Gentle and Lowly
It’s always a courageous move to review a book that you haven’t yet finished, but with that caveat, I’d love to encourage you to read with me the latest book of the month, ‘Gentle and Lowly’, by Dane Ortlund.
I’ve been reading a chapter most mornings before I get out of bed, and I’ve been thankful for the insights I’ve been given into the heart of Jesus.
Yet, this book is not merely a textbook on theology, as valuable as that is: it’s a book that seeks to show from the Scriptures what has been revealed about Jesus’ emotions and attitudes to us, and how he acts upon them for us.
The introduction puts it this way: “This is a book about the heart of Christ. Who is he? Who is he really?”
The reason the author asks this question for us is deeply practical, for he says that:
“this book is written for the discouraged, the frustrated, the weary, the disenchanted, the cynical, the empty. […] It is written, in other words, for normal Christians… for sinners and sufferers. How does Jesus feel about them?”
Page 15
Then, chapter by chapter, the author takes a bit of the Bible or a particular aspect of teaching about Jesus, and then looks at what this says about the heart of Jesus.
The reason Ortlund takes us on this journey is that he wants us to be aware of not only Jesus’ atoning work for our sinfulness, “but also of his longing heart amid your sinfulness.”
It is a deeply pastoral book for us as we stop and think about who Jesus really is, and what he thinks of us, and how he’s acted for us and continues to show his wonderful love for us.
So, grab a copy, and maybe read a chapter a day, and come with us on this journey to better know the true heart of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
JODIE McNEILL
PS – grab a copy by visiting our friends at The Wandering Bookseller
Coming up this weekend 4th – 5th September 2021
This weekend Jodie will be preaching on Matthew chapter 7 on the topic, ‘The solid rock’. It’s the third chapter in the so-called ‘Sermon on the Mount’, and it’s a special opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to following Jesus, even though it is the hard road. Why not invite a friend to watch the livestream with you, as they might also consider following Jesus, maybe even for the first time?
Join us Saturday at 5pm or Sunday morning at 9am via our livestream. We would love to have you with us! We’re looking forward to welcoming a special guest from our community… don’t miss out!
Head to watch.jamberooanglican.com to participate in our livestream.
If you have any questions, head to our quick links page to fill out a response slip or email us at office@jamberooanglican.com or send an SMS to 0439 890 086.
Here are the questions Jodie plans to answer this week:
1 Why do we pray, “for the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever”?
2 How should plan wisely without worrying about what tomorrow will bring?
3 Since our heavenly Father will provide, why do we still need to work?
4 If astrology is false then how did the star lead people to Jesus at his birth?
5 Are God’s angels the Christians that have died?
6 Should we judge others?
7 Should Christians observe the Sabbath?
Messiah Masterclass 6 – ‘Live for the Kingdom’ – Matthew 6 – Jodie McNeill – 28 & 29 August 2021
‘Our Father’
‘Father’ is such an ________ title
Because the Lord is father, it impacts life in his ______
Don’t be a ____ off
The only thing that really matters is _____________
Give gifts to the needy in _______
Pray to please our heavenly ______, not others
Don’t pray in a way that tries to __________ God
It’s a _____ prayer to help us pray like Jesus says
It’s a prayer that asks God to remain _______
Next we pray for our ________ needs
Forgiveness matters because ___ is our greatest problem
We pray for the protection of the ______ of God
If you won’t _______ others then are you forgiven?
Don’t do good things to try and get human ______
Don’t invest in _____, invest in heaven
Keep healthy eyes that look to ______ not earth
Don’t worry because it doesn’t ______ a thing
Our father loves us and knows what we ____
Jesus tells us not to _____
Church news for the week beginning 28th August 2021
OUR SERMON
This weekend we will be looking into Matthew Chapter 6 as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from God’s word on ‘Living for the Kingdom’.
CHURCH ONLINE
Join us for online church this weekend! We would love you come along to our 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday service. Head to watch.jamberooanglican.com to tune in.
DINNER AND MORNING TEA ONLINE
We would love you to join us in sharing a meal together on zoom for dinner on Saturday night or morning tea on Sunday morning after church. Join us at zoom.jamberooanglican.com.
MISSION OF THE MONTH
Our mission of the month for August is CMS. To find out more about how to personally partner visit www.cms.org.au
Anglican Aid Worldwide Covid-19 Relief Appeal
Anglican Aid is launching a new Worldwide COVID-19 Relief Appeal. This appeal will support our Christian partners as they care for COVID patients, by providing ventilators, oxygen machines, medicine, protective equipment, emergency food relief, and more. If you would like to give to the appeal or learn more click here.
KBECET PIE DRIVE
If you would like to financially support scripture teaching at Kiama High School, then please consider ordering some pies! Fill out the online form to order from a delicious range of pies from our local Gainsborough Bakery and support this vital ministry.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
For August we will be reading The Art of Rest by Adam Marby. Head over to the books page on our website to grab a copy!
DAILY MORNING PRAYERS
Join us each morning (except Thursday and Sunday) at 7:30am for 30 mins of prayer on Zoom. Join using zoom.jamberooanglican.com.
PRAY WITH PRAYERMATE
Our church is now on PrayerMate. Subscribe for daily prayer points on your device from us and our partners. Use this link to follow us on PrayerMate.
FAMILY NEWS
BIRTHDAYS
28 August – Isla Hudson
29 August – Jasmine Hall
2 September – Robyn Lucas
3 September – Elise Baker
GIVING UPDATE
Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. For the month of June, our average weekly giving was $5402.00, leaving a gap of $898.00. Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $81,900. Compared to that total we received $71,624, leaving a gap of $10,276.
Electronic giving is a great way to give! It helps us prayerfully plan our giving, and then the bank will help us keep that commitment, even when we may be unable to attend. To give by direct transfer then these are the NEW details. Account name: Jamberoo Anglican Church. Account number: 356831. BSB: 032605.
To give to our tax-deductible MTS Scholars Fund to support our apprentice youth minister, head to mts.com.au/give/jamberoo-anglican-church/
Forgive and forget?
The terrorist attack in Afghanistan at Kabul Airport were a brazen show of aggression by ISIS that has claimed many lives, including at least 12 soldiers from the United States.
After the attack, President Biden said, “To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: we will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
Contrast this with the words of Jesus, who said, “love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44), and “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
This is what makes the Sermon on the Mount so counter-cultural, so radically different to the ways of the world.
There is no doubt that the actions of those associated with the Taliban are evil, and that it is right to use force to defend those under attack and abuse.
Yet, if we are to follow the lead of the ultimate king of kings, the one who rules over presidents, then we should be praying that members of the Taliban repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then, the great miracle is that Jesus will forgive them for whatever atrocities they may have performed, and will love them and adopt them into his family.
It’s not that this forgiveness is without cost: Jesus gave his very life so that enemies like you, me, and repentant members of the Taliban, might be saved from the anger that God rightly had for us.
As we are broken-hearted at the hideous actions of the Taliban, let us pray that the Holy Spirit might lead them to come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness… which we know he will graciously give.
JODIE McNEILL
(Photo credit: Matt Johnson via Flickr)
Coming up this weekend 28th – 29th August 2021
This weekend Jodie will be preaching on Matthew chapter 6 on the topic, ‘The Kingdom of God’.
Join us Saturday at 5pm or Sunday morning at 9am via our livestream. We would love to have you with us!
Head to watch.jamberooanglican.com to participate in our livestream.
If you have any questions, head to our quick links page to fill out a response slip or email us at office@jamberooanglican.com or send an SMS to 0439 890 086.
Messiah Masterclass 5 – ‘The Good Life’ – Matthew 5 – Jodie McNeill – 21 & 22 August 2021
Great speeches
Jesus’ most ______ speech
What do we do with the ______ on the Mount?
Jesus came to Israel and he __________ Israel
Jesus is speaking in the last days of the ___ Testament
Israel is _______ because the Messiah has come
These are the eternal _________ of following Jesus
Now is the time for God’s people to _____
Jesus was __________ Israel’s Law, not throwing it out
Israel needed Jesus to _________ them as true Israelite
God always looks to the _____
We should always seek ______________
We should seek to be ____ free
Marriage is for life, even when it’s ____
Life in the Kingdom is about truth and _______
We should show _____ because we’ve received mercy
Jesus loved his _______, and so should we
Common grace means atheists get _______, too
Our aim is to seek _______ love and mercy
A life of grace