Sermons from Aberdeen Christian Fellowship

Aberdeen Christian Fellowship

We are an evangelical church associated with the Baptist Union of Scotland and situated in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. Our worship services, fellowship opportunities, outreach programmes and courses to aid lifelong maturity are driven by our central passion: to make, mature and mobilise followers of Jesus Christ from the whole city.

  1. 6d ago ·  Video

    Paul the Church Planter

    Florence continues the series on the life of Paul, looking at Paul the church planter and the establishment of the first Christian church in Europe at Philippi in Acts 16. She begins with an illustration from gardening. Artificial flowers may look convincing, but an artificial church cannot produce real spiritual life. Church planting requires genuine believers committed to Christ's command to make disciples. Florence describes this as cross-shaped living: a vertical relationship with God combined with a horizontal concern for other people. Paul originally planned to preach elsewhere in Asia Minor, but the Holy Spirit repeatedly closed doors. After Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia asking for help, the missionary team immediately travelled to Philippi. Florence's first lesson is therefore to heed the Holy Spirit. A closed door may be God redirecting us towards something he has prepared. At Philippi, Paul meets a group of women praying beside the river. Among them is Lydia, a successful businesswoman. As Paul speaks about Jesus, "the Lord opened her heart" to respond. Florence emphasises both God's work and human responsibility: God opened Lydia's heart, but Paul faithfully spoke the message. Lydia and her household are baptised, and her new faith immediately produces hospitality. The second lesson is to pray for open hearts whenever the gospel is proclaimed. The story then changes dramatically. Paul encounters an enslaved girl whose owners profit from her fortune-telling. Although her words about Paul sound truthful, Florence explains that their religious context could misrepresent the God Paul preached. Paul commands the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus. This leads to the third lesson: exercise discernment, looking beneath appearances to distinguish truth from error. Because the girl's owners have lost their source of income, they turn against Paul and Silas. The missionaries are beaten without trial and thrown into prison. Florence reminds Christians not to be surprised by opposition when faithfully following Jesus. Yet at midnight Paul and Silas are not complaining — they are praying and singing praises to God. An earthquake shakes the prison, the doors open and everyone's chains fall loose. Florence's fifth lesson is to continue in prayer and praise even, and especially, in difficult circumstances. Habits of prayer formed in good times help sustain us in bad times. The terrified jailer then asks one of life's most important questions: "What must I do to be saved?" Paul replies, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Florence explains that genuine belief includes repentance — turning from an old life of unbelief towards a new life of trust and obedience. The jailer and his household believe, are baptised, and begin caring for Paul and Silas. Lydia and the jailer come from very different backgrounds, but both demonstrate the same cross-shaped life: faith towards God and practical love towards others. Finally, before Paul and Silas leave Philippi, they visit the growing church at Lydia's house and encourage the believers. Florence's final challenge is simple: resolve to encourage other people in the church — and then actually do it. 0:00 Artificial Flowers and a Real Church 2:18 Paul the Church Planter 4:22 Redirected by the Holy Spirit 8:44 Lydia and the First Converts in Europe 14:54 The Slave Girl and Spiritual Discernment 18:31 Opposition, Beating and Imprisonment 22:17 Prayer, Praise and the Prison Earthquake 27:07 The Philippian Jailer 32:49 Believe in the Lord Jesus and Be Saved 35:03 A Growing Church and the Power of Encouragement

  2. Sep 21 ·  Video

    The Life of Paul - Acts 15

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-2" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-16" data-turn="assistant"> Vijay continues the series on the life of Paul, focusing on Paul the controversialist in Acts 15:1–21. The controversy is not about a minor church preference, but about the heart of the gospel: is Jesus Christ enough? He begins with an illustration of doctors disagreeing over a scan. Some disagreements do not matter much, but others are life-changing because they concern what is actually true. In the same way, Christians may disagree over many secondary matters, but Acts 15 deals with a central question: how is a person saved, and who belongs to the people of God? The issue arises because Gentiles are coming to faith in Jesus. Some Jewish believers from Judea insist that Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses. Vijay explains that this was not a silly question. Jesus is Israel's Messiah, the fulfilment of Israel's Scriptures, and circumcision and the law were given by God. So the early church had to wrestle seriously with what Gentile inclusion meant. Paul and Barnabas strongly oppose the idea that faith in Jesus needs to be supplemented by becoming Jewish. The church sends them to Jerusalem, where the apostles and elders meet to discuss the matter. Peter reminds the council of Cornelius in Acts 10. God gave the Holy Spirit to Gentiles before they were circumcised or placed under the law. Peter's point is that God had already accepted them by faith. Israel itself had always depended on God's grace, because knowing the law never gave sinful people the power to keep it. Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way: by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. Barnabas and Paul then report what God has done among the Gentiles. James turns to Scripture, especially Amos, to show that this Gentile inclusion is not Scripture being cancelled, but Scripture being fulfilled. God always intended to take a people for his name from among the nations. James's judgement speaks to both sides. Jewish believers must not make it difficult for Gentiles turning to God. If God has welcomed them, the church must not block the doorway. But Gentile believers must also understand that grace does not mean life remains unchanged. They are called to turn from idolatry and sexual immorality, and to live in ways shaped by love for Jewish brothers and sisters. Vijay's main application is that grace cuts in both directions. It stops us from adding barriers to the gospel, but it also stops us from using freedom selfishly. The Christian question is not always, "Am I allowed to do this?" Sometimes the deeper question is: what does the love of Jesus ask of me? The sermon closes by noting that Paul does not dominate the council, even though he has strong convictions. Mature Christian conviction is strong enough to speak, humble enough to listen, willing to change, and secure enough not to control the outcome — because Christ is enough. 0:00 Paul the Controversialist 0:38 When Disagreements Really Matter 2:35 The Question: Is Jesus Christ Enough? 3:53 The Acts 15 Controversy 5:34 God Opens the Door to the Gentiles 9:07 A Sincere but Wrong Challenge 11:26 The Jerusalem Council Meets 12:16 Peter: Saved by Undeserved Grace 19:35 James: Scripture Is Being Fulfilled 25:32 Grace Changes How We Live 34:33 Strong Conviction with Humility _:empty]:hidden">

  3. Sep 13 ·  Video

    The Life of Paul - Acts 13

    James continues the series on the life of Paul, moving from Paul's hidden years into the beginning of his missionary work in Acts 13. He begins by setting the scene in the church at Antioch in Syria, where Paul has become part of a spiritually gifted church. While the believers are worshipping, fasting and praying, the Holy Spirit tells them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which he has called them. James highlights that the mission begins not with human strategy, but with the Spirit's calling and the church's prayerful obedience. Paul and Barnabas are sent to Cyprus, where they proclaim the word of God. James stresses that although the church can and should do many good things, there is one thing only the church can do: proclaim the word of God. In Paphos, they meet opposition from Elymas, a sorcerer and false prophet, who tries to turn the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the faith. Paul confronts him in the power of the Holy Spirit, Elymas is struck blind, and Sergius Paulus believes, amazed at the teaching of the Lord. The journey then moves to Pisidian Antioch in modern-day Turkey. John Mark leaves them at Perga, which later becomes a source of tension between Paul and Barnabas. In the synagogue at Antioch, Paul is invited to speak. James explains that Paul's sermon traces Israel's history through David to Jesus, then centres on Christ's death and resurrection. The heart of Paul's message is that through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and everyone who believes is set free from every sin. James dwells on the wonder of that promise: our worst sins, recurring sins and secret sins can all be forgiven through Christ. The response is dramatic. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathers to hear the word of the Lord. Some Jewish leaders become jealous and oppose Paul, but this becomes the catalyst for the gospel being preached to the Gentiles. James points to God's purpose: Paul was called to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. The sermon closes with encouragement. Even when Paul and Barnabas are expelled from the region, the gospel continues to spread, and the new disciples are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. James compares this to the fire of the gospel coming to Ireland through St Patrick: once lit, it could not be put out. His final challenge is that the same fire is still burning today, and believers in Aberdeen are called to carry the gospel into dark places by the power of the Holy Spirit. 0:00 Introduction: Paul the Missionary 2:32 The Church at Antioch 3:59 Led by the Holy Spirit 5:51 Set Apart for the Work 7:43 Sent to Cyprus 10:14 Opposition from Elymas 13:03 Saul Becomes Paul 15:45 The Word of God Comes with Power 17:02 From Paphos to Pisidian Antioch 19:15 Paul Is Invited to Speak 21:25 Paul's Sermon: Jesus, Death and Resurrection 22:01 Forgiveness of Sins Through Jesus 25:32 The Whole City Comes to Hear 28:04 Turning to the Gentiles 30:34 Appointed for Eternal Life 31:38 Opposition and Gospel Progress 33:13 The Fire Is Still Burning

  4. Sep 6 ·  Video

    The Life of Paul - the Hidden Years

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-92" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-92" data-testid= "conversation-turn-14" data-turn="assistant"> Malcolm continues the series on the life of Paul, focusing on "the hidden years" after Saul's conversion and before his wider public ministry. The passage is Galatians 1:11–23, where Paul explains that the gospel he preached was not invented by people or passed on to him second-hand, but received by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. Malcolm begins by placing Paul's story in context. Last week looked at Saul the persecutor being transformed by Jesus on the road to Damascus. This week looks at the quieter period that followed: Paul's time in Arabia, then Damascus, then eventually Jerusalem. These were years about which we know little, but they were not wasted years. God was preparing Paul. A key issue in Galatians is that false teachers were challenging Paul's message, mission and authority. They objected to his gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, his mission to the Gentiles, and the fact that Paul himself had once persecuted the church. Paul's answer is that God had chosen and called him by grace, even before he was born. Malcolm highlights that Saul was not someone naturally looking for Christianity. He was zealous, convinced and committed to destroying the church. Only God could reach him — and God did. The persecutor became the preacher. This shows that God comes to unlikely people, in unlikely places, and changes them by grace. The sermon then draws out three main lessons. First, God's presence matters more than God's programme. Paul did not rush immediately into public ministry or to consult the apostles. He spent time away, probably in solitude, reflection and re-reading Scripture in light of Christ. Malcolm compares this to being stripped of busyness and control, reminding the church that activity matters, but simply being with God matters more. Second, when a life is changed, the news gets around. The churches in Judea did not know Paul personally, but they knew his story: the man who once persecuted the faith was now preaching it. Their response was to praise God. Malcolm asks whether our changed lives cause others to glorify God too. Third, God's sovereignty will win out. Even Paul's attempts to destroy the church were eventually turned by God into part of his purposes. Malcolm uses Aberdeen church history to reflect on outward religion, decline and renewal, stressing that Christianity is not merely about social morality, but about living relationship with God. The sermon closes by challenging listeners to allow God time to prepare them. Hidden seasons, waiting, solitude and uncertainty may feel unproductive, but they can be places where God does his deepest work. The prayer is that, like Paul, our lives would lead others to say: "They praised God because of me." 0:00 Welcome and Series Introduction 0:55 Continuing the Life of Paul 2:50 The Hidden Years After Conversion 5:28 Reading Galatians 1:11–23 8:18 The Trouble in Galatia 10:58 Paul's Message, Mission and Calling 13:54 Only God Could Reach Saul 16:16 God's Presence Matters More Than God's Programme 20:34 The Hidden Years Were Not Wasted Years 25:02 When a Life Is Changed, the News Gets Around 28:42 God's Sovereignty Will Win Out _:empty]:hidden">

  5. Sep 1 ·  Video

    The life of Paul - Episode 1

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-29" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-29" data-testid= "conversation-turn-14" data-turn="assistant"> David begins a new series on the life of Paul, focusing first on Saul before he became Paul and the grace of God that transformed him. He opens with a searching question: what is the worst thing you have ever done, and do you believe there is a way back to God for you? He walks through several biblical examples — Abraham, Moses, Rahab, David, Jonah, Zacchaeus, the woman caught in adultery, Peter, Thomas and the thief on the cross — showing that God repeatedly restores sinners who turn back to him. David stresses that the gospel is a gospel of grace. While some sins may seem more socially acceptable than others, before God sin is sin — but equally, grace is grace. There is no such thing as an unreachable sinner. Whoever comes to God in humility and repentance can find mercy through Jesus Christ. He then introduces Paul as one of the most significant figures in church history: missionary, church planter, apostle, pastor, theologian and author of many New Testament letters. But Paul's story begins very differently. When we first meet him, he is still called Saul, and he is present at the stoning of Stephen. David describes Saul in three ways. First, he was zealous — passionate and committed, but at first committed to the wrong cause. Second, he was a Pharisee, sincerely religious but badly mistaken, because his understanding of Scripture had become obscured by traditions and self-righteousness. Third, he was a persecutor, actively trying to destroy the early church. This leads to one of the sermon's key warnings: religious sincerity is not enough if it is not rooted in truth. Saul was devoted, but he was profoundly wrong. His pride and false understanding blinded him to Jesus. David then shares part of his own testimony: childhood exposure to church, drifting away, grief after his mother's death, depression, and eventually being drawn back into church through a former youth worker. He describes how God spoke to him through John 11, especially Jesus' words: "I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?" For David, the answer became yes. Turning to Acts 9, David retells Saul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. Saul is heading out to arrest Christians when Jesus meets him in power, asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul is blinded for three days, then Ananias is sent to pray for him. The scales fall from Saul's eyes, and he is baptised. David explains that Saul's blindness reflects the spiritual blindness he had been living in. His three days of blindness also echo Christ's death and resurrection. Saul is not merely restored to his old life; he is given a new identity. The persecutor becomes a disciple. Saul becomes Paul, a man whose life is now defined by being in Christ. The sermon closes with the challenge that Paul's story proves no one is beyond God's reach. The new life Jesus gave Paul is available to all, and it begins in the same way: surrender. 0:00 Introduction: Is There a Way Back? 1:20 Biblical Stories of Grace and Restoration 3:08 No Unreachable Sinner 7:42 Beginning the Life of Paul 9:33 Saul, Paul and a New Identity 11:00 Saul at the Stoning of Stephen 12:04 Saul the Zealous Pharisee 15:44 Saul the Persecutor 18:00 Dave's Own Story of Coming to Faith 25:19 Saul Meets Jesus on the Damascus Road _:empty]:hidden">

  6. Aug 23 ·  Video

    Luke 22

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-10" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-10" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-turn="assistant"> Vijay preaches from Luke 22, focusing on Peter's denial of Jesus and what it reveals about human weakness, self-confidence, prayer, repentance and the grace of Christ. He begins by reflecting on the fact that most of us carry around two versions of ourselves. There is the version we are happy for others to see — our strengths, achievements and best moments — and another hidden version containing our compromises, failures and weaknesses. Often, pressure reveals things in us that we did not realise were there. Vijay says the better question is not simply, "Who am I really?" but: Given the person I really am, what can the grace of God make of me? Peter's story shows that Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. Peter confidently tells Jesus that he is ready to go with him to prison and even to death. But Jesus knows that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows. Peter's love for Jesus is real, but his self-knowledge is incomplete. Vijay then shows how pressure exposes Peter's weakness. Peter follows Jesus after his arrest, but "at a distance." Around the courtyard fire, he denies three things: his relationship with Jesus, his place among Jesus' followers, and even the connection between his own identity and Jesus. The test reveals flaws Peter never expected. The sermon then turns to prayer. Vijay contrasts Peter's self-confidence with Jesus' dependence on the Father in Gethsemane. Jesus tells the disciples to pray so that they will not fall into temptation, while Peter sleeps and later falls. Vijay explains that prayer is not only about asking God for things; it forms us into people who place our confidence in God rather than in our own control. He warns that while planning and preparation are good, control can become an idol if we depend on it for the security only God can give. Finally, Vijay highlights the grace of Jesus. Jesus warns Peter, prays for him before he falls, looks toward him after he fails, and already sees the restored Peter who will later strengthen his brothers. Peter's bitter tears are not the end of his story; they are the beginning of his return. The sermon closes with the hope that failure is not final when brought to Christ. Like Peter, we may not fully know ourselves, but we can bring the whole of ourselves to Jesus. The good news is not "I am enough," but Christ is enough for me. 0:00 Introduction: A Change of Plan 1:01 The Two Versions of Ourselves 4:06 What Can God's Grace Make of Me? 6:08 Jesus Warns Peter 7:12 We Don't Know Ourselves as Well as We Think 12:22 Peter Follows at a Distance 14:23 Peter's Three Denials 19:32 Where Do We Place Our Confidence? 20:34 Prayer Trains Us to Depend on God 29:46 The Grace of Jesus in Peter's Failure 36:00 Repentance, Restoration and Future Purpose 42:10 Bring the Whole of Yourself to Jesus _:empty]:hidden">

  7. Aug 18 ·  Video

    Jesus and the fallen woman

    Cheri preaches from Luke 7:36–50, the account of Jesus at the home of Simon the Pharisee, where a woman known for living a sinful life comes to Jesus with tears, perfume and extravagant devotion. She begins by linking this sermon with the previous week's message on the woman caught in adultery, and with her reflections on Rahab and Hagar. Her focus is on how God responds to women who are shamed, rejected or treated as "fallen" by society. Cheri explains the setting of the story: Jesus is invited to a formal meal at a Pharisee's house. A woman enters uninvited, weeping at Jesus' feet. She lets down her hair, washes his feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them and pours costly perfume over them. In that culture, her actions would have been socially shocking, deeply humble and emotionally exposed. Simon's response is judgement. He assumes that if Jesus were truly a prophet, he would reject the woman. But Jesus knows both the woman's heart and Simon's thoughts. He tells a parable about two people whose debts are forgiven: one small, one large. The point is clear — the one forgiven more loves more. Jesus then contrasts Simon's cold hospitality with the woman's costly love. Simon gave Jesus no water for his feet, no kiss of welcome and no oil for his head. The woman, by contrast, lavished love on Jesus. Though Simon appears respectable, his love is small. Though the woman appears shameful, her faith and devotion are great. Cheri highlights that Jesus does not shame the woman. He honours her, forgives her publicly and says, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Her love does not earn forgiveness, but reveals that she has received it. The sermon challenges listeners not to play at Christianity, keep Jesus at arm's length, or value social respectability over devotion. God sees the rejected, the unpopular and the ashamed. His banquet has room for the poor, the broken and the outsider. The call is to stop making excuses and respond to Jesus with wholehearted love 0:00 Introduction: Fallen Women and Jesus 2:12 Jesus Invited to Simon's House 4:31 The Woman Enters with Tears and Perfume 6:37 Washing Jesus' Feet in Humility 8:18 A Costly Gift of Honour 9:30 Simon's Judgemental Response 11:17 The Parable of the Two Debtors 14:11 Simon's Cold Hospitality 16:21 Her Many Sins Have Been Forgiven 22:08 Simon and the Woman Contrasted 26:28 Final Challenge: Don't Play at Christianity

  8. Aug 10 ·  Video

    The woman caught in adultery

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-38" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a33e9f2-df14-8332-bae8-ca52d6d1c550-38" data-testid= "conversation-turn-18" data-turn="assistant"> Cheri preaches from John 8:2–11, the story of the woman caught in adultery, where Jesus says, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." She explains that this passage has been on her mind because of her recent teaching on Rahab and because of pastoral conversations with young people, especially around questions of sexuality, gender, fear, shame and Christian discipleship. Cheri says the church often finds this subject hard to talk about because it is surrounded by fear. Some fear being misunderstood, accused of hatred or facing consequences for holding to a biblical sexual ethic. Others, especially those wrestling personally with sexuality or gender, fear rejection, judgement and being pushed away by Christians. Families and friends can also feel afraid of saying the wrong thing. She makes clear that her aim is not to debate the whole subject, but to ask how the church can respond to real people in a way that is faithful to Scripture and like Jesus. In John 8, the Pharisees drag a woman before Jesus, not because they care about righteousness, but because they want to trap him. If Jesus shows mercy, they can accuse him of rejecting the law of Moses. If he calls for stoning, he appears harsh and risks conflict with Roman law. Cheri compares this to the pressure the church feels today: go soft and risk denying Scripture, or go hard and risk losing people. Jesus refuses to play the role the Pharisees assign him. He does not shout, panic or rush to answer. He stoops, writes on the ground, and calmly takes control of the situation. Cheri sees this as a model for the church: we do not need to react in fear, outrage or culture-war terms. We can hand difficult questions back to God, the true lawgiver. When Jesus says, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone," he does not deny the woman's sin or reject Scripture. Instead, he exposes the unworthiness of the accusers. One by one, they leave. Jesus then speaks to the woman directly: "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." Cheri highlights both grace and truth. Jesus protects her before he commands her. He creates safety, then calls her to holiness. The sermon's main challenge is that the church must stop seeing people primarily as issues, debates or culture-war symbols. Instead, Christians are to see individuals made in God's image: sinners in need of grace, just like everyone else. Cheri calls the church to be a safe place of honesty, humility and transformation, where people can encounter Jesus, receive mercy, and hear his call to "go and sin no more." 0:00 Introduction: The Woman Caught in Adultery 2:07 Why This Passage Matters Today 5:00 Scripture, Sexuality and Wrestling Faithfully 8:52 From Culture War to Discipling Souls 12:38 Fear on Every Side 15:00 Reading John 8:2–11 18:00 The Pharisees' Trap 23:58 Jesus Refuses to Play Their Game 27:00 Let the One Without Sin Cast the First Stone 30:00 Neither Do I Condemn You 33:00 A Safe Place for Grace, Truth and Transformation _:empty]:hidden">

About

We are an evangelical church associated with the Baptist Union of Scotland and situated in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. Our worship services, fellowship opportunities, outreach programmes and courses to aid lifelong maturity are driven by our central passion: to make, mature and mobilise followers of Jesus Christ from the whole city.