Caring Community

Once a year we set aside time to study the Bible on issues to do with pastoral care. These series are meant to equip the church in their care for one another as well as learning what the Bible has to say on the many challenges we face in our own lives. In the past we’ve touched on depression, grief, mental health, trauma, self esteem and others. This series hopes to equip us on being a Christian in our workplaces, dealing with loneliness and self-care. Dr Stuart Ferguson will speak specifically on his own experience as a doctor yet what he’s learned can apply to any working environment.

Christians in the Workplace - Stuart Fergusson (Audio Only)
Evening Service, Sunday, January 10, 2021
Christians should honour God and their employers by having a commitment to excellence in their work. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV). The church needs to be a strong support for those who serve Christ in the world of work. In this sermon, Stuart Fergusson briefly outlines a theology of work. He shares some personal insights into the blessings and challenges of his work as a general surgeon and into the world of medicine more generally. He also teaches some key strategies for maintaining Christian faithfulness in the working environment and beyond.
Loneliness - Alex Warren (Audio Only)
Evening Service, Sunday, January 17, 2021
Loneliness has been described as an epidemic in western society. In a recent survey by the Red Cross one in 5 adults reported that they were always or often lonely. Loneliness can affect all kinds of people at all stages of life. What does the Bible have to say about loneliness? This talk looks firstly at the reason for loneliness – God made us for relationship with himself and others, but sin and the fall have broken these relationships. Secondly it looks at what God has done about loneliness. He is a Father to the fatherless and puts the lonely into families (Psalm 68 vs 5-6). All of this has been achieved for us by the work of Christ. He has made us children of God, understands our loneliness, has put Christians into a family – the Church and has guaranteed us a place in the new heavens and earth where there will not be any more loneliness. The talk finishes with some practical thoughts for those who are struggling with loneliness and some thoughts for all of us as we seek to help others.
Self-Care: 1 Tim.4:1-8; 1 Cor. 6:19-20 - Christiaan Hofstra (Audio Only)
Evening Service, Tuesday, January 26, 2021
'Self-care' is a popular topic. It's important to see what the Bible if anything has to say on the subject. Looking at 1 Tim.4:1-8 and 1 Cor. 6:19-20 we can see that self-care across the different spheres is Biblical, a way to glorify God in our body. However self-care must not become an idol, where a good thing becomes a god-thing. Indeed, not ignoring other areas of our lives we are to prioritise spiritual self-care. We are to train ourselves for godliness which is of value in this life as well as the life to come.