Castlebar Christian Fellowship

Staying Sane in a Chaotic World

In a world plagued by division and conflict, guest speaker Mark Horgan walks through Psalm 46 to show how believers can stay grounded. He breaks down the passage into three sections: the global and personal "earthquakes" that cause us to panic; the Holy Spirit’s internal "river" that provides supernatural peace regardless of our circumstances; and God's final justice over a rebellious world. Mark highlights the famous command, "Be still and know that I am God," clarifying that in context, this is a commanding decree for the raging nations to drop their weapons and surrender to the true King of Kings. Ultimately, the message is a comforting reminder that if God is sovereignly navigating human history, He is fully in control of the chaotic details of our individual lives.

The Other Side

In this missionary message, Alan Cousins takes the congregation on a journey through Mark 4 and 5, zeroing in on Jesus' unusual command to His disciples: "Let us go across to the other side". Alan explains that "the other side" meant the Decapolis – a pagan, historically hostile region that lay completely outside the comfort zone of a traditional Jewish rabbi. There, Jesus' absolute authority easily overcomes a legion of unclean spirits to completely restore one desperate, self-harming man. Alan contrasts the feeding of the 5,000 in Israel (where 12 baskets were gathered for the 12 tribes) with the feeding of the 4,000 in the Decapolis (where 7 baskets were gathered, representing the 7 historic pagan nations of Canaan). Drawing from his past years with the Africa Inland Mission (AIM), Alan shares the inspiring legacy of a missionary couple who spent 25 years planting churches across 7 unreached African people groups. The sermon concludes as a poignant reminder that Jesus loves "the other side," and that it only takes one changed life telling their story to cause an entire region to marvel at the mercy of God.

Abiding Under His Shadow

In this moving message, PJ Sexton explores the prophetic depths of Psalm 22, specifically the "Tola" worm—a creature that fastens itself to a tree to give life to its young. PJ beautifully connects this biology to the spiritual reality of abiding. Just as the baby worms find total safety and sustenance by remaining underneath their mother, PJ teaches that we find our true security when we "abide under the shadow of the Almighty". He reminds us that we are called to move beyond a "synthetic" faith and truly dwell in His presence, "eating and drinking" from the Word of God daily. Ultimately, the sermon is an invitation to rest. Because Christ climbed the tree of Calvary and declared "It is finished," we no longer have to struggle; we simply have to abide.

Satisfaction in the Wilderness

In this moving study of Psalm 63, Peter Burrows addresses the dissatisfaction and "emptiness" often felt in our modern materialistic society. Drawing from David’s experience fleeing into the wilderness from his son Absalom, Peter illustrates that God often does His best work in our lives during times of scarcity and deprivation. The sermon highlights three vital responses to a "wilderness" season: - Earnestly Seeking: Thirsting for the "living water" that only Jesus can provide. - Purposeful Praise: Choosing to praise God as long as we live, because His love is better than life itself. - Wholehearted Trust: Clinging to Christ with the assurance that His strong right hand holds us securely. Peter reminds us that no matter how dry the land around us may feel, Jesus is the "helper" who satisfies us more than the richest feast.

I Will Not Fear

In this sobering yet inspiring message, Alan Cousins of SAT-7 shares firsthand accounts of the explosive growth and intense suffering of the church in the MENA region. Drawing from Psalm 27, Alan explores how believers in North Africa and the Middle East prepare for imprisonment by memorising the promise: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?". Alan contrasts the "spirit of fear" often found in other faiths with the "spirit of confidence" found in Christ. He shares moving stories, including the account of Dimitri, a Russian believer whose "heart song" of praise eventually moved 1,500 hardened criminals to worship alongside him. The sermon is a call to the Western church to break out of their own "prisons of fear". Alan encourages us not to pity persecuted believers, but to pray for their courage and to join them in the belief that the Gospel is worth everything.