2008 April » Southern Cross Presbyterian Church

SCPC Podcast: Hosea Series Talk 3, Real Repentance

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Apr 272008

In this bible talk from Hosea chapter 14 by Matt Simpson, we’ll be hearing about what it means to really repent of sin. What we’ll come to know is that real repentance is the key that unlocks the door to a restored relationship with God.

Key Verse

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

Hosea 14:1-2

Bible Reading: Hosea 14:1-9

Outline:

Intro: the day I did something really bad

1. the need for repentance
2. the nature of repentance
3. the consequences of repentance

You can play the podcast using the “Play in Pop-Up” link below the player which will allow you to visit other pages while listening.

A broadband connection is recommended to listen to this talk from the web.

Subscribe to this Podcast in iTunes

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If you have any questions about this talk please leave a comment or email the speaker.

past.present.future.

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Apr 242008

I reckon that one of modern life’s constant challenges is to live in a way that recognises the importance of our past and our future as well as what is happening right now. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the momentary stuff, the day-to-day flurry of activity, that we hardly ever make the time to hit “pause” and reflect on the past or contemplate the future. For Christians, this is a real problem because understanding our past and our future is critical to understanding our identity – who we are “in Christ”.

Consider for a moment two of the most dominant characteristics of the Christian described in the New Testament: gratitude and hope. These two characteristics are meant to mark Christians out from the world and be examples of the life-changing power of the gospel. But how can we develop an attitude of gratitude if we never reflect on the past, and particularly on God’s goodness to us in Christ Jesus? And how can we hold tightly to the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus if we never look forward to the glorious hope that God has prepared for those who love him?

With all this in mind, we’re going to make time in our groups this term to reflect on our past and to contemplate our future, as well as assessing how we’re travelling with God in the here and now. We’ll be hearing from one member of SCPC this Sunday in church about their past present & future and when you grab your term 2 envelope after church, have a flick through your small group booklet and check out Nick & Ange Allen’s story on page 5.

Grow well.

Touch Footy saves lives

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Apr 222008

James Ritchie was interviewed in church on Sunday about the role touch footy played in introducing him to Jesus.

As well as learning a language (Thai), Ritchie enjoys playing sports, but these days, thanks to touch footy, he knows that there’s more to life than those fun things. He started coming along to Southern Cross touch footy on Saturdays when Dylan Brooks, then a school friend, invited him along.

“At that stage I wasn’t a Christian and I thought Christianity was a whole bunch of rules to follow”, Ritchie said. “But after about two years of going along to touch footy on Saturdays with Dylan, I came along to SCPC. It was there that I gradually realised that we’re all sinners deserving death and a long way from God. But incredibly, God sent Jesus to die on the cross in our place and now we have a new life to glorify God.”

Since meeting Jesus, Ritchie has become involved in ministries such as leading youth group, joining the preaching group and inviting other people to touch footy. Ritchie now sees touch footy “as a gospel opportunity”.

Touch footy will start up again from 4-5pm Saturday May 3, on the footy field at Lismore High School (just near the MPU!). Everyone’s welcome to join in and play, or to just come along and watch.

SCPC Podcast: Hosea Series Talk 2, Angry Love

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Apr 202008

In this bible talk from Hosea chapters 3-11 by Matt Simpson, we come to know how God’s love and God’s anger hang together. God is undoubtedly loving towards His people but angered by sin. It’s at the cross that ultimately we’ll see God’s love and anger meet.

Key Verse

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.

Hosea 11:1-2

Bible Reading: Hosea 11:1-11

Outline:

Intro: an angry God or a loving God?

1. a loving God
2. an angry God
3. where love and anger meet

You can play the podcast using the “Play in Pop-Up” link below the player which will allow you to visit other pages while listening.

A broadband connection is recommended to listen to this talk from the web.

Subscribe to this Podcast in iTunes

Subscribe Via RSS

If you have any questions about this talk please leave a comment or email the speaker.

MPU: maintaining perfect unity

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Apr 192008

Our temporary move to the MPU for Sunday meetings over the next four weeks provides us with a great opportunity to put into practice what we learnt about last term – maintaining perfect unity.

Any change can cause stress and although most of our church family may be relatively unaffected by all the changes, spare a thought (and a prayer) for those who are more involved in helping church happen from Sunday to Sunday. The way we set-up & pack-up, do sound & music, parking, welcoming & morning tea and supper will all have to change somewhat over the next 4 weeks and the more we support each other in this, the more we’ll be built up in love for God and each other – the more we’ll maintain the perfect unity that Paul urged the Corinthians to seek. So if you see an opportunity to lend a hand at the MPU, grab it with both – I’m sure that it’ll be appreciated!

Daylight Breaks Through

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Apr 192008

Found an absolute gem of an album, which I highly commend: “Daylight Breaks Through – Ben Cantelon”. I’d never heard of the guy a couple of months ago, but he’s apparently starting to take the UK Christian music scene by storm.

And he should be! His lyrics are biblically faithful, beautifully poetic, and reminiscent of hymns sung by the church for a thousand years.

The album only has 7 songs (so really it’s an EP, and most places sell it for less than $10), but there are none that disappoint. We’re going to be singing one of his songs congregationally from Term 2, called “Love Came Down”. It celebrates God graciously coming down to earth, rescueing us from darkness and despair, giving us love and hope.

But the best – and rockiest – song on the album is “You’re the Light”. It praises Jesus as the Light who shines in darkness – radiant in all His glory – the glory all the nations will see on the Day.

Yesterday morning I spoke with a deaf lady. Then in the afternoon I had quite a long conversation with a blind lady. Both of them were lovely. In the past few months I’ve played and sung at two people’s funerals – one of which was a close friend. Maybe that’s why the lyrics to “You’re the Light” move me so much:

In a dying, hurting world
There’s a light that shines for all to see
Though the sky may turn to grey
And broken hearts begin to fade away

The deaf will hear you
The blind will see you
And the dead man will rise