Agora Church

we finish our dive into the Beatitudes with Jesus's words about peacemakers and persecution (Matthew 5:9-12).Blessed for being persecuted? Can that be right? Surely this is a misprint or some metaphor for something far less unpleasant! Persecution is so far away from where we live as Christians in safe NZ (especially if we hide our light under a basket). According to 2025/2026 World Watch List, 1 in 7 Christians worldwide, approximately 365–388 million of our brothers and sisters experience "high to extreme levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. Even unto death."So join us on Sunday as we look into this and learn how it is that God's people can face and deal with persecution, while even saying they are blessed for doing so.

We continued going through the Sermon on the Mount and learn more about the kind of life that reflects the Kingdom of God. We looked at the characteristics of 'Mercy' and what it means to be 'Pure in Heart'. These two statements from Jesus reach straight into the core of who we are, how we treat others and how we see God.

This week, we’ll begin exploring Sacred Pathways, a framework developed by Gary Thomas that reminds us God has created each of us to connect with Him in different, meaningful ways. Just as branches grow uniquely while sharing the same vine, our spiritual lives are shaped by the way God designed us to love Him. Abiding isn’t about copying someone else’s spiritual habits—it’s about discovering how you most naturally stay connected to Christ. link: Sacred Pathways - Session 1: The Journey of the Soul - Sacred Pathways (Gary Thomas) - Study Gateway

we continue our journey through the Beatitudes by exploring Matthew 5:5–6, the third and fourth blessings Jesus shares.

Join us as we investigate the opening lines of the Sermon on the Mount. We’ll be tracing the concept of the "Blessed" from the Old Testament through to the mountainside in Galilee to see how Jesus’ message was both deeply rooted and shockingly new.Whether you feel "poor in spirit" or find yourself in a season of mourning, come and discover why Jesus calls these very states the gateway to His comfort and kingdom