set free but also set apart – to be a holy, counter-cultural nation of missionaries who demonstrate and declare the glory of the God who saves people who cannot save themselves. We are not our own; we were bought with a price, and we must live lives that align with who God is and what He has done.

Jesus is the new Moses who has come to set the captives free. Jesus is the spotless lamb who was sacrificed to protect his people from God’s judgment.

Without Christ, we are all slaves to something; whether it is sinful habits, shame from our pasts, or anxiety about our futures, we all experience a sense of captivity to these domineering masters. Therefore, it is exceedingly good news to be reminded that God loves to free people who cannot free themselves.

Pray with me as we prepare for this sermon series. Join us on Sundays and invite your friends. We would love for you to participate in our Growth groups during the week as we discuss these passages of scripture and help each other apply them practically to our everyday lives. Come be blessed and be a blessing as we help one another remember that we are saved to worship.

Please click on this link to watch a short animated video that gives a short overview of the book of Exodus: https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-exodus/

]]> Christian Living 101. https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/christian-living-101 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/christian-living-101#comments Sat, 05 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/christian-living-101 Christian Living 101 is the name of our new teaching series that starts this Sunday 6 October during our Family Bible Hour every Sunday. We will be learning practically how gospel truths lead to gospel living. Join us as we learn about budgeting, personal finances, cyber security, personal health, home management, the workplace and evangelism and other practical areas of the Christian life. Please plan to join us as we start this Sunday 6 October at 3pm in room S18.

In this series we will explore how we are to live the Christian life in everyday circumstances. Ephesians 6:7-8 says: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” In essence, this is the Christian work ethic. We are commanded to put forth our best efforts, to work from our heart and soul at whatever we do. We are accountable to God and stewards of the gifts He has given us. Our work flows out of our gratefulness to Him.

In the Old Testament, the people of God (Israel) were called to be a distinct people by embodying God’s commandments and living them out in the midst of idolatrous cultures of other nations, a showcase, a display people who will teach others what humanity was intended to be thus proclaiming and inviting them to acknowledge God and to be part of the people of God (Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:3-6). They were to be the light unto the nations (a term originated from the prophet Isaiah).

In the New Testament, especially in Acts 2 and 4 we see the church gathered around the apostles’ teaching, prayer, fellowship (breaking of bread), and communion. As they grew in the new life they received in Christ, they lived a visible life of the kingdom of God in Jerusalem, and many people were drawn to Christ.

Paul was always aware of the ways that the lifestyle of the church would impact outsiders (Rom. 12:17-21; Col. 4:4-6; 1 Thess. 4:12; Phil. 2:14-16). Gospel identity that leads to gospel living before the watching eyes of the nations! All of life must be lived in light of the new identity we have in and through Christ proclaimed in the good news (1 Cor 10:31). Gospel truths lead to gospel living!

We are called to be a distinct people in the midst of the world (in all of life), shaped by the truths of the gospel!

We just finished a month of being reminded of the centrality of Mission in the local church. This new series will help each believer to practice a missionary lifestyle! This lifestyle will always open the doors of people’s hearts to the gospel as they see us living the new life in Christ in the midst of the world in the day-to-day life in the society.

Join us, you will not be disappointed!

]]> Christian Living 101 is the name of our new teaching series that starts this Sunday 6 October during our Family Bible Hour every Sunday. We will be learning practically how gospel truths lead to gospel living. Join us as we learn about budgeting, personal finances, cyber security, personal health, home management, the workplace and evangelism and other practical areas of the Christian life. Please plan to join us as we start this Sunday 6 October at 3pm in room S18.

In this series we will explore how we are to live the Christian life in everyday circumstances. Ephesians 6:7-8 says: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” In essence, this is the Christian work ethic. We are commanded to put forth our best efforts, to work from our heart and soul at whatever we do. We are accountable to God and stewards of the gifts He has given us. Our work flows out of our gratefulness to Him.

In the Old Testament, the people of God (Israel) were called to be a distinct people by embodying God’s commandments and living them out in the midst of idolatrous cultures of other nations, a showcase, a display people who will teach others what humanity was intended to be thus proclaiming and inviting them to acknowledge God and to be part of the people of God (Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:3-6). They were to be the light unto the nations (a term originated from the prophet Isaiah).

In the New Testament, especially in Acts 2 and 4 we see the church gathered around the apostles’ teaching, prayer, fellowship (breaking of bread), and communion. As they grew in the new life they received in Christ, they lived a visible life of the kingdom of God in Jerusalem, and many people were drawn to Christ.

Paul was always aware of the ways that the lifestyle of the church would impact outsiders (Rom. 12:17-21; Col. 4:4-6; 1 Thess. 4:12; Phil. 2:14-16). Gospel identity that leads to gospel living before the watching eyes of the nations! All of life must be lived in light of the new identity we have in and through Christ proclaimed in the good news (1 Cor 10:31). Gospel truths lead to gospel living!

We are called to be a distinct people in the midst of the world (in all of life), shaped by the truths of the gospel!

We just finished a month of being reminded of the centrality of Mission in the local church. This new series will help each believer to practice a missionary lifestyle! This lifestyle will always open the doors of people’s hearts to the gospel as they see us living the new life in Christ in the midst of the world in the day-to-day life in the society.

Join us, you will not be disappointed!

]]> What is a Faith Promise Pledge? https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/what-is-a- https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/what-is-a-#comments Fri, 06 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0400 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/what-is-a- I mentioned on Sunday during the Family Bible Hour, that we will be introducing a Faith Promise Pledge to help us budget better for our Missions Ministry. With Pedro and Victorina being sent out by us next year, it is important that we plan our finances so that we can send them out well.

The Faith Promise Pledge is above and beyond our tithes. There is a difference between tithes and offerings. Tithes are God’s method for believers to provide financial support for their local church. Faith Promise Pledge is a freewill offering above and beyond your tithes.

The Faith Promise Pledge will be exclusively for “Missions”. Faith Promise Giving is simply a PROMISE to give a certain amount of money every month for a period of a year, over and above your tithe. It is a commitment or vow we personally make to the Lord Jesus Christ and His local church. At New Life Church, it is a voluntary commitment to give a certain amount on a consistent basis for the coming year to plant, establish, and multiply local churches all around the world.  Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Ecclesiastes 5:4; Psalm 50:14-15; 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

On Sunday we heard about the church at Antioch being a “Generous Church”. The reason they were generous was because they were well aware of the sacrifice of grace they received through Jesus. They knew their sin, they understood their lostness and they grasped the grace of God expressed to them through Jesus' great work on the cross. They had been shown great grace and as a result, they determined to show great grace to others.

That’s how we who have received God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ should be. We are so blessed to have our spiritual eyes opened that we want everyone to know, so that they can receive the same blessing.

NLC has also matured over the years and by God’s grace He has used us to help other churches in other parts of this nation, and even other parts of the world. The Word of God has shaped us to experience some measure of sacrificial giving. And those days are not all behind us.

New opportunities await us. May the Lord give us such grace that we will see this as a blessing and never as a burden. As one missionary from the church of Antioch said to the elders in Ephesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • First, prayerfully consider the Faith Promise amount that you can trust God to provide for the year to come. Put your faith in God’s power to provide, not your own power or resources. Also, remember that the Faith Promise offering is to be above and beyond your regular giving to the church (tithe). Please do not rob Peter to pay Paul.
  • Once the amount is clear in your heart, fill out your Faith Promise card at the end of our Missions Emphasis Month.
  • Cards will be handed out in the beginning of the service. Every member of NLC faith family is encouraged to complete their own Faith Promise card, including a separate card for children and youth. During the offering you can place your Faith Promise card in the offering plate.
  • The Faith Promise Offering is a one-year commitment.

Pray with us that God will give us the grace to give faithfully, cheerfully, and sacrificially for the cause of Missions so we will be more fruitful and effective in making Jesus known for the joy of all peoples.

]]> I mentioned on Sunday during the Family Bible Hour, that we will be introducing a Faith Promise Pledge to help us budget better for our Missions Ministry. With Pedro and Victorina being sent out by us next year, it is important that we plan our finances so that we can send them out well.

The Faith Promise Pledge is above and beyond our tithes. There is a difference between tithes and offerings. Tithes are God’s method for believers to provide financial support for their local church. Faith Promise Pledge is a freewill offering above and beyond your tithes.

The Faith Promise Pledge will be exclusively for “Missions”. Faith Promise Giving is simply a PROMISE to give a certain amount of money every month for a period of a year, over and above your tithe. It is a commitment or vow we personally make to the Lord Jesus Christ and His local church. At New Life Church, it is a voluntary commitment to give a certain amount on a consistent basis for the coming year to plant, establish, and multiply local churches all around the world.  Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Ecclesiastes 5:4; Psalm 50:14-15; 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

On Sunday we heard about the church at Antioch being a “Generous Church”. The reason they were generous was because they were well aware of the sacrifice of grace they received through Jesus. They knew their sin, they understood their lostness and they grasped the grace of God expressed to them through Jesus' great work on the cross. They had been shown great grace and as a result, they determined to show great grace to others.

That’s how we who have received God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ should be. We are so blessed to have our spiritual eyes opened that we want everyone to know, so that they can receive the same blessing.

NLC has also matured over the years and by God’s grace He has used us to help other churches in other parts of this nation, and even other parts of the world. The Word of God has shaped us to experience some measure of sacrificial giving. And those days are not all behind us.

New opportunities await us. May the Lord give us such grace that we will see this as a blessing and never as a burden. As one missionary from the church of Antioch said to the elders in Ephesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • First, prayerfully consider the Faith Promise amount that you can trust God to provide for the year to come. Put your faith in God’s power to provide, not your own power or resources. Also, remember that the Faith Promise offering is to be above and beyond your regular giving to the church (tithe). Please do not rob Peter to pay Paul.
  • Once the amount is clear in your heart, fill out your Faith Promise card at the end of our Missions Emphasis Month.
  • Cards will be handed out in the beginning of the service. Every member of NLC faith family is encouraged to complete their own Faith Promise card, including a separate card for children and youth. During the offering you can place your Faith Promise card in the offering plate.
  • The Faith Promise Offering is a one-year commitment.

Pray with us that God will give us the grace to give faithfully, cheerfully, and sacrificially for the cause of Missions so we will be more fruitful and effective in making Jesus known for the joy of all peoples.

]]> Why a Sermon Series on Ephesians? https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/why-a-sermon-series-on-ephesians https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/why-a-sermon-series-on-ephesians#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -0500 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/why-a-sermon-series-on-ephesians This book was written by the apostle Paul and is only 6 chapters long. Reading this book from beginning to end (if you are an average reader like me) will take you approximately 20 minutes.

Samuel Coleridge, the English poet said that Ephesians is “the divinest composition of man.” Another writer refers to it as, “the Grand Canyon of Scripture,” because “it is breathtakingly beautiful and apparently inexhaustible to the one who wants to take it in”. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls Ephesians “the sublimest and the most majestic expression” of the gospel. Reformation preacher John Calvin is not alone among Christians in prizing Ephesians as his favourite letter in the New Testament.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul shows how the grace of God in Christ empowers the church to live victoriously in a broken world. The subtitle for our sermon series in Ephesians is ‘Gospel Truths Lead to Gospel Living’. The first three chapters are saturated with the gospel while the last three chapters give you plenty of opportunities to apply it to your life. Paul’s profound expositions of God’s glorious grace will lead us to the practical implications of that gospel living.

In his letter to the Ephesian Church, Paul celebrates and explains God’s mission of reconciliation in Ephesians 1, applies it to individuals in Ephesians 2:1–10 and the Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11–22, and exhorts the church to live it out in their relationships with one another in Ephesians 4–6. The beautiful thing about Ephesians is that it encourages us to see how our individual testimonies accompany corporate implications. This epistle will transform your understanding of God’s work in and through the church.

We were dead not only to God, but to the people of God. However, Christ’s cross has obliterated the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile. By God’s grace we are united to God and to one another. Therefore, no matter our ethnicity, our social status, or our moral backgrounds, we as Christians are now fellow citizens, members of the same family, and strategic stones in the temple of God.

As we study Ephesians, we will also see how the grace of God transforms our relationship with the broken world. Paul teaches that we are in a spiritual war and that we must put on the necessary armour so that we may fight against the demonic realm. As members of Christ’s visible church, we must remember that we are fighting in an invisible (spiritual) war that has already been won by Christ, whose victory is displayed through his church.

Every week we stand together with brothers and sisters in Christ who have battled all week. Many are exhausted, possibly feel defeated, and don’t know if they even want to keep on fighting. Ephesians will encourage us in this spiritual fight and offer us hope that faithfulness and victory are possible in Christ. This letter calls believers to walk in hope, love, holiness, and wisdom within our local church congregation and in the world. 

For these reasons and more, Ephesians is a powerhouse letter. It has gospel. It has mission. It has clear instructions for the Christian life. It has hope. As we study this book verse by verse for the next few months, pray with me as the apostle Paul prayed in (1:17-19),

… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you[us] a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

]]> This book was written by the apostle Paul and is only 6 chapters long. Reading this book from beginning to end (if you are an average reader like me) will take you approximately 20 minutes.

Samuel Coleridge, the English poet said that Ephesians is “the divinest composition of man.” Another writer refers to it as, “the Grand Canyon of Scripture,” because “it is breathtakingly beautiful and apparently inexhaustible to the one who wants to take it in”. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls Ephesians “the sublimest and the most majestic expression” of the gospel. Reformation preacher John Calvin is not alone among Christians in prizing Ephesians as his favourite letter in the New Testament.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul shows how the grace of God in Christ empowers the church to live victoriously in a broken world. The subtitle for our sermon series in Ephesians is ‘Gospel Truths Lead to Gospel Living’. The first three chapters are saturated with the gospel while the last three chapters give you plenty of opportunities to apply it to your life. Paul’s profound expositions of God’s glorious grace will lead us to the practical implications of that gospel living.

In his letter to the Ephesian Church, Paul celebrates and explains God’s mission of reconciliation in Ephesians 1, applies it to individuals in Ephesians 2:1–10 and the Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11–22, and exhorts the church to live it out in their relationships with one another in Ephesians 4–6. The beautiful thing about Ephesians is that it encourages us to see how our individual testimonies accompany corporate implications. This epistle will transform your understanding of God’s work in and through the church.

We were dead not only to God, but to the people of God. However, Christ’s cross has obliterated the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile. By God’s grace we are united to God and to one another. Therefore, no matter our ethnicity, our social status, or our moral backgrounds, we as Christians are now fellow citizens, members of the same family, and strategic stones in the temple of God.

As we study Ephesians, we will also see how the grace of God transforms our relationship with the broken world. Paul teaches that we are in a spiritual war and that we must put on the necessary armour so that we may fight against the demonic realm. As members of Christ’s visible church, we must remember that we are fighting in an invisible (spiritual) war that has already been won by Christ, whose victory is displayed through his church.

Every week we stand together with brothers and sisters in Christ who have battled all week. Many are exhausted, possibly feel defeated, and don’t know if they even want to keep on fighting. Ephesians will encourage us in this spiritual fight and offer us hope that faithfulness and victory are possible in Christ. This letter calls believers to walk in hope, love, holiness, and wisdom within our local church congregation and in the world. 

For these reasons and more, Ephesians is a powerhouse letter. It has gospel. It has mission. It has clear instructions for the Christian life. It has hope. As we study this book verse by verse for the next few months, pray with me as the apostle Paul prayed in (1:17-19),

… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you[us] a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

]]> Let's Make Sundays Great Again https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/lets-make-sunday-great-again https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/lets-make-sunday-great-again#comments Sun, 07 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0500 https://www.newlifechurch.ae/the-pastors-pen/post/lets-make-sunday-great-again On 7th January 2024, New Life Church will be meeting on Sunday afternoons at 4.30pm, in Abu Dhabi at The Evangelical Church Centre in Upper Chapel 1 on the first floor.

This time change is 1,5 hours later than when we met in 2023. For some this change may be an inconvenience, for others this may be a blessing. I have written this article to help convince you that this change will be a blessing and as the apostle James reminds us, to count it all joy.

     1. Gathering is essential for the life of the church.

The Bible is clear that gathering is essential for the life of the church. In Matthew 18:17-20, in the context of Jesus speaking about the church, he makes his beloved promise: “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Paul admonishes Christians to celebrate the Lord’s Supper when they have come together (1 Cor. 11:33). The author of Hebrews tells us to not neglect meeting together (Heb.10:25). 

A local church is an assembly. If a church never meets, it is no church at all.

We easily take this truth for granted. The time of the worship meeting is often the first piece of information a church provides on its marquee or website. “Join us this Sunday at 4:30pm! All are welcome!”

Meeting, however, isn’t just something churches do. A meeting is, in part, what a church is. God has saved us as individuals to be a corporate assembly. The word in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for “assembly,” ekklesia, is the same word the New Testament writers use to refer to the local church. It’s simply the term for a gathering. But when applied to the church, it carries the rich Old Testament connotations of standing together as God’s chosen people.

We need to remind ourselves that the Bible’s command to gather is not burdensome (see Heb. 10:25; 1 John 5:3). It’s for our good, our faith, our love, and our joy.

      2. Gathering on a Sunday commemorates Jesus Resurrection.

With the new local laws taking effect this new year, there are many churches who are no longer able to meet on Sundays. With the TEC only able to accommodate so many churches on a Sunday, there are bound to be congregations who would have to adjust their day of worship.

We need to remind ourselves of the blessing of being able to gather on a Sunday. The biblical position to keep a specific day rather than just the principle of one in seven is a much more effective witness to the unbelieving world. The early church met on the Lord’s Day to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. All four gospels emphasize Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week. Both the historical and biblical record reveal the Lord’s Day was the chosen gathering day for distinctly Christian worship because it was the day Jesus rose from the dead.

Every Sunday the church gathers and remembers and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. When we, the church body, gather together on the Lord’s Day, we await Jesus’ return to consummate the promised kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace. Even though we don’t’ get to meet on Sunday mornings, but rather at 4.30pm, we can remind ourselves of the blessing of meeting on a Sunday.

    3. Gathering on a Sunday reminds us of what God has done.

I love how Nancy Guthrie says in her book ‘Even Better than Eden’; “Sabbath keeping would set God’s people apart as being so well taken care of by their God that they could take a day of rest. It would set them apart as a people who had something to look forward to: unending, all-encompassing rest in the presence of the one true God.” (p.99)

Originally, the Sabbath was a day of rest, and that purpose was retained in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 16:23–29; 31:14–16; 35:2–3; Deuteronomy 5:12–15; Nehemiah 13:15–22; Jeremiah 17:21–27).

The Israelites who had come from Slavery in Egypt had probably worked 7days a week for their slave master. The Sabbath rest rule from God and for God (Holy to the Lord) must have been seen as a gracious gift to the newly freed Israelites.  Their children, servants and even livestock would get to enjoy this gift of rest.

The Sabbath command also served as a Sign of the Covenant (Exodus 31:12-17). This seventh day is a sign of their covenant with God. A continual reminder for themselves and the nations of what God has done for them.

Guthrie goes on to say, “God has given us the gift of a day- one day different from all the other days in our week-to push away from the table of the world that fills us up with its amusements and technology and weighs us down with its expectations and commitments. This gift invites us, instead, to pull up a chair at the table where God himself wants to fill us up with himself and to take on himself all things that are weighing on us.” (p.94)

Let’s remind ourselves of what God has set before us. Let’s remind ourselves that coming to church on a Sunday afternoon is gift and not a restriction. Let’s remind ourselves that Sundays are something we look forward to as we get to enjoy the all-encompassing rest in the presence of the one true God.

      4. Gathering on a Sunday is for our good, our faith, our love, and our joy.

The writer of Hebrews wrote to the early church, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:9-11)

The writer of Hebrews looks back to Genesis when God rested after completing His work. He then restates the promise that has been at the heart of observing the Sabbath throughout the centuries: the reality of a greater rest to which this day is just a pointer, a reminder, an opportunity for reorientation.

Let’s make Sundays great again. I think for many of us living in Abu Dhabi, we have fallen into the trap of thinking that Sunday is a day of leisure, and that going to church can often be an inconvenience that just gets in the way.  The Lord’s day isn’t given to us as a sports day. It isn’t given to us so we can finish our studies. It isn’t merely a family day. It’s God’s day. It’s a day for works of necessity and works of mercy and works of piety that flow out of our desire to set apart the day for him.

So, the question remains, how then can we make Sundays great again? How do we reorient our Sundays so we can honour the Lord of the Sabbath?

Let me offer a few suggestions:

Read a Christian book on your own or with a friend. With extra time given to us during the mornings and afternoons, we could read a book on our own or with a family member(s) or with a friend and then discuss the book together.

Spend time in pray. Wouldn’t God’s day be a great day to set time aside to talk to God, around the lunch table? Invite someone for breakfast or lunch and spend time praying for them at lunch time. You could even make time to come early to church on the first Sunday of the month to pray with your faith family during our corporate prayer meeting.

Meet someone for coffee and spend intentional time discipling someone in the church. Wouldn’t God’s day be a great day meditating on truths from scripture and helping someone apply them to their own lives? You could even join your faith family after the main service for the family bible hour to learn more of God’s word.

Wouldn’t Gods day be great if we used it to visit someone in need or lonely in our church that we have been too busy to serve on the other six days of the week? Wouldn’t Gods day be great if we used it to serve, in the Care Team, Music Team, Communications Team, Children’s Ministry or other ministries at NLC. Come to church early, stay a little later…now that we have a time slot for 3 hours we can! The Lord’s day is not just 90 minutes!

Let’s remind ourselves that God has given us a gift in the Sabbath. We need to be thankful that we have a place to meet even though it is on a Sunday afternoon. We do not know what the future holds for all of the churches in the UAE. Maybe we have taken the Lord’s day for granted. We may have even forgotten this lesson we should have learned during Covid. Maybe we have pushed the pause button and have been in limbo waiting for our venue to change. I think it’s time to make Sundays great again. Let’s remind ourselves that Sunday is not our day, but the Lord’s and it’s for our good, our faith, our love, and our joy.

Counting it all joy with you, in the pursuit of the greater Sabbath rest.

Your pastor, Gareth

]]> On 7th January 2024, New Life Church will be meeting on Sunday afternoons at 4.30pm, in Abu Dhabi at The Evangelical Church Centre in Upper Chapel 1 on the first floor.

This time change is 1,5 hours later than when we met in 2023. For some this change may be an inconvenience, for others this may be a blessing. I have written this article to help convince you that this change will be a blessing and as the apostle James reminds us, to count it all joy.

     1. Gathering is essential for the life of the church.

The Bible is clear that gathering is essential for the life of the church. In Matthew 18:17-20, in the context of Jesus speaking about the church, he makes his beloved promise: “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Paul admonishes Christians to celebrate the Lord’s Supper when they have come together (1 Cor. 11:33). The author of Hebrews tells us to not neglect meeting together (Heb.10:25). 

A local church is an assembly. If a church never meets, it is no church at all.

We easily take this truth for granted. The time of the worship meeting is often the first piece of information a church provides on its marquee or website. “Join us this Sunday at 4:30pm! All are welcome!”

Meeting, however, isn’t just something churches do. A meeting is, in part, what a church is. God has saved us as individuals to be a corporate assembly. The word in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for “assembly,” ekklesia, is the same word the New Testament writers use to refer to the local church. It’s simply the term for a gathering. But when applied to the church, it carries the rich Old Testament connotations of standing together as God’s chosen people.

We need to remind ourselves that the Bible’s command to gather is not burdensome (see Heb. 10:25; 1 John 5:3). It’s for our good, our faith, our love, and our joy.

      2. Gathering on a Sunday commemorates Jesus Resurrection.

With the new local laws taking effect this new year, there are many churches who are no longer able to meet on Sundays. With the TEC only able to accommodate so many churches on a Sunday, there are bound to be congregations who would have to adjust their day of worship.

We need to remind ourselves of the blessing of being able to gather on a Sunday. The biblical position to keep a specific day rather than just the principle of one in seven is a much more effective witness to the unbelieving world. The early church met on the Lord’s Day to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. All four gospels emphasize Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week. Both the historical and biblical record reveal the Lord’s Day was the chosen gathering day for distinctly Christian worship because it was the day Jesus rose from the dead.

Every Sunday the church gathers and remembers and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. When we, the church body, gather together on the Lord’s Day, we await Jesus’ return to consummate the promised kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace. Even though we don’t’ get to meet on Sunday mornings, but rather at 4.30pm, we can remind ourselves of the blessing of meeting on a Sunday.

    3. Gathering on a Sunday reminds us of what God has done.

I love how Nancy Guthrie says in her book ‘Even Better than Eden’; “Sabbath keeping would set God’s people apart as being so well taken care of by their God that they could take a day of rest. It would set them apart as a people who had something to look forward to: unending, all-encompassing rest in the presence of the one true God.” (p.99)

Originally, the Sabbath was a day of rest, and that purpose was retained in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 16:23–29; 31:14–16; 35:2–3; Deuteronomy 5:12–15; Nehemiah 13:15–22; Jeremiah 17:21–27).

The Israelites who had come from Slavery in Egypt had probably worked 7days a week for their slave master. The Sabbath rest rule from God and for God (Holy to the Lord) must have been seen as a gracious gift to the newly freed Israelites.  Their children, servants and even livestock would get to enjoy this gift of rest.

The Sabbath command also served as a Sign of the Covenant (Exodus 31:12-17). This seventh day is a sign of their covenant with God. A continual reminder for themselves and the nations of what God has done for them.

Guthrie goes on to say, “God has given us the gift of a day- one day different from all the other days in our week-to push away from the table of the world that fills us up with its amusements and technology and weighs us down with its expectations and commitments. This gift invites us, instead, to pull up a chair at the table where God himself wants to fill us up with himself and to take on himself all things that are weighing on us.” (p.94)

Let’s remind ourselves of what God has set before us. Let’s remind ourselves that coming to church on a Sunday afternoon is gift and not a restriction. Let’s remind ourselves that Sundays are something we look forward to as we get to enjoy the all-encompassing rest in the presence of the one true God.

      4. Gathering on a Sunday is for our good, our faith, our love, and our joy.

The writer of Hebrews wrote to the early church, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:9-11)

The writer of Hebrews looks back to Genesis when God rested after completing His work. He then restates the promise that has been at the heart of observing the Sabbath throughout the centuries: the reality of a greater rest to which this day is just a pointer, a reminder, an opportunity for reorientation.

Let’s make Sundays great again. I think for many of us living in Abu Dhabi, we have fallen into the trap of thinking that Sunday is a day of leisure, and that going to church can often be an inconvenience that just gets in the way.  The Lord’s day isn’t given to us as a sports day. It isn’t given to us so we can finish our studies. It isn’t merely a family day. It’s God’s day. It’s a day for works of necessity and works of mercy and works of piety that flow out of our desire to set apart the day for him.

So, the question remains, how then can we make Sundays great again? How do we reorient our Sundays so we can honour the Lord of the Sabbath?

Let me offer a few suggestions:

Read a Christian book on your own or with a friend. With extra time given to us during the mornings and afternoons, we could read a book on our own or with a family member(s) or with a friend and then discuss the book together.

Spend time in pray. Wouldn’t God’s day be a great day to set time aside to talk to God, around the lunch table? Invite someone for breakfast or lunch and spend time praying for them at lunch time. You could even make time to come early to church on the first Sunday of the month to pray with your faith family during our corporate prayer meeting.

Meet someone for coffee and spend intentional time discipling someone in the church. Wouldn’t God’s day be a great day meditating on truths from scripture and helping someone apply them to their own lives? You could even join your faith family after the main service for the family bible hour to learn more of God’s word.

Wouldn’t Gods day be great if we used it to visit someone in need or lonely in our church that we have been too busy to serve on the other six days of the week? Wouldn’t Gods day be great if we used it to serve, in the Care Team, Music Team, Communications Team, Children’s Ministry or other ministries at NLC. Come to church early, stay a little later…now that we have a time slot for 3 hours we can! The Lord’s day is not just 90 minutes!

Let’s remind ourselves that God has given us a gift in the Sabbath. We need to be thankful that we have a place to meet even though it is on a Sunday afternoon. We do not know what the future holds for all of the churches in the UAE. Maybe we have taken the Lord’s day for granted. We may have even forgotten this lesson we should have learned during Covid. Maybe we have pushed the pause button and have been in limbo waiting for our venue to change. I think it’s time to make Sundays great again. Let’s remind ourselves that Sunday is not our day, but the Lord’s and it’s for our good, our faith, our love, and our joy.

Counting it all joy with you, in the pursuit of the greater Sabbath rest.

Your pastor, Gareth

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