Wednesday Lunchtime City Growth Group??

Our Growth Groups are the best way to do five things in our church life: belonging, growing, praying, caring and reaching out to others. I've been thinking about starting up a Growth Group in the city that meets on Wednesday lunchtimes. Touch base with me if that is something that you might like to be part of.

Music TIme starts on Monday (28th)

Our Music Time groups starts up again this Monday at 10.30am. If you have a preschool child and want to do something really valuable with them please come along. Your first visit is free.Check out our website for more information.

SPLASH is back

Just a reminder that our group for kids in school years 3-6 has started up again on Friday nights from 6.30-8pm.

Moore College Open Day

Moore Theological College is having an Open Day on Saturday 23rd August. It would be a great day to find out more about the bible courses offered by the college and meet students. 

Dates for Term 3

17 August - Guess who's coming for lunch - We're going to have lunch 'together' at different people's places. Keep the time clear!

23 August - Community Working Bee and BBQ lunch. 10am - 1pm in the church grounds. It would be really great for as many of us to be there as possible. Invite someone you know to come and help out too.

27 August - Burn your plastic Jesus - at the Entertainment Centre. See Mark for more details and where dinner will be happening.

21 September - BBQ after church

Pure Sex Seminars Start next week

The Pure Sex Seminars are starting next week. It will be great to hear God's perspectives on a bunch of issues. It is designed to supplement our teaching in our Sunday morning meetings and something that people who aren't Christians might really like to have some wisdom on.

We've postponed the seminar that was going to be on the last Sunday in August so we can have a special guest from Liberty Christian Ministries share with us.

Total Church - chapter 2 - why community

Chapter 2 is about God’s plan to create ‘a people’, not isolated believers. By becoming a Christian we join a family of people who follow God.

We often view ourselves in the centre of our lives, juggling work, family, finances, health, church etc. When it gets too much we drop one of these, church just being another thing we have to do. However church is not another thing I have to do but the very group of people in which I find my identity. As Christians we belong to God and to each other. Our identity is found 'in Christ' together. At the centre of Bible’s view is not ‘me’, but ‘us’ (a people, our church Summer Hill Anglican). Church is what defines who we are and gives Christlike shape to our lives, it is more than attending a meeting on a Sunday.

It’s better explained by an example in the chapter:

Imagine Nathan and Natalie have a baby.

Babies take time. Nathan and Natalie now have less time. Nathan and Natalie decide they may have to ‘drop’ church. But in the Bible’s view is it’s not a problem for just Nathan and Natalie, it’s a problem for the whole church. As a congregation we must take some responsibility. Perhaps a few people help Natalie bathe their baby on different days so Nathan and Natalie can have some time together, perhaps someone else drives Nathan to work, as he’s so tired. Nathan and Natalie might be less involved in the church meetings but they’re still just as involved in the life of the community.

The idea of community is attractive until you realise the costs. It means taking into account the church in my decision making and listening to others and gaining their wisdom. It means spending time with people and being available for people. It means sharing our lives with each other in a way that is not superficial.

Christian community is also a powerful witness. As Christians we model to a watching world what it means to live under Christ's rule. Building community is something we can all do whatever our role in church life.

Cherry Picker up the Spire

Jasper and Ryan are doing a great job today patching up some leaks in the spire. Jasper took me up in the cherry picker to show me the problem and how he was going to solve it. Check out the view from the top! They are pretty confident they can fix our leaks as long as the wind doesn't pick up.

The Pure Sex Seminars

On Sunday evenings in August we are going to be running some seminars: 'The Pure Sex Seminars'. They will be an opportunity to hear what the Bible says and hear from special guests about a bunch of issues. Our culture has pretty much lost the plot when it comes to sexuality, so hearing what God has to say will be good for everyone - even friends who aren't Christian!

Total Church - chapter 1 - Why Gospel?

In this chapter the gospel of Jesus Christ is placed at the centre of all reality. God is known and God works through the gospel word about Jesus Christ. This means that Christian ministry and church life must be gospel centred.

A number of points are made about the centrality of the gospel:

1. Christianity is word-centred because God rules through his gospel word. The power of the word of God is seen clearly in God’s creation of the world and his dealings with Israel and ultimately in Jesus himself as the living Word of God.
   
2. Christianity is mission-centred because God extends his rule through his gospel word. The kingdom of God grows as people hear the word of the gospel, turn from their sin and acknowledge Jesus as their king. As a result Christianity is a missionary faith where we seek to see people hear this word.
   

The Spirit of God and the word of God are never divided in the scriptures and so a word-centred church is a spirit-centred church. That does not mean being Christian is only intellectual but our emotions will be shaped and produced as we respond to the word of God.

The implication that is drawn out is that the church and Christians exist by the gospel and for the gospel. The gospel creates the church and the church bears witness to Jesus. It is easy to say this but difficult to live it. If we were to live lives that were truly centred on the gospel of Jesus and oriented to mission then it would affect

1. how we approach secular employment
   
2. where we live
   
3. our standards of living
   
4. what we spend time doing
   
5. what we pray for
   

The reality is highlighted that most churches (and hence Christians) are not very good at engaging in a compelling way with people in our culture. We are good at praying and sending missionaries overseas but don’t engage in mission in our own area.

The challenge for Christian people is to make the gospel the centre of our lives every day of the week, modelling to a watching world what it means to be a Christian. It means thinking of work places, homes and neighbourhoods as the location of mission.

Questions? What do you think of the ideas in the gospel? How can you use your daily routine for the gospel?

Mini preaching series on Prayer

On 13th July and 20th July we are going to take a pause from our series on the book of Numbers and Ben and Bob are going to be teaching us on prayer. This will be a great couple of sermons encouraging us to rely on our heavenly Father.

Music Time, SPLASH and Mission Prayer Meeting on pause

Music Time will be starting up again on July 28th at 10:30am. This is a great opportunity for those with young children to meet other parents and participate in a first class music program.

SPLASH  -  our Friday night kids group starts again on Friday 25th July at 6.30pm (finishes at 8pm). For school years 3-6.

Mission Prayer Meeting - will start up again on Sunday 27th July, 5-5.45pm. It would be great if everyone could come regularly - either weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Lamb spit goes down well

What fantastic weather for our meal together. Check out the photo of Josh and Suli! I was able to give away a whole leg of lamb to a bloke who was is need.