http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.pb.org.nz en-us Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:09:11 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/168000/hope-that-holds/ Hope matters. It’s one of those things we don’t always think about until life gets hard. In 1 Peter, Peter writes to Christians who knew what hard looked like. They were scattered, misunderstood, and facing real pressure because of their faith in Jesus. And yet Peter begins by reminding them of hope.Their hope wasn’t wishful thinking. It was grounded in what God had already done through Jesus’ death and resurrection. They were God’s people, held by God, and promised an inheritance that... Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:43:42 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post168000 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/167795/be-perfect/ When Jesus says, “Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect,” most of us probably think, “Well, that rules me out.” It sounds like being asked to clear a world-record high jump. Nice idea, but not likely. But Jesus is not calling us to anxious rule-keeping or religious point-scoring. He is inviting us to look deeper than outward behaviour.The Pharisees were great at rules. They knew how to build plenty of road cones around sin, and sometimes how to work their way around them t... Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:26:31 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post167795 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/167470/a-burden-named-money/ Most of us know what it feels like to worry about money. Bills arrive, prices rise, and the pressure to have more can quietly take over. We're constantly told that success means a bigger house, better car, newer phone, and a safer bank balance.Jesus once challenged a wealthy young man to sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow him. The man walked away sad, not because he was bad, but because his possessions had become too heavy to let go of.The question isn't whether money matters. It doe... Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:54:44 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post167470 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/167239/in-or-out/ Jesus sometimes says things which are hard to hear. Take the stories of the wheat and weeds, and the sheep and goats. They challenge our ideas on how we define ‘who is in’ and ‘who is out’. And if we’re honest, we often like those lines when they make us feel safe, right, or accepted. But Jesus turns the question back on us. Are we doing the will of the Father? Are we loving God and loving our neighbour? Are we noticing the people who are hungry, lonely, sick, poor, imprisoned, or simp... Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:33:12 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post167239 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/166982/love--your-enemies/ Some of Jesus’ words are comforting. Others stop us in our tracks. “Love your enemies” is one of those. It sounds beautiful in theory, but almost impossible in real life. Yet Jesus was not offering a nice idea or an optional extra. He was showing us what God’s kingdom looks like.Our world often teaches us to pay back, write off, or label those who disagree with us. Jesus calls us to another way: prayer instead of revenge, generosity instead of bitterness, compassion instead of contempt.L... Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:43:28 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post166982 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/166643/a-people-who-care/ The 2000 movie Pay it Forward Pay it Forward tells the story of Trevor McKinney who begins the seventh grade in Las Vegas. His social studies teacher, Eugene Simonet, assigns the class a project - To create and put into action a plan that will change the world for the better.  The teacher is pretty sceptical that any of them can come up with a plan that will work. Trevor calls his plan "pay it forward", which means the recipient of a favour does a favour for three others rather than paying ... Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:19:04 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post166643 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/166428/the-power-of-being-a-good-neighbour/ In a world where many people feel isolated, unnoticed, or disconnected, simple acts of friendship can have a profound impact. The early church was known for sharing life together - sharing meals, caring for one another, and welcoming those around them. Their faith was visible through their hospitality.Being a good neighbour is about more than living beside someone. It is about noticing people, learning their names, listening to their stories, and responding when there is a need. Jesus taught tha... Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:57:12 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post166428 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/166155/justice-as-a-lifestyle/ In Acts 2:42–47 we find a community transformed by the Holy Spirit, devoted to God and deeply committed to one another. Their faith was not merely expressed through worship and prayer; it was demonstrated through generosity, compassion, and justice.Today, the word “justice” often carries political or cultural baggage. It is often associated with punishment, revenge, or demanding that others pay for wrongdoing. Biblical justice is something far richer and broader. It flows from the very cha... Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:54:18 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post166155 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/165656/sharing-the-story/ There are some sounds that change everything. Like the barking of a dog when you are fast asleep and you get up to discover she is barking at shadows. Or maybe it’s the sound of a newborn child crying for the first time, or the sound of a phone call in the middle of the night, or the sound of a crowd erupting in celebration. In Acts 2 there is another sound. A great sound.Luke tells us that On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a soun... Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:12:47 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post165656 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/165446/who-influences-you/ We live in a world overflowing with opinions, podcasts, influencers, and endless streams of information. Every day we are being formed by the voices we listen to and the stories we immerse ourselves in.In Acts 2, the early church devoted themselves to “the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Their faith was intentional and transformative. Scripture was not simply information to study; it was a way of life that shaped their identity and actions.His... Tue, 26 May 2026 13:32:59 +1200 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post165446