St Christopher's Church Blenheim Nz

09/09/2026

Save the Date!

Our next Messy Church is coming up next week!

All welcome to join us for a fun afternoon of songs, crafts, food, and a Bible Story.

09/09/2026

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

It's not uncommon for the fruit of the Spirit to be regarded as aspirational behavioural traits to be developed in our lives. Perhaps from time to time, we might think to ourselves, "You know, I really ought to work on my patience level." Or, "I wish I had greater self-control - especially when the chocolate biscuits come out." It's understandable that we might read these verses, identify a deficit in our own behaviour, and conclude that we have work to do.

But what if that's not quite what Paul wanted us to do with his words? What if it was never Paul's intention that we would see the fruit of the Spirit as individual behavioural traits to be worked on?

The branches of a pear tree don't have to figure out how to produce pears. They don't have to study the anatomy and function of a pear and devise a plan to develop more pears. All the branches have to do is remain connected to the tree. The tree knows how to produce pears and so long as the branches remain connected, pears will happen!

And that word 'remain' is critically important. Jesus told His disciples, "If you remain in Me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit." (John 15:8) In order to bear fruit, the requirement was simply this - remain! In fact, so vital was this concept of remaining, that Jesus repeated the verb 11 times in 11 verses.

So, no doubt you could stand to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient etc. We all could! But focusing on each and trying to develop more is not what Paul (or Jesus) intended. Rather, we're called to remain in Christ; to make our home in His love, to lean into relationship with Him, and to get into His Word - and more importantly, get His Word into us.

And then? Fruit happens!

- Ps. Nigel

06/09/2026

This Past Sunday…

“How can you be like-minded in a diverse church?” Listen to Pastor Nigel Irwin’s message from 6th September here:

Topical Sermons - Nigel Irwin A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter | Psalm 34: 1-22; 1 Peter 3: 8-12 Ps. Nigel Irwin | 6th September 2026 Download A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter | 1 Peter 3: 1-7; Mark 10: 35-45 Ps. Nigel Irwin | 30th August 2026 Download A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter |....

03/09/2026

Global Week of Prayer

For the upcoming Global Week of Prayer, a prayer room is being set up in Barnies (on the Nativity Church site) from Monday 7 September until Saturday 12 September.

Homegroups and any other groups are encouraged to book a time together, but individuals are very welcome as well but please note: multiple people can book the same time slot. Book your prayer time online by searching
https://signup.24-7prayer.com/signup/7e60d5/

Please check your spam folder if you don’t receive confirmation of booking.

A message from 24-7 International:

Following our first Global Week of Prayer in 2025, we are joining together again, and our theme for 2026, At the Name of Jesus, is rooted in scripture:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2: 9-11 NIV

As we pray together, we want to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord over all of the earth. We’re seeking to encounter this beauty and power, and carry Jesus into our towns, cities and nations.

03/09/2026

"Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name." - Psalm 86:11

I've just finished reading 1 & 2 Chronicles in my daily "Coffee with Jesus" time. Every time I've read the stories of Israel's and Judah's succession of Kings, I've been struck by the outcome of their lives, depending on where they were at in their regard for God. In one sense, it's very simple: the good kings prospered, the wicked kings didn't. But there's a third category - the divided kings.

I enjoyed reading about King Hezekiah this time around. I think he was probably still in the divided category, but his trajectory was exceptional among the kings before and after him. And his reign concluded with the following words of commendation:

"In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." (2 Chron. 31:21)

He sought God and worked wholeheartedly.

King David wrote, "Give me an UNDIVIDED heart, that I may fear Your name." Fear in this context means reverence - the verb, not the noun. David understood that to reverence God appropriately, he needed an undivided heart. He needed to be WHOLEHEARTED.

And so do we. I don't know about you, but I pray these words of David regularly. "Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name."

When my life and ministry are over, I want people to say that I sought God and worked wholeheartedly.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind prospering either!

- Ps. Nigel

30/08/2026

This Past Sunday…

“What does it mean to submit?” Listen to Pastor Nigel Irwin’s message from 30th August here:

Topical Sermons - Nigel Irwin A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter | 1 Peter 2: 11-25; Matthew 22: 15-22 Ps. Nigel Irwin | 23rd August 2026 Download Better Together | 1 Corinthians 3: 10-15; Matthew 7: 24-27 Ps. Nigel Irwin | 16th August 2026 Download A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter | 1 Peter 2...

27/08/2026

This Sunday, Pastor Nigel Irwin continues looking at Peter's first letter.

Scripture Readings: 1 Peter 3: 1-7; Mark 10: 35-45

Please note this is a Combined Family Holy Communion Service, commencing at 10.30am. All are welcome - feel free to invite a family member, neighbour, or friend.

A Shared Lunch will follow the service - please bring a plate of finger food, if you are able.

Hope to see you here.
Blessings!

26/08/2026

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9

King Asa started so well! Faced with a formidable and sizeable enemy, he “called to the Lord his God and said, ‘LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty.’” And of course, God defeated Asa’s enemy before his very eyes.

King Asa then brought reform to Judah and turned them back to God. Azariah, in the unction of the Spirit, said to him, “Listen to me, Asa … the LORD is with you when you are with Him.” How encouraging! The security of knowing God is on your side, come what may.

Fast forward 30 years. King Asa has been very successful and Judah has lived in peace. But a tragic shift has been taking place in his heart. Baasha, King of Israel came against Judah in what was probably a coup - a takeover bid. In his panic, King Asa sought help from… well, not God this time… but Ben-Hadad, King of Aram (also an enemy of the people of God, by the way!). Asa gave him silver and gold and asked him to defend Judah against Baasha. Ben-Hadad agreed. So, job done, right?

Hanani the seer came to Asa and said, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the King of Aram has escaped from your hand. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Hanani reminded Asa of what he’d already known and experienced, “ …the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”

Friends, how often do we try to solve things our way first, before eventually handing the situation to God? And sometimes, it might even seem like our human methods are successful. But all we’ve done is lure ourselves into believing the false gospel of our own self-sufficiency.

Being fully committed to God means acknowledging our dependency on Him and allowing Him to guide, instruct, and provide. May we be a people who take Him at His word and trust Him in all things.

- Ps. Nigel

26/08/2026

It's the fourth Thursday of the month, and we welcome all Seniors to join us this morning!

23/08/2026

This Past Sunday…

“Change your name, or change your behaviour!” What does Alexander the Great have to do with the first letter from Peter? Listen to Pastor Nigel Irwin’s message from 23rd August here:

Topical Sermons - Nigel Irwin A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter | 1 Peter 2: 11-25; Matthew 22: 15-22 Ps. Nigel Irwin | 23rd August 2026 Download Better Together | 1 Corinthians 3: 10-15; Matthew 7: 24-27 Ps. Nigel Irwin | 16th August 2026 Download A Living Hope - Sermons from 1 Peter | 1 Peter 2...