However, our recent growth has meant that we are on the verge of outgrowing our facilities. Already we are inhibited by a lack office space. And it is also true that we are stretched on a Sunday morning.

Our Family Church (including Kids Church and Crèche) has continued to grow – praise God – and now uses every available space. We must grow this infrastructure if we are to continue to see more people join our church fellowship, and accordingly see more people in the kingdom of God.

The challenges are multi-faceted, and will take this opportunity to update you about one aspect of their work. Last year the NSW State Government introduced the Community Building Partnership Grant. The aim of the grant is to expand the infrastructure of community based organisations, like us.
Whilst our application was not successful last year, our Local State Member has given us every reason for optimism that this year our application will be successful.

The decision of our Property Futures Group and Parish Council was to focus this opportunity for funding to upgrade our hall. If successful, we will be able to upgrade the kitchen to a commercial standard (including dishwasher), have proper sliding room dividers, carpet the entire lower building, and improve storage. An additional option in the application is also to upgrade the upper toilets.

Our church is having a growing impact within our wider community in all kinds of ways, and the improvement of our facilities in this way will enable to us to do so even more. Please pray that our application would be successful, and also for the Property Futures Group as they seek to address the wider issues.

At the same time, we must resist the temptation to rely on these measures to see God’s kingdom continue to grow in our midst. God’s kingdom grows through people, and that is where most of our energy must continue to go.

Raj

True Spirituality: For the Single This Sunday at 8am Traditional Church and 9:45 Family Church we conclude our recent series on marriage and singleness.  Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-35. What are those who are married told to do?

Sunday Night Church

Gifts of the Spirit This week at Sunday Night Church (6pm) we continue our short series on the Holy Spirit. What gifts has the Spirit given you to use? Come prepared and read the passage 1 Corinthians 12 here.

Newsletter: Issue 17, August 2010

“Sarah and Pete are missionaries with the Church Missionary Society - Australia (CMS). They live in Monterrey, Mexico where they are spending a year or so learning Spanish language and culture. After that, Pete will be the Director of MOCLAM, an organisation that provides the correspondence Theological Certificate program from Moore Theological College, Sydney.”

Also follow their blog: The Sholl Family in Mexico.

One thing I have been struck by is the generational cycle. The first generation is impacted by something unique, such as first hearing about Jesus. It can be (and usually is) revolutionary and life changing. People are convicted by their own sinfulness, embrace Jesus and repent. Life is never the same. There is a high motivation to share Jesus with others.

But the second generation tends to live off the coat tails of the first. They understand the life changing gospel of their parents. They grow up in the new culture. But they do not own the change in the same way. They have less appreciation of what they have been saved from. Sometimes it is said that this second generation assumes what was so vigorously fought for in the first generation.

It is then in the third generation where the pendulum swings completely, and this group often ends up denying what had been so vigorously fought for by the first generation, and assumed by the second generation.

This cycle of embrace – assume – deny is the story of history. This is why even some of the most major revivals can seem to have little impact as little as two generations down the track.

The nature of the generational cycle has been known for thousands of years. It is with these problems in mind that Deuteronomy tells God’s people ‘Impress [the things of God] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up’ (Deut 6:7-9). Unless we firmly teach our children about Jesus, they are likely to lose the Lord Jesus.

Many people later in life so long that their adult children would turn to Jesus. Sometimes they have genuinely done all they can in raising their children. Other times, they wish they had done more. The perspective of life means that many realise that eternity is more important than anything in this world.

With this in mind, may I be so bold as to ask: what are you doing to make sure that you keep clinging to the forgiveness that Jesus offers, and teaching your children that nothing else is more important? Do you model it to them? Do you teach it to them as you determine their priorities? What would they think is the most important thing to you?

Raj

True Spirituality: For the Single This Sunday at 8am Traditional Church and 9:45 Family Church we follow on with a series on 1 Corinthians. Read 1 Corinthians 7:19, 25-38. Why is it an advantage to be single?

Sunday Night Church

Led by the Spirit This week at Sunday Night Church (6pm) we continue our short series on the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be Led by the Spirit? Come prepared and read the passage, Ephesians 5:16-26.

The Beloved: Physical Intimacy This Sunday at 8am Traditional Church and 9:45 Family Church we continue the series on Song of Songs.  Read Song of Songs 5:2-8. What is happening in this brief, but interesting story?

Sunday Night Church

Full of the Spirit This week at Sunday Night Church (6pm) we continue our short series on the Holy Spirit. It will be interesting to think about what it means to be full of the Spirit. Come prepared and read the passage Ephesians 5:8-21.

Will you vote for Labor’s leading redhead, or Liberal’s lover of budgie-smugglers? Or perhaps you’re fed up with both of them and are planning to go with one of the minor parties. It’s possible that you don’t actually care who’s elected. Maybe you think that going to the polling booth is simply a waste of time.

But when the last ballots are counted you may be disappointed. You may feel unsure of how the result will affect you and your family. What can you do? Start a revolution? Move to another country? How many times in the past have you been disappointed with decisions made by a Government? The political system of our country ought not be taken for granted. Even today, many parts of the world do not enjoy a system where the people have the privilege of choosing their Government. In Australia, we do.

Whether or not you have an interest in politics, the fact is that this election will affect the lives of every Australian in one way or another. The elected party will have the very important task of deciding what’s best for our nation. Their decisions will impact areas as diverse as health care, immigration policy, education, taxation, climate change and foreign affairs. Furthermore, the nature of leadership is that our leaders are role models.

God cares that people are looked after by their rulers. The Bible says: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

We should pray for our government. They have such a tremendous and difficult duty. We should pray that our rulers will be wise in making decisions. We should pray that they consider the human rights of every Australian citizen.

And, most importantly, we should pray that they serve the living God.

It’s important to remember that no politician will ever be the saviour of our nation. Only God is the Saviour of our nation! We must pray that he will lead and guide our new Prime Minister according to his will.

Prayer: Dear God. Thank you that Australia is a democracy where we can live in safety and freedom. Please help the elected Government to run our nation with wisdom and discernment, and to honour you in all things. Amen.

The Beloved: Romance This Sunday at 8am Traditional Church and 9:45 Family Church we continue the series on Song of Songs.  Read Song of Songs 1. In what ways are the Lover and Beloved romantic with one another?

Sunday Night Church

Born of the Spirit This week at Sunday Night Church (6pm) we will be starting a new short series on the Holy Spirit. This week we will be looking the idea of born of the Spirit. You can read the passage John 3:1-21 here. What does it mean to be born of the Spirit?

And, thanks be to God, the issues of growth have continued. While all of our congregations have been growing, it is at our 9.45 congregation that we have particularly felt pressure over the course of this year.

Experts note that an auditorium will feel full when you have reached about 80% of capacity, a point we have now reached when you combine the adults and children involved at 9.45am church.

It has not been uncommon for those who are late to church to need to wonder down the front to find a seat at church. This is difficult for them, and distracting for everyone else. It is one of those signs that the congregation has reached its comfortable capacity. It is true that on some days this is not the case, and also that there are gaps. But the signs that we are either at or rapidly nearing our ‘comfortable capacity’ are well and truly there.

Simultaneously, our Kids Church facilities are stretched to their capacity. The capacity of Kids Church works closely with the capacity of our 9.45am congregation.

It is with these issues in mind that we recently convened the Mission Task Force and Property Futures Groups. Excellent progress is being made with both groups.

We have endeavoured to take the approach and attitude of the Apostle Paul, who said: We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ (Colossians 1:27-28). It is he who sought to become all things to all men, so that some may be saved (cf 1 Corinthians 9:22). It was not easy, but it is with such clarity that he embraced the priority of being saved.

We are well on the way to having an integrated plan to enable the continued growth of our church, and are very thankful to God who is putting a number of pieces in place already. At the same time, it is becoming clear that whatever path God has in mind for us, it will be hard work.

We anticipate being able to share the process and conclusions of these groups in the near future. But in the meantime please continue to pray that God would continue to give these groups His wisdom.

Raj