Sunday's time of worship and prayer was wonderful! Not only was it great to connect together, but the simple, heartfelt worship really touched many (include me!).
I shared a simple message on the wonderful opportunity Jesus gives us to be 'fully alive' in him.
I shared how God had been teaching me over the years that despite all the wonderful "spiritual" experiences I had with him, the most spiritual thing you can do is truly live.
The most spiritual thing you can do is truly live.
While we are truly spiritual beings, God placed us in a very real world and saved us to live very real, normal lives. However, this doesnt mean we should be stuck, stale or boring. Rather, we should expect that God has designed us for normal life to be a truly joyous experience - even during times of suffering.
Below are the Bible verses that we read through together on Sunday. I would encourage you to read them, or read them again if you were there Sunday, and to reflect on the same three questions at the end.
If you're truly brave, I'd encourage you to hit REPLY when you're done and let me know, "What would it look like for you to be fully alive?"
Gen 1:27 Male & Female designed in image dei (image of God)
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
John 1:4; 10:10; 11:25 Jesus came to offer new + true life
1 In him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”
1 Corinthians 15:21, 45 Jesus came to bring us back to life
“21 For as by a man [Adam] came death, by a man [Jesus] has come also the resurrection of the dead.”
“45 Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam [Jesus] became a life-giving spirit.’”
2 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus renews us from the inside out
“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
1 John 3:2 One day the transformation will be complete
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Reflection/Prayer
Read: What do you learn about God’s plan to be fully alive?
Reflect: What would it look like for you to be fully alive?
Pray: That you might become fully alive in Christ
Cheers, God Bless, and see you Sunday for young Jordyn's baptism!
Dan
Prayer
Please be in prayer for a proposal we have submited to hire the wonderful new WindanSea clubhouse! We think we would be able to keep our outdoor focus while having a place to shelter from the wind/rain as needed! It would also be a wonderful opportunity to find ways to partner/support other community organisations! We would like to think it can be a mutually beneficial outcome.
As we've been sharing lately, we want to be asking God to speak to us on a number of big topics this year:
- Rhythms: how will we foster our simple rhythms (know, invite, gather)?
- Elders: how will we structure our long-term leadership and who will be on the team.
- Generosity: how would God have us become the generous individuals and church he's called us to.
- Future: how and where will we continue to gather including our location.
Coming Up
Sun 09 July Baptisms 3pm @ Moffat
Sun 16 July 3pm Moffat Gathering
Sun 23 July 3pm Moffat Gathering
Sun 06 August 3pm Worship + Prayer Gathering. Venue TBC
Sun 13 August 3pm Moffat Gathering
Sun 20 August Baptisms 3pm Moffat Gathering
Sun 27 August 3pm Moffat Gathering
Our Mission
To help people find and follow Jesus
Our Rhythms
Know Jesus: how are you getting to know Jesus this week?
Invite people into your life: who can you bless this week?
Gather and get involved: How can you connect, listen, share or pray with others this week?
Our Giving
We are going to trial a simple project to encourage our church community to be generous! We invite you to ask God, "God, is there someone you would like me to BLESS this week?" If God gives you some direction/answer, then we encourage you to do the following:
1) Share God's direction with another Jesus follower (ideally from Open Road).
2) Plan how you can meet the need or follow through in any way.
3) If the opporutnity requires finances, please keep the receipt and, providing there are no legal/ethical issues, we will reimburse up to $100, no questions asked.
Alternatively, just meet the need yourself as led by God.
We realise this is a bit radical, so get in touch with any questions you may have. If you want to give to projects like this, you can get started with giving to Open Road.
Last mths giving: $5,974
Last mths expenses: $7,987
Bank Balance: $19,631
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
Bonus: Worship
Jeremy Riddle has been writing and leading worship for a long time. Recently, he is taking a backseat, and that has proved of great benefit! Here is one of his latest songs that I'm loving at the moment!
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