Hope Beyond Chaos 9: Idolatry and Immorality Judges 17:1-21:25 Jodie McNeill – 29 & 30 June 2019

The whole counsel of God.

“God is present and therefore there is ____”.

They’ve disobeyed the way God should be __________.

They had no religious or moral __________.

He thinks his invented worship will bring __________.

The ____ is good for the people of Dan.

Micah’s homemade _______ is stolen.

Micah’s sin ________ Israel with idolatry.

We are tempted to create and worship _____.

The __________ is confronting and tragic.

The Benjaminites refused to offer ___________.

This is mind-blowingly _______.

God’s people united to bring _______.

The Levite claimed to be the ______.

Civil ___ erupts.

A completely disproportional ________.

The tribe of Benjamin is _________.

Their ___________ shows God’s faithfulness.

Our sins they are many, his _____ is more.

News 29-30 June 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend we conclude our series on Judges as Jodie opens up Judges 17-21. as we hear talk nine, ‘Idolatry and Immorality’.

NEXT WEEK’S TALK

Next week Graham will be speaking on the topic, ‘The Minister is a Shepherd’ from Ezekiel 34:1-16 and 1 Peter 5:1-9. 

MISSION OF THE MONTH

CMS is our mission of the month. Support at the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating stuff.

YOUTH CAMP

Our first-ever ‘Alive’ camp is coming up for our teenagers on 9-11 August at Burrill Pines on the South Coast. Keep the date free, invite your friends, and see Rayne for more details. Talks are on the topic “A Christ-centred Identity”. Cost is $150 (with subsidies available). Should be a great weekend of fun, fellowship, and Jesus!

JEMIMAH AND JACOB’S WEDDING

Jemimah McNeill and Jacob Mierendorff are getting married at Kiama Anglican this Friday 5th July at 12.30pm. You’re invited to celebrate with them at the service.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $5513.00, leaving a gap of $787.00. Olimometer 2.52 Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $54,600. Compared to that total we received $48,216, leaving a gap of $6,384.Olimometer 2.52

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 details. Account name: Church of England Jamberoo. Account number: 10081274. BSB: 062562.

Freedom of Faith and Israel Folau

Archbishop Glenn Davies has issued a public statement on Israel Folau and the issue of Freedom of Speech, Conscience and Belief.

“Israel Folau’s right to express his faith and act according to his conscience is of fundamental importance in any democracy, and it is of great concern to many Australians that this right is being denied and vilified. Many are wondering whether they will be next. No-one should suppose that there are not deeply held views on either side of this issue. But at the moment, only one side is being heard. The way in which Folau’s motives have been impugned and his avenues of support have been cut off smacks of a new and ugly Australia where dissent from narrow cultural views is not tolerated. 

The original post on Instagram canvassed some basic tenets of the Christian faith. It was not the entire Christian message, but it was posted without malice and from a place of deep conscience and concern. It encompassed all people, for we are all liars. It was posted with respect and with urgency. It had nothing to do with rugby and it should have been his right as a citizen to speak of what he believes without threat to his employment. 

Christians do not ask that everyone agree with us on the reality of heaven and hell, but it is part of our faith DNA that we speak out about Jesus, whatever the cost. I say again that I support Israel Folau as a Christian brother. I support the right for him to articulate his faith in the public sphere of social media. I admire the resolute way he has given his personal testimony.  Why, in the diversity of views in modern Australia, is that faith to be silenced – the faith from which springs so much of the values and virtues of our own civilisation, let alone the charitable works of many Christian churches across our land.

Ultimately, this will not be decided in the media. The clear support of ordinary Christians has been ignored, marginalised and silenced. Many commentators (and many politicians) have failed to understand the precious nature of conscience and belief and its power in the lives of ordinary Australians. Loud, intolerant voices swamp the quiet faith of many. But I pray that what Israel Folau is going through may shine a light on an issue which is vital to our democracy and of crucial importance for Christians – freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom to live according to our faith.”

Dr Glenn N Davies
Archbishop of Sydney
25 June AD 2019

Coming up this weekend 29-30 June 2019

Well, we’ve almost made it to the end of our mammoth journey through the Old Testament book of Judges, but not without one more display of just what life is like when people walk away from the true and living God. This weekend we’ll see two, dramatic examples of idolatry and immorality, and it’s pretty full-on, to be honest.

But God has given us this bit of the Bible to help us know him and ourselves a whole lot more, so we’re going to bite down on the mouthguard, buckle up our seatbelts, and hold on! I’ll be preaching on the final five chapters of Judges.

As a follow-up to last week’s talk on Samson (and Delilah), we have a bunch of questions. I’ll be answering these on Saturday and Sunday:

1 What does the name ‘Samson’ mean?
2 Since Samson was bad, why didn’t God leave his side?
3 Was Samson literally ‘sick to death’ of his wife’s nagging?
4 How did Samson not realise that the Lord left him as soon as his hair was cut?
5 As Samson’s hair regrew, was his relationship with God also being restored?
6 Since the Lord is outside of time does that give insights into the ‘intermediate state’?
7 Since Christians are immediately with Christ after death then are non-Christians immediately in Hell, and will they be re-judged on the final day?
8 Why are there so many cases of mental illness and suicide if God truly loves us?

So, come along and be part of the action this weekend at 5pm on Saturday, which is ideal for all ages (featuring a creche and two kids’ programs), followed by a hearty dinner, then our youth group program. Or come along at 9am on Sunday morning for a more ‘classic’ Anglican-style service, followed by delicious espresso coffee.

If you’ve not come before or for a long time, then this will be a good weekend to join us. And if you’re a regular, why not bring along a friend to check out our great, little church in Jamberoo!

Grace and peace, Jodie.

Hope Beyond Chaos 8: Saint and Sinner Judges 13:1-16:31 Jodie McNeill – 22 & 23 June 2019

Both saint and sinner.

They rebel but don’t ask for ____.

The Lord hadn’t _________ them.

The child was to have special _________.

They came into the ________ of the Lord.

Sin is not outside God’s ___________.

Samson’s rejection led to _____.

God’s people __________ their saviour.

Delilah was _______ to betray Samson.

God’s saviour is captured and ________.

God’s saviour is __________.

Through his death, Samson ______ the enemy.

What a wonderful _______!

News 22-23 June 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend we continue our series ‘Hope Beyond Chaos’ as Jodie opens up Judges 13:1-16:31 with our eighth talk, ‘Saint and Sinner’.

NEXT WEEK’S TALK

Next week we conclude our series on Judges as Jodie opens up Judges 17-21. as we hear talk nine, ‘Idolatry and Immorality’. 

MISSION OF THE MONTH

CMS is our mission of the month. Support at the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating stuff.

PIES FOR SCRIPTURE

Support the ministry of Kiama High School Scripture by buying some tasty meat or sweet pies for $10. Order on the form in the hall before this Sunday 23rd June.

COMBINED LEADERSHIP GROUP

Our next quarterly meeting is on this Tuesday 25th June at 7pm, as we prayerfully review and plan our ministries.

YOUTH CAMP

Our first-ever ‘Alive’ camp is coming up for our teenagers on 9-11 August at Burrill Pines on the South Coast. Keep the date free, invite your friends, and see Rayne for more details. Talks are on the topic “A Christ-centred Identity”. Cost is $150 (with subsidies available). Should be a great weekend of fun, fellowship, and Jesus!

JEMIMAH AND JACOB’S WEDDING

Jemimah McNeill and Jacob Mierendorff are getting married at Kiama Anglican on Friday 5th July at 12.30pm. You’re invited to celebrate with them at the service.

CHURCH REFURBISHMENT

At our recent Parish Council meeting decided to undertake a refurbishment project to modernise our kitchen, grounds, parking area, children’s gate and play equipment, and other improvements. To enable this, we have decided to borrow $95,000 over 15 years, with weekly payments of $166. If you wish to find out more or make a formal comment to the Diocese, please see the documentation at the Church door and the Hall.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $5513.00, leaving a gap of $787.00. Olimometer 2.52 Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $54,600. Compared to that total we received $48,216, leaving a gap of $6,384.Olimometer 2.52

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 details. Account name: Church of England Jamberoo. Account number: 10081274. BSB: 062562.

Sing Hallelujah to the Lord

Protesters sing Hallellujah in Hong Kong (CREDIT: Twitter @machinetta)

This week I was reminded of two significant memories from the 1980’s.

The first was the iconic images of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, when civilians were gunned down by Chinese soldiers during a protest for democracy.

The second was the song ‘Sing Hallelujah to the Lord’, a song I sang repeatedly throughout my teenage years in youth group and church.

These two memories came together as I witnessed news reports of the millions of people protesting in Hong Kong against the threat of being extradited to mainland China for trial for dissent.

Due to an anomaly in the legal system, there is a greater leniency towards Christian gatherings than political protests.

So, as the crowds gathered to protest, they followed the singing of Christian voices who turned this iconic chorus of the 70’s and 80’s into a modern meme for freedom and democracy.

Yet, as this song rings out in the public sphere, there is another level of subtle political subversion, for the lyrics of this Christian anthem unite the singers in praising the name of the Lord above all other rulers.

For as they sing on earth, they are united with the multitude that also gathers in Heaven to worship Jesus, whose shouts sounded “like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder”, as they cried out”Hallelujah! For our Lord Almighty reigns!” (Revelation 19:6)

As they chose to proclaim this Hebrew word ‘Hallelujah’ which means ‘Praise the Lord’, they made the bold statement that Jesus is the true ruler over all.

And as the millions gathered in Hong Kong to protest about the threat to freedoms, they also invoked the name of the Lord, who is the true ruler over all.

No matter what political fights we might experience, the greatest ruler of all is Jesus, the Lord of all, who is truly worthy of praise.

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 22-23 June 2019

One of the Bible’s most famous ‘power couples’ is Samson and Delilah… but for all the bad reasons. This dysfunctional couple represent so much that is wrong with the way that God’s people have acted in their worst moments of history. Yet, our Lord God worked through the extraordinary circumstances of Samson to bring deliverance to his troubled people.

This is the topic of this weekend’s Bible talk, as we consider Samson, who was both sinner and saint, and who acts as a most-unlikely saviour to God’s people.

During our church services we’ll be having answers to these questions which you asked over the last week or two:

1 Since Jephthah was foolish to make his oath, why did he still keep it instead of admitting his folly?
2 Why didn’t God provide an animal for Jephthah instead of his daughter?
3 If a spouse leaves the marriage without mediation should the deserted spouse seek to negotiate?
4 If someone bullies you then should you negotiate or retaliate?
5 What happens to Christians in the time between when we die and when Jesus returns?
6 Why is it so hard to forgive people when they say sorry, but keep doing the wrong thing?
7 What do you do if your friend shuts you down when you try and talk to them about God?

We’re also looking forward to celebrating ‘CMS Sunday’ at our services this weekend, which is a great way to help keep global outreach to the whole world on our agenda.

So, please come and join us. The action begins at 5pm on Saturday, with all-age church and a kids’ program, followed by an awesome dinner and then youth program. Or be with us at 9am on Sunday for a more classic kind of Anglican service, followed by terrific espresso coffee.

If you’ve never joined us before, then this is the perfect weekend to break the ice and be part of the special things that God is doing in our awesome village and valley of Jamberoo.

Grace and peace, Jodie.

Hope Beyond Chaos 7: The Limitations of Negotiations Judges 10:6-12:15 Jodie McNeill – 15 & 16 June 2019

Do you love a good _______?

Negotiation matters when _____________ fail.

The _____ of salvation and sin has come around.

God was sick of their _________.

We must be _______ with God’s provision.

We hurt God’s ________ when we sin.

Jephthah was a _______ with a tragic upbringing.

Jephthah __________ with the elders of Gilead.

Jephthah __________ with the king of Ammon.

Jephthah acknowledges that the Lord _____.

In every conflict, the Lord is in _______.

The ______ of the Lord comes on Jephthah.

Jephthah __________ with the Lord.

God leads his people in a crushing _______.

Jephthah takes no ______________ for his foolish promise.

Jephthah’s __________ led to his personal disaster.

Jephthah ________ the Ephraimites.

Insecure leaders produce tragic ________.

We must not _______ with God for his grace.

News 15-16 June 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend we continue our series ‘Hope Beyond Chaos’ as Jodie opens up Judges 10:6-12:15 with our seventh talk, ‘The Limitations of Negotiations’.

NEXT WEEK’S TALK

Next week we will continue our series on Judges as Jodie opens up Judges 13:1-16:35 as we hear talk eight, ‘Saint and Sinner’. 

MISSION OF THE MONTH

CMS is our mission of the month. Support at the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating stuff.

INTERCHURCH GATHERING

We are hosting the first of the all-new gatherings this Sunday 16th June at the new time of 3pm in the church hall. If you’re coming, please bring along some afternoon tea to share. Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘In Christ Alone’.

PIES FOR SCRIPTURE

Support the ministry of Kiama High School Scripture by buying some tasty meat or sweet pies for $10 each. Order on the form in the hall before 23rd June.

COMBINED LEADERSHIP GROUP

Our next quarterly meeting is on Tuesday 25th June at 7pm, as we prayerfully review and plan for our ministries.

CHURCH REFURBISHMENT

At our Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, we decided to undertake a refurbishment project to modernise our kitchen, grounds, parking area, children’s gate and play equipment, and other improvements. To enable this, we have decided to borrow $95,000 over 15 years, with weekly payments of $166. If you wish to find out more or make a formal comment to the Diocese, please see the documentation at the Welcome Table and the Noticeboard.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $5513.00, leaving a gap of $787.00. Olimometer 2.52 Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $54,600. Compared to that total we received $48,216, leaving a gap of $6,384.Olimometer 2.52

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 details. Account name: Church of England Jamberoo. Account number: 10081274. BSB: 062562.