About

About

What to expect when you visit

  • a warm welcome.
  • sincere love and holy reverence for God.
  • worship that is sincere, vibrant and expressive.
  • a people who are seeking to place Jesus first in all that we are and in all that we do.
  • preaching that is Christ-centred, that holds God’s Word as full and final authority, that releases faith in Jesus, which demands discipleship and which brings transformation in those who respond to God’s Word.
  • a powerful programme for children that runs concurrently with our morning service.
  • people who are interested in your journey, who will listen to you and who will pray with you if that is your need.

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  • We don’t have a Children’s Church and Youth programmes that runs concurrently with our morning service. Instead, we encourage the youth and the children of the Church to be involved in the service in worship and in sitting under the preaching of the Word. We also encourage them to be involved in serving in the various opportunities that exist for them in our meetings.
  • We have made colouring equipment and other activities available to help keep children occupied if necessary. Should they have difficulty settling, we also have toys and activities available upstairs in the Staffroom. There is a creche area upstairs overlooking the auditorium.

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  • We don’t have a “dress code” as such but “tidy casual” would best describe the way most people dress to come to meet the Lord and to fellowship with His people.
  • Make sure that you plan to stay and have fellowship with us after the morning service. We would love to get to know you, to answer any questions you may have and to encourage you in God.

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WE BELIEVE IN….

[/x_raw_content][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 4% auto 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_gap size=”2px” class=”cs-hide-xl cs-hide-lg cs-hide-md”][x_accordion class=”man”][x_accordion_item title=”In the One true and living God” open=”false”]In the one true and living God, eternally existent in three Persons in unity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In Jesus, the Son of God” open=”false”]In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His continuing intercession for all believers and in His personal return to consummate history and to receive all born again believers to Himself.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In the Holy Spirit” open=”false”]In the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, sent from the Father, to bear witness to Christ.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In the Bible as the sole basis of our belief” open=”false”]In the Bible as the sole basis of our belief, the divinely inspired Word of God and the final, absolute and infallible authority on all matters of faith, conduct and practice.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”That man was created in the image of God” open=”false”]That man was created in the image of God but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from perfection; that while we were yet sinners separated from God, Christ died for us, signing the pardon of all who believe in Him; that we have no righteousness in ourselves and must come to God pleading the righteousness of Christ. Upon sincere repentance and a wholehearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God but those who reject Christ will be eternally separated from God.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In the true gospel that alone has power to save” open=”false”]In the true gospel that is the power of the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first (as of first importance and priority) and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

The true gospel declares that all men everywhere are lost and face the judgment of God, that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, and that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

Christ’s death is the substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. His death satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel. His resurrection is the power of the gospel. His ascension is the glory of the gospel.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”The present day ministry of the Holy Spirit in Spirit Baptism” open=”false”]That all believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Church. With the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowing of the gifts and their practical application in the work of the ministry.[/x_accordion_item][/x_accordion][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_accordion class=”man”][x_accordion_item title=”In the one, holy, universal Church” open=”false”]In the one, holy, universal Church. All who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and form the living Body of Christ of which He is the Head and of which we are all members.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In the imminent return of Jesus” open=”false”]That Jesus will return for a Church that is the manifestation in the earth of Jesus in all His fullness and a Church that is walking in the fullness of all He achieved through His victory on Calvary[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers” open=”false”]In Christ’s leadership of the Church through the ascension ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry and for the unity, maturity and growth of the Church.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”The Church ordinances: communion, water baptism…” open=”false”]In the partaking of the Lord’s Supper in memory of His death, resurrection and imminent return; in baptism by immersion for believers; in the laying on of hands and the anointing of the sick with oil.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In the privilege and responsibility of wise stewardship” open=”false”]In the privilege and responsibility of wise stewardship of all that God has given, including the giving of time, money and talents as the Lord directs.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”In marriage as defined by God and His Word” open=”false”]We believe that marriage was ordained by God at creation as the sacred union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of others. All sexual relations must therefore be reserved for that union. Christian marriage is a representation of Christ’s relationship to His church. We also believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. Thus all human life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:24; Psalm 127 & 128; 139:13-16; Matthew 19:1-10; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4)

Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in accordance with biblical standards for behaviour and conduct. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness. Scripture condemns sexual sin including:– adultery (Exodus 20:4, Matthew 15:19, Romans 2:2, Romans 13:9, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Hebrews 13:4, James 2:11)– fornication (sex outside of marriage) (Acts 15:20 & 29, Acts 21:25, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Hebrews 13:4)– homosexual practices (Romans 1:26–28; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; 1 Timothy 1:9–10)

Christians are therefore not to promote or celebrate sinful practices, but are to be free from them in Christ, through repentance and through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and the Word. Anyone refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the Scriptures refer to as sin should not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, ministers, or in any position of leadership in our churches.[/x_accordion_item][/x_accordion][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_inset=”0px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_inset=”0px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 5% 0%;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ class=”cs-ta-left” style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_element_headline _id=”59″ ][x_raw_content class=”p-about”]

WE ARE COMMITTED TO….

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  • exalting Him as Lord; as the second Person of the Trinity
  • knowing Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life
  • seeking Jesus ahead of knowledge, truth or principles for life
  • lifting Him up that He might draw all men to Himself
  • living and serving in obedience to Him rather than the expectations and traditions of men
  • having His heart for the lost and the hurting in our city

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  • going out into the streets of Auckland with the true gospel: the gospel that calls the unsaved to repentance for the forgiveness of sins and that leads to genuine new birth in Christ and to transformed lives
  • “marketplace” ministries reaching out to the needy in our city, including the poor, the homeless, the widows, the orphans, the prostitutes, the street-kids, the addicts, the sick, our neighbours, our workmates – those God calls us to reach as the Lord opens up opportunities
  • prevailing prayer and the conviction of the Holy Spirit
  • services where God is moving in salvation
  • impacting individuals with the true message of salvation

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  • preaches the gospel of Christ

  • is the centre for corporate worship and ministry

  • is responsible for corporate mission, teaching, prayer and intercession

  • provides apostolic leadership and oversight

  • encourages and releases ascension gifts and ministries

  • encourages, releases and supports “marketplace” ministries (or community-based ministries)

  • is moving in signs, wonders and miracles.

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  • to proclaim, demonstrate and manifest the Kingdom of God
    wherever God opens doors

  • to fulfill the Great Commission by going into all the world,
    making disciples of all nations (missions)

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  • are relationship-orientated groups of individuals who and meet regularly in places like homes and cafes

  • provide mutual encouragement and support

  • provide for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit in an environment of encouragement and learning

  • reach out to the people in our communities in both supernatural & practical ways

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  • is heartfelt, vibrant and expressive
  • exalts God and glorifies Jesus
  • is focused on the Lord, not on man

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  • is Christ-centred and prophetic

  • holds God’s word as authority

  • releases faith in Jesus and which calls for discipleship

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  • the Church will be established on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets

  • active role of Apostles, Prophets and Teachers in Church government

  • restoration and operation of the ascension ministries in the Church

  • to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and for the unity, maturity and growth of the Body of Christ

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  •  actively praying for other Churches and ministries
  • a unity of the Spirit with those of a similar heart, without compromising truth

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The North Shore Church is lead by a team of Elders and Deacons supported by ministry leaders in various areas. Our full and part-time staff are:

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Peter & Sue Whitcombe

Peter and Sue are the founding leaders of Jesus First, planting Jesus First, North Shore in 2005.

Peter has a clear gift of preaching and teaching. He is part of the Eldership Team and also on the Board of Celebrate Messiah New Zealand.

Sue has a very warm and genuine shepherd’s heart and a powerful preaching ministry that communicates sincere exhortation & encouragement.[/x_promo][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_gap size=”40px” class=”cs-hide-xl cs-hide-lg cs-hide-md”][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_promo image=”https://jesusfirst.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DavidLiz2019.png” alt=”Luke” class=”promo-custom”]

David & Liz
Otway

David & Liz Otway have been serving with us in a full-time capacity since 2008. In 2011 they planted a Jesus First Church in Tauranga which they lead through until 2016 when God called them back to Auckland.

David ministers out of a powerful pastoral gift as well as an anointing to preach and teach God’s Word. He is inspired also in evangelism and they both have a heart for children and youth.[/x_promo][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_responsive_text selector=”.h-about” compression=”1.15″ min_size=”32px” max_size=”48px”][cs_responsive_text selector=”.p-about” compression=”2.65″ min_size=”16px” max_size=”21px”][/cs_content]