Will you take up the LIFE Challenge?

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23 February, 2023

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.  

More From 'News'

Books on Motherhood

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.

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Finding Sanctuary

Whether its the TV or radio continually playing in the background or the persistent pinging on our phones, the constant noise and frenetic pace of modern life can be overwhelming. The cacophony of cultural messages that permeate the air produces an inner restlessness that says, You should be doing more, saying more, posting more and sharing more.

More than ever, we need sanctuary, not only as a refuge from the noise around us but also as a place where Gods truth can be clearly heard.

This 31-day devotional explores what it means, and what it looks like in very practical ways, to lead the quiet life Paul speaks of in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12. Readers will come to see that a quiet life doesn't mean escaping from the world around them but centring their hearts on Christ so that they can live with a clear focus, a quiet confidence and a steady peace.

This book is for those who

- feel overwhelmed and long for quieter spaces that allow for thoughtful reflections and honest conversations.

- want to balance time spent online with non-digital activities and invest in real-life relationships.

- desire a deeper quality of life beyond the online culture of noise, outrage and self-promotion.

$24.99 from shopacr.com.au

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Cambodia MT2025 Applications now open

Applications to join the 2025 Mission Team to Cambodia are now open!

CLICK HERE or in the files tab to view the Application Packet.

Please read it carefully and prayerfully and then submit your application by 12th May 2024.

If you have any questions please contact Pastor Mark Schultz - email [email protected]

- If you are under 18 years of age, you should share your thoughts with your parent(s) about why you want to be a part of the Short Term Mission Team. Take into account their perspective as well. After you have submitted your application, we will send a parental consent form to your parents to sign.

- If you do not have a valid passport you should begin to obtain one soon. You should have a passport that will be valid for 6 months after the trip. Also leave enough time to have all your vaccinations.

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