Centurion Lutheran Fellowship

14 June 2026
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Cantor: Ms NAOMI MADIMA
Liturgist: MR REUBEN MOTSINONI
Readers: Acolytes
Preacher: Mme Mmaphela Masenya

Mme Masenya began by stating that Grace is the heartbeat of today's sermon, based on Exodus 19:2-8a. She set the scene by relating the story about Israel arriving at Mount Sinai, where God speaks to Moses and reminds the people of what He had already done for them, delivering them from Egypt and carrying them "on eagles' wings" to Himself.

The key insight is that God saved Israel before He gave them commands. He did not say "obey Me, and then I will rescue you". He rescued them first, then called them to obedience. This establishes that God's love is not earned; it is freely given. Obedience, then, is not the price of grace, but it is the response to it. As Mme Masenya beautifully puts it: "Grace says you are loved; obedience says I love you back."

True obedience means listening and acting on God's word, not only on the easy parts, but with the whole heart, soul, and mind. It means living out God's covenant outwardly through love, integrity, and genuine character, letting faith shape how we treat others and carry ourselves.
The people of Israel, and believers today are described as God's treasured possession, chosen intentionally, with purpose. This is not accidental; God picks us on purpose. Because God is righteous and holy, His people are called to live righteously. Obedience, in this light, is choosing God's wisdom above our own human logic.

Mme Masenya closed with an invitation to all congregants: just as Israel responded, "We will do what the Lord has said," we too are called to surrender fully to God, keep His covenant, and trust that His grace is sufficient. In doing so, we remain His treasured possession. Amen.

07 JUNE 2026
2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
LITURGIST: REV GE TEME
READERS: PRAYER YOUTH LEAGUE
PREACHER: REV GE TEME
CELEBRANT: REV GE TEME

Theme: "Come as yiu are: The Grace of radical welcome"
Moruti based his sermon on Matthew 9:9–13, 18–26, supported by Hosea 5:15–6:6, Psalm 50:7–15, and Romans 4:13–25.

He began with a medical analogy: in an emergency room, saving the patient's life takes absolute priority. No one stops to check how clean or presentable the patient is. This sets the tone for everything that follows. Jesus operates with the same urgent, unconditional grace.

Matthew at the tax booth illustrates the point vividly. In first-century Israel, tax collectors were considered traitors, politically compromised and spiritually disqualified by the religious establishment. Matthew had lost his identity in the eyes of his community. Yet Jesus walked up to this rejected, marginalised man and said simply, "Follow me." Matthew left everything and followed. He then threw a feast and filled his house with fellow outcasts, prostitutes, sinners, the religiously excluded creating a table where the unwanted were welcomed.

The Pharisees' objection draws in Hosea 6:6 and Psalm 50: God does not desire empty religious performance. He desires a heart of steadfast love and genuine knowledge of Him. We can maintain the outward form of religion while our hearts drift completely away from God, and that is precisely the trap the Pharisees had fallen into.

The woman with the issue of blood (twelve years of suffering, ceremonially unclean under Levitical law, excluded from community and worship) pressed through the crowd simply believing that touching the hem of Jesus' garment would heal her. Jesus did not turn her away. He declared her healed because of her faith. The sermon challenges us: are we part of the crowd that crowds her out, or the grace that makes room for her?

Romans 4 anchors the theological foundation: like Abraham, we are not justified by credentials or religious performance, but by faith. God calls us as we are, in poverty, in unemployment, in shame, in situations others dismiss.

The closing vision is one of radical reintegration: Matthew was restored, the woman with blood issues was made whole, Jairus' daughter was raised. In each case, Jesus bypasses the labels society assigns and speaks a new identity over the person. He is not waiting for our perfection. He wants our hearts, and when we receive His grace, we are called to extend that same welcome to others still on their way home. Amen!!

31 May 2026
Trinity Sunday
Cantor: Ms Lufuno Madzhiga
Liturgist: Ms Pakiso Netshidzivhani
Preacher: Ms Cynthia Sathekge-Latha

The Christian life begins within us, and the bible says the Holy Spirit strengthens the inner man and equips every willing heart to walk in faith. God is not looking for the perfection; He is looking for our availability. Through the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit), we are never without guidance, never without strength.

Christianity is not about attending church; it is about bringing others to Christ. As a community we are called to love patiently, forgive genuinely as we pray in the Lord's Prayer. Challenges will always be there, and God is always present to carry them for us. Let us reflect, walk in obedience, and ask ourselves honestly: are we builders or destroyers? Are we truly carrying the Gospel beyond these walls?

Let us love and care for each other fully. Importantly, let us trust in God fully, allow Him to direct our steps, and represent Him boldly wherever we are. Amen.

24 May 2026
SUNDAY OF PENTECOST

Cantor : Ms Tebogo Muthabuli
Liturgist : Ms Tebogo Muthabuli
Preacher : Ms Naomi Madima

THEME: FEAR TO VICTORY
Sermon Text John 20: 19 – 23

What is Pentecost Sunday?
Pentecost is celebrated as the birthday of the Church, the day the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, equipping them with strength, courage, and boldness to spread the Gospel to the world.

The Key Question:
How did the disciples go from hiding behind locked doors in John 20 to boldly preaching before nations in Acts 2? They encountered the risen Christ. That encounter changed everything — and it still does today.

Key message:
Jesus walks through locked doors and no amount of fear or doubt can keep Him out. He appeared to the terrified disciples and spoke peace over them before anything else. Many believers today still hide their faith; the sermon challenges us to be known and not be ashamed.
Scars are evidence of victory. Jesus' wounds were not erased by the resurrection. They proved that victory comes through suffering, not around it, turning the disciples' fear into joy.

We are not spectators: "As the Father sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21). Believers are called to actively carry hope, truth, and salvation to the world, to brighten the corner where they are.
The Holy Spirit transforms: When the Spirit came at Pentecost, the fearful became fearless, the silent became bold, and the weak became powerful. Most disciples died rather than deny the Gospel, and they stood boldly in the word of God.

Closing Message:
Friday was pain. Saturday was silence. But Sunday changed everything through resurrection of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus is alive, fear no longer has the final word. Rise in faith, walk in boldness, and carry the Gospel without fear.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." — Psalm 30:5. No matter how difficult the night may be, because Jesus rose again, we also hold on to hope knowing that joy comes in the morning

Amen.

Centurion Lutheran fellowship

7th Sunday of Easter.
Date: 17 June 2026

OUR SERVICE WILL BE LED BY:
CANTOR: MR REUBEN MOTSINONI
LITURGIST & CELEBRANT: REV GE TEME
READERS: CONFIRMANDS
PREACHER: REV GE TEME
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU
1 Peter 5:7

Brethren, let us celebrate this significant milestone with Rev GE Teme. We wish him Blessings and God’s Grace in abundance 🎂🍰🎊🎉