G'Day!
How great was it to see God bring together our African friends update, Ryan + Hailey's bold obedience, your stories and Jesus' teaching to, "Deny yourself"! God is good at aligning all things for his glory and our good.
This Sunday we gather for the first time in the Caloundra CCSA Hall. The hall is located at 1 Nutley St, Caloundra Q 4551 near The Events Centre. Plenty of parking is available onsite!
Because there is less space outside than the farm and park, we will start at 3 pm with a simple afternoon tea (bring something to share) and kick into worship around 330-ish - a bit earlier than normal.
Thanks to Marcello for organising this!
Learning to deny myself - John Morris
On Sunday we explored Jesus teaching that denying ourselves is a key step in following him! Along with a great story from Ryan about the power of living this out, I asked. "What is holding you back from following Jesus?"
John Morris, gathering together with his wife on the beach, was reflecting on submitting his life to Jesus. Below, John offers a story of submitting to Jesus in one key area of life and faith.
You may think an old man who has followed The Lord Jesus for many years has no need to answer the question, “What is holding you back?” Often and even daily, The Lord Jesus asks for obedience. 11 years ago the preacher said that baptism was “submitting to Jesus’ Lordship”. He went on to say that “submission means ‘coming-in-under’ the authority of Jesus’ Lordship in all domains of ones life”. No area could be quarantined. There was a price to pay = are you willing to submit whatever the cost? Baptism is the public statement of being willing to not hold-back. There will be a cost.
Yes, my identical twin brother and I had been Christened as 3 year olds in the privacy of the family home with only 1 of 4 older sibs present. Yes, I had been confirmed at 26 years old in a moving ceremony on Palm Sunday by the local bishop in an alive Anglican Church. Now in 2013, Jesus was saying, “If you intend to follow Me, do not hold back, declare it, submit”.
So on Palm Sunday (42 years after being confirmed and 69 years after Christening) I went under the water of baptism and tasted the cleansing of submission. Two weeks later I had a nearly fatal heart attack. The medical treatment I received was world-class. Was The Father saying “I do not need you with me in Glory yet. I have work for you to do where I am leaving you”?
Old men still have to struggle, but a submitted heart does not hold-back. He that is for us is greater than he that is against us. “What is holding you back”?
May every one of us discover the same life-giving joy of lovingly obeying our friend and saviour, Jesus Christ.
Cheers and see you Sunday for worship!
Dan
Supporting our African Friends
Thanks to everyone for your interest in our friends. We encourage anyone who feels God's prompting to partner in financial support and stay connected with regular family updates and weekly city-wide prayer needs. To hear more or receive updates, please email them at: VisionNA1@proton.me!
How can we pray for you?
It's so easy to become embroiled in daily life and forget to pray for all that weighs us down! I'm asking that we each take a moment to consider at least one prayer request and then submit it to our men's prayer group by either emailing Fred Van Staden directly (fredvanstaden@yahoo.com) or hitting REPLY right now 😄
As we heard on Sunday, God does answer prayers!
Coming Up
August
Sun 04 Aug Worship Night: Stories, Comm + Arvo Tea @ Caloundra CCSA Hall
Sun 11 Aug 3pm Moffat Gathering
Wed 14 Aug Prayer Night - 645pm
Sun 18 Aug 3pm Moffat Gathering - Baptisms anyone?
Sun 25 Aug 3pm Moffat Gathering
Upcoming
Sun 01 Sep Worship Night: Stories, Communion + Meal - Venue TBC
Sun 29 Sep Worship + Communion - Venue TBC
Sun 03 Nov Worship + Communion - Venue TBC
Wed 13 Nov Prayer Night - 646pm
Sun 01 Dec Worship Night: Stories, Communion + Christmas Pary
Our Mission
To help people find and follow Jesus.
Our Rhythms
Get to Know Jesus: how are you getting to know Jesus this week?
Invite people into your life: who can you intentionally open up your life to?
Gather and get involved: who can you connect, listen, share or pray with this weekend?
Our Giving
We are slowly being led to needs for our giving kitty! Please take time to ask God if there is someone in need around you whom God wants you/us to help!
Last month's giving: $10,964
Last month's expenses: $6,515
Balance: $65,035
Giving Kitty Oct-May: $5,000
Giving out Oct-May: $3,680
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
If you would like to support what we are doing and our giving to those in need, you can get started giving to Open Road to meet the needs of our church or get in touch with any questions you may have.
Your Prayers
Do you have a prayer request? Hit REPLY and we will pass it on to our prayer team.
Good or God
Got a "good story" or a "God story"? Bring it with you on Sunday and share it with others, even with the whole group, if it's brief and encouraging!
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