United Methodist Church New Zealand

United Methodist Church New Zealand A local mission point of the United Methodist in New Zealand

The Power of the GospelScripture Reading: Romans 1:16–17The sermon focused on the powerful message found in Romans 1:16–...
06/09/2026

The Power of the Gospel

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:16–17

The sermon focused on the powerful message found in Romans 1:16–17: we should not be afraid or ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.
The gospel is not only about the words we speak in church. It must also be reflected in our actions and in the way we live our daily lives. As Christians, we should examine ourselves and ask: Am I the same person in front of my friends, at work, at school, and when I am alone with God? Do my actions reflect the faith that I claim to have?
The sermon explained the difference between being afraid of the gospel and being God-fearing. Being God-fearing does not mean being terrified of God. It means having reverence for Him, respecting His Word, obeying His commandments, and trusting Him. Although we are human and sometimes make mistakes or fall into sin, we must repent and return to God because His arms are always open.
Fear can often cause us to hide our faith. Sometimes we are comfortable talking about God in church but become silent when we are at work, school, or among friends. We may be afraid of how people will react when we openly say that we are Christians. However, if we truly believe in the gospel, we should not be ashamed of our faith.
Faith also requires patience and perseverance. Sometimes we pray and do not immediately receive the answer we are expecting. This does not mean that God has abandoned us. Like Abraham, who waited many years for God's promise, we must continue to trust and have faith. Even when we experience failure, we should not give up. We must continue praying, working, and trusting God.
The sermon also reminded us that the things of this world are temporary. Money, possessions, popularity, and worldly pleasures may be attractive, but we cannot take these things with us when we leave this world. Therefore, we must be careful not to allow material things and worldly temptations to take the place of God in our lives.
As believers, we also have a responsibility towards those who have lost their way or do not believe in God. We cannot force anyone to believe, but we can pray for them. We can demonstrate God's love through our actions and allow our lives to be an example. Sometimes people may reject the gospel, but when difficulties come, they may begin searching for answers. Therefore, we should never stop praying for them and trusting that God will work in His own time.
We can live and share the gospel in many simple ways. We can pray for strangers, pray for people who are suffering, show kindness and compassion, speak openly about our faith, and ensure that our actions reflect the Word of God. The gospel should not remain inside the church; it should go with us everywhere.
The main message of the sermon was clear:
Do not be ashamed of the gospel. Do not allow fear to silence your faith. Live according to the Word of God, pray for those who are lost, and remain faithful in every part of your life.
The gospel has power. If we truly believe in it, our lives and our actions should demonstrate that faith.

By Miss Josie

09/08/2026

Well done Umc New Zealand ne harvest yepamusoro-soro

Today we remember our beloved Sekuru. God blessed him with 84 years of life, and today we celebrate those years. We than...
02/08/2026

Today we remember our beloved Sekuru. God blessed him with 84 years of life, and today we celebrate those years. We thank God that we walked with him, talked with him, laughed with him, and learned from him. Although tears fill our eyes, our hearts are also filled with gratitude because we experienced the gift of his presence.
Recently I watched a short video on social media. A mother was remembering her child who had been stillborn three years earlier. She lovingly held the baby's clothes and spoke through tears. She said, "I expected God to perform a miracle. I prayed that my baby would live, but that miracle did not happen." Yet she ended with these remarkable words: "I still love God."
That testimony reminds us that faith is not based on always receiving the miracle we expect. Sometimes God's answer is different from our hopes, but His goodness never changes. Today that mother still remembers her child with love, just as we remember our Sekuru with love.
We are thankful because God gave us eighty-four precious years with him. We shared meals, conversations, wisdom, laughter, and countless memories. Those memories remain a gift from God that death cannot erase.
Today we gather with heavy hearts as we remember a beloved father, grandfather, friend, and family member. There are moments in life when words seem too small for the pain we feel. Losing someone we love leaves an emptiness that cannot easily be filled.
To the Mushapaidze family, please know that your grief is understood. Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). The Son of God knew what it meant to mourn. That reminds us that grieving is not a sign of weak faith. It is a sign of deep love.
Today we do not pretend that death is easy. Instead, we come to the One who is our refuge, our strength, and our hope.
1. God Is Our Refuge
Psalm 46 begins with a beautiful promise:
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Notice that the psalm does not say we will never experience trouble. Instead, it promises that God will be present in our trouble.
Many people ask, "Where is God when I am hurting?" Scripture gives a clear answer:
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)
Today there may be tears, questions, and silence. Yet God is not distant. He walks with us through every valley.
2. We Grieve, But Not Without Hope
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13:
"We do not want you to grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope."
Paul does not say Christians do not grieve. We cry. We miss those we love. We remember their laughter, wisdom, and presence.
But our grief is different because our hope is different.
Our hope is Jesus Christ. For those who belong to Him, death is not the end of the story. It is the doorway into God's eternal presence. That hope gives strength even through tears.
3. Jesus Understands Our Pain
In John 11, Jesus stood before Lazarus' tomb. Even though He knew He would raise Lazarus, He still wept.
Those simple words—"Jesus wept"—tell us something powerful.
Our Savior understands sorrow. He understands separation. He understands loss.
When we cry, He is near. And because He conquered death through His resurrection, He gives us hope beyond the grave.
4. Jesus Has Prepared a Place
Jesus gives this comforting promise in John 14:1–3:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled... In My Father's house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you."
For everyone who believes in Christ, death is not goodbye forever. It is the beginning of eternal life in God's presence.
As we remember our beloved Sekuru today, we thank God for the life he lived, the family he loved, and the legacy he leaves behind. May we honour his memory by trusting the same God who sustained him throughout his life.
May the God of all comfort strengthen the Mushapaidze family, surround them with His peace, and remind them that one day, in Christ, we shall meet again.

Mai Mandizvidza

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