We are called to be different.

If you were to ask a friend, spouse or your child how they would describe you what do you think they would say? I asked that of a couple of people this week and here is what they had to say:

“Steve is honest, supportive, loyal, likes to have a good laugh and is a choc-a-cheese-a-holic 😂”

“Pastor Steve is one of the most enthusiastic people I know. He makes me laugh and is such an encourager. I love working with him and having him as our pastor (Although he never puts the kettle on!)”

I don’t think there is anyone who doesn’t like to be encouraged (I can assure you I didn’t pay the people to say that, honest!!!)  There are so many ways that people may describe us, depending on our relationship with them and how well they know us, it will hopefully be nice and uplifting, but the truth is perhaps there are people who wouldn’t quite describe us in the way that perhaps we would like. 

We make mistakes and we can hurt people, sometimes purposely but sometimes without really realising we have done it. We can be misinterpreted, we can be caught by someone at the wrong time and say or do things we don’t really mean.

However nice we are, we are NOT perfect - Philippians 3 v 12 in the CEV says, “I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect.”

Every single person in this world by their very nature is sinful, even though many of us claim not to be, or we think we are better than others; well, I’m not a murderer, I don’t steal, I’m not abusive like others, so it’s ok. But this is what the Bible says in Romans 3 v 23 - “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

And 1 John 1 v 8 says it like this, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Yet if we class ourselves as believers in Jesus, we are called to be DIFFERENT and to be like him: ‘Be holy as I am holy’. Now, that doesn’t mean we suddenly become perfect and no longer do anything wrong, that’s unrealistic. However, we need to be working towards becoming more like Christ, who is perfect. 

In Philippians 3 v13 the Apostle Paul says. “But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don't feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.”

You and I are a work in progress. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and saviour you have been adopted into his family, you are sons and daughters of the king. We don’t belong to this world, we belong to Jesus, and therefore, to a KINGDOM & way of life that is counter cultural…We are called to live a life that is characterised by our love for Jesus and for others, as we are shaped to become more like him and as we are commissioned to bring God’s love, hope and good news to the world around us. We must not forget…

We are ‘Kingdom People’…

In 2026, our church focus for the year is ‘Kingdom People’ and we will be seeking to:

RE:CALL the kingdom values and principles that God has laid out for us in scripture - Digging deeper into their meanings and looking at how we can practically apply and live out these principles in our day to day lives.

RE:DISCOVER the role we are called to play in God’s kingdom purposes and the power we have at our disposal to do this.

RE:IGNITE our passion for God’s kingdom by encouraging, training, equipping and providing opportunities to reach into Ryedale, sharing the good news of the gospel so his kingdom would be built.

My prayer for us this year is that we might be different in our words, actions and over all demeanour, so that we might ultimately point people to Jesus. 

Best Wishes,

Pastor Steve