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Thought - Nov 2026
I went to a recent talk by Bible Society and the focus was on growing confidence in God’s word – and letting it change heads (understanding), hearts (belief) and hands (action). Bible sales have gone up in recent years and there were many encouragements shared about increased connections with Jesus. Let us keep praying and working towards sharing faith and seeing the difference a relationship with Jesus makes.
The building work on the porch is progressing well and looking good – thanks be to God for all involved – funders, architect, builder, church members and others.
Can I encourage us all to think about signing up to the Tearfund Quiz on 14th November and Advent quiet morning 28th November.
Here are some further thoughts on “confidence” from gotquestions.org
In Christ, Rob.
Confidence is a popular subject today. We are told to think
confidently, to be self-assured, to live brashly, boldly, and brazenly. In a
myriad of ways, the theme of modern society is to be self-confident. Popular
religious leaders make confidence the centrepiece of their teaching. Does the
Bible agree with this "positive thinking" mantra? If the Bible
teaches us to be confident, what should we be confident about? If not, why not?
The word confidence (or its close
derivatives) is used 54 times in the King James Version and 60 times in the New
International Version. The majority of uses concern trust in people,
circumstances, or God.
The Bible says there are some things we should not
have confidence in. For example, "Have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3). Paul wrote these words to counter the claims
of those who thought they were acceptable to God based on their heredity,
training, or religious devotion. God is no respecter of persons (Acts
10:34), and our résumés and geneaologies don’t matter much to Him.
Proverbs 14:16 says that a righteous man departs from evil,
but a fool rages in his confidence. In other words, to arrogantly assume that
sin has no consequences is a foolish confidence.
If we’re going to be confident in something, Psalm
118:8, 9 tells us
what it should be: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put
confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in
princes." Those who trust in government, finances, other people, or
themselves will be disappointed in the end. On the other hand, those who put
their confidence in God will never be ashamed (Romans
10:11).
Psalm 16 is an excellent example of a positive
confidence in God. David takes no credit for his own goodness (verse 2), nor
does he extol his own abilities. Instead, every good thing is ascribed to God
(verse 6), and every hope is based on God’s character (verse 1). Because God is
unchanging, David can confidently rest in hope (verse 9), despite any hardships
he faces in life (verse 10).
Our confidence comes from our relationship with
Christ. He is our High Priest, and through His intercession, we can “approach
the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews
4:16). The apostles before the Sanhedrin displayed an assurance
that amazed their antagonists: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and
realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they
took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
We can follow God in full confidence in His
wisdom, power, and plan. As we obey the Lord, we have assurance of our
salvation (1 John
2:3). Also, having a good conscience aids our confidence, for we
will have nothing to hide. “The righteous are as bold as a lion” (Proverbs
28:1).
Paul gives us something else we can have faith
in: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Knowing that God promises to work in the
lives of His children, Paul was confident that God would help the Galatians
stand fast in the truth (Galatians
5:10).
When we put our trust in God and His revealed
Word, our lives take on a new stability, focus, and poise. A biblical
self-confidence is really a confidence in God’s Word and character. We put no
confidence in our flesh, but we have every confidence in the God who made us,
called us, saved us and keeps us.
Thought October 2026
Next year Good News Church celebrates 90 years on Old Road.
This Chapel was originally built as a United Methodist Free Chapel in 1871 on land bought off the Jodrell estate.
By 1920 the Chapel had become a Liberal Club known as Partington Hall and the United/ Free Methodist cause seems to have ceased.
In 1919, as servicemen returned from WW1, a group joined together and felt the call to found a Free Evangelical Church and met in rented premises above shops. The cause grew and sought premises for worship.
After purchasing Partington Hall from the Liberal Club, it became a Church again - Gospel Hall - in 1937.
The bar and billiard tables were removed and a pulpit and stage built as the building returned to its original purpose! It was certified again as a place of meeting for Christian religious worship by Robert Dickinson James a haulage contractor and church office holder and trustee on 7th July 1938.
In the 1990s the name Gospel Hall (still the registered name of the building with Royal Mail and the authorities) was re-named by the church as Good News Church.
We would love to have information from anyone who has any photos or records of the Church, activities and ministry, or the building. I have shared an old picture on Facebook of the Liberal Club.
The history is fascinating and we hope to gather together accounts of the work of God here and the people involved over the years. It is amazing when looking round these walls to think of all the prayers said, Bible readings shared, hymns and songs sung in praise and worship, meals shared, lives remembered, baptisms celebrated and various children's / family activities hosted.
We celebrate and give thanks for the church here - the people who have met worshipping and seeking God together since 1937 and before that in rented premises. The reason churches - and this church - were founded was to be a place of divine worship, a community of Christians to be family and do life together and to shine the hope and light of the gospel (good news) of Jesus to this neighbourhood.
In a world which has changed greatly over 90 years, we need to continue to place our hope and trust in the unchangeable Father God who meets us and saves us when we turn to Him, to seek renewal by his Spirit and to follow in the ways of His son, our Saviour Jesus.
As ever if anyone has any questions, struggles or encouragements in faith then get in touch and I would love to chat over a brew.
Rob Cross, Pastor
Goodnewschurch.whaleybridge@gmail.com
Thought Feb 2026
Has God spoken to you recently or encouraged you through a verse, song, conversation?
I have just read the book “What God can do with a little oil” Church Growth in a desperate situation by John Funnell (2025).
John was called to pastor Noddfa Chapel in South Wales in 2014 and faced a challenge. The membership was small, the building in need of repair, finances low and the community not connected to the church, a large Chapel building which was packed in past revivals, yet seen by many as a monument to a bygone age.
John talks of “ministry in the hard, desperate, secular post-industrial valleys”. Yet there has been revival growth.
The book details God’s grace through many tough times and opposition as the church have loved their community and shared Jesus with them.
I commend this book to our church family. In the conclusion John writes “I have seen lives transformed before my eyes. Believe me, the Gospel works. It still offends and it still saves! Hallelujah! God has not forgotten Wales. He can revive any church”
Thought July 2025
We are looking at the book of Philippians, using the Discipleship Explored course this summer. Paul wrote this letter because he dearly loved the believers in Philippi, perhaps more fondly than any other believers he addressed in his New Testament letters.
A group of people running Discipleship Explored for the first time shared what their initial impressions were. Here's what they said!
"An amazing cinematic experience, with
incredible production values. DE is perfect for those
commencing their Journey of Faith, or for those looking for a burst of
encouragement and motivation. Barry Cooper is inspiring. Can not speak highly
enough of DE."
Nigel, England
"We find this updated version of DE to
be the best available study of Philippians and a good basic introduction to discipleship."
David, Northern Ireland
"It's a great study, Biblically faithful and
practical and it's presented with great quality. We're using DE for
our Saturday men's Bible study this spring."
Mick, USA
"Like the excellent presentation and the
content is very good."
Donald, South Africa
"The course looks great and I am super stoked
to share it with our church. I pray that the Spirit will work through this
course to ignite more passionate, committed, and obedient disciples in our
church!"
George, Canada
Please pick up a book and read through Philippians in advance if you can. Books are available to take – a £2.50 contribution would cover costs if you are able.
More details at https://www.christianityexplored.org/courses/discipleship-explored/
God bless,
Rob
Thought - April 2025
Can we make the quiet revival louder?
Phil Knox explores some of the latest ‘revival’ research and asks how we need to respond as the UK Church
For most of us, for most of our lives, any news reports about church attendance have been bleak reading. In November 2022, the UK Census revealed that for the first time, fewer than half the people in England and Wales identified as Christian. We have become accustomed to headlines predicting the imminent extinction of the church in our nations.
And yet, in 2025, there has been a wave of research and headlines that have told a different story and caused those in the church and the media to listen up and take notice. I have compiled some key findings from some of the latest research conducted in the UK:
1. In January, a survey of 10,000 people conducted by OnePoll found that Gen Z’s are half as likely to be atheists as their parents or grandparents and revealed that just 13% of under-25s identified as atheists.
2. In March, amongst other national newspapers, The Times reported that Bible sales increased by 87% between 2019 and 2024.
3. In April, another study was published, this time from Savanta, which surveyed over 2,000 UK students about their attitude towards the Bible. This piece of research found that 29% of all students read the Bible every week and 33% of non-Christian students are interested in reading the Bible with a Christian friend if asked.
I would urge us all to read the full article at:-
Let’s be encouraged in this season and consider the words of St Augustine “Work as if everything depends on you, pray as if everything depends on God”.
Rob.
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For a chat, prayer or other assistance please also contact us.
Rob Cross
Pastor
01663 750435