The Good News of Jesus Christ changes everything – it gives us purpose, direction, significance and a vision for our life that is simply amazing. Jesus sends us out to ‘share his hope with all’ that they too may experience the life-transforming grace of Jesus Christ who calls us into a personal relationship with him as we journey along life’s way. That’s where you come in!
This Lent, you're invited to re-commit to the
LIFE Challenge
The LIFE challenge is a personal evangelism strategy which recognises that people come to Jesus, one life at a time. Every day you mix and interact with people who don’t yet know the life that Jesus gives. Let God lead you down the road, as he led Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40), to get alongside someone who is looking for ‘Good News’ in their life. It may be a work colleague, someone you see every day; it could be a family that you socialise with. So pray for your workplaces, your friends, the people you see day by day to see where God is leading you.
Listen prayerfully
Listen prayerfully in the conversations that you have with that person. What are their hurts, their fears, their struggles? Where do they need help to keep their life balanced? As you hear those needs, pray for those needs/concerns/joys that come up promptings’ that we sense in our hearts and minds. Pray for your work places, your social gatherings that God would lead you to the person or family.
Invest personally
Jesus says, ‘I send you.’ God in his wisdom invites each one of us to partner in his work and invest our time, our effort into the lives of the person or family that need to know the love of Jesus Christ. So set aside time, invite them around for a meal, share life together and see what God does as you get to know the person on a deeper level.
Form relationship
This is a journey, So be in it for the long haul. People don’t care what you know until they know you care. Be a part of their lives, invite them to share your family moments. Support them in difficult times, Laugh with them in the happy times. Watch the friendship grow! Invite other friends from Church around for a meal so your new friends get to meet other Church people. Research shows that 90-95% of people come to know Jesus Christ through family or friends.
Extend invitation
When the time is right, extend an invitation to them to join your LifeGroup or invite the family to Kids Church or the Family Fun Day we hold. Then as you sense the Spirit’s prompting, extend an invitation to join you for worship. God’s grace is overwhelming and his promises is that whenever is Word goes out, it won’t return empty (Isaiah 55:11).
Who is God calling you to LIVE, SHARE and GROW his love with this year?
Grab your card from one of the LifeWay worship centres. Keep it in your wallet, on your fridge, in your car and think about how God may be using you to bring a L.I.F.E. that never ends.
LifeWay is running ALPHA in term 3 and we need you!
Alpha requires volunteers willing to be trained to facilitate small group discussions and others to provide food and hospitality to those who attend. We are hoping to run ALPHA at the church on a Tuesday evening from 7-9pm so team members would need to be able to make themselves available each Tuesday evening for the 10 weeks of term 3.
If you would like to serve on LifeWay’s ALPHA team in term 3 then we invite you to attend the Hunter region’s ALPHA training evening at the Grainery Church on June 18thfrom 7-9pm. If you cannot make it on that evening, please speak to Pastor Mat so we can organise an alternative training opportunity. It is really important that team members receive training before the first ALPHA night.
To register please email Pastor Mat, [email protected] by Sunday the 16th of June.
We're often told ... "Don’t rock the boat." "Mind your own business." "Keep your opinions to yourself."
So we do just that... We bite our tongue, when words need to be spoken. Do nothing, when we are prompted to act. Turn a blind eye when we are called to hold to account. And in that moment, the opportunity is lost - to share the good news of the Gospel - to share Jesus who alone transforms lives and brings hope to the world.
It doesn't matter if you’re young or old. You don't need a degree or special training before you attempt it. The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people who refused to go with the flow but stand against the culture around them. People who acted courageously in the moment to have an influence and impact far more significant than silence and hiding can offer. So join us in living courageously... by faith... in the promise and power of God who always acts through unexpected people..in unexpected ways to bring life and hope to all.
Begins 26 May 2024. See our homepage for service times and locations or watch via livestream on our channel: www.youtube.com/c/LifeWayLutheranChurch
Here's some great Christian books on motherhood - perfect for gifting to Mum this Mother's Day.
The End of Me - Finding Resurrection Life in the Daily Sacrifices of Motherhood - $22.99
There are many books on motherhood but not many that talk about how hard it is physically, mentally and spiritually and what to do when you reach your limits.
When Liz Wann became a mother, she was unprepared for how hard it would be. In this book, she writes honestly about these deeply challenging aspects of motherhood and how God works through them to make us more like his Son. Coming to the end of who I was, and what motherhood was stripping me of, was a good thing that drove me to Christ and to the power that he supplies in every failure and weakness of motherhood.
This short, easy-to-read book encourages mothers to depend on Christ when they reach their limits. They will find that God will supply what they need to cope with the daily sacrifices and challenges of motherhood, and that he will use these struggles to make them more like Christ.
New Baby Survival Guide: Bite-sized Bible reading for new mothers - $18.99
A new baby is a wonderful gift from the Lord, bringing great joybut also sleepless nights, constant laundry and, sometimes, total exhaustion. It can be hard to read your Bible and pray. So here's a survival guide, which is do-able and God-centred. There's probably no time, brainpower or energy for your usual "solids" from God's word but: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Peter 2:2)
These bite-sized Bible readings from the book of Psalms are designed for you to dip into and be refreshed by the Lord. Also includes real-life stories, practical help and an A-Z of mothering.
He Gives More Grace - 30 Reflections for the Ups and Downs of Motherhood Through the Years - $22.99
Motherhood is one of lifes most joyful yet most difficult gifts. We are eager to get it "right", yet parenting usually highlights our weaknesses and leaves us worried about our mistakes.
These hope-filled, positive devotions recognise the realities and pressures, joys and disappointments of motherhood and will give you a precious reminder of grace from Gods word to hold onto each day. They will help you to trust that Gods grace is enough for you and your kids. As the authors say in the introduction, Our children do not need a perfect mother. What they do need is a mother who recognises her need for a perfect Saviour and understands that this is the greatest need of her children as well.
As you focus on the work of Jesus rather than your own efforts, you will feel less pressure and more freedom and joy in all the ups and downs of motherhood.
Written by a mother-daughter combination (one with four kids aged 10-16, one with three grown kids and ten grandchildren) who are both grateful recipients of God's grace and faithfulness in the many seasons, situations and realities of motherhood.