God and You: Your Action Plan

Well our series on 1 Corinthians is nearly over after two terms - only a couple of weeks to go!

Some questions for you: what has stood out for you from what Paul wrote in this letter? What has been something you hadn't known or thought through before in your Christian life that this series has helped you with?

For me one thing was (of all things!) the Lord's Supper. I was really reminded by God that the Lord's Supper is not just a private thing between me and God, but also between me and everyone at church proclaiming Jesus to each other!

Another thing was being reminded of how God's wisdom is so much more powerful than the shallow emptiness of the world's wisdom. Knowing and living out Christ crucified in our lives is the key for life!

What did you discover?

10 points for where this is. 30 points for the name of the park.

God and You: Resurrection Chaser

It's been a big week if you're a Sydneysider. Major world leaders (such as Vladimir Putin-Russia, George W Bush-USA, Wen Jiabao-China) are in town, there's a great big security fence in the middle of the CBD, and the Chaser have done it again...a major prank success as they got through two levels of security and very nearly a third to reach the US President's hotel!

It's a good thing that world leaders are meeting together and it's a good thing to pray about at home. Pray for justice and mercy and care for the oppressed to be part of their discussions. Pray that God would over-rule in decision-making.

But on another level there is still so much difficulty and struggle in our world. At home we either struggle with family difficulties and feeling unsure about what we are meant to do in life - or we don't think about it at all. Across the world, people are still locked in patterns of poverty, injustice and heartache. Have a look at some world problems here, for example.

God's word says that our earthly bodies are perishable - sown from the dust in dishonour and weakness (1 Corinthians 15:42-47). Some choose to ignore the pain of death and its futility by eating and drinking merrily, for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:34).

But as Christians we have a light in the middle of the cloud! We have hope, we have the certainty that God is going to do something about all of this injustice and frustration that still clouds our world.

Jesus is risen! And because of this, one day Christ will put an end to all powers and authorities of every kind and hand the world over to his father. Everyone who has followed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will be given new life! We will be dressed in splendour, with bodies given to us by God - full of power, full of glory, transformed! We will have victory over death - God will rule us powerfully and with excellence!

With this certainty about the future, we can dive with confidence into Jesus and live for him! Although we see death and frustration in the world we know that Jesus will deal fully and perfectly with both soon. We can dive full-blooded into serving God before he returns! Praise God!

God and You: God Keeps The World Together

When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Psalm 75:3

It's been a big week for big names being affected in a big way.

Owen Wilson, star of Zoolander, Starsky and Hutch, Meet the Parents and a host of other hilarious Hollywood comedies, apparently tried to kill himself this week.

Andrew Johns, one of the great Rugby League footballers, confessed last night on Channel 9 that he has been a slave to drugs for 10 years to cope with the pressure of top-level football. He is still taking them in retirement. He also 'fessed up to having serious depression.

Let's remember to pray for these guys. Who hasn't enjoyed Owen Wilson? He is a great comedian and his movies with Ben Stiller have been hilarious and tremendously successful. And who hasn't enjoyed Andrew Johns at his best - he was a magnificent sight, scoring tries and winning games for Newcastle, NSW and Australia. We can pray for them to recuperate and recover from their illnesses, and to become Christians.

Sometimes I forget these guys are just people. Sometimes I forget and think they are hugely successful people on the outside and the inside. But I would be wrong - my Bible tells me something different:

As it is written: "There is no one righteous (right in God's eyes), not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." Romans 3:10-11

But Jesus is perfectly right with his Father, and through Jesus - if we accept what he has done for us on the cross - we are made right with God:

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Thanks Jesus! But what made Owen Wilson and Andrew Johns do what they did? Well, they each felt they couldn't cope with their situations - they needed help and couldn't get the help they needed.

God has something to say to us as Christians:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is God who keeps steady its pillars.

Where is this picture taken? 50 points!!!

God and You: The Outsider

Have you ever felt like an outsider at a church before? One of our own church members has felt like this recently. Read about it here.

Everything is new. Everything is strange. Your first instinct is to leave the building. It feels too hard to talk to anyone. You don't often get what is happening in the service. People speak in some kind of different language.

You think to yourself, if no-one talks to me soon I'm outta here and never coming back. God can't make that much difference to people if they're not nice to me.

Believe it or not that is how someone new to church feels when they first come to a service. Do you remember the first time you came to church? I do, even 'though it was nearly 15 years ago! Try going to a church when you are away from Mittagong on holidays - you'll quickly remember what it is like!

Paul talks about the outsider in 1 Corinthians 14:13-25. Even 'though it seems to be all about 'speaking in tongues' and 'prophecy', if you read between the lines Paul is really concerned for the outsider.

He says to the people in church who are speaking in tongues (a weird language no-one can understand),

"if some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?"

He wants people to speak normally! Paul says if people just speak normally to new people with words from God, that is really helpful to a newcomer and it shows them Christ in a powerful way.

Next time you see someone new at church welcome them, understand the nervousness and awkwardness they may be feeling, greet them lovingly, introduce them to your friends, and speak of God's goodness to them.

After all, that is why they have come!

God And You: Youth

God has a lot to say especially to youth in the Bible. He says some marvellous, encouraging things. Look at these verses as a sample:

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
Psalm 25:7-8

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
Psalm 71:5-6

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:17-18

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:2-5

For the Christian youth God does not remember our youthful sins and our rebellion. He teaches us even from youth about following him despite our mistakes. He is our confidence in our youth - even if we don't have confidence in ourselves. He is our hope! David and other psalm writers - still in their youth in some of the psalms - show us the hope they have in God. It's fabulous!

God warns youth also in the Bible. He doesn't warn them for no reason 'though. Youth are encouraged to turn around their behaviour so that they do not fall forever from God's grace by their rebellion.

I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me.
Jeremiah 22:21

Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth till this day we have not obeyed the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 3:25

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22

God cares deeply for youth and wants them to know the joy, the hope, and the everlasting friendship he promises through Jesus.

Do you know that hope?

God and You: Disciple Makers

At Senior High we like to do things that lead us into the theme of the night! Can you guess our theme from last Monday from the above picture?? You'd be doing well!

On Monday we we made things: unique bubble gum sculptures like the one above (yes - it was truly gross!), a gladiator outfit and bride and groom wedding attire (both made from loo paper).

God graciously makes us his followers through Jesus. He also makes us disciple-makers. Have a look at some of these verses from the Bible:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Jesus)

Matthew 5:14-16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...(Paul)

Romans 1:16

Some questions for you to post a comment on below:

Have you shared something of your Christian life with a friend who doesn't know Jesus? What do you find is the most scary thing about sharing Jesus with someone else?

However you answered those questions, know that you are not alone! You have all your Christian friends at church to get prayer, support and encouragement from.

And of course, when you share the gospel it is the power of God that changes people's hearts - we don't have to rely on our own power to convince our friends about Jesus! Hooray!

God and You: Being Connected

A few weeks ago in the USA, Apple introduced its new iPhone. Did you know Apple sold over 270,000 iPhones in the first 30 hours of sale - that's about two sold per second! Clearly people want to be connected to each other with a mobile phone, and they want a nice way of connecting! The iPhone is easy to use, pretty-looking and is a mulitpurpose device that seems to suit all of its users' needs.

At Senior High last Monday we looked at how we are connected to God through Jesus. We read about the image of the vine in John 15:1-20. We saw that:

• God is the gardener, or - to use iPhone talk - he is the best keeper of networks ever!
• Jesus is the only connection to God the Father
• We are in Jesus - that is, we are a branch of the vine, or like a mobile phone user connected to God's service!
• If we disconnect to God we can do nothing on our own - there is no connection or service! Our lives go dead!
• If we remain in him he will remain in us
• God chose us personally to be part of his network through Jesus
• God is not a big brother horrible God with us his slaves but a friend, a personal God (thanks for this point Ashleigh McGill)
• God asks us to love each other 'as I have loved you'
• As his disciples - connected to him and actually in him, like a branch is a living part of a vine (see picture above) - we begin to bear fruit for Jesus!
• This fruit is love for Jesus, hope in Jesus, faith, and things like
  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)
• Like any good gardener, God will prune us now and then and that will hurt.
• But he does that so we will eventually bear more fruit for him.

Are you being pruned at the moment? Does it hurt? Although it is hard, know that this is for your benefit, to make you bear fruit for the living God, who personally chose you to receive the benefits of his 'kingdom network'.

God and You: Stumbling block principle brings real results!

Over the last few weeks in our sermon series on 1 Corinthians we’ve looked at stuff like ‘the Stumbling Block Principle’ of Paul.

It’s really important for us to remember that when we use that principle, good things happen.

In Acts 15, Peter tells the Council of Jerusalem that anyone – whether a Jewish person or non-Jewish – can turn to Jesus and be saved. But some people had other ideas.

"They have to be circumcised, according to the Law of Moses", they said*.

Why did they say this? Perhaps they were a bit alarmed at the freedom non-Jewish people were exercising in their faith.

In contrast, the Jewish believers were still fresh from observing all the Jewish customs and were finding it hard to break away.

To cut a long story short – the Council decides to apply what we know as ‘the stumbling block principle’! And it has a wonderful effect on Christians everywhere!

The council sends a decree to the new Gentile Christians, saying they are pleased they are saved by grace, but asking them to voluntarily steer clear of a few things that would really truly cause offence to the Jews.

"We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are…It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. (Acts 15:11; 19-20)

In this way, the Gentiles would care for the 'weaker' Jewish Christians.

Because of applying the ‘stumbling block principle’ so that Jewish people were cared for, here’s what happened:

As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Acts 16:4-5

Just remember from this example in Acts: when we obey God’s word and care and build up our brothers and sisters in Christ, good things happen.

*Acts 15:1

God and You will Be Posted Thursday!

God and You: Being All Alone

(Contributed by Cecily Paterson)

The story of Elijah is very instructive for anyone who is feeling alone, isolated and misunderstood.

Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

1 Kings 19:10

Elijah feels alone. He’s dwelling on his isolation, and it’s making him almost arrogant. He’s getting into a sense of forced melancholy – sort of crisis, panic, super-drama. It’s an easy state for any of us to find ourselves in.“I’m the only one who really understands the world, who really sees the problems in Australia, who really has a relationship with God that means something, who’s really suffered, who really.... " Well, you fill in the blank.

It's so easy to find ourselves the hero of an exaggerated super-drama.But God did not leave Elijah alone. He does not leave us alone either. We would have to go far to be completely isolated. There is always someone to stand with - others who love God. Why did Elijah not make an effort to find others who were the same as him and seek refuge with them? I don’t know. Maybe fear of being rejected, killed or persecuted? Maybe it was pride. In a dramatic way, it’s kind of cool to be the only one left! The single hero, solitary figure, misunderstood.

There are heaps of movies are built on that romantic ideal. But interestingly, the single, solitary, misunderstood hero is always seriously flawed - as a result of their isolation. It might be cool or interesting to be isolated for a while. But you will die of it in the end. It was the grace of God that told Elijah there were 500 others who followed him. Not just two or three. But 500!

There are plenty of people around who we can stand with too. We have to face our fears and our pride and go out and identify ourselves with them.

(15 points for naming the location in the picture)

God and You: Good God!

Last Sunday we heard from Richard about overcoming temptation. So what happens if you have already fallen into temptation?

Psalm 51 is probably one of the most well-known examples in the Bible of an example of someone who has fallen into temptation, and who truly repents for what he has done to God. It’s great for us to look at and imitate. King David himself writes it, only after his hidden sin is discovered and brought into the open.

David had lusted after a gorgeous woman – Bathsheba - and killed Bathsheba’s husband to have her all for himself! David thought no-one had found out his evil act. But he gets caught out by one of God’s prophets! You can read about this in (click on the verses to read them) 2 Samuel 11 and 12. David pays a tragic price for his sin in 2 Samuel 12:14-18.

People often focus on David and his heartfelt repentance in Psalm 51. This is a good thing. Sin makes us feel dirty, sad, broken, constantly guilty and far from God’s presence. Also, when we sin the person most offended is God himself.

If you read through Psalm 51 you will see David feels this too. He can’t go on with the sin in his life, and he knows only God can wash him clean. Like us when we sin, David wants to be washed clean of the dirtiness he is feeling as a result of his sin. It lingers in him and is making him despair. The most pure, clean thing he can think of is white snow so he says to God, “Wash me (of my dirty insides) and I will be whiter than snow”.

But this psalm tells us a lot more than just David’s reaction to his terrible sin. It tells us about the good God we have! Here are some things about God that are here for us to remember and delight in...

God is a God -

Of steadfast love (v1)
Of abundant mercy (v1)
Blameless in his judgement (v4)
Who delights in truth in our inner being (v6)
Who teaches us wisdom in our secret heart (v6)
Who washes and cleans us of our sin (v7)
Who gives us joy and gladness (v8)
Who creates in us a clean heart and renews a right spirit in us (v10)
Who gives us joy in his salvation of us (v12)!

God is good! He lavishes all these things on you! Why would we want to turn away from his goodness! Yet if you have succumbed to temptation - but then truly turn 180 degrees from our sinful ways (ie repent, like David) - God promises these things for you once more.

God and You: Quiet Times

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Matthew 6:6

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.Psalm 37:7

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10


It's great to spend time with God on our own - to close the door and leave our ipods, tv shows, music, internet and other distracting stuff behind, and just be still before God. To allow ourselves time and space to hear God speaking to us in the Bible.

Maybe you are carrying some baggage into your time of being still with God. You may be distracted by study, anxiety, time, anger at God, you may even be feeling like it's a waste of time.

Well - before you read from the Bible, share these feelings with God first! Tell him everything, be honest - don't be polite to God. He knows how you are really feeling! It's very refreshing to do this! The writers in the psalms talk very honestly to God about their feelings. Read Psalms 10-13 to see this!

Having a time of stillness before God, reading his word by yourself, with the door closed, is a really important way to truly reFUEL and be refreshed in your relationship with God. Read Psalm 18 also to see how the writer felt as he reFUELed with God.

FEAST has been given 'quiet time' sheets to do over the holidays to get into the habit of being still with God. It's a great habit to get into!

The Old Testament Easy Study Guide

The old often gives you some background to the new, doesn't it?

In September our new centre will be finished and all of our youth groups will move into it. A look at our (current!) makeshift locations for our youth groups and we see straight away the need for our new centre! It will provide a wonderful new resources for us - like a place to have cinema-standard film nights, great kitchen, lots of space for groups to study God's word and other new resources.

Well---now think of the Old and New Testaments in the Bible....if you want to get a great summary of the Old Testament and why it is there, a great read is the Book of Acts in the New Testament!

The apostles Peter and Paul, as well as others like Stephen and Philip, all show us how to interpret the Old Testament by the way they use it to talk about Jesus.

Have a look at these sample passages in your bibles and you’ll see what I’m talking about:

Acts 2: 22-36 (Peter speaks about King David and his foretelling Jesus)
Acts 3:19-26

Acts 7 (a full summary of the OT and its fulfilment in Jesus)

The Book of Acts shows us how we read the Old Testament - to see the big picture of God’s rescue plan to save us. It foretells the coming of the Messiah – Jesus Christ – and how by Jesus’ wounds ‘we will be healed’ (Isaiah 53:5).

Just as the new church centre will replace the old youth sites - Jesus is the fulfilment of the Old Testament!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

God and You: Remember and Reflect

How good at you at remembering things? How about thinking deeply and reflecting (another word for reflecting is meditating) on things - do you reflect deeply about things that happen to you?

The Bible frequently talks about remembering and reflecting. There is a clear message here for us.

• Psalm 77:12 I will reflect upon all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.
• Psalm 119:15 (a personal favourite) I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
• Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

It's a message repeated over and over in the New Testament as well (Ephesians 2:12; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 10:32; Hebrews 13:7; 2 Peter 1:15; Revelation 2:5 and 3:3): remember what God has done for you.

Here's a thought. Stop what you are doing right now and take time out. Make a list of the good things God has done for you in your life. How he brought you to himself. How he has kept you close to him since then, through the ups and downs of your life. How the Spirit of God has spoken to you in your Bible reading.

Write down the times people have said they have been praying for you. And the times other Christians have encouraged you to keep going and shown you love over the years. How about the times it was clear God obviously intervened in your life at some point.

Add to the list the good things that have happened at MAC in the last 12 months. And the good things that God has done in the lives of those around you lately. If you've finished your list, just reflect on it for a while.

When we feel low and troubled, unloved, or persecuted - as the psalmists often did - we can take their advice: remember and reflect upon the goodness of our God to us.