Monday, October 31, 2011
warning: exam study reflections
Warning: I'm studying for exams at the moment, so I might inflict some thoughts on you as I process them...
Monday, October 24, 2011
the blessing of Christian community
It is a wonderful thing that when God saves an individual, He saves them into a community.
The church isn't like a club you just go along to, but it is a small, local expression of the worldwide church that God has gathered and united to His Son.
The gathering of God's people proclaims His wisdom to the rulers, power and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). Wow.
That is huge. But we also experience the blessing of being part of a new family. For those who are without family, or estranged from family, there is a new family for them to be part of.
I'm really thankful for the Christian community as I reflect upon moving here to Sydney. Almost instantly I got plugged in and had opportunities to meet people and make friends. If I hadn't been part of the Christian community, it would have been much more difficult to make Sydney home. I feel sorry for those who have to work hard to meet new friends because they aren't part of a great network like the Christian community.
The church isn't like a club you just go along to, but it is a small, local expression of the worldwide church that God has gathered and united to His Son.
The gathering of God's people proclaims His wisdom to the rulers, power and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). Wow.
That is huge. But we also experience the blessing of being part of a new family. For those who are without family, or estranged from family, there is a new family for them to be part of.
I'm really thankful for the Christian community as I reflect upon moving here to Sydney. Almost instantly I got plugged in and had opportunities to meet people and make friends. If I hadn't been part of the Christian community, it would have been much more difficult to make Sydney home. I feel sorry for those who have to work hard to meet new friends because they aren't part of a great network like the Christian community.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
a story about great service
Most of the time when we talk about customer service, we are complaining about poor service we've received. I know I'm guilty of that.
But today I have a good customer service story for you.
A friend and I were shopping at Woolworths Burwood, doing an epic shop as we were catering for a large weekend away gathering. We managed to load up 2.5 trolleys. Epic. One of the staff members saw us wrangling the trolleys and helped us to get to a register. She then helped the guy to scan and pack all of the items. Then she got not 1, but 3 guys to help us take the stuff up to the car and unload it. Awesome! We were blown away.
What great service! [ps - I have written to Woolworths to commend her for her efforts]
She really went above and beyond the call of duty.
However, even more amazing is the service of Jesus. Even though He is the ruler of the world, He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Even more wow-factor.
But today I have a good customer service story for you.
A friend and I were shopping at Woolworths Burwood, doing an epic shop as we were catering for a large weekend away gathering. We managed to load up 2.5 trolleys. Epic. One of the staff members saw us wrangling the trolleys and helped us to get to a register. She then helped the guy to scan and pack all of the items. Then she got not 1, but 3 guys to help us take the stuff up to the car and unload it. Awesome! We were blown away.
What great service! [ps - I have written to Woolworths to commend her for her efforts]
She really went above and beyond the call of duty.
However, even more amazing is the service of Jesus. Even though He is the ruler of the world, He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Even more wow-factor.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
reading the Bible in big chunks
This semester we've been going through parts of Luke's account of the life of Jesus with our kids in Scripture class. Last week we looked at Luke 18:18-30 about the rich ruler who came to Jesus and asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?". Jesus told him that keeping the commandments was not sufficient; that he had to sell his stuff and give it to the poor and then follow him. But he didn't want to do it. The cost was too great. Jesus then remarked, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Naturally, the disciples wondered if anyone could be saved in light of this. “What is impossible with men is possible with God”, Jesus said.
Great words. God can even save rich people. He can change even the hardest hearts.
The wonderful thing that I noticed today is in Luke 19 (the next chapter).
Many of us will be familar with the tree-climbing Zacchaeus, but what struck me today is that he is a rich man. He is a living example of what Jesus said. God made the impossible happen. He saved Zacchaeus. “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (v9-10)
It's a good thing to read big chunks of the Bible to see the development of ideas. In the Gospels it is particularly good to think about them as narratives and to ask the question "why is this story here?"
Great words. God can even save rich people. He can change even the hardest hearts.
The wonderful thing that I noticed today is in Luke 19 (the next chapter).
Many of us will be familar with the tree-climbing Zacchaeus, but what struck me today is that he is a rich man. He is a living example of what Jesus said. God made the impossible happen. He saved Zacchaeus. “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (v9-10)
It's a good thing to read big chunks of the Bible to see the development of ideas. In the Gospels it is particularly good to think about them as narratives and to ask the question "why is this story here?"
Friday, October 7, 2011
the awesome just injustice
In doctrine class today we started to explore the topic of justification by faith.
Lots of the time was spent looking at these verse below.
Before this section Paul has made a very persuasive case that everyone stands guilty and condemned before God. But this is the section of great hope. The explanation of how God made it possible to forgive guilty people but still uphold justice. Amazing!
The Bible, Romans 3:19-31
"Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgement. For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets — that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God for Jews only? Is He not also for Gentiles? Yes, for Gentiles too, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
Lots of the time was spent looking at these verse below.
Before this section Paul has made a very persuasive case that everyone stands guilty and condemned before God. But this is the section of great hope. The explanation of how God made it possible to forgive guilty people but still uphold justice. Amazing!
The Bible, Romans 3:19-31
"Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgement. For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets — that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God for Jews only? Is He not also for Gentiles? Yes, for Gentiles too, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
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