Parklands Christian Centre

Parklands Christian Centre Our Vision: To be transformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our Mission: To impact our community with the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ.

22/04/2026

Today's Theme: Lydia, Another New Creation

Acts 16:11-15

The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

— Acts 16:14

I would love to have been there, watching Lydia turn into a new creation. As our story begins, she has no idea who Jesus is. She worships and prays to God, but she doesn’t know Jesus, God’s Son, the Savior. But as she listens to Paul’s message about Jesus, the Lord opens her heart to believe in Christ. She is then baptized, along with her household, and she generously hosts Paul and his companions. What an amazing transformation!

This is what the Spirit of God loves to do—lead people to Jesus, ignite faith in them that Jesus’ death has rescued this broken world from sin, help them to know that the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection are theirs too, and change them to become like Jesus. Sometimes God works in the heart of an adult like Lydia. Sometimes he starts with a child of Christian parents, like me. In every case, it’s the start of a process, a lifelong journey of renewal in which we grow more and more like Christ.

Like Lydia, all who are “in Christ” are new creations, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17. They are being renewed and restored for full life with God. And, again, their transformation points to the colossal project God is working on, the renewal and restoration of his entire broken world. And when that is complete, his new creation will be fully here!

Father, you love to transform people. We love to see and hear about you doing that. Do it more and more. Keep the project going in each of us. We want to see more signposts of the new creation. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

13/04/2026

Today's Theme: Peter, a New Creation

Acts 2:1-41

Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd. . . .

— Acts 2:14

Can God do anything good with me?

We might ask this question when we feel as if we are beyond God’s help. We see our flaws and mistakes, and we wonder how God could even want to use us for his purposes.

In our text today we see Peter preaching to the crowds that are gathered in Jerusalem for the annual harvest celebration. This is the same Peter who, about 50 days earlier, had lied three times about Jesus, saying that he didn’t know Jesus at all (Mark 14:66-72).

But now Peter was restored, since the resurrected Jesus had met with him at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:15-19). And in today’s text we read that Peter and the other apostles were now filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter became a new creation, and in this new state of being “in Christ,” Peter’s life pointed to the remaking of all creation.

The merely brash Peter became the wise preacher Peter. Earlier he had not understood the prophets’ message about the Messiah, but now he was clear and on point. At one time Peter’s passion simply blurted. But now in his passion he could convict and invite!

God is in the business of healing people, pouring grace into them, and recommissioning them. This includes me and you. The Lord sees you, loves you, and has plans for you. Trust him.

Heavenly Father, continue your good work in us, remaking us for your glory and the blessing of the world. Help us to see what you are doing, and to serve you gladly, fully, and hopefully. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

10/04/2026

Today's Theme: Chip: A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Chip had become an old man, and when he returned to the small town where he had grown up, hardly anyone recognized him.

It wasn’t because he looked so different. No, he’d been back to visit throughout the years. He had kept up with people he’d known in high school, and they were familiar with each other’s aging appearance.

What was different about Chip was that his character had changed. He had always been a “clever devil,” as some called him. He would come to town, hang out with the locals, wait for the right opportunity, and then say something political or religious or something else in a thorny way. Then he’d leave as people started bickering with one another. He seemed to enjoy stirring up disagreement.

But now Chip was different. He’d learned that cancer was going to take his life soon. And he’d met Jesus through a local ministry in his neighborhood.

So he came back to town a changed man. Though he was old, he was new. He was kind. Generous. Apologetic. He called himself a friend of Jesus. Everyone talked about it. What an amazing change!

Chip was a new creation, even as his body was dying. He was “in Christ.”

Chip was also an echo of Christ’s resurrection, the beginning of God’s big project of making a new creation where all who are “in Christ” can live with him forever!

God, we praise you for making us new in Christ and for making us a part of your new creation plan. Help us to live faithfully for you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

08/04/2026

Today's Theme: Jesus’ Breath

John 20:19-23

He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

— John 20:22

Dead people don’t breathe. And they surely don’t breathe life that flows into others!

Just a few days earlier, Jesus had “breathed his last” (Luke 23:46), and everyone around him had assumed that was the end of him. But here, in John 20, we read about Jesus coming back to life, early on Sunday morning, and in the evening of that day he was breathing the life of his Holy Spirit into his disciples.

Have you heard of the geyser “Old Faithful” in Yellowstone National Park (U.S.)? The water shoots 130 feet (40 meters) into the air! We can think of Jesus’ breath too as something like a geyser, a geyser of life.

Have you seen pictures or watched videos of young bamboo plants in a tropical forest? In the searing heat they grow so fast that you can almost hear them stretch. As the earth provides nutrients, the bamboo plant pushes out vegetation. In some ways like that, Jesus’ breath pushes out life.

Have you been to a worship service that honors the Lord and God of the universe—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Followers of Jesus, striving to live for the Savior in a fallen, broken world, come to worship the King of creation and to share Jesus’ breath with one another. He gives it, and they receive life. Renewal. Revival.

The resurrection of Jesus keeps echoing as he inspires God’s people to share his love and bring hope everywhere in God’s world.

Breathe on us, Lord Jesus. Send us your Spirit. Enliven, awaken, and commission us, as you did with your disciples. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

07/04/2026

Today's Theme: I Wish I Could See Better

Luke 24:13-35

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

— Luke 24:31

I often wish I could see better.

I wish I could see Jesus face-to-face.

I wish I could see God’s will for a decision I have to make.

I wish I could see God’s power so clearly that I have courage to do what is right even when the risks seem immense.

The two followers of Jesus in our text for today received the gift of seeing how the Old Testament Scriptures pointed to Jesus and his resurrection—and they even saw the resurrected Jesus himself! What an amazing day for them!

Ironically, just as they began to see that the person breaking the bread before them was actually the Lord himself, Jesus disappeared. So they had to continue to believe and act faithfully even when they didn’t see Jesus face to face. It’s a joy to see those two disciples respond by making a faithfilled run back to Jerusalem to report to the other disciples what they had seen and heard.

Truth be told, Jesus invites all of us who don’t see him to live in his presence anyway, as if he is with us, breaking the bread. He does promise, after all, that he is with us always (Matthew 28:20). And as we live in his presence, by the power of God’s Spirit, we can testify to the reality of God’s new creation in us, launched with Jesus’ resurrection.

Without your Spirit, Lord, the news of the resurrection is just words. So pour out your Spirit on us, that we may understand the meaning of your resurrection and live with faith in you today and always. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

06/04/2026

Today's Theme: New Eyes

Isaiah 35:1-10; John 20:11-18

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

— John 20:15

In Isaiah 35 God gives his people a vision of a fully restored creation. His glory will appear, and a desert will turn into a lush, blossoming garden. A “Way of Holiness” will stretch through it—a roadway for God’s people to travel into his presence. In the singing crowd of God’s people on that road, the lame are leaping, the mute tongue shouts with joy, the deaf can hear clearly, and the blind are able to see.

Could those details about people’s senses and disabilities relate also to understanding and seeing the Lord in a new way—especially when the Lord gives us new life through his resurrection? I think so. When we encounter God, when we meet Jesus in an unexpected way, our eyes and ears of faith can see and hear in ways we haven’t experienced before.

Notice that on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, although Mary can see and hear, her eyes are opened in a new way as Jesus speaks her name. She receives a clear, personal visit from Jesus that helps her understand what God is up to. Mary is able to see the living Jesus, and it’s like a desert blooming.

When the resurrected Christ comes again, all of God’s people will be given complete sight. In the meantime, we see portions and glimpses of what God is up to—enough to have faith, hope, and love. Thank you, God!

Dear Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear so that we may have faith in you and serve as you call us to. May we see your glory and share about all you are doing to bring renewal. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

04/04/2026

Today's Theme: Waiting While God Prepares

Luke 23:50-56

There was a man named Joseph . . . and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.

— Luke 23:50-51

There seems to be a lot of waiting in Scripture. Abraham and Sarah waited for a promised child (Genesis 12-18).

The Israelites waited for many years to be freed from slavery (Exodus 1-12). Simeon, Anna, and others waited for the Messiah to come (Luke 2:25-38). The Hebrews had many words and phrases for “wait,” just as some Indigenous languages spoken all over the world have many ways to describe snow. Snow is a large part of life there. Waiting, it turns out, is a large part of life for God’s people.

As we read in our text, Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the kingdom of God. But here, surprisingly, he was taking the dead body of Jesus down from a cross. Joseph had thought Jesus was bringing in God’s kingdom, but now he was dead. If Joseph could bring himself to pick up the work of waiting again, it would likely have been a defeated, hopeless sort of waiting.

Think of the women there as well. They probably assumed that Jesus’ work and teaching had come to nothing, that there was just a body to bury.

But as Joseph laid Jesus’ body in a tomb and the women prepared spices for Jesus’ burial, God was preparing something new that would change hopeless waiting into joy and peace.

We know that you ended the waiting, Father. But before we go there and rejoice, let us taste the waiting and recognize something familiar in it—our own experiences of longing and waiting. Thank you that, in Christ, we do not wait without hope. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

03/04/2026

Today's Theme: Darkness, for Now

Luke 23:44-49

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.

— Luke 23:44-45

What do you think of when you hear the word “darkness”?

Children often think of darkness as scary, and when they grow up most of them still prefer the light. From Genesis to Revelation, darkness is whatever space, time, or reality is separate from God. Before creation there was darkness “over the surface of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). In the last days, as described in Revelation, darkness is one of the signs of separation from God.

When Jesus hung on the cross, darkness came over the land in the middle of the day, when the sun should have been at its brightest. God had abandoned his Son, who was taking on himself all of the corruption and ugliness of the world’s sin and God’s awful judgment on it. As God separated himself from his beloved Son, darkness descended and Jesus died.

Luke’s account of that day notes another amazing occurrence as well. The curtain in the temple, which had long symbolized the separation of the holy God from his unholy people, was torn in two, miraculously, from top to bottom. Our sin-generated separation from God was coming to an end. That was good! But it took an awful darkness to make that happen.

Light was conquering darkness. God and his people would be together again. A new creation was forming!

O Christ, thank you for making yourself unworthy of God’s presence so that we, who truly are unworthy, can be counted worthy to live with him. What a gift we receive in you! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

02/04/2026

Today's Theme: An Old Story Becomes a New Story

Mark 14:12-26

“Take it; this is my body.” . . . and . . . “This is my blood of the covenant . . . poured out for many.”

— Mark 14:22-24

The Jews of Jesus’ day often told stories from their history. And every year at this time they told the ancient story that is referred to in today’s text: the story of the Passover.

The original events of that story are found in Exodus 12, where we read of the slaughter of unblemished lambs and the deliverance of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. A key detail is that God’s people had to spread the blood of lambs on the doorframes of their houses so that the plague of death would pass over their homes while it went through the land of Egypt, taking the life of every firstborn male. After this plague went through the land, the Pharaoh of Egypt set the Israelites free.

Nearly 1,500 years later, Jesus and his disciples celebrated that ancient rescue. They ate lamb’s meat and unleavened bread, shared a cup of wine, and recalled the Passover story. But this time Jesus pointed to the bread and the wine in the memorial meal and said, “This is my body,” and, “This is my blood.”

The very next day Jesus would become the ultimate Passover Lamb, sacrificing his own perfect life to pay for our sin. He would die brutally by crucifixion, rescuing all who would believe in him as the Son of God, the Savior. And ever since that day, people have begun new journeys with God into eternal life.

Today we remember that meal. Tomorrow we remember that death.

Lord Jesus, fill us with faith in you, that we may grow in gratitude and live for you, sharing your story with all who need to hear it. In Jesus' Name Amen.

12/02/2026

Today's Theme: It’s the Vision

Matthew 5:14-16

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

— Matthew 5:16

I was intrigued by a church’s vision statement for 2026: “Empowering believers to embody Christlike values in their workplaces, businesses, and daily interactions, becoming ambassadors of Christ in every sphere of influence.” I couldn’t help imagining what a city or community could look like if that happened.

Imagine a ragtag collection of surrendered and transformed people who love God and others. They are mesmerized by the idea that their life is not so much about them but all about Jesus. They are transfixed by his story and his heart for their local community. They are hope bringers and grace givers, risk takers and dreamers, young and old. They link arms with anyone who embraces the story of Jesus. They empower the poor, strengthen the weak, comfort the outcast, and seek the lost. They serve together, play together, worship together, and live life together. Their city or community will change because God has sent them.

God has also sent us.

There are lots of vision statements, but the main thing is that action is required. This means becoming the people in our communities who share the love and good news of Jesus and finding opportunities for others to do the same.

What’s your vision?

Dear God, help us to move into action. Help us to become people of peace and to find ways to help others share your peace and good news too. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

09/02/2026

Today's Theme: Come and Stay

Acts 16:11-15

“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.”

— Acts 16:15

The door of our church can be opened by pressing a “Push to Open” plate, and on Sunday mornings a greeter stands there to welcome people coming in. As they approach, he delightedly pushes the button to open the door, and there are lots of smiles as a conversation begins. Before they even enter the building, people feel welcome. His deliberate actions make the atmosphere inviting for so many people.

Lydia knew how to open the door of her home to others. Her insistence to Paul and his companions showed that she was someone who understood hospitality. An echo from Luke 10:5-9 shows up here: when you find a person of peace (someone who is open to God’s love and the work of his kingdom) stay there, hang out, and work together.

When we do that, the kingdom of God comes near. When we emulate the posture and actions of Jesus, we lean into what it means to share together the good news of life with him.

What does hospitality look like to you? Are you a door opener? Are you ready to share the good news with someone who is looking for a way to spread the story to others?

A prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi begins, “Lord, make me a channel of your peace . . .”—and this can be paraphrased to say, “Lord, let me be a person of peace who invites someone in your name.”

Dear God, thank you for each person you bring into our lives to engage with. Thank you for the opportunity to share your story. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Nairobi
00200

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Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
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Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday 09:00 - 14:00

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