We say ‘no’ to domestic violence

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CREDIT: x1klima via Flickr.com)

The Bible is very clear about domestic violence: it is completely wrong.

God’s advice to husbands is simple: “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19), which is written right after God’s advice to wives: “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18.)

Tragically, there are some men who believe that this word from God means that their wives must endure whatever treatment the husband might give, even though it is plainly clear that harshness in any form is prohibited.

In another part of the New Testament, God has given us a stunning picture of how a husband is supposed to lovingly treat his wife:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25)

God’s word to husbands could not be clearer: any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse towards their wives is wrong and disobedient.

Sadly, some churchgoing men have disobeyed God by being violent towards their wives, perhaps even justifying their behaviour from a warped reading of the Bible.

In our church, we will do all we can to protect the vulnerable, and seek to bring justice to those who disobey God by mistreating members of their family.

If you would like to chat about your own situation, or the situation of someone you know and love, then please come and talk to me or a trusted Christian so that we can provide loving care and protection.

Jodie.

Coming up this weekend 29th – 30th July 2017

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This weekend we continue our brand-new series on the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel with the series titled ‘Kingdom Coming’. In the next talk, Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “The failure of politics”, from 2 Samuel chapter 2 verses 1 to verse 32.

During our service, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. How should we respond to the recent media discussion of domestic violence in the church, especially claims that it occurs due to the misuse of Scripture?
  2. Could David be called ‘David Christ?’
  3. Does the Bible say how Jonathan died?
  4. Was David right to kill the Amalekite man since only that right belongs to God? If so, should Christians today strike down those who oppose God?
  5. Are the mountains of Gilboa still in drought after David’s curse?
  6. Why is there a difference in translation of 2 Samuel 1:19 between the older and the newer NIV Bibles?
  7. What does it mean by a ‘lament of the bow’ in 2 Samuel 1:18?
  8. Who are we meant to love: God or Jesus?

We will also hear a special update on the ministry of Moore College and spend time on prayer for the College and its students.

Our 8am Sunday service will be the Lord’s Supper 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, 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.

Church news for the week beginning 22nd July 2017

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New Bible talk series begins this weekend

This weekend we begin our new series looking at 2 Samuel called ‘Kingdom Coming’ as Jodie preaches from chapter 1 verses 1 to 27  with the title, “The king is dead: long live the king.”

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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, 24th July at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

SWITCH Lite

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 5th August, 9am to 12.30pm at Nowra Baptist Church. The guest speaker is Lesley Ramsay, who is speaking on the theme “Hang in there”. Cost is $20 or $10 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au. Please see Mandy McNeill  if you wish to go.

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 2.52

Up 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 2.52

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 .

Changed lives in Fiji

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Leaving the comfort of Australia, I arrived in the unfamiliar, foreign land of Fiji… a different place, climate, and people, but the same God.

Along with the 75 other students in the Youthworks Year 13 Gap Year program, we were given opportunities to learn how the Fijians live, eat, work and function as a society. We then learnt to apply this to our teaching, ministry, and relationships. 

From organised ministry at youth groups, churches and schools, to unplanned opportunities with workers, and shopkeepers, we shared the gospel with many people.

I quickly learnt that the mission was God’s, not ours, which meant that things often did not go as planned. Sometimes we were disappointed or confused, like when our homestay visit with a family was suddenly cancelled.

Other times we were overjoyed with surprise opportunities, like when we turned up to a local primary school in Suva, prepared for a single 15-minute assembly, only to leave having done 17, simultaneous classes.

My highlight was the ten days spent in the small village of Nakavu, where I was welcomed into the home of a beautiful family from the Methodist Church. We were totally immersed into the village life, living with the people and learning from them.

So much of the mission was unstructured, playing with the children at the stunning Navua River, forming friendships which provided many amazing chats. This has made me realise the importance of investing in children outside set hours of ministry events.

Most of all, I was challenged to be totally reliant on prayer, not only when things go wrong, or as a backup, but as the most important thing for effective ministry. 

I am so thankful for each and every one of you, for your generosity in prayer and financial support. Lives were changed in Fiji, and my life was certainly one of them.

Jemimah McNeill – Year 13 student

Coming up this weekend 22nd – 23rd July 2017

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This weekend we kick off our brand-new series in the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel. Come join us and discover the life of King David, the man after God’s own heart.

The series is called ‘Kingdom Coming’, and in the first talk, Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “The King is dead: long live the King”, from 2 Samuel chapter 1 verses 1 to 27.

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

We will also hear from Jemimah McNeill, our Year 13 student who recently spent a month in Fiji on mission as part of her Year 13 course.

During our service, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. How do you actually start a conversation where you wish to confess your sins to someone you trust?
  2. Does the failure of David and the other kings of Israel show us that our need can only be met by God, not humans?
  3. Is the Lord’s Supper a memorial or does it hold some additional significance?
  4. Why would some of Christ’s disciples appear to be opposed to the Lord’s Supper in John 6:44-60?
  5. Should we play games such as Monopoly that encourage greedy behaviour towards making money?

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, or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

Church news for the week beginning 15th July 2017

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we welcome Simon Chaplin who will be talking on the topic ‘Looking for a leader – 1 Samuel – an Overview’ from 1 Samuel.

New Sermon Series

From next Sunday we’re kicking off a new series looking at 2 Samuel. The series is called ‘Kingdom Coming.’ Jodie is preaching on chapter one, titled “The king is dead: long live the king.”

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

Soup and Sandwich lunch

Join the Ladies Guild of Jamberoo Anglican for a Soup and Sandwich lunch on Wednesday 19th July. Guest speaker is Mandy McNeill speaking on the topic “A Fortunate Mother” from Luke chapter 1 verses 46 to 56. Cost is $10 at Jamberoo Anglican church hall at 11.30am. Please RSVP to Helen on 4236 0158 for catering purposes.

SWITCH Lite

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 5th August, 9am to 12.30pm at Nowra Baptist Church. The guest speaker is Lesley Ramsay, who is speaking on the theme “Hang in there”. Cost is $20 or $10 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au. Please see Mandy McNeill  if you wish to go.

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 2.52

Up 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 2.52

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 .

Our problem with David and Goliath

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David and Goliath is one of the most famous and well-loved stories in the Bible.

It’s the classic tale of the underdog winning a battle against an unbeatable enemy.

It’s a story we love, because we all have our own challenges in life that seem impossible, and yet this story shows God achieve something that seemed impossible.

The temptation is for us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of David.

Then we assume that this story means that if we trust in God then he will help us achieve the impossible.

Yet, this is the biggest mistake that we make with this historical account of the battle between David and Goliath.

Because in this story, we should see ourselves in the shoes of the people of God, not of David.

For, in David we see one man, chosen by God to represent his people, who then fights an impossible battle, and whose victory gives salvation to all of his people.

But the story comes to life even more when we realise that the battle of King David against his archenemy is a foretaste of the battle of King Jesus against the greatest enemy of all: the devil.

As we read in the Bible in the letter to the Hebrews:

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

So, if we choose to have Jesus as our king, then his victory over the devil will become ours, just like how God’s people enjoyed King David’s victory over Goliath.

And this makes the story of David and Goliath even better news for everyone on God’s side.

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 15th – 16th July 2017

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This weekend we welcome Simon Chaplin who will be speaking on the topic ‘Looking for a leader – 1 Samuel – an Overview’ from 1 Samuel.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer Sunday service and at both our services, we will have a special update about Anglicare which is our Mission of the Month.

During church, we’ll hear answers to these questions:
1 What does “without holiness no one will see the Lord” from Hebrews 12 mean?
2 Should a person only work enough to sustain them but no more?
3 Is socialism a more Christian approach to economics than capitalism?
4 Why do we need paid ministers when the Apostle Paul supported himself financially?
5 If we didn’t have paid ministers then would church be more like a family and less like an organisation?
6 How should a person start start the uncomfortable conversation of confessing their sins to a mentor?
7 Why don’t we kneel to pray?

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, or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

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

Church news for the week beginning 8th July 2017

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend our speaker is Trevor Lucas, who will be talking on the topic ‘One in Christ Jesus?’ from Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 16.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week Simon Chaplin from Oak Flats Anglican will be talking on the topic ‘Looking for a leader – 1 Samuel – an Overview’ from 1 Samuel.

Mission of the month: BCA

BCA (Bush Church Aid) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

“You can’t trust what the Bible says—it’s been changed too much over the years!”

Do people ever ask you tough questions about your faith? Do you ever have questions of your own? How do you handle them? A new Bible study series, entitled “So Many Questions”, which looks at 13 common teasers and how to deal with them, will start at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 19th July at the Lucases’.  New faces are always welcome! If you’d like to join us for this series please let Trevor know soon as he needs to order study books. 

Ladies’ Soup and Sandwich lunch

Join the Ladies Guild of Jamberoo Anglican for a Soup and Sandwich lunch on Wednesday 19th July. Guest speaker is Mandy McNeill speaking on the topic “A Fortunate Mother” from Luke chapter 1 verses 46 to 56. Cost is $10 at Jamberoo Anglican church hall at 11.30am. Please RSVP to Helen on 4236 0158 for catering purposes.

A note from the Curnows

The Curnows give thanks to God that their son-in-law, Stephen has made a good recovery. Stephen would like to thank everyone for their prayer support during his illness, which has been greatly appreciated and a help towards his recovery.

SWITCH Lite

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 5th August, 9am to 12.30pm at Nowra Baptist Church. The guest speaker is Lesley Ramsay, who is speaking on the theme “Hang in there”. Cost is $20 or $10 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au. Please see Mandy McNeil if you wish to go.

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 2.52

Up 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 2.52

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 .

The biggest problem our children face

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Whilst it is true and powerful that children are our future, the problem is that society doesn’t quite know what to do.

We look at the current problems of our world and then look to the next generation to solve them… problems like violence, alcohol, crime, poverty and the environment.

The cause of each of these problems, so the reasoning goes, is a lack of information about the impacts that each of these problems may result in.

So to help our children overcome the issues we introduce educational programs at the earliest appropriate age to arm the next generation with the knowledge and skills to overcome them.

Now all this is well intentioned and not without benefit, but this strategy has always and will aways ultimately fail.

This is obvious when you realise that some of these programs have been going on for generations.

Issues to do with alcohol are a tragic example: we are now trying to teach our kids the very same things that we were taught but have ignored.

And the reason why these educational reforms have failed is that the problem is misdiagnosed.

The problem is not lack of information: the problem is sin, and so our children carry within them the problem itself.

Our children need saving.

While this is profoundly politically incorrect to say unless we understand the problem we will never be able to offer children the answer.

Jesus said “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them,  or the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:14,16

Jesus is the answer because Jesus came to save us from our sins: he came to save children from their sins.

Simon Chaplin