Matthew series Part 8

Hi Church

Last Sunday was a big weekend of ministry and connection and celebration, with Church in the morning and then Volunteers Thank you dinner in the evening . A vison without people implementing it is just a dream for a later day. But with nearly 100 volunteers in our Church across multiple different ministries, we have a place for everyone in the family to express their gifts and move our Grace community forward. So, thank you Grace Church family. 

Our Executive Leader Paul Betenson brought the word to us as we continued our journey through Matthew’s Gospel, listening again to Jesus’ call to live life His Kingdom way. In Matthew 5:13 onwards , Jesus shows us that the Kingdom of Heaven is very different from the kingdom of this world. The world often teaches us to put ourselves first, but Jesus invites us into a better way: a life centred on God, shaped by love, humility, integrity, forgiveness, purity, and grace toward others.

Jesus reminds us that we are called to be salt and light—people whose lives preserve what is good, shine with hope, and point others to the goodness of God. Yet this calling is not about earning God’s favour. Our righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, who has fulfilled what we never could. From that secure place, the Holy Spirit helps us become more like Christ in our thoughts, relationships, words, and actions.

As we follow Jesus, we are invited to choose reconciliation over resentment, honesty over empty promises, generosity over retaliation, and love even toward those who hurt us. This is doing life the Jesus way: becoming mature and perfecting our actions from a place of His completion and wholeness within us so we become like our heavenly Father.

On Sunday we took up our “Love the house offering” which was a good start but short of the $25,000 needed to complete our proposed works. If you are still deciding, can I encourage you to be prayerful and generous and make a deposit or a pledge as soon as possible. 

Finally thank you for the cake and applause on Sunday to recognise Amanda and Myself completing 10 years as Senior Pastors of Grace Church. We feel so blessed to be part of the Grace Church family and we know God will continue to work through us all for His glory for many more years to come.

Love 

Ps Greg and Amanda 

Matthew series Part 7

Hi Church,

This week we concluded our journey through the Beatitudes, the blessed ways of Jesus, by hearing His words in Matthew 5:10-12: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus reminds us that those who live as His peacemakers will not always be understood or welcomed by the world. When we shine His light, stand for righteousness, love our enemies, forgive offences, and carry the message of reconciliation, we may face insult, rejection, or opposition because we belong to Him.

Yet Jesus tells us not to be afraid, anxious, or ashamed. The blessing He promises is greater than anything this world can offer or take away. Like the examples of Apostle Peter, and Apostle Paul, and 20th Century saints like Ps Richard Wurmbrand and our Missionary friends in Nigeria, Kent and Ruth Hodge, we are called to respond with joy, prayer, forgiveness, and courageous love.

Our vision is to be a community of transforming grace that bears the image of Jesus. So let us not hide under the radar as peacekeepers, but live as true peacemakers, lighting the way in a darkening world and remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters in prayer. The kingdom of heaven is worth more than the approval of the world. Amen.

I’m excited about our times of prayer and fasting because they sharpen our desire for God and raise our faith level in God. We have a lot to be thankful for but there is still much to pursue in the spirit and physically for the benefit of our Grace Church family.

Our offering this week for “love the house” will continue the legacy of past members providing facilities adequate for contemporary Gospel presentation and teaching.  We are upgrading our aging computer, sound and video equipment, building a disability ramp for the Shed access, we are laying concrete paths, upgrading our bathroom facilities, replacing broken air-conditioning. Your generous gift will help us to achieve these goals.  If you can’t give an amount this Sunday, then please make a pledge for the next three months. Thank you if you have already given.

With you in the journey Church.

Love Ps Greg and Amanda

Matthew series Part 6

Hi Church,

Such a rich morning of truth and celebration was experienced on Sunday.

This week we continued looking at the blessed way of Jesus in Matthew 5, especially His call, from verse 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Jesus is teaching His blessed way of life, the way of the Kingdom of God. It is not simply the commandments or the Law, but the way of His Kingdom that comes with grace and truth. Jesus is redefining blessing for us. It is not based on bank balance, cars in the garage, or the things we might use to compare ourselves with others. His blessing is more meaningful, more magnificent, more satisfying, more enduring and more hopeful than anything this world can offer.

A peacemaker is not a peace-breaker who causes trouble and division, and not a peacekeeper who simply avoids conflict and keeps the peace at any cost. A peacemaker is one who actively creates peace for the purpose of reconciliation, harmony, safety, security and prosperity for all those involved. They speak the truth in love, seek healing through understanding and humility, and refuse to pretend peace when truth is being ignored.

Jesus Himself is our great Peacemaker. Through the cross He made real peace between God and man, bringing mercy instead of judgement and restoring relationship with God. Now we share in His ministry of reconciliation as His ambassadors, calling people to peace with God.

So let us pause and consider our relationships. Where are we peacekeeping rather than peacemaking? Where do we need to honestly communicate, explain truth in love, lay down personal preference, and build bridges with sacrificial love like Jesus did for us?

Pressing in and pushing out together Church.

Love Ps Greg and Amanda

https://youtube.com/live/m1W4E1mnAlw

Matthew series Part 5

Hi Church,

Well after 2 and half weeks it was good to be home with our Grace Family. Our time away was enjoyed greatly with relaxation and family visits and adventures from Townsville to Cairns. 

Last Sunday was a special time in the house as we felt a clear move of the Holy Spirit to come forward to not just be attenders at church but be filled with His presence through encounter. The extra time of worship lead us deeper into His love and a realignment of our hearts to His. Thank you, Ps Debbie and the team, for leading us there. 

The message continued in Matthew with Robert Harrison sharing the word with the Sermon on the Mount, looking at Matthew 5:6–8 and the next three Beatitudes that should Be Our Attitudes. Robert reminded us that Jesus calls us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. This is more than knowing we are saved and plugged in; it is being switched on to Jesus, with Holy Spirit power working in us day by day. 

Righteousness is our right standing with God through faith in Jesus, but it is also to become the deep desire of our heart, shaping our attitudes, our choices, our relationships and our walk with God.

Jesus also says, blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Because God has shown such immeasurable mercy to us, we are invited to show mercy to others through forgiveness, compassion, kindness and practical care, even when it is hard. Remembering if it were not for God’s grace where would we be. 

Finally, Jesus reminds us that blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Our heart is the place of our motives, desires, attitudes and values, and what is in us will come out. So let us gently but honestly guard our hearts, lay down mixed motives, refuse to be double minded, and stay surrendered to God. Robert challenged us with the cross before me, the world behind me. There is no turning back.

A reminder that the Youth Camp is ahead for those attending and we must pray for a great move of the Spirit to take our young people into Salvation, Holy Spirit Baptism and fresh encounters with Him. 

God bless you, Church. 

Our love with you always. 

Ps Greg and Amanda

Matthew series Part 4

Praise God for gathering His people to worship, to pray, to learn about Jesus, and be restored in His Presence. On Sunday the entire congregation pressed in and God responded. Thank you Jesus for the privilege of life with you. Thank you Josh and the worship team, Jess in service leading, service team, prayer team, Jodie in communion, kids and youth teams, and everyone who arrived prayed up preparing the spiritual ground for Spirit and Truth worship in God’s Presence.

Words: Stand still and see God’s salvation. The enemy will no longer consume your land. 

The Message: When we understand that the message of Matthew 5:3-5 echoes the prophecy of Isaiah 61 - a prophecy that Jesus declared fulfilled in Luke 4:16-21, we see that the Beatitudes are crucial to receiving Jesus as Saviour and continuing faith in Jesus as Lord. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”  Matt 5:3- “He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” (Isa 61:1)

“Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) - “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted” (Isa 61:1)

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)  - “to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” (Isaiah 61:1) 

Meekness is the quality of humility, being willing to be led. Captives and prisoners are led places they do not want to go. 

The sad truth is that not all who are captive to sin are meek. Not all are willing to be led by Jesus; out of the sin life and into a new and living way. Are you?

Unless you are poor in spirit (dependant on God), in mourning because of the human spiritual condition, and willing to be led by Jesus, you will fail in your discipleship to Jesus. These things are crucial to denying self, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. God bless you and Holy Spirit grace you to choose Jesus every moment. 

Next week Robert Harrison will bring the word as we continue in the Beatitudes. 

Church let’s keep on examining the word of God and letting the word of God examine us.  Let’s continue exchanging our ways for Jesus’s way. This is how we are being transformed into His image. 

Love and Grace to you,

Debbie-Ann Bax

Matthew series Part 3

Dear Grace Church,

On Sunday Pastor Kerry preached a breakthrough message convicting us of our responsibility to pray for the sick as heralds of God’s Kingdom. As disciples of Jesus being transformed into His image:

1. We carry His message - read Matthew 4:12-17

2. We are called to be fishers of men - read Matthew 4:18-22

3. We are called to announce the Kingdom and heal the sick - read Matthew 4:23, 24

Kerry then pointed out that healing played a strategic role in Jesus’s ministry and that of the Apostles ministry in Acts.

On Sunday evening, @More, Josh & Amanda Thomas led us in throne room worship and I followed with an exhortation: Sent Like Jesus:

Found in John 20:21 NIV - Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

So if we are sent like Jesus, how did God send Jesus and how are we sent like Him?

Four ways:

1. He/We are born of incorruptible seed.( Jesus- Luke 1:35.) ( You and I - 1 Peter 1:23)

2. He/We are born at the right time in earths history. (Jesus - Galatians 4:4.) (You and I - Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 139:16, 17)

3. He/We as human beings living in full obedience to God. (Jesus - John 8:28, 29.) (You and I - 2 Corinthians 4:1-10)

4. He/We In the power of Holy Spirit. (Jesus - Luke 4:14-18, 1 John 5:6-8.) (You and I - Romans 8:9-15)

How great to receive Jesus’s peace and be sent by Him.

Thank you all for supporting the bake sale for youth camp! More info on that soon!

Be bold and filled with Holy Spirit as you share Jesus, pray for healing, and salvation for others this week!

You are abundantly loved! God’s grace goes with you.

Love and Joy,

Debbie-Ann

https://youtube.com/live/huLn13Yn8mM

Matthew series Part 2

Hi Church

In this week’s message, we took a giant step from Matthew 1 into Matthew 4 and stood with Jesus in the wilderness. There we saw not only the reality of His temptation, but the glory of His perfection. 

Jesus was tested under pressure, in hunger, weakness, and isolation, yet He did not fail. He proved Himself to be the true and faithful Son, the victorious second Adam, and the perfect Saviour who is able to bring us safely all the way to glory. 

We were reminded that temptation itself is not sin. It is the bait on the hook, seeking to draw us away from trust, obedience, and worship. Yet where Adam fell, Christ stood firm. With the Word of God on His lips, the Spirit of God upon Him, and a heart fully yielded to the Father, Jesus overcame every scheme of the enemy. And that gives real hope to us. 

As we clothe ourselves in Christ, we are not left helpless before temptation. As we stay close to the Father, and fill our hearts with His Word, and depend on the Spirit, we too can learn to stand. 

But if we do fall and trip over our sins, let's not stay down. Rather call on the name of the Lord, who is able to empathise with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way,  but if we confess our sins he will forgive us and cleans us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) . In Jesus, there is grace to resist, strength to endure, and mercy to rise again.

This Sunday we will again be in Matthew Chapter 4, with Kerry sharing the word. Amanda and I will be visiting family as we head to North QLD for two weeks. 

Continue to pray for Alpha that the experience and truth of the Holy Spirit filled life will be outworked in everyone’s life who has been attending. 

And remember to be generous with the bake sale as the youth raise funds for their Camp in School holidays. Our investment in them always results in great fruitfulness for His kingdom.   

God bless you Church, see you in July. 

Love Ps Greg and Amanda.

Matthew series Part 1

Hi Church,

This last weekend at Grace Church, we were reminded again of the kindness and mercy of God as we began a new teaching series in the Gospel of Matthew. Together we reflected on the beautiful truth that Jesus meets people right where they are, calling the broken, the outsider, and the weary into His grace.

The Gospel writers’ own story is such a powerful encouragement—once a tax collector, he became a follower of Jesus and a living testimony to the transforming mercy of God and what it means to be welcomed as an outsider into the family of God. We also considered the women named in Jesus’ genealogy—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba—and saw that even through stories marked by sorrow, shame, and brokenness, God was faithfully at work bringing redemption and hope. What a comfort to know that the family line of Jesus before Him and after Him, is filled with grace, and that His heart is still to restore, heal, and redeem today.

The message encouraged us to open our hearts afresh to Jesus, receive His mercy for our own brokenness, and continue using the gifts He has placed in our lives for His Kingdom purpose. I will be sharing again this Sunday. Then Amanda and I will be away on two weeks annual leave. The coming messages will all be focussed on Matthew’s Gospel.  

We also shared an important church update: our Love the House Offering will be held on Sunday 26 July to improve our facilities and technology and sound equipment. Thank you for prayerfully considering how you might be part of this important need.

Also please be praying for Alpha course participants this week, as we gather for the Holy Spirit retreat day. Pray for surrendered lives and filled hearts and the release of the gifts of the Spirit.

God bless you Church

Ps Greg and Amanda.

Family Service Sunday

Hi Church, 

What a great weekend we had with our ministries and especially our Sunday morning family service. A big thank you to everyone who contributed. The auditorium was jammed packed with people all loving and enjoying our one big family connection.  The Kingdom Kids led by Kaidee were sharing their great acting skills in their skit performance of the good Samaritan  and Abby was a standout teacher and presenter for communion time. The 4 young people from World Changers Youth were wonderful in their short message each of 5 to 8 min.

The following is a summary as they presented “The way of Jesus” to us. 

1. Josiah presented Jesus as our saviour. This is a salvation that only He provides as we are totally incapable of cleaning up our mistakes and sin. He quoted Ephesians 2:8-9  where Paul says, by Grace you have been saved not by our works so no one can boast. This saving work belongs to Jesus, He cleans us and our mess. 

2. Lachlan said the way of the Jesus s to forgive.  Jesus asks us many times to forgive others as He forgave us.  And He reminded us that our love and forgiveness is to be for others that don’t even have the ability to love us back in return. So we must forgive. He quoted Matthew 6:14-15

3. Matilda. Relationship with Jesus is knowing Jesus,  it’s one thing to know facts about Jesus but better than facts is knowing Jesus personally through spending time in prayer, reading bible and worship encounters in his presence. 

4. Elise. Spoke from Phil 2. The Jesus way is to do nothing out of selfish ambition. Real humility is not needing to be noticed to do the right thing. We also need to be Sharing Gods love and value others above our selves. Philippians 2:3 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Truly these four speakers all presented good words to live by. Amanda did a great job as our service leader tying together all the presentations and Neve and the youth band were leading us in Worship with sensitivity, skilful hands and worshipping hearts. 

This week I look forward to discovering more about Jesus as we begin our journey into Matthews Gospel. I encourage you to read the first three chapters to give you a sense of the context. 

God bless you and keep you Church

Love Ps Greg and Amanda

Compassion Sunday

Dear Grace Church Family,

From morning to evening, Sunday was such a great day in God‘s house! Mark from Compassion delivered a message of restoration. Jesus sees, moves with compassion and acts within God’s ability according to His purpose. We have the same ability.

God‘s presence was so palpable at the morning service. Standing together in faith, the entire congregation lifted up worship to which God responded.

How beautiful was the rhema song prophesied by Jennie: God finishes what He starts  - God restores. Be encouraged to trust His faithfulness.

God is in this house. Before leaving, Mark said he could feel God’s Presence here in a way that is rare among the churches he visits. I pray everyone who was moved to support a child through Compassion will do so.

The evening gathering was wonderfully full of people hungering for more of Holy Spirit. Collected as individuals in God’s Presence we spent time soaking and praying and then lifted a collective battle cry of worship, and then many received the baptism of Holy Spirit. Randolph presented a simple but powerful explanation of the Baptism of Holy Spirit:

The Baptiser is Jesus

The Substance is Holy Spirit

The Vessel is you

It is an amazing thing to see God walk among His people. Joy and freedom are in His procession.

Meanwhile our Senior Pastors Greg and Amanda were experiencing an overflow from Holy Spirit at a conference in Melbourne.

We thank God for all He has done!

This Sunday is Family Service! Looking forward to experiencing what God will do through our  next generation of worshippers and preachers.

God bless you with every breath. Guard and treasure the good deposit God has placed in you. Remember to share your faith with others!

Love & Grace,

Pastor Debbie-Ann

End Times

Hi Church,

As we move into Port Macquarie’s cooler, wetter season, the rain is a welcome reminder of how deeply we need the Lord. Just as dry ground longs for water, our hearts are made to seek Him. With Pentecost weekend coming up, it’s a wonderful time to make room for a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. Our Sunday night More service is designed for just that—prayer begins at 4:00 pm, followed by worship and encounter from 5:00 pm. We would love to see you there.

It was such a blessing to have extra time with Dr Kent and Ruth Hodge last Sunday. With Ps Peter McHugh unwell and unable to travel from Melbourne, Kent kindly stepped in on Sunday and gave us a glimpse of his teaching on the End Times.

Kent reminded us from God’s Word that our view of the End Times should not be shaped by fear, but by faith and hope. While Hollywood often spreads doomsday anxiety, Jesus calls us to live with courage, authority, and purpose as His people—bringing His love and kingdom into the world. So let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and continue the work He has given us to do.

Please continue to pray for our Alpha course. There is real spiritual hunger among those attending, and we are believing for strong attendance each week so everyone can hear the full Gospel message. Thanks again for all those who serve to make this ministry function well.

There are many good days ahead, Church.

Love and blessings,

Ps Greg and Amanda

Mother's Day

Dear Church

What a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. I pray all the mums were blessed and knew how loved and appreciated they are. It was full house with kids and parents and young adult sons and daughters, all coming and worshipping together.

The Kingdom Kids did a marvellous job saying why they loved their mum, thanks to Carin and the KK team.  They also created a special honouring moment thanking the Mum of the house Amanda for all her careful and loving work in the life of Grace Church. 

A bonus for the day was hearing from Ruth Hodge as she shared amazing stories from CFM mission work in Nigeria. Especially about women who have great faith despite terrible circumstances. We are always blown away by the extent of the CFM reach and their faith throughout North Africa and Egypt. They don’t blow their own trumpet they just get on with it and trust God for the support they need. And the Lord provides big time.  Thank you Ruth and Kent for your faithfulness to the people of Nigeria.

Let’s continue to believe for Alpha. There are many pre-Christian and new Christians doing the Alpha course and discovering Jesus. Let’s believe for a mighty transformation to take place. Thank you for all those providing food and service your help makes an enormous difference.

For those who would like to make a gift to help repair the truck in the Philippines for safely picking up children to be ministered to in the local church please mark your gift in the mission’s fund or general fund “Kids Truck” so that funds can be directed to that need.

This weekend coming we are blessed to have Pastor Peter McHugh, our Church friend and Mentor for his yearly catchup. Peter always brings a fresh and challenging word so don’t miss out. Early birds at Church now catch the chair in the place of your choice. We praise God for His favour and growth in our fellowship. Let’s be open to receive all people with kindness and generosity.

Love and Blessings Church

Ps Greg and Amanda.

Witnessing Jesus Style

Hi Grace Family, this last Sunday we sat with Jesus at Jacob’s well in John 4 and learned what it looks like to “Press In to Push Out.” The deeper we go as true disciples, the more His love compels us to carry His truth into our world—especially as we step into the next 10 weeks of the Alpha course.

Jesus’ witnessing style begins before we speak: He listened to the Holy Spirit, and the assignment mattered more than comfort, culture, or preference. He met a hurting, overlooked person in an ordinary place, and He started with something normal: “Can I have a drink?”

From there, Jesus created a sense of intrigue by showing kindness in a cruel world which opens a door for truth. Then He moved from a natural need (water) to the deepest need (spiritual living water): not religion, not trying harder, but Jesus Himself.

He also anchored her response with the Spirit’s power and God’s Word, leading her to see Him clearly as Messiah. The proof of her belief was simple—she left her water pot behind and ran to tell others.

Church, are we still carrying the pot of unsatisfaction, or will we leave it and step into the harvest that is ready now?  This week let’s ask Jesus to show us one “well” to sit by, and be ready to offer living water.

Prayer is essential for the success of Alpha so can I encourage you to cover this time in prayer every week. Eternity hangs in the balance for those who attend.

God bless you church.

Greg and Amanda

Gird your Lions Part 2

Dear Church,

Last week’s message was titled “Gird Up Your Loins” – A Call to Readiness,  it was a completion of a message started before I went to Nepal back in March 15. 

In this message from 1 Peter 1:13-16, we were reminded that to “gird up your loins” is a biblical invitation to make ourselves ready. It is a call to live alert and anchored in God, not drifting or coasting through the season we are in.

Readiness begins in the mind—choosing faith over fear and resting fully in God’s grace. From there, it shapes our hearts, our prayers, and our everyday lives. Through worship, surrender, courageous prayer, and faithful work, God prepares us to respond when moments of need, opportunity, or breakthrough arise.

This is not a call to strive, but to be spiritually awake living with intention, expectation, and trust in the Holy Spirit. In uncertain and significant times, God is forming a church that is Christ centred, courageous, and ready for whatever comes.

May we be found prepared—mind, heart, and spirit—living faithfully as we await all that God desires to do among us. So get ready, and Gird Up Your Loins!

Also we gave time to the mission trip to Nepal with an update from Ross Nancarrow.

Remember Alpha is just around the corner, so pray about who you can invite and how you can help. This is an exciting time Church, I believe the Lord will honour our pressing into Him as we seek to Push out toward those who don’t know the Lord yet.

God bless 

Ps Greg and Amanda 

Love, Authority, Obedience, Faith

Dear Grace Church,

We had a full day on Sunday being shaped in God’s image and formed in His Presence. In service leading and in worship, Paul and Jane led us to focus on the glorified Christ described in Revelation 1.

There were testimonies of Holy Spirit moving and God healing.  We prayed God’s blessing and protection on our team headed to the Philippines. Randolph taught us about Love, Authority, Obedience, Faith - the LOAF available to us as Christ’s disciples.

This is a special week for every believer: culminating in Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. As a church we are making room to see God‘s face in corporate worship, prayer, and fasting. Holy Spirt is speaking clearly: calling us to lay aside everything else we trust in and to live in fully reliant on God. It’s Wednesday morning and we are gathering again tonight for the final session before Good Friday. See you this evening for more Press In to Prayer and Fasting, from 5-6PM in the auditorium.

See you there.

God bless each of us as we wait on Him.

Love and Grace,

Debbie-Ann

What Jesus Prayed

Dear Grace Church,

God bless you as we enter this season focusing on the body and the blood of Jesus. Let’s remember to invite people into spaces where they can hear the good news that is Jesus Christ.

Thank you to Paul Mapstone and all the Men’s Breakfast Leadership for setting the Lord’s table creating an amazing outreach last Tuesday evening where Olympic Gold Medallist Duncan Armstrong OAM told his story and gave testimony to the transformative work of Jesus Christ in his life. While there were no salvations on the day we are believing that the seeds sown on good soil will tea a harvest of righteousness.

The Lord’s Table was set again Wednesday morning at the Mayors Prayer Breakfast where combined prayers were offered for our city and region and Duncan inspired civic leaders with his faith in Jesus and the encouragement to serve with enthusiasm.Considering the Lord’s Table. Is it possible that some of us are huddled just inside (or outside) The Door (Jesus). Jesus’s intent was that through continued obedience we would go deeper in and further up: eating at the Lord’s Table and knowing God more and more.

11 Things Highlighted By Jesus’s Prayer for Disciples in John 17

1. Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ. Glory is to live in God’s Presence. John 17:1-5

2. Disciples are those who accept Jesus is the Son of God and who obey the Word of God. John 17:6-8

3. Jesus is praying for His disciples: not for the world. John 17:9, 10

4. Jesus hands His fully redeemed disciples back to God. John 17: 9, 10 Every time we act in accordance with Christ’s nature, we bring glory to Jesus.

5. Jesus clarifies that He is on earth accomplishing God’s work according to the name that God gave Him. John 17:11, 12. Jesus (He will save His people from their sin -Matthew 1:21) has completed the work of saving His people from their sin. The name of Jesus redemption from sin not protection from trouble.

6. Jesus prayed that you will have the full measure of His joy in you despite being hated by the world. John 17:13, 14 Psalm 16:9-11, Psalm 68:3, Hebrews 12:2, 3 His joy is to live in God’s Presence.

7. Jesus prayed that you would be protected from the evil one. In other words that you will not forsake the divine nature and return to partnering with the sin nature. John 17:15. Satanic Weapons: lies and deception (John 8:44, Mark 13:22), Seduction (2 Peter 2:14, 15, James 1:14, 15), Oppression and Persecution (Daniel 7:25, 2 Timothy 3:12, 13), Accusations (Revelation 12:10).

8. Jesus prayed that God would sanctify you by His word. John 17:16-19, We parter in this by studying the word. 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 1: 1-6

9. Jesus prayed the unity of generations of believers united in Him. Christ in the believer and God in Christ bringing a united testimony in Christ across generations of history. John 17:20-23

10. Jesus prayed that we would know the glory of being one with the one true God. John 17:24, 25, Hebrews 12:23

11. Jesus (He will save His people from their sins) promised to continue to reveal God to His disciples (those who accept His word and obey God) and this revelation will result in God’s love flowing through us and Jesus living in us. John 17:26

Let’s take time to pray, worship, ask, seek, knock, linger and listen. 

Love and Grace to You,

Debbie-Ann

Gird your lions

Hi Church, 

Psalm 126:3 says “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy”.

I say this with gratitude for the last two weeks in Grace happenings across many ministries and I say this in anticipation and expectancy at the time of writing, for tonight and Wednesday morning and for my Missions trip into Nepal. 

It was such a joy to hear of the testimonies that have been coming in from the Grace Getaway weekend amongst Youth and Kids and Others. Healing and Refreshing and revelation were key outcomes that came from our time away. Also, World Changes Youth have continued to grow with some 60 plus youth attending on Fridays. Please be praying for Neve and Josiah as they lead their generation into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Sunday morning felt especially powerful as we brought our hearts into alignment with the Lord and made a commitment to Gird up our Loins which means be ready, be prepared, make ready for warfare and work and not just go with a complacent flow. The days upon us are very uncertain but one thing for certain is The Lord God is in charge and we need to attune our hearts to His purpose.

Please be in prayer for tonight and Wednesday morning, two significant things are happening. The First is the Men’s BBQ with Duncan Armstrong sharing his testimony with over 90 guys coming. We will make an appeal for salvation so that the many friends brought along will be given an opportunity to meet Jesus.  

The second event is very significant for the city. The Port Macquarie Ministers Association, is hosting a Prayer Breakfast with special guest Duncan Armstrong. We will have the Mayor, Adam Roberts and Federal Minister for Cowper, Pat Conoghan present and some 13 other Civic Leaders of various Schools, Government Departments and Hastings Counsellors. Again they will hear of the goodness of God through Duncans testimony, and we will be praying with 75 Leaders from across the churches of Port Macquarie for unity and blessing upon our city.  

That afternoon after the breakfast I will then begin my journey to Nepal to work with Ross Nancarrow at the Every Daughter Matters Ministry and the Pastoral Training School that Grace Church has been supporting for many years. Please pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to Fall as I do teaching  on the Holy Spirit to the Pastors and for safety. 

In His Love and blessing to you all.

Ps Greg and Amanda. 

Community Part 2

Hi Church,

This week I gave my Part 2 of what Community looks like at Grace Church. Community is the third pillar that upholds our vision.  And this week I added two more points to the three from last week. 

So this week’s message emphasises that our community is called to be missional, not insular. The Table is more than a destination—it is a launching point, where diverse believers gather, pray, worship, and listen to the Holy Spirit together (Acts 13:1–3). Leadership and direction come through communal discernment, mutual accountability, and shared responsibility, rather than through a single voice. The Antioch church model inspires us to value diversity and unity, celebrating heavenly culture above all (Acts 13; John 17:20–23).

As Jesus commands in Matthew 28:18–19, we are sent to make disciples of all nations, and empowered by the Spirit to be witnesses everywhere (Acts 1:8). The Table—our community—must be a place of healing, transformation, and release, sending us to invite others. Through the parable of the banquet (Luke 14:15–23), we are reminded to extend invitations widely, knowing God desires a full house. Everyone is welcome, as transformation begins at the Table, not perfection.

Ultimately, we look forward to the eternal Table—the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:26–27). Accepting Christ’s invitation ensures our place at this banquet. Will you join us and invite others to be seated at God’s Table?

Love and Blessings

Ps Greg and Amanda. 

Community

Hi Church,

A week seems to turn around very quickly at Grace Church. It starts on Tuesday with the staff gathered, talking, reviewing, praying, planning for the weekends that are coming. Then we begin to implement, make calls, write material, gather necessary resources, interact with other churches and community needs, more praying, more preparing, pastoral caring in house for those in need, mid-week life groups, connecting with those individuals who need encouragement, then before we know it, the large group meetings are happening! World Changes Youth with 40 plus teens going bananas in the Shed, Children gathered for Kingdom Kids, World Changes Youth Sunday, Main Congregation worship and then Preaching, and Prayer ministry and then gathered for Ministry training and discussion with Worship Team after. Then we take a breath and its back into it again.

This is a glimpse of one of our normal weeks at Grace. It’s exciting, it’s rewarding, it’s necessary, and sometimes exhausting and we are always praying that its fruitful for His glory. That’s what it looks like from the staff leadership team as we are helping to create the structure for a dynamic community. We are preparing each week for people to sit at tables where they can taste and see that the Lord is good!

My message last Sunday was the first three points about the truth of community as a value at Grace Church. This Idea of Community is built around the imagery or metaphor of being seated at a table. Not just any table but the “table of the Lord”, where the wine of His presence and the meal/meat of Discipleship are served. Here is a summary of my message:

At the heart of our vision for Community is the understanding that the Table is sacred. When we gather, we are not simply being social; we are participating together in something holy. Scripture reminds us that in sharing the bread and the cup, we are united as one body in Christ, and our allegiance is being formed by what — and who — we partake in (1 Corinthians 10:16–21; 1 Corinthians 11:27–29). The Table calls us to examine our hearts, pursue unity, and honour one another as members of Christ’s body.

The Table also forms the people. Community is not about sameness but oneness — a shared passion for Jesus shaped by love (John 17:20–23). Like living stones, we are being intentionally placed together by God, built into a spiritual house where His presence dwells and is being passionately pursued (1 Peter 2:5; Acts 2:1; Acts 4:24).

Finally, the Table is where transformation sticks. Presence awakens us and discipleship shapes us, but it is shared life — praying, eating, learning, and walking together — that is what forms lasting character (Acts 2:42–47). Transformation does not happen in isolation; it takes root over time as we commit to one another in community.

Points 4 and 5 will complete the message this coming Sunday. But what we have here provokes us to consider why do we gather? Are we here to consume or are we here to contribute to the meal? Do we consider the gathering as something common or something Holy? Are we prepared to just sit near someone at the table or commit to walking with them through life? 

So lets be participators Church. With you together at the table of the Lord.

Love Ps Greg and Amanda

Discipleship

Hi Church,

Blessings and love to you today. It was such a delight on Sunday to shake hands with most people who attended on the exit to Tea and Coffee time. It reminded me just how important is single person who calls Grace Church home. I see it as a privilege and joy to be your Pastor. Please don’t hesitate to connect with me should you have a simple or special need. If I can help I will.

Another great joy was presenting so many young people to Church for all types of different reasons. First our Youth Missions Outreach team, then Induction into Staff leadership for Josiah Hindley and third, saying thank you for his service but sadly saying goodbye to Benjamin Campion as he heads to Newcastle for his new Job. The Holy Spirit was moving and releasing prophetic words as we laid hands on people.

Robert Harrison delivered a great teaching as he tackled the importance of Discipleship as one of our three pillars that upholds our vision. This is a summary from my notes: -

Discipleship is not a single moment but a daily journey of following Jesus. Salvation is the beginning, yet each day we are invited to walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh (Romans 8:1-5). It is a rhythm of surrender—asking ourselves, who we are following today? and then quietly reflecting before God at day’s end, did I follow you today?

This journey rests on firm foundations. Repentance is an ongoing turning toward Jesus, who declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Baptism in water is a joyful, outward expression of our decision to follow Him (Matthew 28:19). We are also called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving power to live boldly and faithfully as witnesses (Acts 1:8).

As disciples, we grow by knowing the heart and priorities of Jesus—through Scripture, prayer, and fellowship. God’s Word shapes us and gives life (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Matthew 4:4). True discipleship transforms how we live: becoming doers of the Word, servants of others, and people who reflect Christ through the fruit of the Spirit. Salvation is only the beginning; becoming a true disciple is the lifelong call.

As a follow on for discipleship, we will have special evenings of teaching provided by experienced bible teacher Randolph Kubicek. This will begin on Sunday 1 March and go for 6 Sundays, it will cover, Total Renewal of the Spirit, Soul, and Body as a new creation person in Christ, “that we may have the heart of Jesus to seek and worship the Father in Spirit and Truth.”  If you desire to grow, then don’t miss this exciting teaching series at Grace from 5:00pm for 1 hour.

Let’s Press in to Push out with Faith, Hope and Love to a world that needs it.

Blessings

Ps Greg and Amanda