Nathan Gernetzky speaks about the value, importance and privilege of community, in light of our series on Ezekiel 47 (“The River”).
21 May 2017 at Rosebank.
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We continue our investigating and discovery of Jesus. Our key question this week was, “What can Jesus do for me when I mess up?” The amazing answer is that He grants us forgiveness. It is because of Jesus that we can come before God and find forgiveness for our sin. This was the incredible truth about Jesus that we explored.
Our Part
This Sunday we looked at the story of the prodigal son. It is such a beautiful story with so many lessons that we can learn. Using images and even modern day examples, we discussed the story and focused on God’s grace. We looked how God forgives us of our sin – He cleans up our mess even when we don’t deserve it. Just like the loving father in the story, our Father God welcomes us to Him, forgives us and reminds us that we are His children.
Your Part
We think that it is key that you spend some time reflecting on this story with your children. It is so important to focus on how God can forgive us and that He says He will if we confess our sins to Him. Our children need to know that they can come to God with their faults, their worst actions, their sin and know that He is willing to forgive and still love them. We as parents also need to learn to display grace. We need to try to show forgiveness to our children, and not hold their faults against them.
It is a wonderful privilege to share the Gospel with our children. Keep talking about Jesus, the forgiveness we receive in Him and the family we have through Him.
– The Children’s Church team
by Christopher Bompas
There are Sundays when you come to Church and you find yourself bursting with God’s love. Then Monday comes… suddenly without releasing it, you turn into a different person (i.e. Mr Hyde). Do we have to step out of the rat race to serve God? No.
Here’s why – we were created to work. The work that we do for the Church is of equal importance to what we do in the world. So how should we approach work as followers of Christ?
Work to cultivate. We have inherited Adam’s mission to subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28). In the urban setting, this doesn’t mean literally sticking our hands in the soil. God wants us to complete the work that He started and do things that glorify Him.
Work with love. While doing what you love isn’t always possible, we can still express Jesus’s command that we love one another in every task, no matter how big or small (John 13:34).
Work to serve. The modern world teaches us to arrange our priorities like this: (1) ourselves, (2) others and (3) God. In contrast, Christ sets the perfect example to follow in washing his disciple’s feet (John 13:1-17). See this video:
Work according to purpose. There are no cushy jobs in the Kingdom of God. Each job is equally important and we need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how He can best make use of our talents (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
There is incredible joy and satisfaction in work. Please speak to our deacons and elders, if you need support and encouragement in finding the special purpose that He has for you. Trust us, it’s more beautiful than you can ever imagine!
What does the Bible actually say about Singleness? More than you might think.
Adele Herbert continues the theme of Kaleidoscope 2017 and speaks on “Your Story”.
14 May 2017 at Bedfordview AM.
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Adele Herbert continues the theme of Kaleidoscope 2017 and speaks on “Your Story”.
14 May 2017 at Bedfordview AM.
Marco Broccardo continues to speak on how the gospel breaks down all barriers: racial, economical, cultural, and so on, in light of our series on Ezekiel 47 (“The River”).
14 May 2017 at Rosebank.
Marco Broccardo continues to speak on how the gospel breaks down all barriers: racial, economical, cultural, and so on, in light of our series on Ezekiel 47 (“The River”).
14 May 2017 at Rosebank.
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This past Sunday we continued with our investigating of who Jesus is. The key question was, “Why do we need Jesus?” We have looked at who he is, but now we need to know why we need him in our lives.
We started by looking at the incredible truth Jesus gives in John 14:6 where he says that he is the way and truth and life, and thus the only way to the Father. He is our salvation. He is the only way.
We then looked at how he washed his disciples’ feet and what we can learn from that humble act. One key point that was made was to see how Jesus washes us clean. He removes the dirt of sin in our lives and makes a clean and right before our Father. Our children were reminded of the beautiful Gospel message and how it applies to them. As always there was some time of fun and games to help emphasise the message.
This was a report given by one of our teachers on how part of the morning went:
“What an amazing morning. God definitely spoke to His kids. As our Grade 2’s were colouring in the craft with their feet they were saying how hard it was, how sore it was, and how frustrating it was. BUT they kept on doing it. On and on they went. What a life lesson to learn: serving others and God can be tough like this but to persevere is the way to follow Jesus. Jesus has called us to serve others and serve Him. He knows at times it’s hard, and we don’t do it perfectly, but he encourages us to keep doing it.”
What a great lesson to experience. We hope our children have learned to persevere for Christ despite the difficulties that may come. May we, the parents and teachers, learn the same.
Your Part
Continue to reflect on the gospel with your children. Think of what it means to love and serve others, and to love and serve God. Help them see what Jesus did for us and how we can respond to him. In the busyness of this term we are seeing such fruit come out in our children. Please play a role in helping water such life.
We continue to investigate next week.
– The Children’s Church team
by Natasha Maine
This was my sixth Kaleidoscope. Like every Kaleidoscope, it was truly amazing. It gave me that much-needed fill and brought me closer to God and what He wants for my life. This year’s theme was “Every face tells a story”. It’s amazing to see how God is in the details because that theme was definitely a common thread in every speaker’s message from God.
I can go on and on about all the wonderful things I have taken away from this conference. But what I really want to share is: Your story may be one where you think it’s not that exciting. You grew up knowing God and growing in your relationship with Him from a very early age. Or it may be like the one we heard from Vanessa Goosen – 16 years in jail with lots of hardships and struggles.
But no matter what your story looks like, your story is God story.
He has given you your story to glorify His name in one way or another. Not all of us were given a story as radical as some but your story is unique and exactly what God wants for you. He has a plan and a purpose for your story. Your hardships and triumphs were given to you to shape you, to set your roots deeper in Him. Don’t be so set and focused on the circumstances and problems – but look to His amazing love and grace within those circumstances. He wants to use your story for His good. To help someone; maybe even just one person. Or it may be that you will help many people. Most importantly, God wants to see your face and He wants you to choose Him every single day – He wants you to say YES to Him every single day.
Use me God for you in any way you want to!