Faith Formed Relationships

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26 July, 2020Pastor Mark SchultzFaith Formed

It was a spectacle that was filled with awe and wonder. Fifteen dolphins, riding down waves in perfect formation, mirroring each other's moves, working as a team, living life together, speaking one another's language. If you are a dolphin, your community is vital. You rely on them for companionship and fun, for protection and provision. Scientists have found that these synchronized actions and interactive relationships can lead to bonding, close cooperation and even reduce stress. If it is that way for dolphins, how much more for humans. God has created us for relationships. We are formed to be engaged in the lives of others. We are shaped to relate, share and care for others, especially in Christian community. To be isolated for any reason for any extended period of time causes a person to lose touch with reality -you suffer physically and emotionally. To be isolated from the Christian community damages your spirit - you lose touch with the reality of the Father’s love and your neighbour’s need. The results are disastrous; your soul begins to wither and harden. The longer the separation the more lasting the damage. That's why faith formed relationships are vital to our ongoing health and vitality in life. The Holy Spirit uses these relationships to transform and shape us in God's image and reveal the power of God's love in us and through us to the world. Only in faith formed relationships do we find life in its fullest and a joy that never ends.

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THEME VERSE:

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35


REMEMBER THIS

Lives connected by the unbreakable bond of Jesus’ love…

Lives united by the eternal power of the Spirit…

Hearts transformed together and living in sync with the Father's will…

are God's living billboard of grace to the world that draws others more closely to fullness of life in Jesus Christ.

Bible Reading

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This is the Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

More from 'Faith Formed'

Faith Formed Generosity

16 August, 2020 Pastor Mark Schultz

Gaps - life is full of them. Between intention and action, potential and performance, inexperience and wisdom, doubt and confidence, reality and dreams, fear and courage, the known and unknown, between life as it was and life as it is now. Gaps always take us to the edge of what we know, to the border of what we believe and to the horizon of what we can see. In many ways COVID-19 has revealed the widening gaps that are a part of our life and the spiritual poverty that exists. But if we are willing to step into that gap, letting go of our self-reliance, letting go of our need to control, letting go of our lives, we might just discover the riches of poverty - a God who graciously and generously bridges every gap in our life so that we can step into the gap and embody Christ-like generosity for others. We'll explore how faith-formed generosity can not only pull together the gap in people's lives today but fill it with the blessing of Christ’s presence.

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Join the Chat group at 10.30am Sunday here

THEME VERSE

"All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:4

REMEMBER THIS WEEK

Faith formed generosity does not begin in the hand but in the heart.

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Faith Formed Service

9 August, 2020 Pastor Mark Schultz

“Do you want fries with that?” For most of us that was our introduction to the marketing ploy “upsizing.” A subtle yet convincing insinuation that you really wanted more…bigger is better…more is more satisfying. That upsizing mindset has permeated much of our thinking.

Older Australians are encouraged to upsize their homes to protect their pension. Sellers experiment with upsizing their packaging to appeal to a wider customer base. As a society we are constantly told to upsize ourselves. To believe in ourselves, to put our best foot forward. Look at your resume! The classic upsize…promote ourselves and upsize our achievements. But Jesus wasn’t concerned about upsizing or even downsizing because he proclaimed that for God’s saving purpose in this world, you are just the right size. Today we explore what Faith formed service really looks like.

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THEME VERSE

'…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

REMEMBER THIS WEEK

You are the right size to serve. In all things, his love will fill you, his Spirit will equip you, his strength will enable you, and his presence will guide you to leave the imprint of his self-giving love in every act and every interaction.

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Faith Formed Worship

2 August, 2020 Pastor Mark Schultz

Five months ago, the world went into freefall in a major way. All the idols we had built, all the things we relied on, all our plans for the future were thrown into disarray when COVID-19 hit. Sport was cancelled. Financial markets crashed. Travel was curtailed. Social activities were halted. Freedoms were restricted and churches shut their doors. The world went into panic. But worship remained. Faith formed worship is a gift that God gives to press reset on our lives - to recalibrate, refocus, re-imagine and reset our perspective , our priorities and our purpose - and restore us to God's original intention for our lives. It centres, shapes and transforms our lives daily to rise above every confusing and challenging situation and live for that which has ultimate value - the praise and glory of God. Today as we re-gather in person for the first time, we press reset again and experience the blessing of faith formed worship

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THEME VERSE

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 1 Chronicles 16:31

REMEMBER THIS:

Faith formed worship is a daily reset button for our thoughts, emotions, desires and actions. It enables our minds to imagine creatively, our lives to inspire continuously, our love to flow extravagantly and our hearts to trust securely.

FAITH TALK:

What “idol of the nation” do you have a tendency to praise, value, and esteem? How have you seen it affecting your God-given purpose in life?

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Faith Formed Listening

19 July, 2020 Pastor Mat von Stanke

35,000 – that’s a big number. 35,000 No it's not the number of new COVID cases in Victoria this week, or the businesses that closed in NSW over the last 4 months. It's not even the number of people allowed to go to an NRL match this past weekend. It’s the number of choices scientists say the average adult makes in a day: 35,000. From the mundane – what to wear or have for breakfast - to the infinitely more complex and life-altering – when to merge into busy traffic, treatment or care options, vocation, spouse, parenting, home-buying. Every choice shapes or forms our life either leading to peace and contentment or second guessing and regret. Who or what are you listening to in the choices you make and how is that affecting your life, your relationships, your emotions and your future? Today we explore faith-formed listening - a posture that leads to life in its fullest and a joy that never ends.

#2 in series: Faith Formed

Read this week's Weekly News here

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THEME VERSE:

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore Psalm 16:11

REMEMBER THIS

Only one thing is needed in life - a relationship with Jesus. Time in his presence and listening to his Word will direct your life, shape your mind, form your attitudes, fuel your emotions and inspire your actions, bringing peace, contentment and joy in every choice.

FAITH TALK

1. In the choices you are making at the moment, how much of it is guided by listening to God's Word?

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Faith Formed Prayer

12 July, 2020 Pastor Mark Simpfendorfer

'“Hotspots” – they are places of exceptional connection or reception or as we are discovering in Melbourne at this time, places of increased transmission. What if you could become a “hotspot” for the gospel? What would make your life exceptionally connected or receptive to God’s working in your world or increase your capacity to transmit the good news of Jesus to someone else? Discipleship is an intentional journey in grace where we seek to walk Jesus’ way and become more like him each day. The behaviours of faith: prayer, reading the Bible, relating to & serving others, and generosity are more than just rote rituals, but are shaped by the depth of love we have received & the breadth of trust we offer in return. The practice of these behaviours is how the Holy Spirit transforms you into a “hotspot” for the gospel. Faith formed prayer opens your life not to more “answers” from God but more intimacy with him and more obedience in return. As Jesus prayed and immediately turned his life to the Father’s will, you too become more aligned with God’s work in this world through you. We’ll explore and experience Faith Formed Prayer today.

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THEME VERSE:

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9b-10

REMEMBER THIS

Prayer brings us into the presence of a loving Father who aligns us with his will and involves us in his life-shaping purposes. There is nothing more important, dangerous, or strengthening than prayer. For it is both life forming and life transforming.

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