Kirkby Stephen Evangelical Church

18/04/2026

Kirkby Stephen Evangelical Church
Sunday 19th April
11-30am Peter & Helen Stobart
6-30pm Paul Jackson ,
All welcome to join us

13/12/2025

Join us on Sunday 14th 11-30 Christmas special with Paul Curwin Balloon Artist,6-30Carol Service

30/05/2025

In this statement, pastor and author Nate Pickowicz touches on a common error that many have been, and continue to be taken in by. In an increasingly self-centred society, the mantra 'follow your heart' naturally sits very comfortably, but it is more often than not nothing more than an excuse to be self-indulgent, regardless of any potential consequences that may impact upon others, or even ourselves in the long-term. A bible passage that has stayed with me from my early days as a Christian and onward through life was one written by the prophet Jeremiah, when he declared the words of God:

"The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
"I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”"
(Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Used in this way, the term 'heart' refers to what is basically the seat of our emotions, and the unregenerate, sinful heart is never a good standard by which to make judgements. Even the renewed heart, which characterises the believer, can be prone to the likes of error and misguided sentiment if it is misinformed, therefore we typically need to look beyond ourselves to a much higher standard for our guidance and direction. There is no guidance greater than the revealed word of God, and the principles it teaches have stood the test of time, and will endure for all eternity. If our hearts are completely in line with God's word, only then can they be a reliable source of guidance.

Have a great day everyone! 🙂

20/04/2025

Hope springs forth, Christ is risen, hallelujah, let all the earth rejoice

18/04/2025

This is a wonderful thought to contemplate today, and indeed any day. Jesus, the Lamb of God, took away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and I am eternally grateful for the new life He gives to me and to everyone else who receives His forgiveness and trusts in Him as he heir Saviour.

Have a great Good Friday everyone! ✝️❤️🙏

27/03/2025

31/01/2025

Good to be reminded 🙂

I always take great encouragement from those people we read about in the Bible, where God appointed and called them to do something great in His service, yet who in the process of fulfilling that calling showed their humanity by making mistakes and errors of judgment. However, their limitations did not prevent Almighty God from fulfilling His purposes. Moses was known for his occasional fits of rage, including one instance when he killed a man and attempted to cover it up - but God still worked through him and used him to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and on to the promised land. Another obvious example is that of King David, described as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), yet who committed adultery and even conspired to have an innocent man killed in order to cover up his shortcoming, but God still continued to use him, too, and he is regarded as the greatest king in the history of the nation of Israel. In the New Testament we see Peter as impulsive, brash and cowardly - yet Jesus forgave and restored him, and he went on to be one of the key leaders of the early church.

There are many more examples than these 3 men I have referred to, of course, and this should encourage us as to how God can overrule and work through any situation, despite the shortcomings of those he choses to use to accomplish His purposes. I am so thankful that God gave us His word, and that it gives an honest depiction of the failures and weaknesses of most of it's key characters (with the exception of Jesus, of course, who was sinless and perfect). May we all obediently and faithfully follow God's calling on our lives, confident in the knowledge that He forgives and restores us when we mess up, if we come humbly before Him to acknowledge our shortcomings.

Have a great day everyone! 🙂

29/01/2025

Coffee morning ☕
Friday 10:30 - 12.00 at the church. All welcome 😁