Kingdom Living: Up-In-Out

In the Kingdom of God, relationships aren't optional – they're essential. This week, Pastor Louis zooms in on something deeply human and deeply spiritual: relationships. From Paul's closing greetings in Colossians 4 to his bold call in chapter 3 to put off sins that divide, we're reminded that how we relate to others is a reflection of who we are in Christ. Even under house arrest, Paul's life overflowed with meaningful connection. Friends visited. Captors respected him. His relational world was full, even in chains. Contrast that with today's loneliness epidemic. The difference? Paul's life was anchored in Jesus and given over to something greater than himself. We'll explore: ✔️The beauty and challenge of Christian community. ✔️Why greed and idolatry aren't just personal sins – they fracture relationships. ✔️What it means to live with relational integrity in a divided world. ✔️How “the immoderate love of possessing” (Aquinas) pulls us away from love, purpose, and joy. ✔️And how the presence of Jesus makes a real, relational difference in how we live with one another. Let's live lives that are undivided, where our hearts are fully the Lord's and our relationships reflect His grace, truth, and love.

You can't live a resurrection life without first dying to the old one. Pastor Louis moves into the heart of Christian transformation in Colossians 3. Here, Paul gets practical in his letter, calling believers not just to believe in Christ but to become like Him. This means putting to death the old self: sinful desires, fractured relationships, disunity, and distorted sexual morality. In a world that encourages self-expression at all costs, Colossians invites us to something deeper: a life of death and resurrection in Jesus. Explore:

We're not just invited to believe in Jesus – we're called to be filled with Him. In Colossians 2, Paul confronts deceptive ideas that threaten to replace Christ with lesser cosmic claims, including legalism, mysticism, philosophy, and spiritual forces. He reminds the Colossians, and us, that we don't need to add anything to Jesus. Why? Because in Him, the fullness of God dwells, and we have been given fullness in Him. In this message, Pastor Louis explores Christian cosmology – the grand story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration with Jesus at the very centre. It's not a tribal or partial Gospel. It's a universal truth for all of creation. You'll discover:

Some things are ruined when you add to them. In the letter to the Colossians, Paul opens with a powerful declaration of Christ's supremacy. The Colossians were being tempted to blend the Gospel with other beliefs – ceremony, legalism, angel worship, hidden knowledge. But Paul makes it clear: Jesus is not just part of the story – He is the WHOLE story. In this message, Pastor Louis unpacks what happens when we try to add to Jesus – and why that addition ultimately leads to subtraction. We'll also look at modern forms of spiritual syncretism and how to remain steadfast in a culture that constantly tempts us to blend the Gospel with personal preferences or cultural norms. Jesus + Nothing = Everything.

Parenting is one of the most meaningful – and often the most challenging – callings we can step into. But here's the hope: we're not called to do it alone. In this message, Ben Pinches unpacks what it means to build a household where Jesus is truly at home – where grace, truth, and love shape the atmosphere for both parents and children. From Deuteronomy to Ephesians, Scripture calls the home the first and most formative place of discipleship. 1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us that our labour in the Lord is never in vain – even when parenting feels exhausting or unseen. Whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent, or part of the village raising the next generation, your presence matters. We explore four powerful ways God models His Father heart – He is present, He protects, He provides, and He prepares. This same pattern offers wisdom for our own parenting journey, including practical encouragement on topics such as social media, boundaries, and intentional rhythms of discipleship within the home. We'll also take time for ministry and prayer, reminding each other that God doesn't call us to perfection, but to faithful presence.

What does it mean to live generously at home? This week's message by our guest speaker, Dan Backens, explores how Jesus transforms our households into places of peace, purpose, and radical generosity. From 1 Peter 4:10, we're reminded that every home is a space to steward God's grace, not just in words, but through serving and giving. But to walk in true generosity, we must confront the spirit of poverty – the fear and scarcity mindset that keeps us holding back. Proverbs 11 tells us that the generous will prosper, and those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. We'll also reflect on the unmatched generosity of Christ – “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). His goodness becomes our motivation to give freely, cheerfully, and intentionally. This message is about real-life stewardship – of finances, time, work, and gifts – all used to bless others and honour God. Let's discover how our homes can reflect the generous heart of Jesus.

What are we filling our homes with? In this message, Pastor Louis explores how to build a household grounded in prayer, devotion, and presence, not just rules or routines, but a living relationship with Jesus at the centre. Drawing from Joshua 24 and Jesus' teaching about building on the rock, not the sand, we're invited to make intentional choices about how we live in and lead our homes. Whether married or single, living alone or with family, each of us can cultivate a space where devotion to God isn't reserved for Sundays, but woven into our daily rhythms. We'll look at what it means to be rooted in God's love rather than legalism, to create space for UP (with God), IN (with others), and OUT (into the world) right where we are. Wisdom in multi-media, food, rest, and relationships matters. So does making time for reflection, prayer, and shared spiritual practices. Let's learn together how to welcome Jesus into everything – and see our homes become places of peace, strength, and an integrated, growing spiritual life.

Welcome to the first message in our miniseries, where we explore what it means to be truly at home with Jesus, whether you're single or married. In Scripture, the word “oikos” (Greek for “house” or “household”) doesn't just refer to a building – it speaks of your relational world. Your family, friends, neighbours, and anyone you do life with. This is where the Gospel first takes root and we begin living out our faith.

“He is not here – He is risen!” On Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the victory of Jesus – not just a great teacher or prophet, but God Himself, risen from the dead. The empty tomb declares it: Christ is alive, and nothing will ever be the same.

The cross is more than a symbol – it's a diagnosis and a cure. It's not just where Jesus died; it's where our deepest wounds and sins are exposed and where healing begins. On Good Friday, we reflect on the outrageous truth of the cross:

Ever feel like the world is just... loud right now? Conflicting voices, constant debates, and a rising pressure to pick a side. In John 7, the crowd around Jesus asked the same thing we often ask today: Who's right? What's right? The crowd was torn. Is Jesus a political figure? A prophet? A threat? Sound familiar? In our world of populism, nationalism, and toxic certainty, it's easy to cling to belief systems that oversimplify the truth and demand emotional certainty. But Jesus offers something deeper. ✨ “… he who sent me is true.” (John 7:28) Jesus invites us to anchor our clarity not in opinions but in the unchanging character of God – truthful, reliable, and good (Exodus 34). Pastor Louis's message explores how we navigate confusion not by grasping for control but by grounding ourselves in who God is. When we start there, clarity begins to emerge – even in chaos.

If you've ever felt like your prayers go unanswered or that heaven is silent, you're not alone. The psalmist cried out, “Do not hide your face from me” (Psalm 27:9), and even Jesus Himself prayed, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Divine hiddenness is a mystery – but could it also be the very ground of faith? Mother Teresa, a symbol of unwavering devotion, wrestled with deep spiritual darkness. Some of her words reveal the tension of longing for God in the silence.

In Jeremiah 18, the prophet visits the potter's house. What he sees is a powerful picture of God's sovereignty, purpose, and transforming love.

What and who we honour shapes our cultures. From influencers to public figures – honour determines who gets our attention, earns our respect, and holds influence. But what does true honour look like from a Kingdom perspective?

We believe the Church isn't just a gathering – it's a community living out God's values and a prophetic witness to the world. A true Christian community is built on Christ's selfless love, not comfort or preference.

Following Jesus takes intentional effort. Paul compares it to athletic training – we don't earn salvation, but we work on our sanctification, becoming more like Jesus (1 Corinthians 9). As Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.”

At Hatfield, worship and prayer are at the heart of who we are. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, empowering believers to be Christ's witnesses. The gifts of the Spirit are given for the building up of the Church, and we make space for His presence both in our gatherings and daily lives.

At Hatfield, we don't separate life into “sacred” and “secular” – all of life is meant to be lived for God (Matthew 22:37). Our faith isn't just about church gatherings; it's about how we live every day, in every space. We are whole-life disciples, called to make an impact wherever we go.

We believe God loves us and, therefore, we can love. Jesus came to reveal the Father and give us access to Him (John 14:6-7), shaping our understanding of God, people, and the world. ❤️ Our Relationship with God We don't see God as angry or distant but as a loving Father who created us to love us. Even in our rebellion, He pursued us and sent Jesus so we could be restored (John 3:16). We serve Him out of love, walking in grace, not fear.

God is a generous God! We see His abundant love poured out from creation to the Gospel story. Psalm 104 reminds us that He filled the earth with life and made space for all to dwell. In Christ, God invites us into His home, where generosity is not just something He gives – it's who He is.

The Kingdom of God doesn't arrive with a grand spectacle — it starts small, like a mustard seed, growing into something unstoppable. Mark 4 reminds us that the Kingdom isn't measured in big leaps but in small, faithful acts.

Join us as Pastor Louis and others pray and commission you for your frontlines, the unique places where God has positioned you — at work, school, home, or in your community — as spaces of possibility and potential. Guided by the Great Commission, we'll pray for boldness, wisdom, and opportunities to reflect Christ in these areas. Let's lift each other up and embrace God's promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28).

The Lord's Prayer is the most well-known prayer in history. Jesus instructed his first disciples in the words of this prayer when they asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We also know from early church history that the disciples recited the prayer three times daily: morning, noon, and night. Join Pastor Louis for the launch of our Week of Prayer and Fasting as he teaches you how to regularly give shape to this prayer in your own life.

How do we centre our lives on what truly matters? Pastor Louis invites us to reflect on what it means to seek God's Kingdom first in a world full of distractions and uncertainties. Discover how aligning your heart with God's purposes reshapes your priorities and gives you the freedom to trust in His good plans. This message will challenge and encourage you to approach the coming year with faith and a heart rooted in God's eternal work.

Join Pastor Louis this Sunday and experience a time of worship, connection, and spiritual growth. Whether you're seeking encouragement, hope, or a sense of belonging, there's a place for you here. Let's gather as a community of whole-life disciples, lifting our hearts and voices to the One who gives us hope and purpose.

As the year ends, join us and Pastor Ian for a special New Year's Eve service to reflect on God's faithfulness and look ahead with hope. Let's enter the new year together, grounded in faith and filled with expectation for all that God has in store. Everyone is welcome – come and start the new year with purpose and peace!

Celebrate the joy of Christmas with us as we gather to honour the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We'll reflect on the wonder of God's love made manifest in the humble manger. Whether you're continuing a cherished tradition or seeking a place to experience the true meaning of Christmas, you're warmly invited to join us and Pastor Louis.

Join us and Neil Bester as we gather to reflect, rejoice, and renew our spirits in the presence of God. Come as you are and be reminded of the hope, love, and purpose that God offers to all. Whether you're seeking encouragement or community, there's a place for you here. Let's grow together in our faith and fellowship!

Did you know you can experience peace with God and the peace of God? So, whether you're wrestling with God or are feeling overwhelmingly anxious and fearful, experience the Father's blessing of peace with Pastor Sihle.

“The way Jesus lived was more important than what He said.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Whether you do or not and want to delve deeper, join Ben Pinches as he challenges our thinking when it comes to frontline living in a fallen world.

Join our annual Christmas Celebration and be filled with joy as we pause to reflect on Jesus' miraculous birth. Together with Pastor Louis, explore how the Holy Spirit played a vital role in fulfilling God's promises, bringing hope, peace, and uncontainable joy to a weary world through Christ.

In John 4, Jesus anticipates true worshippers worshipping the Father in Spirit and in truth. This worship transcends physical locations, such as the temple, relying on the Holy Spirit's presence in us and aligns with the truth revealed in Christ. Accept this invitation with Pastor Louis to sincere, heartfelt communion with God, rooted in His character and redemptive work.

Join Pastor Louis as he unpacks the profound connection between the Holy Spirit's power and our spiritual resurrection. We can rejoice in the knowledge that the same divine power that raised Jesus from the dead leads us to new life today! Let's dive deep into the dual nature of resurrection (physical & spiritual), the transformative power of being crucified with Christ, understanding Ezekiel's vision and its meaning for us today.

Sanctification is one of those Christian words we don't always relate to well. What it basically refers to is the process by which God renews us to be more and more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit and the Word are pivotal in your renewal, so allow Pastor Louis to show you how you can be continually filled and renewed.

The Holy Spirit confirms a sense of belonging in us, showing us that God is not some distant Creator but a loving Father who desires a close relationship with His children. This relationship is rooted in love and trust rather than fear and assures us of our place in God's family. Accept this invitation to a deeper sense of belonging with Pastor Louis.

Jesus prayed that we, His followers, would be one as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. So, how can you be an agent for unity in the Church as you follow Jesus? Join Neil Bester in discovering how the Holy Spirit brings precisely this unity to Christ's body, the Church.

To live in right relationship with God and others is impossible without the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul says in Romans that those led by the Spirit are called the children of God, not those led by the flesh or even by the law. So, how do we live by the Spirit? Pastor Louis engages with this question and more.

Through Jesus, God's kingdom has come on earth, but it is also still coming. The Holy Spirit came to help you live and navigate this already-but-not-yet-reality of God's kingdom. So, dive deeper with Pastor Louis into the gifts of the Spirit, which are meant to help you engage in a broken world as you try to make the reality of God's kingdom visible.

The Holy Spirit empowers you to live as a follower of Jesus. When baptised in the Spirit, you are filled with God's presence. Just as the tabernacle and temple were places where God's presence used to dwell, God's presence now dwells in believers through the Spirit. Join Neil Bester as he focuses on baptism in the Holy Spirit and answers some frequently asked questions on this topic.

The Holy Spirit helps us live the life Jesus made possible through His death on the cross. We are new creations if we accept what Jesus has done for us. But how do we live this reality out every day? Pause with Neil Bester to explore what an ongoing, life-giving relationship with the Spirit looks like.

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? And once you are filled with the Spirit, what does that mean for ordinary, everyday life? Pastor Louis kicks off this message series in which we focus on the person of the Holy Spirit and how to live led by the Spirit rather than the flesh.

Have you noticed how God is more interested in your character than your comfort? God desires that we bear His image well, and so He shapes us from the inside out. He is as intimately involved as a potter working their clay. Pastor Letsholo unpacks how you can yield to this shaping process, becoming all God intends for you.

King David knew what it meant to be besieged from all sides. He also knew what it meant to make God his fortress, the stronghold of his life. If you want the Lord to be the stronghold of your life, Ben Pinches shows you how by drawing on lessons from King David.

Movement is more than a physical action; it reflects God's dynamic work within and around us. Movement signifies growth, change, and obedience to God's will. It is in moving that we leave behind the old and step into the new He has for us. Join Pastor Louis as he delves into Scripture to understand how God moves to fulfil His purpose and how we can respond faithfully to His call to move!

What is the story you tell yourself about you? Your life is a daily response to what you believe about yourself. Pause and evaluate this story with Pastor Louis. Recognise the half-truths and lies you might have embraced from a young age, and experience God's love, which truly sets us free.

Pete Portal is an author and pastor serving at Tree of Life, a 24/7 prayer community in Manenberg, Cape Town. He wraps up our Faith Promise pledge season, focusing on Isaiah 58 and how the Church is God's answer to our broken world.

Have you ever said, “Here I am,” to God and then felt He asked for more than you were willing to give? Chandra Noviskie, a missionary and one of our Faith Promise Partner Ministry leaders, looks at a few “Here I am” moments from the Bible to encourage you.

It is the first of our three Faith Promise Sundays, and Pastor Afrika Mhlophe, author, speaker and coach from Port Elizabeth, joins us. His focus is on the task of reconciliation given to us by God.

God meant you to have abundant life and freedom. In a fallen and broken world, though, you can end up stuck, enslaved to bad habits and addictions when life happens. Join Pastor Louis in discovering true rest and freedom as you live your one glorious life.

Life is unpredictable. But along with life's unpredictable pain and suffering often comes profound growth, healing, and transformation. Debbie Holloway offers you help to find some sure footing when life happens.

Jesus does not reject the weary and burdened. Instead, He says, “Come to Me.” Accept this invitation with Pastor Natasja if you are feeling down, depressed or anxious. Jesus is waiting with open arms for you.