New Life Church, Middelburg

06/09/2026

Sermon brought to you by Pastor Pete van der Spuy.

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06/09/2026

Today’s sermon is titled:

Are You Serious?

We have all heard the expression “Are you serious?”, and I believe that the Lord wants to ask us that question today about our relationship with Him, our Christianity if you will. Are you serious about living like Jesus really is the Lord of your life?

A common criticism of Christians these days is that we don’t have much backbone and we only live out our convictions when it is convenient for us. When things get tough, when they are going to cost us money or bring us suffering, we quickly compromise what we say we believe. Have you come across the churchgoers who look and sound holy on a Sunday, but are completely different people when they are at work or around the braai?
Some people say that they are Christians or church members just for the status that it gives them or for the connections they can make that can benefit their career or their business. How about the folk who say that they’re Christians, but are prepared to pay a bribe to get an order, to get out of a speeding ticket or to get their (or their child’s) license? Then there are those who are quite happy to lie to get out of trouble, wangle a long weekend or get an insurance claim paid out. What about the folk who are like the flash that a camera uses – on fire for the Lord briefly, but they cool down very quickly when things aren’t easy anymore. Look at what the Lord says about how serious we need to be to be able to follow Him:

Luke 9:23-26 Then He said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. (NLT)

Notice how the Lord Jesus reminds us that every day will bring problems and temptations that pressure us to compromise, so He reminds us that every day we are going to have to choose to make some hard decisions that will include sacrifice. The Lord Jesus doesn’t have pleasant words to say to His followers in Laodicea who weren’t serious about their faith:

Revelation 3:15-16 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth! (NLT)

Here is some encouragement to motivate us to hang in there and stay consistent by following Jesus’ example when we are tempted to compromise:

1 Peter 2:19-23 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. (NLT)

Here is what the Lord wants us to aim for:
Psalm 15:1-4 Who may worship in Your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbours or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honour the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts. (NLT)

This will make us people that others will respect and want to follow.

1 Corinthians 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.(NLT)
Let’s make a decision today to be strong and immoveable – consistent and stable men and women who live their lives according to God’s word because we are serious about our faith.

Thank you for reading this message today.

30/08/2026

Today's sermon is brought to you by Pastor Pete van der Spuy.

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30/08/2026

Today’s sermon is titled:

Words

There is an injury that doesn’t qualify as an IOD and is not covered by any medical aid. There is a hurt we experience that you can’t put a plaster on or splint. You might have heard the expression “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me!” but bones can heal in 6-8 weeks, but some wounds caused by words last a lifetime and even for generations!

Words hurt us almost every day, and those injuries to our souls can damage us for life if we let them. The bible tells us in Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (NLT)

I want us to look today at how we should speak to others and also how to deal with those cutting words that hurt us so often.
The bible speaks a lot about how you and I should speak to others. It reminds us that we have the power to break down or to encourage, build up and inspire the people around us. The scriptures also remind us that we will have to eat the fruit of how we speak to others.
Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit .(HCSB)

Before we say a word to someone there are two verses we need to consider:
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (NLT) Is what you are about to say going to encourage and build them up?

2. Ephesians 4:29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (NLT) Swearing is definitely out, but we can be foul and abusive without crossing that line. Our words can abuse people based on age, gender, hair colour, car type, income, job position and even which church they attend! “Will my words help the person or not?” is a question we need to answer every time. I don’t mean that we always have to smile and be happy when we speak to people – sometimes we need to show them that we are angry and their conduct was wrong, but it doesn’t have to include swearing and climbing into their character or family background!

Another thing we need to consider is how we speak about what is happening around us: Proverbs 11:11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. (HCSB)

How do you speak about Middelburg, or Witbank, or Mpumalanga, or South Africa? We have the power of life and death in our tongue, and we should speak life whenever we can! You and I have the power to build up and bless our licensing department, our government hospital, our police force and even the company we work for – are you using your word power for good or for destruction?

Now for those of you that are sitting here with open wounds from words spoken over you, look at what the Word says: Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT)
The Lord has forgiven you for the harmful words you have spoken – it is time to play that forward and sow what you want to reap.
In conclusion, let’s choose to be known as God’s children who put the following in to practice: Proverbs 16:24 Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (NLT)

Thank you for reading this message today.

24/08/2026

Sermon brought to you by Mrs Corne Ellis. 23rd August 2026.

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16/08/2026

Today's sermon is brought to you by Pastor Pete van der Spuy.

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16/08/2026

Today’s sermon is titled:

Nothing Is As It Seems!

Have you ever jumped to a conclusion about something only to find out later that you were mistaken?
I remember back in 2006 watching the Proteas play the Australians on TV in a one-day cricket game at the Wanderers. The Ozzies made 435 runs which was a world record, and when I saw that our boys weren’t even getting close, I switched off and went to do something else because I felt we didn’t have a chance. My mom phoned me later to ask, “Did you see the game?” and told me that we had scored 438 runs which then became the new world record.
Look at Joseph’s life in the Bible: He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, falsely accused of r**e by a government official’s wife and thrown into jail to rot. It looked like his life was a total disaster, but look what he said to his brothers after he became Egypt’s prime minister: Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. (NLT) Things weren’t as they seemed!
A man named Jairus went to Jesus to ask Him to come and heal his sick daughter. By the time Jesus got to his home, the daughter had died and the mourners were crying up a storm. Look at what Jesus told them, Matthew 9:24 "Get out!" He told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at Him. (NLT) Things weren’t as they seemed to the mourners, because Jesus then took her by the hand and raised her from the dead.
When Jesus was on the cross, the people passing by - the chief priests and even the thieves crucified next to Him - mocked Him and challenged Him to come down by Himself. I’m sure that the devil and his demons were also celebrating their victory. But things weren’t as they seemed were they?
How many times do we assume the worst, expect that things won’t change or even give up because we have lost hope?
Have you heard the saying “It’s not over until the fat lady sings”? In a way that is a bible based saying, but it should go “God has the final say”!
1. Don’t ever write people off, because you don’t know all the facts! We are so quick to say “They will never…” or “They always…” 1 Corinthians 4:5 So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time - before the Lord returns. For He will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. (NLT) We make uninformed assumptions about people all the time based on the little we know about them. Even people who have been married for 50+ years will tell you that their spouse still surprises them sometimes. Don’t assume you know everything about anyone – let God have His way while you stand back, watch and pray for them.
2. Don’t think that you know everything when you make decisions. Thinking “I know exactly what to do” and “This is an easy call” can be embarrassing! Remember the warning, Proverbs 14:12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.(NLT) How should we plan then? Proverbs 12:15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. (NLT) Ask God for guidance and get input from wise friends before making a final call.
3. Don’t label things a disaster – ever! Failure at something, losing something, divorce, a tough medical diagnosis or even the death of a loved one isn’t a disaster in God’s hands. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (NLT) The Lord will always bring some good out of every situation – we need to be patient and never give up hope. Nothing is ever a disaster for God’s children.
The Lord wants to encourage us to remember that nothing is as it seems to us on the surface. The Lord is so far ahead of us, His plans are so much broader and deeper than we could ever understand, and He is such a good God Who only wants the best for us. If we can grasp this and trust Him until we eventually see the way He works things out for the good, we will enjoy our lives so much more. Remember what Jesus said:
John 7:24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly." (NLT)
Is there someone you have written off?
Is there a decision you have made on your own without asking for help?
Is there something you have labelled a disaster?
Will you look beneath the surface with eyes of faith and humility so you can judge correctly now?

Thank you for reading today’s 16th August 2026 message

10/08/2026

Today’s sermon – 9th August 2026, is titled:

A Good Friend

A good friend will tell you where the best coffee shop is in town. A good friend will tell you about a meat special that they found. A good friend will tell you if something is sticking out of your clothes that shouldn’t be.

Are you a good friend? Would the people you know call you a good friend? Would God call you a good friend?
How does God define a good friend?

I suppose the first thing you need to have to be called a friend by people, is some people you call friends and look at what the bible tells us that we have to do for this to happen: Proverbs 11:30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. (NLT)

To win anything takes hard work – a race, an award, a woman’s hand… Friends also take some effort to win (and to keep). A wise person wins friends by blessing them with good deeds. But why does God say that it is wise or even necessary to have friends?
We are created by the Lord to be social beings, and we are made to need people around us to meet our need for belonging.
But I believe there is a much more important reason for being friendly and connecting with the people around us – God calls us to build bridges with the folk we meet so that they can meet Jesus like we have.
John 1:40-42 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means "Christ"). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "Your name is Simon, son of John - but you will be called Cephas" (which means "Peter"). (NLT)

Andrew was a Godly friend to his brother and brought him to meet Jesus, so that Jesus could change Peter’s life for the better.

How can You and I be the friends that God wants us to be?
a) Take an interest in people: Philippians 2:4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)
Greet them, remember their name, be quiet and listen to their stories and show them that they have value.

b) Find some common ground: 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. (NLT)

Paul put in the effort to connect with all the different people he came across – not just the people who looked, thought and sounded like him. Learn how to greet them, respect their culture and try and make them comfortable.

c) Help them with their burdens: Galatians 6:2-3 Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. (NLT) This is the complete opposite of: “Not my circus, not my monkey!” A giver is far more attractive than a taker. How do your “friends” see you?

d) Do good to whoever you can: Galatians 6:10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith. (NLT) This earns us the right to invite them to meet Jesus.

Our challenge today is to wisely cultivate our friendships – not just with the people we have lots in common with, but with every person the Lord brings across our path – cashiers, waiters, security guards, other motorists at a stop street, teachers, maids, gardeners, people you walk past, work with or buy something from.
Everyone is precious in God’s sight!
Remember the story that Jesus told us about the Good Samaritan. A man was mugged and left lying on the road half dead. A priest and a Levite walked past and ignored him., but a Samaritan stopped and helped him generously.
If the mugged man was a person far from God and the Samaritan was a Christian, how do you think the injured man would feel about Jesus after that experience?
How do you think the injured man would feel about Jesus if the priest and the Levite were the Christians?
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. (NLT)

Who is the Lord challenging you to do what it takes to win as a friend so that you can invite them to meet Jesus?
Thank you for reading this message today.

04/08/2026

Today’s sermon (2ndAugust 2026) is titled:

Stuck

There are two fish that some people keep in tanks. One is a convict cichlid and the other is a red Oscar. The convict is an aggressive fish from when it is small, and the Oscar is a gentle soul. If you put two of them in the same tank when they are young and the same size, the convict will definitely be the king and will bully any other fish – even the Oscar. The thing is – the Oscar grows to twice the size of the convict, but if you let them grow up together, the convict will always be dominant. This is because the Oscar will keep thinking that he is the weaker fish, even when he isn’t!
People have the same problem. If we spend a long enough time in a tough situation, we can end up believing that things can never change.
Look at an example of this in scripture:
John 5:2-7 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people-blind, lame, or paralyzed-lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?" "I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me." (NLT)

The man on the mat didn’t respond immediately with “Yes please!”. He rather listed the excuses about why things couldn’t change for him. He was stuck on the mat, because he didn’t believe things could change for him.
Some people are stuck in “always struggling”, others are caught in “always sick” and still others are trapped in “not good enough” or on hundred other mats that keep us captive. Many times, we learn these limitations from our family background, so we are worse off than our parents, and our children can end up even more stuck that us!

How can we get off the mat?
Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)

We need to let God change us by meeting us on our mat and changing the way we think. We need to ask Him to change the way we have been moulded by our role models and our experiences.
Look at the sick man’s experience on his mat: John 5:8-9 Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! (NLT)

You need to respond to Jesus today and accept His solution. Your answer probably won’t be an instant fix because of one prayer, because changing the way we think is a process and not an event. Rom 12:2 says Then YOU WILL LEARN to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. We need to learn new ways of thinking and doing things.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) A new life has begun, but we need to work hard doing our part to please the Lord in what we say, think and do.
The bible tells us how to reverse the shrinking effect that happens when we do things worse than previous generations.
Ephesians 4:21-24 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God -truly righteous and holy. (NLT)

Look in the mirror today and be honest about what has got you stuck on your mat.
Is it a habit you learned while you were growing up?
Is it an unhealed scar from how you were treated by someone in your past?
Is it something that happened to you that just wasn’t fair?
Is it a weakness that is holding you back that you haven’t wanted fixed?
Like it says in the Ephesian passage, you need to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life” if you want to experience God’s fix.
Then you need to start putting on your new nature that comes with being God’s child. Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes by saturating yourself with God’s word – read it, listen to people talk about it and look for ways to put it into practice in your life.
Just know – God wants you to succeed and will give you all the help you need.
Philippians 2:12-13 Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (NLT)

Let’s start this process today and get unstuck from our mats.

Thank you for reading this message today.

02/08/2026

Sermon brought to you by Pastor Pete van der Spuy.

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