It's Commitment Sunday this weekend, and we gather as a church to commit our lives and resources to God for a new financial year. Our Made for More vision is compelling, as we witness the grace of God reaching people of all ages and seeing lives turned around. 

2 Corinthians 4:15 captures the essence of our vision and the results God’s power at work among us. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 

Last Sunday at our 5.30pm service I overheard one freshly baptised young adult excitedly say to another freshly baptised young adult, “how much of the bible did you read this week?!” It was a moment that captured the beauty of Jesus work among so many lives, and in these cases, both have encountered Jesus in life altering and deeply transforming ways. 

There are so many more stories of a deep hunger for the things of God. Within The Grove are an increasing number of people who have become followers of Jesus in the last five years. They are young in faith but displaying a passionate love for Jesus that’s infectious to be around. For many of us who grew up in the church, and have known the Lord many years, we get a picture of what Jesus meant when he called his church to return to their first love (Rev 2:4-5). To be captivated by the grace of God, the power of the cross and the joy of forgiveness after being rescued out of darkness into light. 

We are surrounded by neighbourhoods and nations desperately in need of the grace of God. While on one hand reports reveal a significant turnaround of people coming to church, and a quiet revival in Gen Z where in the UK young men returning to church has quintupled in six years. There is also a rise in counterfeit offers to find love and purpose. An example is the rise of AI companionship and its impact on the mental health crisis. It’s real and accelerating as an alternative to imperfect relationships with broken people. 

We are in a cultural moment when people are searching spiritually and looking for companionship, love and purpose. As someone brand new to faith in Jesus said to me this week, “why doesn’t everyone know about this?”. Why indeed? Instead of turning to a soulless AI invention, false religion or temporary solutions, we are called to introduce people to Jesus, the all loving and everlasting Lord and Saviour of the world. 

May we commit our lives and invest our finances as a church for this urgent call. 

As we begin our Encounter series, may we and many others encounter the glory 

and grace of God in a way that explodes in the joy of first love in our hearts, 

and through our lives. 

May God bless you today, Marty