#6 in series: What If...
BIBLE READING:
Colossians 3:18-24; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
THEME
We’ve all seen them, maybe even have them. Those perfectly captured, staged managed family photos that hang on our loungeroom walls. Those nearly flawless family pics that Facebook and Instagram are flooded with that radiate happiness. Is that your family? A picture of grace and love and harmony? If it is not, take heart, there’s no such thing as a perfect family. But there is a perfect God whose love redeems and restores messy, dysfunctional families, who gives new opportunities to let his grace become visible in our lives. What if his love transformed our homes into a little heaven on earth? Today we explore that as we ask a kingdom question: what if you loved your family like never before?
THEME VERSE
Love… always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Families are a microcosm of our faith; they are conduits of God's grace to humanity. For it is in families that God's empowering love is seen on the front page of life. In the rough-and-tumble of living life together we learn how to give and receive unconditional love, forgiveness and grace and demonstrate to everyone how God works in this world.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Loving God, you have taught us that anything we do without love is worth nothing, so pour your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit you have given to us, that we may love you and others like never before and receive you promises which far exceed all that we could ever hope for or desire. We ask this in the name of the one who is love, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FAITH TALK
1 What do you love about your family?
2. What's the funniest thing that has ever happened to or in your family?
3. What would it look like if you love your family like never before?
#5 in series "What if..."
READINGS:
2 Corinthians 8:1-7; 9:6-15
Luke 21:1-4
THEME
Going…going…gone? Is Australia’s generosity disappearing? Australia’s giving to overseas aid is expected to slump to 0.2% of gross national income by 2021. The average per capita to charity is $200-300 per annum which works out to 0.25-0.3% of the median household income in Australia. Yet according to NCLS research over 66% of church goers give regularly and 20% of attenders tithe on top of whatever they give to tax deductible charities. So why the gap? Could it simply be that grace transforms people’s hearts; that the extraordinary gift of forgiveness found in Jesus not only frees people to give generously but instills a joy in giving like never before? We’ll explore and experience that today.
THEME VERSE
God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
God loves so much that he gives. Giving like never before flows from a heart that has been genuinely touched by the sacrificial and generous love of God in Jesus Christ. It's a grace that transforms our lives - reorienting our mind, opening our eyes, enlarging our heart, growing our compassion and increasing our trust in a God whose generosity and grace will never be exhausted.
FAITH TALK
1. What's the best gift you have ever been given by someone?
2. Would you say you are a generous giver, a reluctant giver or a stingy giver? Why?
3. What do you think God values in our giving?
#4 in series: 'What if..."
BIBLE READINGS:
Romans 10:9-15; Luke 14:15-23
THEME
It's an iconic sound. The red Australia Post Honda motorbikes buzzing through suburban streets delivering mail to homes across this country. How many times did you hear that sound and race out to the letterbox to check the mail, hoping to find a personal letter addressed to you? All around our neighbourhoods and workplaces today, and sometimes in our very homes, are people longing to receive the offer of free grace, the personal invitation to fullness of life in Jesus. All around us are people ready to jump at the opportunity, just waiting to RSVP to Jesus but the invitation is never delivered. So what if we were to share our faith like never before? What if we were to personally hand deliver the good news invitation to those around us? God wants you for an immediate start. All that's required is a willing heart.
THEME VERSE
‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full'. Luke 14:23
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
You are the means by which God renews the world, one life at a time. You are called to personally hand deliver the good news to those in your circles of influence that they are invited to come to the party just as they are.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
God of grace, as you have invited us and dressed us to feast at you table, give us such eagernes and courage to share that invitation with others, that they too may know the joy of being in your presence forever. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
FAITH TALK
1. What's the most memorable/best invitation you have ever received?
2. How is what Jesus has done for you, good news in your life?
3. Why do you struggle to share that good news with others?
SORRY THERE IS NO RECORDING OF THIS WEEK'S SERMON DUE TO TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION
BIBLE READINGS:
1 Corinthians 12:4-27; Matthew 25:14-30
THEME
A champion team will always beat a team of champions! If you’ve strapped on the boots, stepped onto the pitch, walked onto the court or slipped on a guernsey…it’s likely the coach, the captain or your parents…said something just like that. It’s true, a team can be led by, inspired by, or challenged by a champion player, but no champion player ever won a game much less a championship without their team. What’s true in every team sporting code is exponentially true in the church. God has assembled us as one and equipped up with gifts to be used for his glory, to strengthen and build up the body and to widen the reach of His Kingdom so that he can lead us to fullness & maturity in Christ. If the church seems stagnant or is just limping along, maybe a good question to ask is, “Am I using my gifts like never before?” Just imagine the impact the body of Christ can have if we used our gifts like never before. We'll explore that today.
THEME VERSE
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
God has given you your spiritual gifts for a reason – to use them…like never before.
When you play the special role God has called you to play, the effect is beautiful, stunning, & eye-opening to those who experience it, leaving people everywhere to declare, ‘How awesome is God.’
FAITH TALK
1 If the Church was like your favourite sporting team/band, what role would you play in the team (being a spectator/fan is not an option!)
2. What holds you back from using that gift like never before?
3. How might the body of Christ be strengthened by you using your gifts?
#1 in series: What if...
BIBLE READINGS
Acts 12:1-17; Matthew 7:7-11
THEME
Confidence is a trait that can make all the difference. You see it with a players across all sports. Middle the first shot, sink the first putt, nail the first goal and the confidence grows. Research has shown that success affects the level of confidence and confidence can affect success. Is that the reason that many people struggle with prayer? A lack of confidence that comes from a lack of success? That every tragedy, every hurt, every disappointment is a great marketing tool for unanswered prayer and causes us to question the limit of God's goodness? But what if confidence in prayer was not about results but about relationship? A coming home to the open heart of God where in his gracious presence we are invited and enabled to pray like never before with the utmost confidence. That's what we will explore and experience today.
THEME VERSE
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Through Jesus Christ, God has provided a way into his heart. We are saved by grace. We live by grace. We pray by grace. Prayer is entering into an enduring, continuing, growing love relationship with a gracious heavenly Father, whereby we are changed and new trust, new joy, and new hope emerges in our lives.
FAITH TALK
What things do you routinely pray for?
If someone heard you praying, what would they conclude about God from your prayers?
#6 and final in series: Contrast
BIBLE READING:
Matthew 13:47-52
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
THEME
It’s an ongoing discussion in the email marketing world: Do you choose to grow your list via opt-in or opt-out methods? It's an issue that the government has received a lot of backlash over with their decision to implement an Opt-out only system for your 'My Health Record'. Opt-in or Opt-out. Many people see Christianity in the same vein - as something that you can opt into or out of.
But today in the final week of our parable series "Contrast", Jesus uses the illustration of the dragnet to show the indiscriminate, non-selective catch of the Gospel as it moves silently through the sea of life drawing all people, almost without them knowing it, into the shores of eternity. But here’s the catch. There is no opt-in, only an opt out option. But therein lies our comfort, our challenge and the mission of the Kingdom of heaven. We will experience and explore that today.
THEME VERSE
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. Matthew 13:46
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
We are caught up in the net of God's grace and mercy. Through Christ's death and resurrection God has chosen us in Christ to be part of his eternal joy and a life that never ends. Christ proclaims us beautiful and loved by the Father. So until the net is finally hauled ashore, our task is to live in that grace and let that grace in us love indiscriminately for grace alone can transform hearts and lives.
FAITH TALK
Of all the parables that we have looked at over the last six weeks, which one caused you to think the most or responated with you the most?
If the net drawing all people to the shores of eternity is drawing closed, who do you need to talk to in your sphere of influence to tell them about the God who will be with them for ever?
#5 in series: Contrast
BIBLE READING
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
THEME
“I’d give my right arm for one of those.” Well...maybe not your arm, but every now and then we want something and we want it so badly that we are willing to go to great lengths to get it…emotionally, mentally, physically. Whatever the cost. Whatever the challenge. The length to which you are prepared to go is directly proportionate to the value you assign to it and how high it rates on your scale of what matters in life. Today Jesus tells us that the greatest treasure, what has most value is found right before our eyes, in him and his love and grace. And when you discover that priceless gift…you’ll also find that there is nothing that has a greater value or is worth giving everything in your life to other than that.
THEME VERSE
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
God gave up what he valued most in this world, his own Son, to get what he treasured most in this world. You!
You are precious and valuable in his sight! Always and forever. Never forget that.
FAITH TALK
1 What do you value most about your dad?
2 What is your most prized possession?
3 What in your life has the greatest value?
READING:
Matthew 13:33-35
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.
THEME
Influence - the art of motivating and changing behaviour - has reached new heights. There is now an App for that! Whether its Apps like 'Good on You' that rate brands according to their ethical performance to motivate your buying habits or 'Track your Impact' that shows which project your Thankyou Water Bottle is funding, or the big supermarkets that send you emails with specials based on your buying habits, everyone wants to exert influence on others. Today in the Parable of the Yeast, Jesus makes use of a well established symbol, widely regarded as a contaminant, an agent of change, disruption and even corruption to show how God's order-upsetting kingdom will infiltrate, infect, disrupt, transform and influence every part of life! Prepare to have your world thrown out of balance!
THEME VERSE
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
A little grace goes a long way. A little grace changes everything. A little grace will transform this world. Wherever you are remember who you are, for...
Your
Example
Always
Shines
Through
The Spirit at work in you will have a huge influence and impact.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Gracious Father, let the yeast of your eternal wisdom work its way into every corner of our lives that we may be a growing influence for good, transforming lives and communities around us with your grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen
FAITH TALK
1 Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
2 What factors motivate, trigger your buying habits?
3 How can the little things you do in Christ’s name exert an influence on others?
THEME
BIBLE READING
Matthew 13:31-32
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
THEME
“From little things big things grow. From little things big things grow.” We hope that’s true about our super. We want it to be true about that business venture we’ve backed. It’d be great if it were the case with that song we uploaded to YouTube. Human aspiration normally points up and to the right; growing profit, advancing prestige, increasing power. From little things…. Jesus says his kingdom looks like one of those little things…a mustard seed. It’s easily missed and overlooked, often disregarded or despised. But when you recognise the Kingdom of heaven for what it is and let it invade, take over and transform your life, you will see and experience God do something so great that it will leave you in awe and lead you to worship.
THEME VERSE
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” Matthew 13:31
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
God takes little things…insignificant things…seemingly worthless things…to accomplish great things. He takes your stammering lips, your faltering prayers, your acts of grace and generosity and your fragile service and by it the kingdom grows. Improbable? Yes!. But mightily. That's his promise.
FAITH TALK
1. What is something little that has grown in your life in surprising ways?
2. In the last week, where did you catch a glimpse of God’s presence in the world?
3. How has the Church been a place of rest, refuge or nurture for you?