SCPC Podcast: One Body Talk 7, One Body One Hope

 Uncategorized  7 Responses »
Nov 302008
 

Steve Cree spoke to us from 1 Corinthians 15:12-34.  If Christ didn’t rise from the dead then we’re wasting our time being Christians: no forgiveness, no hope, no future.  But Christ did rise – and so we will also – and that future changes everything about how we live now.

Key Verse

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”

1 Corinthians 15:19

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Outline:

1. pitiful Christians? 15:12-19
2. conquering Christ! 15:20-29
3. come back to your senses 15:30-34

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.

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

 Posted by Steve Cree at 12:59 pm

Schoolies Week…

 General  No Responses »
Nov 282008
 

One look at ‘Schoolies Week’ is enough to get you praying more for youth ministry. And children’s ministry. And University ministry. And Christian parents. And for the work of the gospel in every way.

Rossie and I travelled up to Brisbane on Tuesday for some appointments and stayed the night on the Gold Coast on the way home. A little getaway. Except we’d overlooked that we’d be sharing it with a few thousand 17 and 18 year olds pretty short on ideas for how to celebrate the end of exams. Ah, the serenity.

On Sunday we’ll be looking at 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 where Paul casts the vison of a world without the resurrection of Jesus. It’s a picture of futility. Might as well “eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (v32). That’s all the vision for celebration many of the schoolies seem to have. But Christ IS risen. Through him we are saved from sin and death. We are saved from futility and meaninglessness. We enter into a celebration that is eternal and meaningful: that Christ gave his life that we might live; death is defeated and life is transformed.

Let’s pray that more and more young people would discover the true celebration God is offering through his Son: forgiveness of sins and eternal hope.

Steve

 Posted by Steve Cree at 8:45 am

Prayer this week… Thursday 27 November 2008

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Nov 262008
 

Personal opportunities: It’s a really great thing to be praying for ministries that reach out to our community with the gospel. But perhaps the first thing we should be praying about regarding our local mission is the opportunities for gospel witness in our own lives and situations. Who can you be reaching out to with the gospel in your own life, and how? Pray for these opportunities.

Local

Refugees in our community

In recent years, a number of African refugees have settled in Lismore. There are services that are trying to help these refugees integrate into our local communities.

  • Pray for these refugee families that they may transition into our community smoothly and without racial prejudice or bigotry
  • Pray that opportunities may arise the families to hear the truth of Gospel and seek to know more about our loving Heavenly Father.
  • Pray that Christians in the community may be loving and caring to these families and reaching out in hospitality and support.

Global

Thailand

From the end of November a team of short term missionaries are going over to Thailand, which includes James Ritchie, a member of our church family, to be involved in sharing the gospel, particularly with refugees on the border with Myanmar. James has requested we pray for the team in the following areas:

Please pray:

  • That we as a team would be unified in displaying Jesus through love, service, teaching, friendships etc
  • that God would work through us so that Christians might be encouraged and strengthened to cling the cross more fully and non Christians may came to know Jesus as their lord and saviour.
  • also that we might be able to get the resources we need in Thailand, and be allowed to go in the refugee camps, and we could show Jesus through the cultural differences.. really pray that nothing would hinder the gospel
  • For Thailand as a whole, I think the thing to be really praying about is that Thai Christians grow in the grace they have been shown in Jesus, sharing that with others, and that Thai leaders are raised up who are centred on the gospel.
 Posted by admin at 10:55 am

Your Part in Connect09

 General  5 Responses »
Nov 252008
 

Well it’s a week and a bit since Vision Sunday. I wonder if you’ve managed to hold onto a clear image of the picture presented. I’ve certainly heard a lot of enthusiastic talk in the church family about connect09 and about the part each one of us can play. But one challenge for us in the lead-up to next year is to turn all that great talk into great action. One thing that we can all do (and that we can help each other do) is to work carefully through the “my part in connect 09″ booklet and return the green survey form to the church office.

In the booklet you’ll find that there is a huge variety of ways to be vitally involved in connect09. There is literally something (in fact MANY things) for everyone! And don’t feel bad if you can’t “tick many boxes”. As we heard from Katja on Sunday, the most important things are things that you can’t tick. To date, we’ve only received 9 surveys back. 9 out of 10 is pretty good. 9 out of about 250 is… well let’s be positive – it’s a start! I can only assume that everyone is being very thoughtful and prayerful and getting each other’s advice before they hand it in. Great idea! But don’t take forever, connect09 will be upon us before we know it!

 Posted by Pete Thompson at 3:59 pm

SCPC Podcast: One Body Talk 6, One Body One Gospel

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Nov 232008
 

Steve Cree spoke to us from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.  Paul calls the Corinthians back to the gospel message that gave them life – the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  By putting first things first they will stand firm in every way.

Key Verse

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared…”

1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Outline:

1.  tolerate no fakes     15:1-2
2. the genuine article  15:3-8
3. true stories                 15:9-11

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 (Free)

Subscribe Via RSS (Free)

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

 Posted by Steve Cree at 11:18 am

Lights off, Light on

 General  2 Responses »
Nov 202008
 

I noticed the Northern Star newspaper is running a ‘turn off your lights for the planet’ campaign. The idea is that everyone turns off their lights next Wednesday November 26 for half an hour at 8pm. I think you can leave the telly on, although there’s probably nothing worth watching.

As Christians we have every reason to support initiatives such as this. We are to be stewards of everything God has given us. That has to include making every effort to care for the environment, for it is God’s creation. A special day like this reminds us of the little things we can be doing every day in that regard.

But there is something bigger we will have in mind in all of this. We know ultimately that this creation is groaning (Romans 8:22) and is fading away. We know that a new creation is ahead. The real salvation this planet needs is that which can only come from the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

It’s great to turn off our lights and save energy. But one thing we cannot save is ourselves. For that we need the Saviour (Luke 2:11), the one who came to be the light of the world, the one who really came to save our planet.

As we build towards connect09 let’s be sure to point people to the real saviour of the planet. Christmas will bring plenty of opportunities to do so.

 Posted by Steve Cree at 8:35 pm

Prayer this week…Thursday 20 November

 General  No Responses »
Nov 202008
 

Personal opportunities: It’s a really great thing to be praying for ministries that reach out to our community with the gospel. But perhaps the first thing we should be praying about regarding our local mission is the opportunities for gospel witness in our own lives and situations. Who can you be reaching out to with the gospel in your own life, and how? Pray for these opportunities.

Local

REAL and PHAT in the local high schools

  • Pray for the REAL workers that they may proclaim the gospel boldly and present it a manner that engages the youth.
  • Pray that the REAL workers will be shining lights amongst the teachers at the high schools. Pray that the other teachers will be open to the Gospel and ask questions about the hope Christians have in Jesus.
  • Pray for the leaders of PHAT that they may encourage the Christian students to live their faith amongst their friends and take opportunities to speak the truth in a loving and gentle way.

Global

Somalia

When Jesus left this earth He spoke these words: “Go and make disciples of all nations”. He didn’t explain how it was to be done, instead by His own life He gave them an example. Disciples need a role-model.

This is also what Somali believers need: a living example of how to live a holy life for Christ. The Somali house churches will grow in number when they grow in maturity. Only true disciples will make disciples! Of course, the need for living examples challenges foreign workers also. Somalis want to observe a vivid prayer life, how to be immersed in God’s Word, how to forgive one another, how to have godly marriages, how to love their enemies, how to overcome discouragement and how to love God more than anything.

Somali disciples of Christ will eventually become the leaders of their house churches. It will be a turning point in history when Somali elders, who fit the biblical criteria of eldership, lead their churches. Generally, Somalis reject any kind of leadership because submission is something negative. They assume that leaders will work for their own benefit. Therefore the church will need leaders with godly character, who are ready to serve in the way Jesus did.

Please pray:

  • Praise God for His model of discipleship!
  • Pray for Somali believers to grow in their walk with the Lord!
  • Pray that God will raise up Somali believers who will become godly leaders for their churches.
 Posted by Julie Nicholson at 4:06 pm

Blokes Going… Going…

 General  No Responses »
Nov 192008
 

It’s only a couple of days till SCPC blokes go bush, but its not too late to get along.

We’ve currently got about 70 blokes of all ages signed up so I’m sure it’ll be a great time for all of us. Just so you know what to expect, we won’t be having A speaker this year. Instead we’ll be having MANY speakers as a whole bunch of SCPC guys just reflect openly and honestly up-front about their response to the “5o men” trip to Brisbane and how they’re trying to honour Jesus as Lord in every dimension of life. There’ll also be plenty of time for informal conversation and the usual shenanigans for those who just can’t sit still!

So if you’re not yet signed up and still want to come along – leave a comment, call the office, or to be honest – just rock up! We won’t turn you away and there’s always enough sausages!

 Posted by Pete Thompson at 2:36 pm

My Part in Connect09

 General  No Responses »
Nov 182008
 

Connect09 has already begun and on Sunday we heard about what it means for each of us to play a part in our mission to Lismore.

Part of that mission will include looking through and filling out a booklet called “my part in connect09” which most of you should now have.  If you haven’t received a booklet and would like one please call or email the office.

Within the booklet there is a lot to read through, think and pray about.  Although there is a green page in the centre of the booklet that needs to be filled out and returned, there is a lot that can’t be filled out on paper.  There are so many opportunities that exist everyday and it is about making the most of these opportunities for the gospel whatever situation you are in – continuing to look up, look around and look out.

We will be talking more about this in the coming weeks and in your small groups.

 Posted by Julie Nicholson at 6:24 pm

SCPC Podcast: One Body Talk 5, One Body One VISION

 Uncategorized  1 Response »
Nov 162008
 

Steve Cree spoke to us from Acts 2:29-47.  God is still adding to the number of those being saved through the witness of his church to the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Key Verse

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:39

Bible Reading: Acts 2:29-47

Outline:

1.  Jesus is Lord   Acts 2:29-41
2.  every day        Acts 2:42-47

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 (Free)

Subscribe Via RSS (Free)

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

 Posted by Steve Cree at 11:59 am
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