Covid-19 has dramatically changed the way we live and work, affecting every element of life, from family and community to even how we socialise. Work has seen one of the greatest shifts, from in person meetings to zoom meetings (with kids banging on the door wanting to see mum or dad), from workers commuting to offices and flying internationally to putting on the tracksuit pants and walking to the home office in 20 secs. For some the change has brought better work/life balance, for others it has created incredible stress as they have had to upskill in new technology, pivot in different ways, and adapt to flexible environments. But the changing nature of work has been in evidence for several decades with the sandwich generation and early retirees, caring for ageing parents while supporting their children and becoming the new generation of unpaid baby sitters! How do you thrive when your work is different? How do you find purpose and significance when your work and life encounter new terrain? The Apostle Paul invites us to do a heart pivot in which we discover a new purpose, a spiritual significance and a deep fulfilment that enables us to thrive even when work changes.
#3 in seres: New Terrain
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THEME VERSE
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
What you do each day becomes an act of faith that brings the presence of Christ into ordinary moments to bless others.
FAITH TALK
If someone asked you, 'Why do you work?' how would you respond?
It has been said: ‘As the family goes, so does the nation…’ As the family is able to navigate changing times, as the family is able to thrive in the midst of crisis, so is the nation able to navigate uncertain times and thrive in changing circumstances. What could we conclude about the health and resilience of our nation as we look at families at this time? Some families are thriving as they find a new found purpose in rearing children into competent and confident adults who can overcome life's difficulties. Some are embracing the togetherness that this crisis has brought. Many are struggling as they fight to stay upright themselves on foundations that are shifting. Some families are living out the law of exposure which says that our minds absorb and our lives reflect that to which we are most frequently exposed, with frightening and destructive consequences. So how do we navigate the new terrain we find ourselves in and thrive as families change? How do we thrive through the changing stages of family life as we move from dependency to growing independency and everything in-between? Joshua gives us some insight today. He not only led a nation, but his own family though times of crisis, discovering the one that enables families to thrive in any crisis and change.
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THEME VERSE
But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15b
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
In a world filled with options and choice, choose C every time. For the Creator, the Chief Cornerstone and Counsellor is the foundation that supports, empowers and enables thriving families through all the changes and crises of life.
FAITH TALK:
What is your family motto, or if you could choose a motto for your family, what would it be?
UP WORDS FROM THE SERMON:
But listen up. Let me give you a heads-up, because it won’t be easy to fire up. When God said that he’ll join us up, it won’t always add up, and you’ll need to buckle up. We all have hang ups, we all stuff up. When things begin to pile up, and you mess up, or foul up or muck it up, or there’s a blow up or a dust up, or a break up or crack up and you feel like giving up or going belly-up, or selling up, and you want to pack up and you’re fed up, and your life seems screwed up, and you feel cut up, or maybe a relationship has broken up, and your heart ices-up, and things foul up, and love dries up, you can’t speak up, and you want to throw up and sell up and pack up, and you think there’s no back up, and you want to even up, or cover up, don’t give up. Buck up. Cheer up. There is a back-up, or a pick-me-up, and a leg up, and a hand up. We will need a check-up, and be reassured that God shows up! He rolls up. And He will follow up! He wants your heart to soften up, for you to ‘fess up, and open up, so don't pass this up and be stuck up. God wants you to wake up, move up, and make up, and man up, and perk up, and grow up, and loosen up. God wants you to join up, and wise up, and pump up, and belt up, and cheer up, so you people, in your lives, lap-it-up, and fire up, and light up, and step up, and talk-it-up, so you can be filled up, to live-it-up,‘ cause God never lets up.
So here’s the lowdown. We have a God who comes down. He’s a God who comes to us. A God who comes down when we’re run-down, or there’s been a put-down, and helps us calm down, and makes sure we won’t be let down. If you’re down cast, he doesn’t look at the down side. The times we break down, or fall down, and our world turns up-side-down, and there’s a meltdown, and we need to shut-down, and go into lock-down, Jesus comes down. He’s the down load.
The only real constant in the world is change. To cope with that we develop a reflex response. You don’t think about it, you don’t plan for it, you can’t seem to stop it. It just happens. When life’s challenges hit, when we are confronted with a shifting and changing landscape and life-scape, most of us revert to our reflexive response. Some respond by giving up, taking flight or curling up in a ball saying, “I can’t take it.” Others fight the change angrily or aggressively. Still others respond with a cool indifference, having developed a protective shell around their hearts that nothing can penetrate. Then there are those who thrive on the challenge saying “Bring it on!” In this season when we have lost so much and stand to lose perhaps a whole lot more, when we grieve all that is no longer available to us and the future uncertainties loom large and are overpowering, what is your reflexive response? Navigating change is tough. Finding a ‘new’ normal is tedious. Living through grief and loss is painful. Wherever you are in that today, God promises his steadfast love, his faithful presence and his unfailing strength. It’s a gift to help you stay true as you navigate new terrain and thrive in life’s changes, especially grief and loss.
#1 in series: New Terrain
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THEME VERSE
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him! Lamentations 3:22-24
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
God’s grace is sufficient for you today and it will be sufficient for you tomorrow
FAITH TALK:
When life gets hard, what’s your reflexive response? Why do you think that is?
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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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.
“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.
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?
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.
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
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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?
'“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.