Welcome to the Goodnews Bible Church
We are glad you're here.
There is much bad news in the world, but because of Jesus there is real GOOD NEWS. We believe Jesus’ death and resurrection has changed everything, and that in the end, life is not about us, but about God. On this page we hope you'll find all the info you need to decide to join us.
New here?
How did you hear about us?
If you are a new attendee or this is the first time that you are visiting our website we would love to know where you heard about us from? Please take a moment to let us know via the online form.
What we believe about
Good News Sunday Worship
We believe that our Sunday gatherings ought to be God-centered, Word-based, Gospel-directed, Christ-exalting and Spirit-led. As we gather together we want to encourage participation, freedom, and family, worshipping together as one, before an audience of One.
In this we want to capture our minds and our hearts. We want emotion that arises from truth. We want revelation and response, the fundamental worship paradigm. We want people to leave not just knowing God more but loving God more. Ultimately this joyful, transforming worship should arise because we have delighted in the gospel and exalted the Son.
It is ultimately about the Bible and the gospel shaping our gathering together for worship on Sundays
Here is a description of the balance and focus which we seek for our Sunday worship. It is from writing by John Piper called “What unites us in worship”:
We put a high priority on the vertical focus of our Sunday morning service. The ultimate aim is to experience God in such a way that he is glorified in our affections.
We do not just direct ourselves toward him. We earnestly seek his drawing near according to the promise of James 4:8. We believe that in worship God draws near to us in power, and makes himself known and felt for our good and for the salvation of unbelievers in the midst.
The content of our singing and praying and welcoming and preaching and poetry should always conform to the truth of Scripture. But more than that, the content of God’s Word should be woven through all we do in worship and will be the ground of all our appeal to authority.
The elements of our worship service should aim at kindling and carrying deep, strong, real emotions toward God, especially joy, but should not manipulate people’s emotions by failing to appeal to clear thinking about spiritual things based on shareable evidences outside
ourselves.
We will try to avoid being trite, flippant, superficial, or frivolous, but instead will aim to set an example of reverence and passion and wonder and broken-hearted joy.
We utterly renounce all sham, deceit, hypocrisy, pretense, affectation, and posturing. We do not pursue the atmosphere of artistic or oratorical performance, but the atmosphere of a radically personal encounter with God and truth.
We expect and hope and pray (according to 1 Cor. 12:7) that our focus on the manifesting of God is good for people and that a spirit of love for each other is not incompatible with, but necessary to, authentic worship.
We will try to sing and play and pray and preach in such a way that people’s attention will not be diverted from the substance by shoddy ministry nor by excessive finesse, elegance, or refinement. Natural, undistracting excellence will let the truth and beauty of God shine through. We will invest in equipment good enough to be undistracting in transmitting heartfelt truth.
No church or service can be all things to all people. But we do not value stylistic narrowness. We believe there are affections owing to God that different tunes and different texts and different genres may awaken better than others. We will strive to be who we are without exalting our own tastes as the standard of excellence or power. We will see God’s guidance in each worship setting to be both indigenous and stretching.
Learn More
Who we are
Click the button to read our "Big Beliefs", "Core Commitments" and "Contemporary Convictions.
Other practical information
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There are demarkated parkings on both sides of Cathedral Street around the church building. There are additional parkings behind the Sunday School classes across the road.
See map below:
Will I be called out or asked to identify myself as a new visitor?
Visitors or first time attendees will not be asked to stand up or stand out. We want to do everything possible to make attending the Goodnews Bible Church for the first time as comfortable as possible.
We encourage you to stick around after the service for a cup of coffee and get to know us.
Typically our services run from 09:00 – 10:30.
Occasionally for special events the services can run slightly longer.
Tea and coffee are served afterward so stick around and get to know us.
Are there facilities for nursing mothers?
Yes, there is a “mother’s only” room for nursing mothers and babies on the right as you enter the church. Along with another room upstairs for any parents with little ones.
The kitchen on the left as you enter the church has also been set aside with toys and chairs for parents with toddlers too small to attend our Goodnews Kids classes.
Before the sermon begins the kids will be prompted to leave the church for their Sunday school classes which are in the building across the road. They will be escorted by their teachers.
Parents are welcome to walk with and even attend should their little ones be too shy the first few times.
We celebrate our Lord’s supper on the first Sunday of every month. Typically in the later part of the service.
You do not have to be a member of the Goodnews Bible Church in order to partake. Any visitors are free to participate provided that they know and love Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and trust in his death and resurrection for their forgiveness of sin and to reconcile them to God.
The bread and grape juice will be available at stations throughout the church. The congregation will be prompted to collect the elements at a station nearest to them. We then wait and eat together symbolising our unity in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Will I be expected to make a financial tithe?
Absolutely not. Regular attendees and members are encouraged to tithe as they feel led via EFT or our cash tithe box at the back of the church and as such, no offering is taken up during the services.
How should I dress?
Typically our congregation dress casual / smart casual as they feel comfortable. We do not require any particular style of dress other than what is appropriate for fellowship and worship as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Come dressed as you feel comfortable and you will fit right in.
