The Perfect Backdrop
When was the last time you went to a jewellery store?
For me it was when I went to pick up an engagement ring so I could proposed to my lovely fiancé and (hopefully) soon to be wife.
I was absolutely dazzled! Firstly, by the price… and secondly, by the beauty of all the precious diamonds!
They were displayed on a dark black velvet cloth, which helped them stand out even more.
The jeweller knows that black is the perfect backdrop for these precious diamonds because it lets the diamonds shine through in all their glory.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans he spends the first few chapters doing something similar.
Rom 3:10b No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one… 19b the entire world is guilty before God.
Just like the jeweller Paul sets the scene for his message by showcasing the dark backdrop of human sinfulness and unrighteousness. He then continues;
Rom 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Every single human being has fallen short of God’s glorious and good standard.
But, our sinfulness is the perfect backdrop for God’s righteousnesses to shine though!
Rom 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Against the dark backdrop of human sin God’s grace in Christ shines through like a marvellous diamond.
Praise be to our gracious God! He has freed us from sin and made us right in his sight!
JACOB MIERENDORFF
Coming up this weekend 25-26th June 2022
This weekend we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Trevor Lucas preaches to us from Hebrews 12.
After our 5pm Saturday service we’ll be having dinner, and after our 9am Sunday service we’ll be enjoying brunch together.
These are the questions we’re looking forward to Graham answering during the services:
1 Since Jesus was perfect, did he ever get sick?
2 Who named Adam and Eve?
3 Who made angels?
4 How should we respond when people use God’s name in vain?
5 Is there a time when it’s alright for Christians to kill, such as self-defence?
6 Were Old Testament sacrifices effective because of Jesus’ sacrifice?
7 Did Judas go to Heaven or Hell?
8 What can I say to encourage my friend who feels they’re falling away from God?
We’d love you to join us in-person if you’re able, or watch our livestream at watch.jamberooanglican.com.
We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Church news for the week beginning 18th June 2022
OUR SERMON
This weekend we will be hearing from God’s word as Brad Vidilini preaches to us from Psalm 62 on ‘Real Hope’.
KEBECET PIE DRIVE
Head to the events page on our website to order some pies or donate to support scripture teaching (SRE) at Kiama High School.
SAFE MINISTRY COURSE
We would love every member of our church to complete the ‘Safe Ministry Essentials’ course at www.safeministry.training. The course costs $20 and lasts 3 years. See Sandee for more details.
MORNING PRAYER
Join us at 7am every day (except Sunday) at zoom.jamberooanglican.com as we gather to read the Bible, pray, and encourage each other as the new day dawns.
JUNE & JULY BOOK OF THE MONTH
‘How Will the World End?’ by Jeramie Rinne. How you ever wondered what the end of the world will actually look like? Christians believe that history is moving towards a dramatic conclusion – that one day Jesus Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. But there seem to be so many different views about how this will happen, and when it will take place. How can we make sense of it all? This short, readable book explains clearly and simply the liberating reality of what the Bible is actually saying about the return of Christ and the end of the world. We have physical copies available for purchase over in the church hall. However, if you wish to order your own copy online or read via Kindle, you can do that here.
GIVING UPDATE
Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. Last month, our average weekly giving was $5882.00, leaving a gap of $418.00. Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $245,700. Compared to that total we received $221,466, leaving a gap of $24,234.
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/
Controversial Conversion
In all my years of being a Christian, there’s nothing I love more than seeing another person become a new follower of Jesus.
It’s such a joy to see someone go from living for themselves, with all the guilt and uncertainty, to now living for Jesus, with all the freedom and certainty for eternity.
Yet, not everyone shares the thrill of seeing a person become converted to Christ.
I was reminded of this when I read again about how Jesus sent a mob of demons out of a man, which led to the death of a large herd of pigs.
Sure, the impact of losing the livelihood of the livestock was a significant thing, but to see the joy and relief of the once-possessed man should certainly have overridden such concerns.
Yet, we read in Luke 8 that when the people saw the man who was freed from the demons “fully clothed and perfectly sane,” they were all afraid, and so:
“all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.” (Luke 8:37)
The people were face-to-face with a modern miracle that brought complete release to a tortured man, and yet all they could do was drive Jesus away because of their fear.
When people meet Jesus and are changed, it can be confronting to others.
For, their new life will mean that they now turn away from some things that they once embraced and encouraged.
If some of those former things are valued highly by others, then that person’s conversion to Christ will be considered to be a challenge to others.
Yet, when a person knows how good it is to be forgiven by Jesus, there’s nothing that anyone can say that will take away that deep joy and certainty for eternity.
JODIE McNEILL
(Photo credit: K-State Research and Extension via Flickr.com)
Coming up this weekend 18-19th June 2022
This weekend we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Brad Vidilini preaches to us from Psalm 62.
This Sunday we are also looking forward to celebrating the baptism of Emelyn Hall, Sachin Hall and Alanya Stuckey during our 9am service. Praise God!
After our 5pm Saturday service we’ll be having dinner, and after our 9am Sunday service we’ll be enjoying brunch together.
These are the questions we’re looking forward to Jodie answering during the services:
1 What does ‘Belshazzar’ mean and how is it different to ‘Belteshazzar?”
2 Why did the King think Daniel has power from his ‘holy gods’?
3 Did Nebuchadnezzar go to heaven?
4 What language was the writing on the wall?
5 What’s the difference between wives and concubines?
6 Should we copy Daniel’s practice of praying three times a day?
7 Would Daniel have been more frightened by the angel than the lions?
8 How did Daniel calm the lions?
9 What does the ‘IHS’ mean on the communion table?
10 How can a married couple know when it’s the right time to have children?
We’d love you to join us in-person if you’re able, or watch our livestream at watch.jamberooanglican.com.
We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Church news for the week beginning 11th June 2022
OUR SERMON
This weekend we will be hearing from God’s word as Matt Bartlett preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 6.
EQUIP WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
Join together with some women from our church to hear God’s Word from the book of Lamentations. Time: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm 18th June, in the church hall. Teens are free and Adults are $20.
CONCRETE APPLICATION
The new concrete driveway and church entrance is now finished. Thanks be to God!
SAFE MINISTRY COURSE
We would love every member of our church to complete the ‘Safe Ministry Essentials’ course at www.safeministry.training. The course costs $20 and lasts 3 years. See Sandee for more details.
PARISH COUNCIL
Pray for our Parish Council as it meets on Tuesday night.
MORNING PRAYER
Join us at 7am every day (except Sunday) at zoom.jamberooanglican.com as we gather to read the Bible, pray, and encourage each other as the new day dawns.
JUNE & JULY BOOK OF THE MONTH
‘How Will the World End?’ by Jeramie Rinne. How you ever wondered what the end of the world will actually look like? Christians believe that history is moving towards a dramatic conclusion – that one day Jesus Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. But there seem to be so many different views about how this will happen, and when it will take place. How can we make sense of it all? This short, readable book explains clearly and simply the liberating reality of what the Bible is actually saying about the return of Christ and the end of the world. We have physical copies available for purchase over in the church hall. However, if you wish to order your own copy online or read via Kindle, you can do that here.
GIVING UPDATE
Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. Last month, our average weekly giving was $5882.00, leaving a gap of $418.00. Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $245,700. Compared to that total we received $221,466, leaving a gap of $24,234.
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/
The Worth of Wisdom
How would you teach the value of wisdom to a six- or seven-year-old student in a Scripture (SRE) class?
That was the challenge this week as the syllabus required us to explain and celebrate the great gift of wisdom given by God to King Solomon.
For starters, it was tricky to try and simply explain what wisdom was, and why it was of value.
I said to them that wisdom is about knowing that it’s a good idea to use an umbrella on a rainy day with no wind, but it’s a bad idea to use an umbrella on a windy day with no rain.
The same action can be wise or unwise, depending on its context and situation.
This is why wisdom is such a good thing to have, especially as we are faced with things that are new and uncertain.
To that effect, the wisest thing that Solomon ever did was to ask for wisdom in the first place, for not only did the Lord supply that in spades, he also gave great riches to this king as a blessing for all who lived in God’s land.
The Scripture lesson wisely avoided discussing the details of the most famous example of Solomon’s wisdom, in which he was able to discern who was the true mother of a baby.
You can read the story for yourself at 1 Kings 3:16-27, but here is the response to the King’s actions:
When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice. (1Kings 3:28)
Yet the most wise thing that anyone can do is recognise the need to have peace with God.
In our Scripture class we sang together these words (as accompanied by my trusty ukulele):
“The greatest treasure in the whole, wide world is peace with God. It’s the only treasure that can never fade, even death can’t take it away.”
JODIE McNEILL
(Photo credit: Alon via Flickr.com)
Coming up this weekend 11-12th June 2022
This weekend we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Matt Bartlett preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 6.
After our 5pm Saturday service we’ll be having dinner, and after our 9am Sunday service we’ll be enjoying brunch together.
We’d love you to join us in-person if you’re able, or watch our livestream at watch.jamberooanglican.com.
We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!