The Christian faith has always faced two great distortions of the gospel: legalism and lawlessness. Legalism insists that you must earn God's love through strict obedience, turning faith into performance and God into a distant taskmaster. Lawlessness, on the other hand, twists grace into permission to sin, offering cheap affirmation without transformation. Both errors sound convincing, even biblical, but miss the heart of the gospel. Through the story of John Newton and the contrasting voices he might have heard—one of judgment, one of excuse, and one of grace—we’re reminded that neither rigid moralism nor permissive compromise can set us free. Only the gospel can.

Titus 2 tells us that grace not only saves but also trains us to say no to sin and yes to godliness as we await Christ’s return. Grace gives us a new identity, a new power, and a new purpose. It doesn’t demand change to earn love, nor does it eliminate the call to holiness—it changes us because we are already loved. Whether you’re weary from striving or numb from compromise, the good news is this: Jesus meets you with grace that transforms. And it’s my prayer that here at St Andrews, this grace—not the lie of legalism or the lure of lawlessness—will shape lives across the Canterbury Plains.

Galatians 3:1-3, 10-11, Jude 4, 18-21 & Titus 2:11-14

Not everyone who claims the name of Jesus truly belongs to Him. In this striking passage, Jesus warns that outward signs—words, spiritual gifts, even miracles—are not the ultimate test of genuine discipleship. What matters is whether our lives reflect a growing obedience to the will of the Father, shaped by grace and empowered by the Spirit.

As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount, He draws a sharp line between true and false disciples. This message explores six key truths from the text, showing that mere profession is not the same as possession, and that Christ desires relationship, not performance. The final judgment will reveal the state of every heart—not just what was said or done, but who we truly were.

This is not a call to strive in fear, but an invitation to examine our hearts and cling to Christ. The grace that saves does not leave us unchanged—it reshapes our desires, our character, and our lives.

Jesus proclaimed: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). God had said that there is only one way for us to gain salvation – hence the description of the narrow gate. The philosophies and culture of society continue to broaden the wider gate by suggesting new ways that humanity can accept as alternatives to God’s one way of salvation. Jesus said only a few would find the right way. Our task in the Missio Dei (God’s mission plan) is to help a few more find Jesus as their way. Matthew 7:13-14 and John 14:1-6

Wolves Among Sheep: Recognizing False Prophets. Matthew: 7:15-20