The only way to pray

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CREDIT: Ninac26, via Flickr.

I am reading a wonderful book at the moment called “Teaching the Psalms” by Christopher Ash. His main idea is that before we apply the Psalms to us, we must hear them as the prayers of Jesus.

But as he began to explain this I came across a statement that may take many people by surprise. Because our prayers arise out of sinful hearts, “God cannot and must not hear them”.

Most people believe that God will always hear them no matter what. But in our natural state God cannot hear our prayers.

James describes our prayers as spiritual adultery (James 4:3). Our natural prayers to God are something along the lines of this: “God, is it OK if I commit idolatry?”

That’s because our natural prayers do not arise out of single-hearted love and devotion to God. Even our best prayers will have a mixture of pure and impure motives.

Our hearts are filled with sin, and it is a presumption to think that God would hear our prayers.

However there is one that God will always listen to.

When Jesus heals a man born blind, some of the pharisees are outraged at Jesus. The man defends Jesus, saying “We know that God does not listen to sinners, he listen to the godly person who does his will” John 9:31.

When Jesus heals Lazarus, he does so by praying to the Father: “Thank you that you always hear me”(John 11:41). Lazarus comes back to life, because Jesus is godly person whom the Father always hears.

There is only one that this is true of. It is only through Christ that prayer becomes a possibility.

The Spirit brings Christ to dwell with us so that our prayers are united with his: “For through Jesus we have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Eph 2:18

It’s humbling to remember our natural state before God. But when we do, we can appreciate the gift of prayer in Jesus through the Spirit all the more!

SIMON CHAPLIN

Coming up this weekend 3rd – 4th November 2018

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This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Jodie speaking on the topic ‘How to be a good citizen’ from Romans chapter 13 verses 1 to 7.

It’s the right time for us to recognise many of the needs of our missionaries, so at both our services, we will have a special update about Church Missionary Society (CMS) which is our Mission of the Month.

At our 5pm Saturday service we will have our popular weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. What was the purpose of making burnt offerings to the Lord?
  2. Is it ever OK to lie, especially if it helps avoid conflict within the church?

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer AAPB service.

If you’re wanting to check out our church we’d really love you to visit us on Saturday at 5pm for a contemporary service with kids’ program and dinner afterwards. Our youth group ‘Alive’ runs straight after dinner on Saturday night. Or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

If you can’t make it in person, you’re welcome to jump online to watch the service (with the same sermon and many other items) at www.oakflats.tv.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

Church news for the week beginning 27th October 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

Our series titled, ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, continues this weekend with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic  ‘What does love really look like?’ from Romans chapter 12 verses 9 to 21.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 29th October at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Monthly Midweek Service

The next (and final) monthly midweek service (with a special Christmas theme) will be held on Wednesday 5th December at 11am, followed by a light lunch in the hall. We will not be having a midweek service in November.

Safe ministry training day

If you are or would like to be involved in leading or serving children and youth, then you need current training in safe ministry. Join us on Saturday morning 10th November for a regional training day run by the Diocese of Sydney at Oak Flats Anglican. Cost is $25 for Safe Ministry Refresher, or $50 for the full Safe Ministry Essentials course.  Sign in from 8:45am for Safe Ministry Essentials (9:00am-2:30pm) OR sign in from 11:45am for Safe Ministry Refresher (12:00pm-2:30pm). Registration must be made prior to the day. Please contact Val for more details or register online at https://safeministry.training.

McNeill’s Commencement Service

On Tuesday 22nd January at 7pm we’ll be hosting a special service for our church and our community as we invite the Bishop to formally welcome Jodie as our full-time Rector for next year. Put the date in your diary, and pray that God will use it to help people know about the exciting new stage of our parish.

Men’s Dinner

The next Men’s Dinner will be held on Tuesday 6th November at 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Shellharbour, with guest speaker, Mark Thompson. $31 per person (or $23 concession). Register online at www.oakflatsanglican.com/mensdinner.

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .

Not all Christians are H-A-P-P-Y!

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CREDIT: Photo donnierayjones, via Flickr.

There’s a Christian song that we love to sing to kids which goes like this:

I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m H-A-P-P-Y.

I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, because I know God loves me so, I’m H-A-P-P-Y.

It’s a great little song, especially for young kids who really understand only two emotions: sad and happy.

And so with this simple message is a simple truth: joy, satisfaction, happiness is found in the love of God.

Yet, we get much older, we realise that even as people who know Jesus and are loved by him, there will be times when we will experience great sadness.

I was reminded of this as I recently read Psalm 6 as part of my daily Bible reading. It says:

I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies. (Psalm 6:6-7).

It’s a lot different to the “H-A-P-P-Y” experience of the kids’ song, but it shows that sorrow is an authentic experience of the Christian.

Yet, Christian sadness is not without hope. The Psalm continues in this way:

Go away, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer. (Psalm 6:8-9)

As we experience sadness, we can know that God hears us in our grief, and he answers our prayers.

And our hope is future-focused: we look forward to him answering our prayer for deliverance from our enemies and the rescue that we are promised because of Jesus.

Whether you’re H-A-P-P-Y or S-A-D, you can look forward to being restored and rescued by our saviour Jesus Christ, as we await his return or our going to be with him.

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 27th – 28th October 2018

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This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic ‘What does love really look like?’ from Romans chapter 12 verses 9 to 21.

At our 5pm Saturday service we will have an opportunity to hear a special report about the SWITCH Ladies conference, which is being held this Saturday morning.

Also at that service will have our popular weekly question and answer time, and Simon will be answering these questions:

  1. How much faith does God give us, and can it be measured?
  2. How did God communicate with the prophets?
  3. Have there been any more prophets since the Bible was written?
  4. Are we right to skip some verses in our Bible reading just because some names are difficult?

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Holy Communion Second Order AAPB service.

If you’re wanting to check out our church we’d really love you to visit us on Saturday at 5pm for a contemporary service with kids’ program and dinner afterwards. Our youth group ‘Alive’ runs straight after dinner on Saturday night. Or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

If you can’t make it in person, you’re welcome to jump online to watch the service (with the same sermon and many other items) at www.oakflats.tv.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

Church news for the week beginning 20th October 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

Our series titled, ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, returns this weekend with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic ‘Truly transformed service’ from Romans chapter 12 verses 1 to 8.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

SWITCH Lite

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 27th October, 9am to 12.30pm at Bomaderry Anglican Church. The guest speaker is Claire Smith, who is speaking on the topic “God’s Good Design”. We will explore what the Bible really says about men & women. Cost is $20 or $15 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au. Last chance to register!

Safe ministry training day

If you are or would like to be involved in leading or serving children and youth, then you need current training in safe ministry. Join us on Saturday morning 10th November for a regional training day run by the Diocese of Sydney at Oak Flats Anglican. Cost is $25 for Safe Ministry Refresher, or $50 for the full Safe Ministry Essentials course.  Sign in from 8:45am for Safe Ministry Essentials (9:00am-2:30pm) OR sign in from 11:45am for Safe Ministry Refresher (12:00pm-2:30pm). Registration must be made prior to the day. Please contact Val for more details or register online at https://safeministry.training.

McNeill’s Commencement Service

On Tuesday 22nd January at 7pm we’ll be hosting a special service for our church and our community as we invite the Bishop to formally welcome Jodie as our full-time Rector for next year. Put the date in your diary, and pray that God will use it to help people know about the exciting new stage of our parish.

Men’s Dinner

The next Men’s Dinner will be held on Tuesday 6th November at 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Shellharbour, with guest speaker, Mark Thompson. $31 per person (or $23 concession). Register online at www.oakflatsanglican.com/mensdinner.

Mental Health Seminar

Albion Park Anglican Church will be hosting Mental Health seminars, ‘Tackling Mental Health Together’, on Thursday 1st November,7.15-9.15pm or Saturday 10th November, 2pm to 4pm. RSVP: Julie McGilvray on 4256 2103.

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .

Care for Victims of Domestic Abuse

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CREDIT: Photo IsraGarcia18, via Flickr.

At this year’s Sydney Anglican Synod, we were again reminded about the tragic damage in the lives of people affected by domestic abuse.

Back in 2017 we approved a draft policy on responding to domestic abuse, but last night we were able to lock in some important, final details.

One of the important things to note was the reality that the people who commit domestic abuse will sometimes ‘groom’ people in our churches so that their sin is hidden and impact of the abuse is underplayed.

Another problem was the risk of us showing “cheap grace” in misreading the difference between remorse and repentance.

After all, it’s not enough for an abuser to show they feel unhappy about the way they have treated their spouse: they need to genuinely repent of the sin, and show their commitment to making concrete changes to stop the harm.

To help church leaders better care for victims of domestic abuse, the Synod members were reminded to make sure that victims were not only initially helped to be made safe, but that they would continue to stay safe into the future.

Furthermore, the Synod announced that a special fund has been established to help support spouses of ministers who are victims of domestic abuse whose marriages fail, providing assistance in housing and other areas of need.

Archdeacon for Women, Kara Hartley, fought to hold back her emotions as she shared the impact of domestic abuse in our church:

“As I have been preparing for tonight, I’ve been struggling to capture my own feelings at the evil that is done when God’s precious word is twisted and used to excuse violence. I feel sadness and then I get so angry. To act violently is evil in itself but to falsely claim divine sanction is so outrageous.”

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 20th – 21st October 2018

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This weekend we begin the next part of our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Simon Chaplin on the topic ‘Truly transformed service’ from Romans chapter 12 verses 1 to 8.

We will hear from Jodie a special update about our annual get-together of all the churches in Sydney and the Illawarra (called the ‘Synod’) at both our services.

At our Saturday 5pm service will also have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. Is it blasphemous for modern Bibles to change the original English translation?
  2. Why do English Bibles differ from each other? For example, Psalm 22:15 says “my strength is dried up” but another says “my mouth is dried up”?
  3. Do you have to celebrate the Lord’s Supper at church, or can it be done at home?

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer Sunday service.

If you’re wanting to check out our church we’d really love you to visit us on Saturday at 5pm for a contemporary service with kids’ program and dinner afterwards. Our youth group ‘Alive’ runs straight after dinner on Saturday night. Or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

If you can’t make it in person, you’re welcome to jump online to watch the service (with the same sermon and many other items) at www.oakflats.tv.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

The Difference the Trinity Makes – 13-14th October 2018 – Mark Howard

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The Difference the Trinity Makes

13-14th October 2018  • Mark Howard

 

INTRODUCTION

1. CREED OF ATHANASIUS

Excerpts:

And the Catholick Faith (ie universal faith) is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.

the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.

And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.

The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.

The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding

we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father, as touching his Manhood.

Who although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ;

One; not by conversion of the Godhead into the flesh: but by taking the Manhood into God.

In summary we can say:

      • The Father, Son and Spirit are not three Gods, but one God.
      • This one God eternally exists as three distinct persons.
      • The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.
      • The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
      • The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor begotten but proceeding.

2. BODGIE ANALOGIES

3. JOHN’S GOSPEL 

A. Six summary points from John’s Gospel:

    • The work of God in salvation reveals the trinity
    • We see that God is trinity from how he saves us from our sins, and we also see there are three distinct persons of the Godhead, each of whom is essential for our salvation 
    • There is salvation only because God is trinity. If God is not triune, then there is no salvation
    • God in trinity has acted and is acting to bring people eternal salvation from judgement
    • God the Son needed to become flesh and to die on a cross for our salvation 
    • To have eternal life, we need to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 3:16 & John 20:31) 
    • God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, has incorporated us into the loving work of loving each and bearing fruit – of bringing others to salvation.

B. Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man

C. What does the Father do for our Salvation?

D. What is the Spirit doing?

E. Love

CONCLUSION: THE TRINITY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

 

Download a copy of the PDF here Mark Howard Outline 13-14 Oct 2018

 

Church news for the week beginning 13th October 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we welcome our own Mark Howard as he speaks on the topic ‘The difference the Trinity makes’ from Isaiah chapter 42 verses 1 to 9 and John chapter 1 verses 1 to 18.

Romans series returns next week

Our series titled, ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, returns next week with Simon Chaplin speaking from Romans chapter 12 verses 1 to 8.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Ladies’ Dinner

The next Ladies’ Dinner is this Tuesday 16th October with guest speaker Nicky Fortescue, who will speak on the topic of ‘Taking grace, giving grace’. 6.30pm at Oak Flats Anglican, cost $15. Please visit www.oakflatsanglican.com/ladiesdinner to register.

SWITCH Lite

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 27th October, 9am to 12.30pm at Bomaderry Anglican Church. The guest speaker is Claire Smith, who is speaking on the topic “God’s Good Design”. We will explore what the Bible really says about men & women. Cost is $20 or $15 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au. Registrations close 21st October.

Youth returns next week

Our normal youth program, ‘Alive’, returns next Saturday 20th October.

McNeill’s Commencement Service

On Tuesday 22nd January at 7pm we’ll be hosting a special service for our church and our community as we invite the Bishop to formally welcome Jodie as our full-time Rector for next year. Put the date in your diary, and pray that God will use it to help people know about the exciting new stage of our parish.

KBECET Annual Dinner is coming up

Saturday 20th October at Kiama Anglican Church Hall (Yes, you can make it after our service!) 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Come and enjoy a great meal and hear the latest of Nigel’s ministry at Kiama High. Cost – $25 per ticket. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525 or email vic.east37@gmail.com.

Mental Health Seminar

Albion Park Anglican Church will be hosting Mental Health seminars, ‘Tackling Mental Health Together’, on Thursday 1st November,7.15-9.15pm or Saturday 10th November, 2pm to 4pm. RSVP: Julie McGilvray on 4256 2103.

 

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .