Table of Contents
Guarding the Wellspring of Life
Wednesday 5th March 2025
In last Sunday’s message, I addressed the necessity of prayer and fasting for personal and corporate breakthroughs. Fasting is a powerful spiritual practice that helps us align ourselves with God’s renewal of all things. It is more than abstaining from food—it is a time of accompanying fasting with intentional, focused prayer, seeking God’s presence, and aligning our hearts with His will.
Fasting can include:
- Abstaining from all food and drinking water only
- Partial food restrictions (e.g. Daniel fast, chocolate, coffee)
- Intermittent (only eating between certain hours)
- Non-food restrictions (e.g. fasting from distractions like social media, entertainment)
- Negative habits (e.g. complaining, gossiping, fault-finding)
A helpful “Guide to Understanding and Practising Fasting” flyer is available at the Next Steps Desk or download a copy below.
IMPORTANT: If you are on medications or have health conditions, please consult your doctor BEFORE fasting food or restricting food intake.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Our hearts are the wellspring of life, where our thoughts, emotions, and actions originate. The heart is not just the seat of emotions but the centre of our being—where our deepest desires and affections reside. What dwells within our hearts inevitably shapes the trajectory of our lives. This is why Solomon, in his wisdom, calls us to guard our hearts above all else.
The Centrality of the Heart
In both biblical thought and contemporary theology, the heart is more than just a metaphor; it represents the essence of who we are. Jesus himself affirmed this when he said,
“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”
Luke 6:45.
How we speak, act, and relate to others directly reflects what has taken root in our hearts. If we are to grow in Christlikeness, we must first examine the condition of our hearts.
The Need for Examination
In our modern world, much of religion and morality is reduced to external behaviour—what we do, how we appear, and how others perceive us. True transformation begins within. The Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked, were meticulous about external righteousness yet neglected their hearts, making them spiritually bankrupt (Matthew 23:27). We, too, must be careful not to fall into the same trap. True change requires honest self-examination, inviting God to search and renew our inner being.
The Four Enemies of the Heart
Unchecked, our hearts become vulnerable to destructive forces. Four primary enemies seek to corrupt the wellspring of life:
- Guilt – The weight of past failures can imprison us, making us believe we are unworthy of grace.
- Greed – The insatiable desire for more distorts our priorities and robs us of contentment.
- Anger – Resentment harboured in the heart poisons our relationships and distances us from God’s peace.
- Shame – A distorted sense of self-worth, shaped by past wounds, prevents us from embracing God’s love.
These enemies damage our souls and the effect ripples outward, affecting our families, communities, and the body of Christ.
The Solution: God’s Grace and Renewal
The good news is that we cannot battle these enemies alone. Through Jesus Christ, God offers us grace, forgiveness, and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is not so much about self-improvement but about surrender. He transforms us from the inside out when we yield our hearts to Christ. This renewal is not just about personal salvation but about participating in God’s restoration of the world. A healed heart leads to a transformed life that overflows with love, joy, and peace.
Application
This week, let us make Psalm 139:23-24 our daily prayer:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
May we be vigilant in guarding our hearts, allowing Christ to refine and renew us so that all that flows from within reflects his truth and grace.
Kids Church | Sunday 9th March 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Healing a man born blind | John 9:1-11
5 to 12-year-olds | You raise me up (Joshua wind the battle over the Amalekites | Exodus 17:8-13
Sunday Service | Sunday 9th March 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
Join us for Heart Health, a powerful new series exploring the key emotional and spiritual issues that shape our relationships with God and others. Together, we’ll uncover how to:
- Break free from the weight of guilt
- Loosen the grip of greed
- Find freedom from anger
- Overcome the shadow of shame
Experience freedom and peace from living in the truth of God’s grace, sufficient to transform even the deepest struggles of the heart. Don’t miss this life-transforming series!
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 9th March | 5:45 pm
Calling all men! At our weekly gatherings, we come together to pray, support one another in our faith journey, and grow deeper in our relationship with God.
Whether you are a seasoned prayer warrior or new, we welcome you with open arms. Our group is a safe space where men can come together to share their hearts, struggles, and victories.
Join us as we seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and strength in our lives and for our families. Together, we can uplift each other, grow in faith, and make a real difference in our community.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Come and join our Men’s Prayer Group where together we seek the Lord for our families, community and nation.
Boys Brigade | Monday 10th March 2025
Be part of the action
For over 20 years the Boys’ Brigade has advanced Christ’s Kingdom among boys.
ANCHORS | Grades 1 & 2: 6pm – 7.15pm
JUNIORS | Grades 3 – 6: 7pm – 8.30pm
SENIORS | Grades 7 to 18 years old: 7pm – 9.30pm
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 12th March 2025 | 1:30pm
Guest speaker, Aden Green from the Dandenong Gem Club will explain the meaning of different gemstones in relation to “Aaron’s breastplate.” (Exodus 28: 15-30)
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- Bring: Please bring a packet of food for everyone to share
Y&Y Service | Sunday 16th March 2025 | 5:30pm
Come join us for the first Y & Y Service of 2025 as our very own Young Adults Pastor Alex Groza shares what’s on his heart and the FORGE Worship team lead us in worship. Make sure you stick around afterwards for some food and fellowship.
Machine Gun Preacher - Sam Childer | Sunday 23rd March 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
The REAL Machine Gun Preacher is coming to Berwick Church of Christ! Get ready for an unforgettable experience with Sam Childers, the man behind the Hollywood movie The Machine Gun Preacher!
From a life of violence and chaos to becoming a fearless rescuer of orphans and building major projects in South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia, Sam’s story is one of radical transformation, faith, and action. He has built one of the largest orphanages in Southern Sudan, serving 10,000 meals daily and providing a home for 380 orphan children.
Hear firsthand how faith, courage, and relentless determination can change the world. Don’t miss this powerful message! Invite your friends and family—this is a Sunday you won’t forget!
Alpha Course Commencing | Wednesday 16th April 2025 | 7:00pm
WHAT IS ALPHA?
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that create a safe and honest space, where people can explore life, faith and meaning.
Enjoy a meal with others, watch an Alpha Talk video and have an open discussion in a friendly and non-judgemental environment.
Connect
Connecting with others is important; friends gather around the kitchen table, meeting for coffee or catching up online. It’s no different at Alpha. All sessions start with a time to connect, relax and build friendships – whether in person or virtually.
Watch
The Alpha talks are designed to engage and inspire conversation. Each video talk is around thirty minutes long and explores important issues around faith and the basics of Christianity.
We address questions such as;
- “Who is Jesus?”
- “How can we have faith?”
- “Why and how do I pray?”
- “How does God guide us?”
Discuss
One of the most important parts of any Alpha Course is sharing thoughts and ideas in small groups. There’s no obligation to say anything, and there’s nothing you can’t share (seriously). It’s an opportunity to hear from others and contribute your own perspective in an honest, friendly, and respectful environment.
Baptism Class | Tuesday 22nd April 2025 | 7:00pm
Baptism is complete water immersion of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour. However, it is more than just immersion in water. It has a number of significant meanings. Book now if you want to find out more.
GTM 1 Course Commencing | Tuesday 29th April 2025 | 7:00pm
Growing To Maturity course (GTM1)
GTM is the ideal follow-on course to ‘Search To Find’ or ‘Alpha”. It is the perfect next step for those who:
- Are hungry to grow in their relationship with God
- Want their faith to move from head knowledge to life experience
- Desire to learn how to live out the Christian life in a practical way
Growing To Maturity (GTM) is a unique discipleship course that combines the use of:
- Participant workbooks
- DVD’s
- Weekly inspiring audio talks
- Group discussion and sharing
- Special weekends
- Personal challenges
Have a safety concern?
We are serious about keeping our faith community safe. We encourage all staff, volunteers, partners and congregation to report any concerns they have about safety and wellbeing. We are committed to handling all concerns seriously, legally and in a child-focused way (if concerning children).
If you have any concerns about safety at the Church, we strongly encourage you to share your concern with one of our Pastors or the Safety Contact Person, Karen Fletcher and fill in our Reporting Concerns Form.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
