Freedomhouse Ballito

The accounts of Caleb and Joshua, in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Joshua, have a lot to teach us. As a foretaste of what is described in the book of Ephesians, where the believer is encouraged to adopt a “sit, walk, stand” type posture, Greg explains how Joshua and Caleb were already exhibiting this spiritual discipline in their day. An encouragement for all of us who are contending for the p...

We often mistake ease for favour or direction. It's understandable. When we look at the land of promise that God wanted to give to the Israelites we notice in the narrative great opposition which means the need for courage, grit and resilience. Our King is a snake-crusher, giant-slaying King. Being his people requires us to mirror Him and it starts with being faithful and walk daily with the L...

Ryan Matthews preaches about being a people of promise and destiny for a Kingdom we establish through our lives in our lifetime.

God infused into human-kind the essence that makes us His image-bearers. Our beauty lies in our lives reflecting the purpose for which He, Yahweh made us. Beauty is on display, in our fulfilled design.  God knows what He made you for: Himself and to carry His Kingdom. He has made you for good works. 

Melissa prepares our hearts for this festive season, reminding us of how the great story of God includes all. And that means you. And that means our enemies. The fact that the genealogy of Jesus includes women with messy and scandalous lives, and the first people to hear of His birth were (very dirty) Shepards, who often were looked down upon by the Jewish community to the first gift-givers who we...

Ryan looks at Act 5 and how the pressure of the times on the people in the early church produced a strengthened church who did not shrink back despite rabid opposition, dangerous men and all kinds of dissuading circumstances. Why didn’t they lay down this new found belief that would have bought relief and an end to the opposition? Simply, Jesus. God is not looking for heroes nor needs them to move...

Greg opens with Acts 5 v 1 - 14 which details the story of Ananias & Sapphira. It’s not an easy text. It’s a story that we often tend to move past quickly. But perhaps there is something more going on in the passage about who God is, about grace and the state of the human heart? God is serious about His holiness, His glory, His commands and His people. We trust that as you listen you would be...

Would you say that you’re bold?  If so, what is that boldness routed in? In God, nothing is wasted and the beauty of our backstory reveals the way God has woven his love and shepherding of our lives - this is our reason for our trust and boldness. Nicholas examines those in the book of Acts who lived with boldness - Godly and the kind of boldness that is rooted in self.  It’s an invitation to deep...

Ryan takes us into the book of Acts in our series looking at the early church and how they lived together with one in Heart and mind. How is this possible? Empowered by the Holy Spirit, yes! The fruit of the truth that Jesus is King and the Holy Spirit has come led to a community of people bearing with one another, forgiving one another and it led to a unity and community fuelled by grace. 

With warmth and candid moments Baz, encourages us by unpacking general calling and specific calling. The invitations that stand waiting for us to accept and that at this party - all are welcome and invited with the same sense of love and honour as image-bearers. We trust this message strengthens you and encourages you to take that next step in displaying the Kingdom of God through your life and in...

Ryan sits down with Sydney and Tracey Joelson as they prepare to leave to Howick. We listen to their journey and what God has done in their world in the last few years and the truths that Jesus has added to their foundations..

This week, Ryan takes us through the encounter of Peter and John who were arrested and then faced the Sadducees boldly proclaiming the Resurrection. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they astonished their challengers and inspired many to believe. We’ll also reflect on Moses, who learned that true strength comes not from our own efforts but from the Spirit guiding us. Just as he encountered Yahweh in th...

Patrick shares what it means when the Holy Spirit has a home in us. The Spirit transforms us - not stamping out our unique, individual qualities but amplifying His power reflected through our lives because the Kingdom of God is reflected in the facets of its people. We need each other to see God more clearly as we each carry something, being image-bearers of the One who created us. The Holy Spirit...

Alexander looks at Chapter 2 of Acts and how Pentecost is a fulfillment of prophecy and prayer in the OT, a promise to pour out His Spirit on all people of all nations. Pentecost was a fulfillment of the vision in Ezekiel 37, life to a valley of bones that respond and become one body. Fire is a symbol of God's purifying presence. In Acts 2 God comes with purifying fire and the wind of Spirit  whic...

Looking at the early church we see something we don't see much of in our current age: people living their lives, messy and imperfect with a sense of connection and community as they are transformed to be more like Jesus. Syd Joelson looks at how we can live this practice of Community practically and spiritually. 

Continuing in the ‘Unstoppable’ series where we’re unpacking the book of Acts, Greg takes us through Acts 2v40-47. He highlights some of the key themes present in the text, and lands on the importance of fellowship within the body of Christ, most often exemplified in the act of sharing a meal. Further emphasis is placed on the early church’s unfamiliarity with self-isolating, individualistic expre...

Ryan takes us through Act 2 verse 14 where Peter addresses the crowd and 3000 people respond to this word and a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit takes place as people hear the goodness of the Kingdom. 

Ryan addresses what Pentecost meant for the early church in partnership with the Holy Spirit and how the impact of that Holy moment in the upper room set up the early church to reach the ends of the earth through everyday people. We trust you will be encouraged as you listen and that you will experience the fire of the Holy Spirit a fresh. 

Ryan kicks off this series based in the book of Acts and looks at how the early church that exploded was not birthed by a group of the people you would expect. A group of scared people in a room who had been touched by Jesus and then filled with the Holy Spirit. Something forever transforming happened that could not be reduced or diminished. What does the following statement mean for us today? The...

Greg searches the book of Jonah, a place of pain but pain with great hope. Nineveh was a great fortified city, impregnable and it belonged to a people who had chosen and partnered with cruelty, debauchery and violence. A wicked people. Often we have Ninevah within us. Our internal private response of offense, cruelty, violence in our words and thoughts towards others.  We are encouraged to allow G...

“Generosity is always a response to a revelation of the magnificence, beauty and generosity of god.” Nicholas shares from his history with God on the kindness and generosity of God. Generosity is not just about finances - we know we can show generosity with our time, gifts, attention and our finances. A deep and clear encouragement about faith, our hearts, our finances and what God can do with out...

Ryan encourages us that the place where we grow is in the Father’s initiating embrace. When we respond to His embrace in faith, the adventure begins. We look at Mary’s account with the angel Gabriel where when she is overshadowed by God’s presence - when she is with God, that which is impossible (logically and factually) becomes possible. We trust that you are moved to seek God’s presence wherever...

We grow and we go when we experience the embrace of our Father. Whether we believe in self-sufficiency or we choose the flip side of that, that we are isolated and rejected (the orphan spirit), the reality is, we have never been alone. In Jesus, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have made a home in us as we see Jesus set out in John 14. We are often governed in our emotions, responses and reactions...

Nicholas brought an encouragement regarding how we value our purpose both as individuals and as a church in light of Galatians 5 v 1 - 6 being a litmus test for how we pursue and express our purpose in the lives we live daily and asked the following questions: What is your purpose? How do you feel about that purpose? How do you feel about your faith? Is your faith producing anything of value?

On Sunday there were three encouragements to us as a church from the life of Martha, Isaiah and Abraham. We trust you are encouraged by their authenticity of heart grounded in the soil of the lives-walking out their convictions with great love.