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God can use your story - Honesty
Tell it like it is!
Most of the testimonies we hear stress the positive change that Jesus makes in a person’s life: and that’s great! But there’s a temptation we need to face here: for the story is not always rosy. Sure, we can celebrate the grace of forgiveness, we can rejoice about the burdens of guilt being lifted, and new beginnings of hope which have dawned. God’s grace is marvellous, so tell people about it!
Interestingly, however, our testimony needs to be honest with life’s hard and sharp bits as well. We are still fallen people: we still live in this world. We are not yet in the next. If you look through the last 2000 years of church history, we never see followers of Jesus without struggle and hardship. We never see the church at ease. They simply never ‘arrive’ this side of heaven. And when you look at Jesus’ life and ministry, we observe that far from enjoying comfort and ‘success’, he has nowhere to lay his head, his companions let him down, and ultimately reject him. Even His glory comes only through the crucible of unimaginable suffering. So who are we to imply that following him is the end of a person’s problems? That is a very bad idea.
So, tell it like it is! Give glory to God for all he has given you in His Son, but remember this: your story will only be weakened if you pass over suffering and struggles.
Surely the power of the Gospel is found in the words of the Psalmist “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” To me that is one of the most remarkable things about God: he is with us in struggle and pain. He comforts and guides us right there in death valley. We are never alone!
Think about it: which one rings most true, “I am a Christian and all of my problems are over…” or “I am a Christian, and even though I still have major struggles, I am not alone, God is with me, and he helps me every day”. Let me hear the latter any day!
So keep it honest, friends. Let people hear your vulnerability, and allow them to sense the difference Jesus makes in your times of pain, tears, and weakness. Then the focus will be on him, and not on you. And that’s the way it should be. There’s only one happy ending that matters, and it’s the big one in the new heavens and the new earth.
Do you have a story of how God upholds you in pain? Why not send it through?
Midweek News
Sunday
AM: We welcome Rod McWilliams to the deck. Rod has been part of our Saturday preaching group, and has prepared a message under the supervision of Dave and Clinton. We’re thankful that RCRC can be a place where people’s gifts can be discovered, developed and affirmed. If you have some feedback for Rod, feel free to talk to him direct, and/or email dave@redlandscrc.org.au or Clinton@redlandscrc.org.au
9AM: Can we ever know anything for certain? Are there any absolutes in this world of relativity.
Jesus said: " I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" one of the more strident statements in all of scripture yet we sometimes find ourselves questioning whether statements such as these are little more than pious wish.
This week we begin a series in the early chapters of the Gospel of John and we will seek to address one of the key questions this Gospel asks, "Just who is Jesus Christ ?" Beginning with the testimony of John the Baptist we will explore this very question "Is Jesus really all that the scriptures say he is. How can I know for certain?"
5PM: Who, or what, defines you? Are you defined by your weight, by your job, by your ability? Are you defined by your matching the expectations of others, parents, friends, media? Who says who you are?
We struggle with this sort of stuff. The evidence comes out in a thousand different ways, but its there. It’s a crucial question – who defines our self image? This Sunday night we round off our series on “I have a friend who struggles with…” and will look at the number one issue as voted by you SELF IMAGE. And we will see that they only ONE who can define us is the one who makes us, knows us, cares for us and saves us – our God.
KIDS@CHURCH
For the next three Sundays, Kids @ Church will be running its holiday program to give the leaders a well deserved break.
This means that for those up to and including grade 3, K@C will start half way through the service. Children will be invited to go during the offering.
There will be no K@C for grades 4-6, as they can enjoy and participate in the service.
New Elder
This Sunday in the AM service David Klease will be installed as elder at Redlands CRC. We’re thankful for David’s willingness to serve, and we pray that the Lord will bless him with wisdom, grace and strength to serve.
Upcoming Car Washes
The last car washes for the year will be on 28th October & 25th November. Will advise where money raised will go in the near future. Please add dates to your diary.
Contact Damien Watson on damienwatson@optusnet.com.au for further info.
Happy trails Hilary…
Hilary MacLean, devoted MOPS carer, expert Scottish Shortbread maker, and who celebrated her birthday yesterday, returns to Scotland next week. Her plan is to return to Australia as soon as possible, but this time as a permanent resident. Hilary, we wish you well and hope to see you again very soon.
Want to do some great study?
Open your mind… do some study in 2007
As part of our commitment to nurturing and nourishing people in their faith, Redlands CRC have been in discussion with the Reformed Theological College (Geelong) about offering some courses here in Ormiston.
We
believe these
courses will make an excellent contribution to RCRC by offering a
valuable and
credible educational element. The courses are serious studies, developed
at
Diploma level as determined by the
Should there be sufficient and sustainable interest, this may developed into a full Diploma of Ministry (16 units, two years full time).
To help us
assess
whether this is something we should explore further, we need some
concrete
expressions of interest for courses that may be held from Semester 1
2007.
Please email dave@redlandscrc.org.au with you response, indicating which courses you would want to take. Each course will go for a period of 12 weeks, and should you desire, completion of the course(s) can receive credit toward a Diploma of Theology.
Course costs:
· $550 per subject (if taken for credit) – these fees are externally set and beyond our control. Those facing financial hardship may receive some assistance from RCRC
· $120 per subject if taken without credit.
The
same course
material and assessment will be applied to both credit and non credit
students.
These are the courses available for next year Sem 1
Christian
Worship – Lecturer:
Delivery: Intensive, plus
self guided
locally supported study (eg. lecturer will visit for two whole weeks,
once at
the commencement of the course and once in the middle weeks)
Overview: An introduction to biblical, historical and pastoral perspectives on Christian liturgy.
Aims:
a) To introduce candidates to biblical perspectives and major developments in Christian liturgy from the time of the Jesus to the present;
b) To assist candidates learn about significant issues in contemporary Christian worship;
c) To equip candidates with basic skills in the understanding, Preparation, planning and conduct of Christian corporate worship.
Principles of
Christian Leadership – Lecturer: David
Groenenboom
Delivery:
in house
lectures – 2 hrs per week
Overview: A study of leadership in Christian ministries in the light of biblical, theological and management perspectives.
Aims:
a) To develop candidates’ understanding of the theology and dynamics of leadership, challenging them to a commitment to excellence;
b) To promote the process of personal development, assisting candidates to become facilitators in the leadership development of others;
c) To equip candidates with the ability to manage congregations and other Christian organisations.
Theology: Doctrine
of God and Christ – Lecturer: Bill
Berends
Delivery: Locally facilitated external study
Overview: A study of major doctrines of the Christian faith.
Aims:
a) To introduce candidates to the whole range of major Christian doctrines;
b) To give candidates an overall perspective upon the structure and contents of Christian faith;
c) To enable candidates to begin to think theologically, integrating faith with biblical, historical and pastoral studies.
Possible
courses for
Semester Two:
·
Old Testament:
· Foundations for Evangelism
· Theology: Apologetics & Worldview
My
Expression of
Interest:*
I would like to express my strong interest in registering for the following courses:
[ ] Christian Worship
[ ] Christian Leadership
[ ] Theology
I would like to undertake this study
[ ] For credit ($550 per subject)
[ ] Not for credit ($120 per subject)
Name:
*I
understand that this
is not an application to register for the course. I also understand that
should
the courses be viable,
Who is Jesus, really?
Simply Christianity
In the next week or so we’ll be starting a six week (Monday night) course called “Simply Christianity”. This course seeks to strip away all the things that often confuse people about following Jesus, and instead will help them see clearly how he is portrayed in the Bible. When we do that, we'll be more like to give a response that honours him and which is good for us.
The course will start on either Monday Sep 26th, or Oct 02 (to be confirmed in the next day or so) and will be held at RCRC. Its format will be discussion based, and we aim to provide a context where all your questions can be aired. No doubt, others joining in will have plenty to discuss as well, so it's sure to be a stimulating environment.
If you’d like to find out more about who Jesus really is, this will be great for you. It will also be great for anyone who wants to affirm and strengthen their understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do. The course will be conducted by Dave Groenenboom and Sean Murphy. Places are limited, so get in early…
Any questions: dave@redlandscrc.org.au , 0418 383 055, 3286 4700
God can use your story: Honesty
Learn to say “I don’t know”
One of the biggest fears people have about sharing the good news of Jesus is that they’ll get stumped with a really tough question, or they won’t know enough about the Bible. No doubt: these are real issues.
It’s good to remember, though, that it is impossible to be prepared for every situation that arises. It’s also helpful to recognise our own limitations: there are questions we just will not be able to answer.
The worst thing we could do in situations like that is to try and answer a question when we really don’t know anything about it. That sort of ignorance is always obvious – unfortunately first to the listener, and sometimes never to the speaker. We can do without that. So can the Kingdom.
The best thing to do when difficult questions arise is to acknowledge the difficulty and tension expressed in the question. Sometimes these matters involve things humanity has grappled with right through history. It’s unlikely that anyone will come up with satisfying answers to the coexistence of good and evil over a cup of coffee (no matter how good the coffee is...). So acknowledge it – but then what?
One other thing to consider is to offer to look into the matter and get back to the person you’re speaking to. There are books and resources that have helpful responses (some resources are listed below), but remember, you still may not find an answer that satisfies.
When the better avenues have been exhausted, sometimes it's best to simply say, “I don’t really know. I respect the tension, and I struggle with it too, but like you, I’ve never found an answer that satisfies my curiosity…” But don’t leave it there, consider something like the following: “… but as a follower of Jesus, I know the reality of what He has done does not depend on my ability to know all the answers. I’d like to know, but if I never work it out, I’ll survive. I can live with a few loose ends. The best I can do is continue to try and understand it as best I can from God’s perspective.”
To my mind, there’s more authenticity to Christian who acknowledge the harder tensions in life, than with those who seem to have all their theological ducks lined up. Maybe there’s a greater blessing in saying “I don’t know” than “I have it all sorted.” One thing’s for sure, the person you’re speaking to will be more inclined to accept the former than the latter.
Some resources:
· Lee Strobel: The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith excellent treatments of questions that revolve around the evidence for Jesus and the truth of His claims
· Nicky Gumble: Searching Questions. Mark Brookes comments “it's a short and easy read that addresses some of the most commonly asked questions of (and by) Christians”
·
Brian McLaren:
More Ready than you
realize. Peter from
· John Dickson: Promoting the Gospel “…A biblical, practical, warm and encouraging book that does exactly what it sets out to do: equips us as the Christian community to promote the Gospel. Should become a standard text on the subject." - Michael Frost
· John Chapman: Know and Tell the Gospel …becoming a bit of an Australian classic. Chapman’s style clarifies the issues and opens our eyes to warm, conversational witness.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Next
time: There’s only one happy
ending that
matters…
RCRC Preachers Workshop
New Faces on deck…
From Sep 24 to Oct 29 we will see a few different faces on the deck on Sunday. Since the first Saturday in September, Clinton and Dave have been leading a preachers’ workshop at RCRC. About a dozen people attend, and some are already busy preparing sermons under the supervision of Dave and Clinton.
The first person up is Rod McWilliams (24th, 9am), followed by Dan Kroon on Oct 8. The sermons being prepared will deal with sections from the first few chapters of John’s Gospel. Please feel fee to pass feedback on to the people concerned or to Dave or Clinton.
Midweek News
This Sunday: a chance to address one of the toughest questions...
What if we're wrong? What if the assertion many make is really true: God doesn't exist and nothing really matters?
Is that the sort of world we would want?
Would that sort of life really help us?
How have people of faith dealt with these questions in the past?
What alternative does the Bible present for us?
...and the really big question: does knowing and following Jesus really make a difference?
Discovery Services are great for everyone, but especially designed for people who are seeking God, but maybe unsure. So put some of those 'tell your story' skills to use, and bring your friends and family. Share a Sausage Sizzle - held after both services (provided free)!
Let's see how God's Word helps us deal with life's tensions.
When: Sunday 17th, 9am & 5pm
Where: Redlands CRC, Cnr Sturgeon & Delancey Sts, Ormiston
Any questions? justask@redlandscrc.org.au; 3286 4700, 0418 383 055
Land & Facilities Issues
We are still waiting on the Delancey St neighbour to respond to the offer we have made for the property. There are some complications that make it difficult for this person to respond to us, so we will need to be patient and prayerful. Please continue to bring this matter to the Lord in prayer. The need for expansion is not always clear from the auditorium, but every available room in the facility is being used for Kids@Church. Last week, for example, we had about 100 children in the various classes.
The Church Council urges the church family to continue in prayer about this issue.
We have also come to understand that soil test results indicate that the Boundary Rd property may not be as suitable for expansion as initially envisaged. These tests have been quite extensive, and this outcome could not have been accurately assessed through simple visual inspection. Church Council will keep the congregation informed as to any further developments with regard to either property.
Please continue to seek the Lord’s guidance in this. Please also feel free to give feedback to church council: Hemelaar@royalfoods.com.au
Leaders Summit: Gateway Baptist Church, Oct 6-7
If you would like to attend the leader’s summit – the same material the study tour saw in Chicago (here it’s on the big screen) – then let Dave know. We have a small group of people attending – so you won’t be alone.
The material is an excellent treatment of aspects of leadership. People involved in leadership roles in the general industrial, business, and public sectors would also find this material very helpful.
Redlands CRC will be showing the best sessions of this material, and specifically tailor the material for our own context. The plan is for this to begin in November, so the material will eventually be seen here. The benefit of attending at Gateway will be the experience of a larger Summit gathering.
The registration fee is $109 which includes the two day program, materials, and morning and afternoon teas (both days). Further information can be accessed at www.willowcreek.org.au If you would like to attend, please email dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Prayer Points
• Seek God’s guidance of world leaders. We have just had the fifth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Centre in NY. Our world has changed – but God has not. Ask that leaders act humbly, wisely, and with justice and compassion
• Pray for families: that Jesus might give hope where there is trouble and peace where there is anxiety and worry. Ask that the character of Christ will be modelled in the way families communicate with each other. Remember families who are facing significant relational struggles at this time.
• Pray for those troubled with illness. In times when the doctor’s words bring grief, let’s be reminded that in Christ there is life and hope that no disease can take away (Rom 8:28 and following). Pray especially for people who are struggling with long term illnesses.
• Ask that our new Government will be blessed with wisdom and discernment, that they will be able to address the more important issues faced by the Queensland community.
God can use your story - think about pace
Telling your story – Keep it conversational
Last week we were talking about how easy it is not to listen to the person you’re seeking to share your story with. That happens because we’re sometimes too preoccupied with what we want to say that we don’t listen to what they say to us (I know the men who read this will find that hard to relate to, but, guys, it does happen).
It may be helpful to think of sharing your story as a conversation: both people contribute, both listen, both learn something from the other. Conversations move back and forth as two people communicate meaningful realities. We see Paul using something of this method in Acts 17 and in Acts 26. Even though he’s the primary speaker, he responds carefully to the people he is interacting with and their situation.
Similarly, we need to think about the pace of our conversations. Rather than wanting to ‘get the whole story out’ as fast as we can, we need to let the conversation ‘breathe’. Basic to this is an assumption that while the Good News of Jesus is of ultimate and primary importance, we have to ‘bring the listener along with us’. In a way, considering the pace of our conversation is a way of respecting them as a person, and communicating that their concerns matter to you.
It may even be helpful see how the person you’re speaking to is going with whatever you’re speaking about – just to give them the opportunity to clarify or question what you’re saying. Sometimes asking “does this make any sense?” or “what do you think?” is all people need to move on in your conversation.
Our prayer is that a conversational approach will help develop trust between us as we speak and those we are speaking to. Australian culture places a great deal of emphasis on trust like that. As we get serious about developing it, God may be using us to create a more effective context for the Gospel of Jesus to be heard.
Don’t forget…
This Sunday September 17th we have a special Discovery Service: “What if…” that will seek to show how what God has done in Jesus is the best way of understanding our world and dealing with the tensions of life, and the dark side of who we are. The same format and message (which we think will be a pretty creative approach in itself) will be repeated in both Sunday services.
The message audio will also be available online (www.redlandscrc.org.au) after the event: so if you’re one of our remote readers, you’ll still be able to hear it all.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Urgent RE need in Ormiston
RE Ministry: Can you help us?
The
person
currently looking after Grade 5/6 RE at
That would be a great way to share the good news of Jesus, and if you like it, you might consider continuing in 2007. Cindy Hand is the RE Coordinator, and can help you settle in to this with the minimum of fuss. Half an hour a week? Sure! Give Cindy a call on 3821 6978 or email pmhand@bigpond.net.au
"What if..." Discovery Service Sun 17th, 9am & 5pm
This Sunday: a chance to address one of the toughest questions...
What if we're wrong? What if the assertion many make is really true: God doesn't exist and nothing really matters?
Is that the sort of world we would want?
Would that sort of life really help us?
How have people of faith dealt with these questions in the past?
What alternative does the Bible present for us?
...and the really big question: does knowing and following Jesus really make a difference?
Discovery Services are specially designed for people who are seeking God, but maybe unsure. So put some of those 'tell your story' skills to use, and bring your friends and family. Share a Sausage Sizzle after the service (provided free)!
Let's see how God's Word helps us deal with life's tensions.
When: Sunday 17th, 9am & 5pm
Where:
Any questions? justask@redlandscrc.org.au; 3286 4700, 0418 383 055
TUTORS NEEDED
Across the
Some of them are doing well and don’t need any
help.
Some of them can afford tutors and are helped that
way.
But for many there is no other option but to wade
through on
their own.
While we can’t help every Year 12 student, we
can help
some. So we are putting together some tutoring groups for year 12
students to
help them prepare. We are looking for people who have knowledge in a
particular
subject and can help a small group (up to five) of students to prepare
for
their exams. Maybe you did well at maths, or science, or English, or
geography.
Maybe you study these things at uni. If so, we need
you.
The commitment is for 1 hour a week until year 12
exams
(early November). All tutoring sessions will be held at the church,
either
after school, or on Saturday.
If you think you could help, please email
Remember – this is not just about making kids
smarter,
its about doing mission through serving our
community.
Car Wash Boosts Chaplaincy - third time...
Thanks
Church
We
had a
great time at the Car Wash today! God blessed us with
fantastic
weather, and the washers worked like a great team. If you weren't there
- hey,
you missed out, but we'd love to see you next time! All in all, around
$550.00
was raised to support chaplaincy work at
To sign up for next time, make sure you see Damien Watson damienwatson@optusnet.com.au ph. 3821 5181
Study Tour Diary Note (3)
Granite Springs Church, near Sacramento, August 15
The
last day of our
stay in the
We chatted in a genuine Tacqueria a little restaurant serving authentic Mexican food. The beef Chimichanga was good, but Todd tells me the chicken variety was still kicking, and least for a few hours after the event... Obviously, the chicken did not survive, but thankfully Todd did.
Our discussion with Kevin reminded us
that
growing churches are often unstable and face challenges: not the least being the development of a unified
ethos. Today, Granite Springs is a moderately
sized
congregation (about 500-600)
that
seeks to act as a church planting ‘farm’. The idea is that
the congregation
resources other church plants in the area, and seeks to be a context to
raise
and train church planters. This really resonate with us, as this type of
idea
had been raised in our church breakfast in June. Of course, there are
lots of
social and cultural differences between Ormiston and Granite Springs:
but the
idea is inspirational. It would be great to consider whether this could
become
part of our future here in
We
also warmed to
Kevin’s warm faith that God was still to do more work in their
community. Their
auditorium is about the same size as ours, and when we asked whether
there were
plans for future expansion, Kevin replied “let’s just say
we’re basically
worshipping in the youth hall…” The larger church community
will afforded more
resources for the ongoing work of church planting in the future. This
presented
an interesting contrast to the church planting approach of Redeemer. The
latter
insist that the large a church grows, the more internalised it becomes.
Granite
Springs’ intention is to increase the outward focus of their
growing church by
continuing to plant other congregations in their region. In 1991, when
the
We also were keen to ask what about the import factors God was using to draw people into Granite Springs (assuming the work of God through His Spirit). Kevin’s response:
· Relationships. People are encouraged and urged to use their relationships as a context for witness to what the Lord has done in them. This is the philosophy they commenced with. The hairdresser, the car salesman, the people on the factor floor were all seen as people with whom relationships could be built where the good news could eventually be shared.
· Small groups: they create relational pathways for people to find a way into new community, then to larger church meetings, with conversion and renewal somewhere there in the process
· They are developing a Scripture memory program. The idea is that the whole church gets into the program and this will develop some cohesion across the increasingly varied community
· Leader development within small groups assists in the formation of new groups and for small groups to improve on how they enfold new people. Every small group is encouraged to have and support someone who really works hard at bringing new people along
· Testimonies: they are aiming at one per month. Stories of change are powerful instruments for God to work in people’s lives
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Midweek News
Saturday - CAR WASH
Election day this Saturday will see many people drive past RCRC on thir way to vote, decide that their car is dirty, and drive on in to see us!
We are going to be over-run with clients, and need every available person to come and help. Monies will go towards the Ormiston School Chaplaincy, and we will be inviting clients to come to the next discovery service.
From 8am - 1pm we need you, your smile and your elbow grease. Contact Damien Watson (Ph 3821 5181) or e-mail damienwatson@optusnet.com.au to find out when we need people the most.
Sunday
9 AM: Hospitality: we all know what it is, but how do we do it? Just with a small circle of friends? Or is the Gospel's radical call to something more and something greater? Could this include a baptised barbie (the 'steak' thing, not the 'doll' thing)? Brisbane's somewhat laid back and relational culture could be one of God's greatest gifts! Read ahead at John 4:27-42
5 PM: “I’m a material girl, in a material world…” Its true of us, isn’t it? We focus on the fact that we live in a material, physical world. We want to know about the things we can touch, taste, smell, see and hear. But when we read the Bible, especially when we read the book of Revelation, the curtain is drawn back and we see that this world is not all there is. That there are things happening in the supernatural realm, that we only catch a glimpse of. So this Sunday, as we look at #3 on the “I have a friend who struggles with…” voting, we will be looking at Understanding the Supernatural World. And we will see that we are in a battle – a spiritual battle – of which the outcome is already certain. I encourage you to read through Revelation 12-14 before you come.
What if? (next Sunday)
In both services next week we’ll have a special discovery service that will address the reasonably common belief that there is no God, and that the Bible is irrelevant. It will be a prime opportunity to invite friends who may be wondering about these things.
We also have lots of flyers for you to take. Everyone could take five or ten to give to friends, workmates, fiends at school, people on your street. Hey, just invite as many people as you can!
The service will be repeated at both 9am and 5pm services, so if one of those times is not convenient, you can make the most of the other!
Prayer Points
• Responsible use of world resources and environment. Can we ask God for rain without asking him to make us responsible in the way we use our world? Ask that we might understand what it means to be just stewards of land and creation (Gen 2)
• Chaplaincy at Ormiston really needs support (mainly financial) from our local community: any ideas? Seek God’s wisdom here, and pray that Peter Gavel’s work will be blessed.
• Kailah and Bryce Hudson have been very ill with a serious strain of influenza – please pray for continued recovery and renewed health
Telling your story: listen first
God can use your story...
Having you ever been in conversation with someone, and at one point realised “I haven’t been listening to anything they have said!” Probably hard to imagine, I know. But it does happen. And it can easily happen when you’re wanting to tell your story to another.
The problem is that sometimes we’re so focussed on what we want to say, and how we want to get it right, that we just don’t concentrate on what the other person is saying. When you have something really important to say, you’re busting to get it out, your focus in on what you want to say to them, and not on what they are saying to you.
Physiology helps us here. You have two ears. You have one mouth. Use those things in that proportion! Put twice as much effort into listening than talking. When you do, you’ll be demonstrating that what your friend says really matters, that you value their opinion (even though you may not share it). Good listening says “you matter to me!”
Some parts of the conversation are going to be more meaningful than others. We’ll nearly always start with ‘small talk’ and then ease into more significant areas. You’ll need to listen for the changes in the conversation that tell you you’re moving into more important stuff.
This is where it’s important to ask really good questions. Some of my favourites are
· So, how does life work for you?
· Do you think life is working the way you thought it would be at this stage of your life/given what you’ve just been saying/given what you’re going through?
· What helps you in this situation? What holds you back?
· How do you cope?
Then listen for key words like
· Struggle, pain, hardship, disappointment, hurt, grief
· Joy, happiness, hope, future, excitement, confidence
Once you’re talking about that sort of stuff, and if you think the timing is right, you’ll then be able to say “Can I tell you how it works for me?” and you can go on to talk about the difference following Jesus makes for you. It probably won’t be the same situation you face, and be careful about imposing your understanding on their situation (“Hey, I know it might be different for me…”). See, when you talk about the difference Jesus makes you’ll be sharing some of the most meaningful realities in your life with the other person. And my guess is they may be inclined to listen to you because you have listened to them.
The best way to have people listen to your story is for you to have listened to theirs!
Coming up:
Pace
yourself
Feedback:
dave@redlandscrc.org.au
=?us-ascii?Q?Telling_your_story._focus?=
God can use your story…
So you’ve been putting some thoughts on paper, and arranged your words around those three basic points
· What my life used to be like
· What happened to change how I viewed Jesus
· How following Jesus makes a difference
One thing we really need to remember is that God needs to be the focus of what you’re saying. Thinking of the three points above: the first point can focus on what Godless life was like for you. The second point on how God worked things and events to open your eyes to who Jesus really is. The third point will focus on how your life now is different because following Jesus is your focus.
The big deal is that you’re testifying to Jesus, to God’s work and grace, to how living for God has become your new life focus. Sure, you’ll have to talk about your life and experiences, but make sure that God is the ‘hero’ and Jesus the Saviour. Ensure they, and not you, receive the glory and praise.
Coming up: The importance of listening
A short word about Steve Irwin…
Steve Irwin’s death is a reminder to us all that life is not as predictable as we think. Many times we think we are in total control. Most of the time this is an illusion – at least to some extent. Just one small thing out of whack, and we are in a lot of trouble very quickly. Irwin’s death is a reminder to all of us that our lives are in the hands of God, and that whether old or young, we are called to live to God’s glory. Make of point of living today, and each day your given, to the praise of Jesus.
I have no idea about Steve Irwin’s spirituality: so I will make no assumptions (either way). But I will say this: we can admire Irwin’s passion and his infectious love for the world. He was a sensible conservationist, he was wide eyed and humble about the beauty of creation. He loved what he saw in the natural world, and at least to some extent, deepened our appreciation for the beauty of the earth and its creatures We could even say that in this respect Irwin’s passion reflected something of God’s own character, for our Lord is passionate about his creatures and the world He has made. Let Irwin’s life passion remind us that we are stewards of our world, and drive us to honour our Lord and Creator.
Finally: any death is tragic, and brings grief to those who are left behind. Remember Steve’s wife Terri and the children, Bindi and Bob. Prayer that somehow they may be drawn into the gracious heart of God through this tragedy.
DG
Telling your Story (1)
God can use your story…
When it comes to witnessing, or telling your story to another person, one of the hardest things is to know where to begin. Conversations just happen, don’t they? And not all of us are used to really thinking our conversations through in advance.
When planning your story there are three points that can give structure to what you intend to say. It’s even a good idea to write a paragraph or two under each of these points. I’m not suggesting that you keep it in your pocket to read out when required: it’s more that writing your story down is a good exercise to order your thoughts and to get the main points clear in your own mind.
The three points we talked about yesterday are:
· What my life used to be like
· What happened to get me thinking about Jesus, and how I came to know him
· The difference following Jesus makes
Get as focused on these points as you can. They will form the basis of your story. Besides, the exercise will bring to mind the sorts of changes God graciously continues to make in your life. It may even spur you on to more growth and a deeper desire to honour Jesus.
Feel free to give it a go, and if you like, send it through to me: maybe we can clarify things together.
When talking with other people and telling your story, there are a few basic things to keep in mind, and over the next few days I’d like to write about them. It’s not an exhaustive list: just things that I find helpful.
1. Learn how to say “I don’t know” You don’t have to know all the answers. This is one of the biggest fears people have about witnessing. We think we need to know the Bible better, have a basic theology at our fingertips, be able to explain the existence of evil in a world ruled by God, know how the trinity works, and be able to name the identify of Methuselah’s father in law, etc.
I don’t doubt for a minute that this is one of the most effective tools the evil one uses to paralyse Christ’s church. The more he gets us thinking we can’t do it, the less people hear about Jesus.
I will always say it’s helpful to know the best ways to deal with the common questions that arise. Most of these questions, however, have elements to them that are just hard to understand. Maybe some of the answers we will never know, they may stay beyond our human intellect even in the new heavens and the new earth.
That’s why I think is better to acknowledge the limitations of our mind and simply say “I don’t know”. Maybe we can counter with something like “hey, I don’t know how to explain that, but maybe I can check some resources and get back to you…” Your pastor, your local Christian bookshop, and the Internet are great resources. Do some homework, and if you still don’t know, you will at least be more informed about the issues involved.
Finally, when it comes to questions: don’t forget that the big issue is how people relate to Jesus. So talk about how following Jesus makes a difference for you, even though you may not know the specific answer to the question.
There are some great print resources that can help with difficult questions. Why not check a few of these resources (some are in the RCRC library)
· The Case for Christ (Lee Strobel)
· A Fresh Start (John Chapman)
· If I were God I’d make myself clearer (John Dickson)
· If I were God I’d end all the pain (John Dickson)
· Spectators Guide to World Religions (John Dickson)
Coming up: Get
the right
focus
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Study Tour Diary Note #2
(friends, please excuse the previous two emails. There is a gremlin in the system... hopefully the third attempt will have content - DG)
City Church: San Francisco, Mike Hayes
August 15, 8am, Starbucks
We were able to meet with Mike Hayes, who is the executive pastor of City Church in San Francisco, CA. City Church is somewhat similar to Redeemer Presbyterian, in that it is an inner city church in a densely populated urban area. Another similarity is that it specifically targets young urban professionals. Mike described their services as apologetic and articulate. While Redeemer (New York) has specific services featuring jazz arrangements of hymns and songs, Mike said the ‘jazz thing’ just doesn’t work in San Francisco. They found that the people connected more with a musical blend of American folk music and traditional hymns. This was a reminder to us that one of the primary considerations in church music is not so much what those who already know Jesus might want, but what connects most effectively with those who do not know Jesus. These things are never easily resolved, views are passionately and keenly held. But we were impressed with the missionary approach and the servant heart which put aside personal (and even communal) preferences for the good of the Gospel.
This is expressed in the community service ministries City Church undertake. One example really stood out: City Church provide volunteers to a foot clinic which specifically deals with homeless people. What do the volunteers do? They wash the feet of the homeless! Is that brilliant? Sometimes all people come for is the foot washing, and the volunteers gladly serve them. A wonderful picture of a servant heart, and a powerful witness.
City Church is also an example of how church communities respond to changing needs. They used to hold two services on Sunday, and one also on Saturday evening. These services never really took off, whereas there were great pressures on their Sunday morning service. Over time they realised it was better to stop the Saturday evening and Sunday evening services, and instead now have two services in the Sunday AM and that’s it. They have grown more solidly and have been able to nurture their people more effectively taking the latter approach.
Up to 50% of City Church’s attendees are new believers. What draws them?
- Warm invitation by people who are up front about their love for Jesus
- Engaging church contexts, a warm church community which welcomes people in significant ways (i.e.. More than just a ‘hello’)
- Compassion ministries: see above. These ministries are integrated fully into the life of the church, and have not been developed as a separate entity (as they have been in Redeemer). Mike O’Neill sees that as an important statement of how highly they love and value the community God has placed them in
A few other interesting points
- They have a ‘stewardship team’ of highly motivated and sensitive professionals, who encourage the church community to be courageous and generous in their giving
- Their church planters are all ordained people with proven maturity. City Church looks for the best church planters around and seeks to attract them to the church’s vision and mission. Future church plants they are hoping to develop will include communities of released prisoners and ex-sex workers. It was incredibly hearted to see how intentional City Church is about this.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Can you help???
Video Cameras needed
Over the past weeks, one of the main video cameras that helps to record the church services ( as well as projecting the image on the front wall ) has started to break down, and gives a degenerated vision image.
Is there anybody in the congregation who has a reasonably good video camera that they are prepared to loan or donate to the church for this ministry activity ( We would need to test whether the camera is compatible with our current system. )
If you can help, please see the guys up stairs in the video room.
MOPS Ministry needs YOU!
The MOPS ministry is in need of some ladies or men who are able to help in the kitchen for 2 hours every fortnight, as our main helper has gone to join the 'grey nomads'.
Tasks include
- Serving the carers morning tea
- washing up dishes & cups
- smiling face
If you can help please contact Wendy Hammond or Miranda Goodridge.
Midweek News
This Sunday
9 AM:Do you have an interesting life? Probably not, we think. Interestingly, the lives of ordinary people are used by God to tell the extraordinary story of His grace and love. There are some basic things you need to know about doing this. We'll see them in an educated man like Paul. We'll also see them through the life of someone everyone had written off as both useless and hopeless. God is still using these stories to impact people's lives. How might he use you?
5 PM:When we read through the pages of the Bible we read about people; real people; broken people; you and me people. We are painfully aware that this world is a broken place, and that we are a part, as perpetrators and victims. But the good news, to which the Bible testifies – is that there is hope. That we don’t need to be the products of our past, that God is bigger than our hurts and that he is about making us whole people for the future. This Sunday night we continue our series “I have a friend who struggles with…” looking at ‘past hurtful experiences.’ And to do that we will focus on the life of Joseph. If you want to read ahead, get into Genesis 37-45.
What if? …Discovery Service: Sep 17
In a few week’s time we are planning a special service that will challenge the often expressed view that God does not exist. Discovery Services are specifically designed for you to bring people along who do not know Jesus. They are designed as key opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. Please consider bring people along.
<< The service will be identical in both AM & PM services >>
There are also lots of small flyers available: please take a handful and letterbox your street, give them to your friends, and invite plenty of people. If you have any questions, speak to Dave, Clinton or Peter Salisbury
The Power of a Story
No doubt, anyone present last Sunday would have been moved by Bill & Tracy’s testimony. It was a great reminder that God is always at work even when we don’t recognise his moves, and sometimes even when we are walking in entirely the wrong direction.
Maybe you have a story you would like to share sometime? I’m sure that from time to time we’d be so blessed to hear how God has worked in your life and the difference the following Jesus makes. If you have something to share, feel free to let me know dave@redlandscrc.org.au If you’re thinking of writing something up it would be good to ensure that it
• Places the focus clearly on Jesus Christ and God’s grace
• Emphasises the difference that following Jesus makes
…look forward to hearing from you!
Elder Election Result
Following the election held Sunday morning, the Church Council is happy to announce that David Klease has been elected as elder at Redlands CRC. We will advise the installation details in due course. Please pray for David as he prepares to serve and accept this call to leadership, and also for Craig Jewel and Greg Tenni as they continue in their current ministries.
We would also acknowledge that a few votes were inadvertently placed in the wooden post box. Further, a few votes were not handed to the collectors during the election process. Consequently these votes were not included in the original count. We would, however, like to assure the church family that even when these votes are included in the count they only confirm the result already announced.
We thank you for your involvement in this process and seek your ongoing support and partnership in the work of the Gospel in Redlands.
Church Council
Saltshakers…
This week you’ll find a slip in your newsletter on which you can indicate how you’d like to do some basic servant ministry in the community. People have already volunteered to visit lonely people, mentor others, and do something for the environment.
Think of the following areas:
Visiting lonely people [ ]
ministry to homeless [ ]
Backyard mission [ ]
Backyard mission chat [ ]
Environmental [ ]
Coordinating volunteers [ ]
Helping those with addictions [ ]
general community care [ ]
Meals on wheels [ ]
other …………………………….
I can give ………….. hours per week
Name:
Email:
Reply to dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Property News and Developments
Boundary Road - we have now received the soil test results, which was necessary for the designers to determine the maximum area that would be required for any sewerage plant required to treat our waste effluent. The results have not been very encouraging, showing that the soil type was mostly Silty Clay - which is moist and stiff. This in layman’s terms means it will not absorb a significant amount of moisture.
The committee are now discussing the outcomes with a Hydraulics engineer, and reviewing the size of any potential worship centre for that property.
Lot 90 Sturgeon St (‘the big one’) - at the last congregational meeting there was some interest shown in the battle axe property at the corner of our South Western boundary of the Ormiston property. We asked Alan Lucas to begin negotiations with the owner, and he has come back with the following email response.
"....He was very friendly as he knows me from Ormiston College days, but he is very content there at the moment after 15 years. He likes the privacy and pottering around in the garden, and he said he would most likely not be selling for at least two years. He promised that he would contact me when he was ready to sell ..."
Lot 96 Delancey St (Plumber’s Block) - we will again try to meet with the owner in the coming days, to see if the title matter has been resolved.
Enquiries: Frank Hemelaar: Hemelaar@royalfoods.com.au
• Please continue to uphold these matters in prayer, so that God's will be made known to all those who are acting on behalf of the church.
Car Wash: Sep 09
Next Car Wash to raise funds for the Ormiston School Chaplaincy will be 8am-1pm Saturday 9th September. Washers & welcomers needed. Call Damien Watson Ph 3821 5181 or damienwatson@optusnet.com.au
Learn to Preach?
On Saturday 2nd September we will begin a ‘learn to preach’ training group.
This will focus on learning some of the skills to be able to preach and teach.
This is not just for Sunday services, but in any context in which we might teach the Bible.
Areas of focus will be:
�� Understanding what the Bible says
�� Applying the Bible to today
�� Writing a sermon
�� Illustrations
We will hold these for 4 weeks on Saturday mornings.
There is some preparation work to do, so register your interest early.
If you are interested in being a part of this or have any questions about it, please contact either Dave (dave@redlandscrc.org.au) or Clinton (clinton@redlandscrc.org.au)
Can you help with Cadets and Gems?
Every two weeks, on Friday nights, GEMS (for girls) and Cadets (for boys) meet at the church.
They play games, do badge/craft work, have a lot of fun… but most of all they learn more about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
God has been blessing these ministries this year and they have experienced a growth in numbers. But this has put a strain on the leadership teams of these ministries.
If you think you might have the time to devote to these young people, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact:
Gems – Margaret Bos - ebos@bigpond.net.au
Cadets – Luke van Dijk – 0433 288 883
Clinton – clinton@redlandscrc.org.au
Prayer points
• Ask the Lord to work through Queenslanders to elect responsible Government coming Saturday. Do what you can to be informed as to the issues that matter. God wants his people to have a political conscience (Rom 13:1-5; 1 Tim 2:1-4). Pray especially for responsible Christian candidates in the various parties.
• Continue to prayer for relief for the drought. Warmer weather is coming, and that will place greater strain on water consumption.
• Pray for increased peace in the Middle East, pray that the plans of those who seek violence and destruction will be frustrated.
Election Result
Following the election held this morning, the Church Council is happy to announce that David Klease has been elected as elder at Redlands CRC. We will advise the installation details in due course. Please pray for David as he prepares to serve and accept this call to leadership, and also for Craig Jewel and Greg Tenni as they continue in their current ministries.
We would also acknowledge that a few votes were inadvertently placed in the wooden post box. Further, a few votes were not handed to the collectors during the election process. Consequently these votes were not included in the original count. We would, however, like to assure the church family that even when these votes are included in the count they only confirm the result already announced.
We thank you for your involvement in this process and seek your ongoing support and partnership in the work of the Gospel in Redlands.
on behalf of Church Council,
Dave Groenenboom
Even more news!
RCRC Calendar Coordinator
Jenni Holz is the new calendar coordinator for RCRC. That means if your group or club is planning any event, you need to let Jenni know. That way we can avoid clashes and keep everyone informed.
Even if you have things planned in the next few weeks or months, please just let Jenni know and confirm your details with her, and she will keep tabs on the whole program. They can then also be added to the newsletter calendar.
Jenni’s contact details: email ajholz@optusnet.com.au; mobile 0439 326 329; home 3286-7160
Car Wash
Next Car Wash to raise funds for the Ormiston School Chaplaincy will be 8am-1pm Saturday 9th September. Washers & welcomers needed. Call Damien Watson Ph 3821 5181 or damienwatson@optusnet.com.au
More News
Study Tour diary note #1 (New York)
Loving our community
On August 4 Dave, Frank, Chris, Todd and Wendy met with people from Redeemer Presbyterian Church’s Church Planting School, as well as Redeemer’s community service organisation, Hope for New York.
Hope for New York provides about 3300 volunteer places in various service organisations throughout the city. Hope for New York has not formed any specific service projects themselves: their ministry is providing volunteers to organisations that already exist. This also means that any skills or administration required by volunteers will be provided by the organisations the volunteers serve.
We loved this approach, and in many ways we felt it provided wonderful clarification for how we can serve our local community. Dave started developing some of this material last Sunday night, and will give us some more information coming Sunday morning.
Things to consider:
• what contexts could we develop that would allow RCRC people to serve our community?
• How could providing volunteers to community programs become an effective context for RCRC to develop true community based mission?
Church planting
The discussions we had with Mark Reynolds, Associate Director of Redeemer’s Church Planting Centre, were also very helpful. From the outset we were challenged to assess where most of our growth has been coming from. While we have seen people coming to faith in Christ, this has not been the strongest area of our growth. It’s good for us to consider what this might mean for our priorities and methods.
We also compared and contrasted various methods of church planting: taking a section of a congregation and transplanting them into a community; utilising a church planter and a small team to plant a new community in a neighbourhood; doing a ‘no nucleus’ plant: one or two people move into a community and start a church from scratch.
The third area of discussion had to do with the relative merits of using an individual church planter as compared with using a team. Reynolds’ advice was that teams can never be used as an excuse for not being able to find a church planter. This does not mean the planter is a ‘lone ranger’, but that the planter can best work effectively with a supportive team. Bottom line: there is no substitute for one person being identified as the plant leader. This provides the best context for accountability and responsible pursuit of the agreed vision.
Prayer Points
-• Seek the Lord’s guidance as to our need for a new elder (see above)
-• Matt le Grand is leaving for a placement in Scotland next week. Every blessing Matt! We trust God will surround you and bless you during your time away
-• Ask the Lord to work through Queenslanders to elect responsible Government on Sep 9th. Do what you can to be informed as to the issues that matter. God wants his people to have a political conscience (Rom 13:1-5; 1 Tim 2:1-4). Pray especially for responsible Christian candidates in the various parties.
-• Continue to prayer for relief for the drought. Warmer weather is coming, and that will place greater strain on water consumption.
-• Pray for increased peace in the middle east, pray that the plans of those who seek violence and destruction will be frustrated.
Mid Week News
This Sunday
AM: Evangelism and having a contagious faith is not always verbal and cerebral: sometimes actions are the most eloquent sermon. As someone once said, "always preach the Gospel, and where necessary, use words." I will also be leaning into some of the material I developed on Sunday night: specifically a challenge that God seeks to use us to transform Redlands. One of the ways he will do this is to work through a lifestyle and ethos of service to our community. A big challenge. An expansive vision.
PM: I love sex. Who doesn’t? It is one of the best things that God ever invented. Too often its portrayed as dirty, ‘of the devil’ and wrong – but we forget that God is the sexpert who gave it to us, and the expert who knows how it works the best. This Sunday night we begin our series “I have a friend who struggles with…” Coming in at #4 on the voting is sexual boundaries. And who hasn’t or doesn’t struggle with this? So we will explore this great gift of God, its purpose, its use, and also its abuse.
Elder Elections
The election for one elder will be finalised next Sunday morning.
We need to chose one elder from the nominations: David Klease, Craig Jewell and Greg Tenni. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be declared elected.
If you will not be at RCRC next Sunday, you may email your vote to dave@redlandscrc.org.au or take a voting slip from the information booth email pgmg@gil.com.au or phone Peter Goodridge on 38229635. Only full members of Redlands Christian Reformed Churchare allowed to vote. All postal votes not received by email must be signed.
Car Wash
Next Car Wash to raise funds for the Ormiston School Chaplaincy will be 8am-1pm Saturday 9th September. Washers & welcomers needed. Call Damien Watson Ph 3821 5181 or damienwatson@optusnet.com.au
Learn to Preach?
On Saturday 2nd September we will begin a ‘learn to preach’ training group.
This will focus on learning some of the skills to be able to preach and teach.
This is not just for Sunday services, but in any context in which we might teach the Bible.
Areas of focus will be:
�� Understanding what the Bible says
�� Applying the Bible to today
�� Writing a sermon
�� Illustrations
We will hold these for 4 weeks on Saturday mornings.
There is some preparation work to do, so register your interest early.
If you are interested in being a part of this or have any questions about it, please contact either Dave (dave@redlandscrc.org.au) or Clinton (clinton@redlandscrc.org.au)
Ladies Only
Once a year the ladies from the Christian Reformed Churches of Queensland come together for a day of fun and fellowship.
This year it is the turn of the Inala Church Ladies to be the hostesses.
They have invited a speaker from "Mercy Ministries" - sounds very interesting!
Free Lunch is included. Please let the organisers know how many people they have to cater for.
When: 30th of August
Where: Inala Christian Reformed Church
44 Poinsettia Street. Inala
Time: 9.30 am start with coffee.
Contact: Mrs. Betty Wiersma, Ph. 3372 1753
Mentors needed!
Are you a committed follower of Jesus Christ?
Do you love people and want to see them grow in their faith?
Then you are exactly the sort of person that we are looking for!
There are young people in this church who are crying out for someone to mentor / disciple them as they negotiate their way through life and seek to grow in their passion to love and serve their Savior Jesus. Having an older person who invests time, energy and their life, into them, is such a blessing to have.
On Monday 28th August, from 7.30pm we will be having a mentor enquiry, training and equipping night @ the church. We would encourage as many people as possible to come along, check it out, and possibly begin a journey of having a huge impact on someone’s life.
For more info, talk to Clinton.
(0424 477 487, clinton@redlandscrc
Help with Cadets and Gems
Every two weeks, on Friday nights, GEMS (for girls) and Cadets (for boys) meet at the church.
They play games, do badge/craft work, have a lot of fun… but most of all they learn more about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
God has been blessing these ministries this year and they have experienced a growth in numbers. But this has put a strain on the leadership teams of these ministries.
If you think you might have the time to devote to these young people, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact:
Gems – Margaret Bos - ebos@bigpond.net.au
Cadets – Luke van Dijk – 0433 288 883
Clinton – clinton@redlandscrc.org.au
MIDWEEK NEWS
Coming up this
Sunday:
Sunday 9 AM: What to do while we
wait. So far
in our series on 2 Thessalonians we have focused on the return of Jesus
and the
coming of the antichrist which is associated with that. Through that we
have
seen the extreme confidence that followers of Jesus have, in regards to
His
power over the antichrist, and his work in us. But what do we do until
then?
Paul now goes on to focus on that time, and to speak about the Word of
God and
its work, both in the world and in Christian lives and Christian
communities.
But in particular how we are to be involved in its increasing influence
throughout both spheres, the world and the Christian community. Read
ahead in 2
Thessalonians 3:1-15.
Sunday 5
PM: So where a church in
our
community. Is our community any different because we are here? Would we
be
missed by the community if we were disappeared overnight? What is
God’s
desire for our community – as much as we can determine that? And
what is
our part in his plan? And the big question we need to answer is this:
are we
prepared to follow his call?
MENTORS
NEEDED!!!
Are you a
committed
follower of Jesus Christ?
Do you love
people and
want to see them grow in their faith?
Then you are
exactly the
sort of person that we are looking for!
There are young
people
in this church who are crying out for someone to mentor / disciple them
as they
negotiate their way through life and seek to grow in their passion to
love and
serve their savior Jesus. Having an older person who invests time,
energy and
their life, into them, is such a blessing to have.
On Monday 28th
August,
from 7.30pm we will be having a mentor enquiry, training and equipping
night @
the church. We would encourage as many people as possible to
come
along, check it out, and possibly begin a journey of having a huge
impact on
someone’s life.
For more info,
talk to
LEARN
TO PREACH?
On
Saturday 2nd
September we will begin a ‘learn to preach’ training
group.
This
will focus on
learning some of the skills to be able to preach and
teach.
This is
not just
for Sunday services, but in any context in which we might teach the
Bible.
Areas of
focus will
be:
Understanding what
the Bible says
Applying
the Bible
to today
Writing
a sermon
Illustrations
We will
hold these
for 4 weeks on Saturday mornings. There is some preparation work to do,
so
register your interest early.
If you
are
interested in being a part of this or have any questions about it,
please
contact either Dave (dave@redlandscrc.org.au) or
Clinton
(clinton@redlandscrc.org.au)
HELP
WITH CADETS AND GEMS
Every
two weeks, on
Friday nights, GEMS (for girls) and Cadets (for boys) meet at the
church. They
play games, do badge / craft work, have a lot of fun… but most of
all
they learn more about what it means to be a disciple of
Jesus.
God has
been
blessing these ministries this year and they have experienced a growth
in
numbers. But this has put a strain on the leadership teams of these
ministries.
If you
think you
might have the time to devote to these young people, we would love to
hear from
you.
Please
contact:
Gems
–
Margaret Bos - ebos@bigpond.net.au
Cadets
– Luke
van Dijk – 0433 288 883
Learn to preach?
On Saturday 2nd September we will begin a
‘learn
to preach’ training group.
This will focus on learning some of the skills to be
able to
preach and teach.
This is not just for Sunday services, but in any
context in
which we might teach the Bible.
Areas of focus will be:
Understanding what the Bible
says
Applying the Bible to today
Writing a sermon
Illustrations
We will hold these for 4 weeks on Saturday mornings.
There
is some preparation work to do, so register your interest early.
If you are interested in being a part of this or have
any
questions about it, please contact either Dave (dave@redlandscrc.org.au) or
Clinton (clinton@redlandscrc.org.au
)
Pastor:
P: (07)
3286 4700 | F: (07) 3286 9625 | M: 0424 477 487
cnr sturgeon & delancey sts, ormiston, 4160
...glorify God
...nurture to
maturity ...bring others to
Christ
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attachments may
be confidential. If received in error, please delete and inform us by
return
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contain
computer viruses or other defects and may not be successfully replicated
on
other systems, you must be cautious. Redlands CRC cannot
guarantee
that what you receive is what we sent. If you have any doubts about the
authenticity of an email from Redlands CRC, please contact us
immediately. Some
emails from Redlands CRC are sent as information bulletins, if you do
not wish
to receive these please notify us by return
email.
Mid Week News
On this Sunday...
9am - What we think of ourselves determines much of what we do. Think about it. If we think that we are successful, brilliant, an achiever, we will act this way (not that we will be these things, but we will act as though we are). If we think we are a loser, a failure, a nothing, we will act this way as well. When it comes to followers of Jesus, and communities of faith, the same thing is true. That is why Paul, as he follows on from speaking about the antichrist, and the trials he will bring, goes on to talk about us, about who God has made us to be in Christ, so that we will begin to live in the security that God has provided. This unique look at our ‘self image’ takes the focus off what we do, to what God has done and continue to do in us. Read ahead in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
5pm - I'd like to preach a series of sermons dealing with the Lord's Prayer, but as I don't preach that often it will take a while before this series is finished. But tonight we will at least make a start, and look at the opening words of the prayer: "Our Father in heaven." Today some people are questioning the relevancy of addressing God as 'Father', but the work of Christ and the testimony of the Holy Spirit point us in another direction. I know someone who has a brother in the corridors of power in Canberra, but it's much more important to have a brother (Jesus) in heaven, who is praying to the Father on our behalf.
MENTORS NEEDED!!!
Are you a committed follower of Jesus Christ? Do you love people and want to see them grow in their faith?
Then you are exactly the sort of person that we are looking for!
There are young people in this church who are crying out for someone to mentor / disciple them as they negotiate their way through life and seek to grow in their passion to love and serve their savior Jesus. Having an older person who invests time, energy and their life, into them, is such a blessing to have. On Monday 28th August, from 7.30pm we will be having a mentor enquiry, training and equipping night @ the church. We would encourage as many people as possible to come along, check it out, and possibly begin a journey of having a huge impact on someone’s life. For more info, talk to Clinton. (0424 477 487, clinton@redlandscrc.org.au)
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO... LAST CHANCE
Starting at the end of this month we will be running a series in the evening services entitled "I have a friend who struggles with..." This is an opportunity to have some teaching on the things that your friends (or you) struggle with)
This is your last chance to vote for the issues you would like covered. Please email two of the topics below to clinton@redlandscrc.org.au
Please choose 2 of the following:
Doubts about faith
Sexual Boundaries
Dealing with Conflict
Past Hurtful Experiences
Spending money
Alcohol Abuse
Self Image
Homosexuality
Understanding the Supernatural World
Choosing a Career
Finding a marriage partner
Being single
Abuse at home
Anger / forgiveness
WINTER SLEEP OUT - TOMORROW 7.30PM
Winter sleepout will kick off tomorrow night at 7:30pm in the church carpark.
Please be advised that tents are not permitted! We will allow for a small mattress for those with back problems. And for the rest of you, we have lots'o cardboard boxes for shelter!
There will also be tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cuppa soups available for a gold coin donation. Bring along your deck of cards and board games.
Cost: $10 ($30 per family)
All donations to Mission Australia - Winter Appeal
Remember that donations of blankets and warm clothes will also be passed on to Mission Australia.
For more information, email Sasha Garner snoush2002@hotmail.com
Midweek News
This Sunday
AM:The antichrist – should we be worried? In a few places in Scripture we have reference to a shadowy figure called ‘the antichrist’ or ‘the man of lawlessness.’ The fleeting references, combined with the destruction he is associated with have lead to all sorts of theories of who this man / creature is, and what he is on about, and how much we should be concerned with him. When Paul makes mention of him in 2 Thessalonians he does so in a way that discusses his reality, but firmly places him under the reign and conquest of Jesus Christ, giving us a firm assurance that when he is revealed, Christians need not fear his power or influence. For more, come along Sunday morning.
PM: Your next 'Australian Idol’: No-one can doubt its popularity, but has anyone noticed how flippantly we use the word ‘idol’ these days? Tonight we’ll look back at what God told Moses and the Israelites about idols and how the Israelites reacted when Moses was taking his time on Mt Sinai. We’ll answer some questions about what all this has to do with Jesus and our very own ‘Australian Idols’ of today.
What's your story?
Last Sunday night no one could have doubted the power of testimony. Listening to how the Lord had worked in a person's life to bring hope and grace was wonderfully encouraging. It reminded us that God is the Lord who works extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people.
Maybe you have a story you'd like to share one day. Something that clearly focuses on God, on how he works to make an eternal difference through his Son in people's lives. Why not send it through to dave@redlandscrc.org.au - and some time there may be an opportunity for you to share it. Go on! We'd love to hear from you!
Prayer Points
- The study tour team as they arrive in the US. First appointments will be with representatives of Redeemer Presbyterian Church's Church Planting School and their outstanding diaconal mission project, Hope for New York.
- Will the situation in the Middle East ever change? Perhaps only with an outpouring of God grace and through the hope of the Gospel. Please pray for peace
- The Winter Sleepout: please pray that the Lord will open our hearts to the plight of the homeless in our own city, and that together in His grace we might work toward a compassionate response. Remember: the sleepout starts 7:30pm Friday night
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