At Jamberoo Anglican, we believe the church is a family—so we make space for all ages to grow together in faith. That’s why our Sunday kids’ ministry embraces an intergenerational approach. We start and end the services together, seeing kids and adults worship, learn, and serve alongside one another, which builds lasting relationships, nurtures spiritual growth, and reflects the beautiful diversity of the body of Christ, Titus 2. 

When we head out to Kids’ church, it’s a team effort. Bringing together passionate volunteers, families, and the wider church, where the kids are nurtured by leaders who model Christ and help shape their faith foundations in age-appropriate bible talks, discussions around the passage, and by playing a few fun games. 

Our intergenerational model reminds us all that faith is something we live out together; it’s not a one-person job. It’s been a joy to observe how some of you sit with the kids at meal times, join in on the handball court or soccer field, and even just asking the kids what they learnt out in kids’ church. Every generation has something valuable to contribute so that the Jamberoo kids can come out knowing, loving, and obeying Jesus with their whole lives. 

Rach Bemmer

This week at church we’re diving back into the book of Mark; specifically Mark chapter 9:1-13.

This is a phenomenal passage! It’s about Jesus’ transfiguration, the appearance of Old Testament leaders of Israel, God’s presence descending on a mountain in a cloud, and heaps of other interesting stuff.

There’s a few questions we’ll answer as we look at this passage on Sunday.

1. Why did Jesus’ appearance change?
2. Why did Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain?
3. What is Mark trying to tell us in this true story, and what do we do with it in our lives?

This passage is designed to show us who Jesus is, and what he came to earth to accomplish for his followers – even his followers in Jamberoo Anglican Church 2000 years later.

And Mark 9:7 leaves us with the question – will you listen to the voice of God’s own son?

What will happen when you listen to him? And what are the consequences if you don’t?

My prayer this week is that we would all be challenged to see Jesus for who he really is, and listen to his life-saving voice.

Brad Vidilini

As an older Christian, I often think about how life in the past affects my life in the present. Thoughts come to mind of what I- & others- have grappled with, such as disappointment, hurt & anger. Especially as a young Christian- around 18 years of age- I & others struggled with the temptation of the “lazy” Christian life. This was falsely thinking that “I’m saved by grace, so I don’t need to be serious about what I think, say & do.”

As we journey through 1 John in our sermon series, I am being strongly convicted about what it means to keep living a victorious Christian life. Chapter 5, emphasises several actions that characterise a strong Christian.

Verse 1a- BELIEF that Jesus is the Christ who comes from God the Father.

Verse 1b- LOVE for God the Son and God the Father.

Verse 2a- LOVE for the children of God- for one another!

Verse 2b- OBEDIENCE to God expressing our love for Him.

Love for God is expressed in obedience to God. Love for others is expressed in obeying God in our relationships with other Christians- and with our neighbours. 

It is good to prayerfully reflect on the two great commandments of loving God & loving others. It is also good to reflect on what the Bible says about love expressed in obedience to God, such as The Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5) and The Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). On the global scale, every nation on earth that has taken the Bible seriously has these commands as foundational to its ethics and legal principles. 

On the personal scale, every individual Christian on earth that takes the Bible seriously has these commands as foundational. Moved & motivated by the Holy Spirit, every authentic Christian will love God the Father, God the Son, our fellow church members, and those in our wider mission field of “village, valley & region”

Steve Bligh

Our Faith in Jesus will be seen in our Love for God and one another and our obedience to God, not because we have to, but because we want to.

A healthy faith will be seen in joyful obedience!

On the other hand, disobedience to God’s will is a tragedy—but so is reluctant, grudging obedience. God does not want us to disobey Him, but neither does He want us to obey out of fear or necessity. Jonah was a case in point!

What Paul wrote about giving also applies to living: “not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7)

What is the secret of joyful obedience? It is to recognize that obedience is a family matter. We are serving a loving Father and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We have been born of God, so we love God, and we love God’s children.

And we demonstrate this love by keeping God’s commandments joyfully.

Tony Galea