#2 in series: Christmess
READINGS: Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 1:26-55
THEME
It's all the rage in house design - open plan living with easy sight lines to all parts of the house and the gorgeous island bench you've always wanted. There's just one problem. Open plan living has meant that everything is out in the open...everything Your everyday messes are literally on display for the world to see. The solution - create a 'Butler's Pantry' where the dirty dishes, coffeemaker, food preparation messes can be hidden away behind closed doors, your little secret! Many people wish that God would be like that - the butler who is there to clean up the mess of our lives. The butler who is there to fix things up, serve us and make us look good. But God's ways are not our ways. God’s call to birth his presence into this world inherently messes up the order of life that we establish - the mess is on show, the mistakes are obvious. But that’s the power of the Mighty God; who comes into the womb of the mess of this world, to live in a mess he didn’t create to redeem those whose life was a royal mess. And when we receive that word of promise in our lives, and that presence comes to us…all things are possible…all things are made new…but it gets a little messy when the Mighty God takes hold of us.
THEME VERSE
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called…Mighty God. Isaiah 9:6
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
When we receive the impossible, we will get a Christmas treat that is better than anything we can consume this Christmas season. For as the Wonderful Counselor — God makes the plans. As the Mighty God —he makes the plans work, no matter how messy the situation seems. All of God's plans for you are carried out with all of his infinite might in those tiny fists born for you.
FAITH TALK
1. What is your favourite Christmas treat to bake/cook?
2 How has God 'messed up' your life?
3. What does it mean for you that Jesus is the 'Mighty God?
Sorry, no audio for this week - a technical breakdown.
#1 in series: Christmess
BIBLE READING
Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 21:25-36
THEME
Christmas…it’s the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? Our serene expectations of peace and joy, are not always matched by the reality of this season with its bustling activity, stress and impatience. Life is messy, even when it’s dressed in tinsel. When it comes to Christmas, we all come with expectations, and sometimes those expectations aren’t met the way that we hope and even get a little bit messy. The Wonderful Counselor helps us to acknowledge and own up to the mess that exists within this messy world and in our own lives as we cross off the first thing on the list and put up the tree! Whatever mess we find ourselves in, there is hope which we will explore today
THEME VERSE
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called…Wonderful Counselor. Isaiah 9:6
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
We don’t celebrate Advent because our lives are perfect; we celebrate it because they aren’t. But in the midst of whatever mess we find ourselves in, we have hope. For neither death nor life, neither big or small messes, or endless Christmas to-do lists will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus.
FAITH TALK
1. What is your favourite Christmas “thing.” Song? Food? Memory? Thing to do?
2. What makes a perfect Christmas for you?
3. Have your Christmas plans ever been…messed up? How? What did you do?
#3 in series: The presence of Joy
BIBLE READING: Philippians 4:1-23
THEME
Memories. We all have a mixture of memories - some of great times, some of difficult times. Some of successes, others of regrets. Some we are proud of, others that fill us with shame. The memories that we choose to dwell on shape not only our view of the past but dominate our present and largely define our future. That's why Paul invites us to shape our imaginations – individually and collectively – around those things that are honourable, just, true, and commendable. He wants us to be inspired and transformed by what God is up to even in the worst of circumstances or experiences. Come and let God fill you with new memories as you live for joy in every moment.
THEME VERSE
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Every day we fill our lives with many different things in an attempt to discover joy. Whatever you think about and fill your life with will flow from it. There is only one source that will fill you with contentment and peace and enable you to rejoice always and live for joy in all situations. It's Jesus. Fill your life with him and the joy will flow out abundantly.
FAITH TALK
1. What is your favourite memory of the last year - personally, in the Church community and what emotions are attached to that?
2. What three things do you find that you are always thinking about or stressing about?
3. What would help you in living for joy in those stressful times?
#2 in series: The Presence of Joy
READING: Philippians 3:1-21
THEME
Everyone does it…accentuates their achievements, embellishes their accomplishments. It’s called a resume. After all what sounds better? A Vermiculturist or a worm farmer! A check out operator or a customer service representative. Resumes are nothing more than a document that shows off all the things you have learnt, all the experiences you have had, and all the abilities that you have mastered. It’s about finding that edge that makes you stand out above everyone else. So where will you be when you get where you are going? When you have ticked the box of accomplishments in your life? Will joy be yours? There is only one thing that will enable you to keep on going when your resume doesn’t cut it or real fulfilment is elusive. Today we’ll explore what living with joy is all about.
THEME VERSE
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Philippians 3:7-8
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Every decision in life involves a cost-benefit analysis; weighing up the cost of investing in something verses the benefits you receive from that investment. There is only one thing that has ultimate value - it will cost all you are but you will gain everything you need - Jesus Christ. Go hard after him and living with joy will become a daily experience.
BLESSING
Name, may the joy of Jesus be with you. Amen.
# 1 in series: The Presence of Joy
BIBLE READING
Philippians 1:1-2:18
THEME
Everyone longs for joy and happiness in life. Yet sometimes our daily circumstances seem to conspire to rob us of joy. Maybe you feel boxed in, trapped or like life’s thread is quickly unravelling and in danger of snapping. Paul’s life was just like that and yet the joy that oozes from his life is surprising, mind boggling and even infectious. So where does that joy come from? Is it possible even when life is painful or full of suffering. Paul’s answer is unequivocally ‘yes”. The presence of joy is not only possible but real. So today we will discover and taste Paul’s recipe for ‘Living in Joy’.
THEME VERSE
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
What you don’t have is always much less than what you do!
Living in joy comes from living in Christ.
For in Christ joy is complete, whatever the circumstances.
FAITH TALK
1. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being Not at All and 10 being Absolutely
How much are you enjoying life at this present time. Explain.
2. What is a time in your life, where you experienced overwhelming joy?
3. Fill in the blank. If I had _______, I would experience joy
#8 and final in series: 'What if..."
READINGS:
1 Chronicles 16:23-29 Romans 12:1-2
THEME
Road testing - it's an important part of what car manufacturers do to ensure their cars live up to the consumers' standards and also to one up their competitors! Their aim is to flog their vehicles and push them to the limits to flush out problems and fix them. While a lot of testing is done on closed circuits, car makers know that real-world car testing needs to take place in real-world conditions. For that's when you see how the car really performs. Paul uses a similar illustration in Romans 12 today when it comes to our faith. What if we road-tested the Christian life like never before. What if, in response to the mercies of God, we worship like never before? For worship is what we were made for and when we depress the pedal of our lives in worship, offering everything we have in response to everything Christ offered for us, we experience a joy and love that lasts whatever real-life conditions or situations we encounter. You can't get better reassurance than that - for your family or loved ones! We'll explore and experience that today!
THEME VERSE
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Worship locks us into a daily rhythm of harmonising, trusting, praising, breathing, loving, celebrating, and receiving from a God whose word is true in every condition of life. It protects in every crash, holds secure in ever changing situations and gives joy in every journey! The daily act of living is an act of worship that demonstrates to the world that there is nothing of greater worth in this world than Jesus Christ. That's what we were made for!
FAITH TALK
1. What’s the last thing that you truly gave everything you had to?
2. To what degree have you road-tested your faith?
3. How is your life, what you do in the body each day, an act of worship to God?
#7 in series "What if"
READINGS:
Colossians 3:1-17; Luke 10:25-37THEME
THEME:
Limits. Life is full of limits. Speed Limits, alcohol in your blood while driving limits, weight you can tow limits, height on trucks using Sydney tunnels limits (which are often ignored), daily withdrawal limits on our bank accounts. But the limits in our life don’t stop there. There are internal limits to our patience, our charity, to how many times we will let others hurt us, use us, take advantage of us. We all have our limits. Today Jesus challenges us with a familiar parable that will confront and challenge us - “what if there were no limits to our love, to our mercy, to our compassion? What if we love our neighbour like never before? Is that possible? We’ll explore that question today as Jesus stretches us through a familiar story in a way that we don’t quite expect.
THEME VERSE
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
It is only when we recognise ourselves as the traveller left for dead in a ditch by the road, that we can arise to love and be a neighbour like never before, For when we have grasped and experienced the radical grace, mercy and love shown to us in Jesus Christ, then it’s hard to look at anything … or anyone … quite the same. That's where real love, mercy and compassion without limits, begins.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Heavenly Father, we know that you have made us for yourself, to love you and to love our neighbours. Yet still we cannot help but live for ourselves, and every day we justify ourselves by our own standards, not yours. But Lord, just as you have found us in the ditch and rescued us, fill us with compassion and mercy, that our eyes may be open to see the needy and hurting all around us, and our hearts enlarged to draw near and and practically help them in their time of need. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
FAITH TALK
1 What do you think it means to love your neighbour?
2. Why is it sometimes hard to be compassionate in the world today?
3. What is the greatest lengths you have gone to in order to help someone in need?
#6 in series: What If...
BIBLE READING:
Colossians 3:18-24; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
THEME
We’ve all seen them, maybe even have them. Those perfectly captured, staged managed family photos that hang on our loungeroom walls. Those nearly flawless family pics that Facebook and Instagram are flooded with that radiate happiness. Is that your family? A picture of grace and love and harmony? If it is not, take heart, there’s no such thing as a perfect family. But there is a perfect God whose love redeems and restores messy, dysfunctional families, who gives new opportunities to let his grace become visible in our lives. What if his love transformed our homes into a little heaven on earth? Today we explore that as we ask a kingdom question: what if you loved your family like never before?
THEME VERSE
Love… always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Families are a microcosm of our faith; they are conduits of God's grace to humanity. For it is in families that God's empowering love is seen on the front page of life. In the rough-and-tumble of living life together we learn how to give and receive unconditional love, forgiveness and grace and demonstrate to everyone how God works in this world.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Loving God, you have taught us that anything we do without love is worth nothing, so pour your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit you have given to us, that we may love you and others like never before and receive you promises which far exceed all that we could ever hope for or desire. We ask this in the name of the one who is love, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FAITH TALK
1 What do you love about your family?
2. What's the funniest thing that has ever happened to or in your family?
3. What would it look like if you love your family like never before?
#5 in series "What if..."
READINGS:
2 Corinthians 8:1-7; 9:6-15
Luke 21:1-4
THEME
Going…going…gone? Is Australia’s generosity disappearing? Australia’s giving to overseas aid is expected to slump to 0.2% of gross national income by 2021. The average per capita to charity is $200-300 per annum which works out to 0.25-0.3% of the median household income in Australia. Yet according to NCLS research over 66% of church goers give regularly and 20% of attenders tithe on top of whatever they give to tax deductible charities. So why the gap? Could it simply be that grace transforms people’s hearts; that the extraordinary gift of forgiveness found in Jesus not only frees people to give generously but instills a joy in giving like never before? We’ll explore and experience that today.
THEME VERSE
God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8
REMEMBER THIS WEEK
God loves so much that he gives. Giving like never before flows from a heart that has been genuinely touched by the sacrificial and generous love of God in Jesus Christ. It's a grace that transforms our lives - reorienting our mind, opening our eyes, enlarging our heart, growing our compassion and increasing our trust in a God whose generosity and grace will never be exhausted.
FAITH TALK
1. What's the best gift you have ever been given by someone?
2. Would you say you are a generous giver, a reluctant giver or a stingy giver? Why?
3. What do you think God values in our giving?