A Day at at Time

From a young age we’ve instilled in our children the need to plan ahead for the future.

After all, we want to make sure that we’re prepared in every way for what may occur, and that’s why we think weeks, months and years ahead in our planning.

But what if we lived a day at a time?

In Numbers chapter 9 we read about the cloud of the Lord that covered the Tabernacle, which looked like a pillar of fire.

It led God’s people in this way:

Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. (Numbers 9:17)

But the amount of time at one place would vary from a single day to even a year, and they would move with very little notice.

God’s people lived a day at a time, waiting afresh to see what the Lord had in mind for their community.

This seems so different to the way we plan out our lives, sometimes with less regard for the overarching will of God.

We don’t have a tabernacle any more, but still we have this important warning in the letter of James:

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

This is why it’s good practice for us to say, “God willing” when we speak about the future, for it shows our humility as we live in the world that is lovingly lead by our Lord.

What’s more, it can also open up opportunities for us to share our deep trust in our Lord, as we live in a world that increasingly ignores the creator and his gracious redemption for all who turn to him.

JODIE McNEILL

(photo credit: Dafne Cholet via Flickr.com)

Coming up this weekend 21-22nd May 2022

This weekend we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 3 on ‘The Fire of the King’.

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.

These are the questions that Jodie plans to answer this weekend during church:

1 Is Gafcon supporting Anglicanism first and Christianity second?
2 If one or both people in a same-sex marriage become Christians, what should they do?
3 What power does the Holy Spirit give us today?
4 Did Jesus carry his cross, or was it Simon?
5 Will we recognise people in Heaven?
6 Why are we told that that the astrologists speak in Aramaic in Daniel 2:4, but nowhere else?
7 When we have strange dreams, is it God speaking and should we seek an interpretation?
8 When it comes to knowing God, what are the limits of common grace?
9 Why do you say, “who rules really” so much in your sermons?
10 Why is it comforting and assuring to know that God is sovereign?

If you’d like to submit your own question to be answered in church in the future, then simply hit ‘reply’ to this email.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Daniel – Who Rules Really? – ’Kingdom Dreaming’ – Daniel 2 – Jodie McNeill – 14-15 May 2022

The Sovereignty of God

God is sovereign, even when ____ happens

The king can’t control his ______

The king command the wise men to tell him his _____

The king’s demand is __________ for humans

The king orders all wise men to be ________

God is setting things up for something _______

Daniel and his friends cried to God for _____

Because of the revelation, Daniel _______ God

God is not influencing, he’s ___________

The praise is about who God is and what he’s ____

It’s good to always give God the _____

It’s a huge ______ with a strong head and weak feet

God gave Nebuchadnezzar his ________

God is establishing an ___________ kingdom

The king of Babylon worships ______

God’s ___________ brings comfort and assurance

The rock of ages

Church news for the week beginning 14th May 2022

OUR SERMON

This weekend we will be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 2 on ‘Kingdom Dreaming’.

CONFIRMATION SERVICE

Our Confirmation Service is a special night of celebration, as a number of young people in our church declare their trust in Jesus. It will held on Tuesday 17th May at 7pm. Please plan to join us for this special night as we welcome our special guest, Bishop Peter Hayward as our preacher and officiate.

PASTORAL CARE GROUP

Would you like to serve in pastoral care in our church? Join a special meeting on Sunday 22nd May at midday in the hall, as Sandee gathers us to plan and deliver an all-new pastoral care strategy for our church and wider community.

CALHAU WEDDING

Next Saturday 21st May at 2pm, Nick Calhau and Megan Hounslow will be married in our church. All welcome!

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.

CHURCH CALENDAR IN ELVANTO

Stay informed about church events with our new church calendar feature in Elvanto. If you need help logging in then see Jacob.

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.

APRIL & MAY BOOK OF THE MONTH

‘The Storm Tossed Family’ by Russell Moore. Whether you are married or single, whether you long for a child or shepherding a full house, you are part of a family. Family can be the source of some of the most transcendent human joy, and family can leave us crumpled up on the side of the road. This is not just another book about some practical steps to having a perfect family. Instead, it is a book that is painfully real about the struggles that we all have with our families while living in a broken world. Moore argues that we often actually damage our families by attempting to make them central in our lives when the gospel should be central instead. Moore’s book is challenging and helpful, whether you are a parent, a child, a spouse, or a single person. If you would like to order a physical copy 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/


Division Over Unions

For the first time in five years, the national body of the Anglican Church of Australia met this week to discuss many matters, including its teaching about marriage.

In this first gathering since the marriage plebiscite in 2017, the members of this so-called ‘General Synod’ were asked to agree to a statement that simply reaffirmed what it had always declared, namely that marriage is between one man and one woman, exclusively, for life.

In the end, the decision was made to separate the vote into three ballots, and whilst the lay and clergy votes were firmly in support of the orthodox statement, the majority of bishops in charge of dioceses around Australia did not vote in favour, with 12 against and 10 for.

Because the statement was not passed, the Synod simply maintains the previous, orthodox position from 2017, although relationships within our national church continue to deteriorate.

For us in Jamberoo, this has very little impact, because our own Diocese of Sydney strongly affirms the Bible’s teaching on marriage, and is not required to adopt the theology of the national church.

Yet, for Anglican churches in dioceses where their bishops reject the Bible’s teaching on marriage, it becomes increasingly difficult for orthodox ministers to submit to the leadership of their progressive bishops.

That is why Gafcon is so important, as it provides support and encouragement to those who are seeking to faithfully teach the word of God in a hostile environment.

Furthermore, recent developments in Gafcon Australia have begun to provide a pathway for individual churches to leave the Anglican Church of Australia and join a new diocese, in fellowship with over 70% of orthodox Anglicans around the world.

Let us pray that those who have strayed from the orthodox position will repent and believe the clear teachings in the Bible, and resist the temptation to conform to the world.

Let’s also pray that through these challenging times that the Lord will give us fresh energy to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations!

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: 19melissa68 via Flickr.com)

Coming up this weekend 14-15th May 2022

This weekend we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 2 on ‘Kingdom Dreaming’.

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.

These are the questions that Jodie plans to answer this weekend during church:

1 Should we attend a same-sex wedding of a family member?
2 What does Acts 2 mean for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all people in the last days?
3 Why does the Bible refer to Daniel by his Jewish name, but not the others?
4 If God plans for evil things to happen, then doesn’t that make him evil?
5 Isn’t it the Devil who creates evil, not God?
6 Why does poverty exist if God is sovereign over all things?
7 Should we spell ‘gospel’ with a capital ‘G?’
8 If the sermon is a square meal, how can we best digest it if we’re used to snacks?

If you’d like to submit your own question to be answered in church in the future, then simply hit ‘reply’ to this email.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Daniel: Who Rules Really? – Living with the enemy – Daniel 1 – Jodie McNeill – 7-8 May 2022

Matter of fact

The _______ day in the history of Israel

Should God’s people fit in, or _____?

God’s people needed to ______

God raised up the Babylonians to _______ God’s people

God warns everyone to ______ Jesus so they’ll avoid Hell

The upcoming _______ were to be indoctrinated

Changing their names wiped out their ________

Daniel thinks that being ____ is important

Daniel stayed ____ to the Lord

There’s no such thing as a free _____

We should be in the _____ but not of the world

Are you a _____ in the world?

Daniel was given the ability to interpret ______

We can be good _________

The superpower was merely God’s ______

God is for us!

Church news for the week beginning 7th May 2022

OUR SERMON

This weekend we will be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 1 as he launches the all-new series, ‘Who Rules Really?’

CONFIRMATION SERVICE

Our Confirmation Service is a special night of celebration, as a number of young people in our church declare their trust in Jesus. It will held on Tuesday 17th May at 7pm. Please plan to join us for this special night as we welcome our special guest, Bishop Peter Hayward as our preacher and officiate.

PASTORAL CARE GROUP

Would you like to serve in pastoral care in our church? Join a special meeting on Sunday 22nd May at midday in the hall, as Sandee gathers us to plan and deliver an all-new pastoral care strategy for our church and wider community.

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.

APRIL & MAY BOOK OF THE MONTH

‘The Storm Tossed Family’ by Russell Moore. Whether you are married or single, whether you long for a child or shepherding a full house, you are part of a family. Family can be the source of some of the most transcendent human joy, and family can leave us crumpled up on the side of the road. This is not just another book about some practical steps to having a perfect family. Instead, it is a book that is painfully real about the struggles that we all have with our families while living in a broken world. Moore argues that we often actually damage our families by attempting to make them central in our lives when the gospel should be central instead. Moore’s book is challenging and helpful, whether you are a parent, a child, a spouse, or a single person. If you would like to order a physical copy 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/


Who rules really?

If you didn’t know better, you’d think that the destruction of Jerusalem and the imprisonment of her leaders was sign of God’s failure.

Because when God’s people suffer at the hands of an enemy king, it looks like God is weak, unloving or perhaps just an imaginary being.

Yet everything that happened was according to God’s plan, for his actions were a punishment upon his people for their rebellion.

We learn about this from the prophet Ezekiel:

“…when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived… so I poured out my fury on them. I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the LORD, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’ Then I was concerned for my holy name… Therefore… I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name… And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes… then the nations will know that I am the LORD. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.” (Ezekiel 36:17-24)

The catastrophic events that open up the book of Daniel were all part of God’s plan, but despite the tragedy, there was hope for God’s people because of the Lord’s hunger to demonstrate the true glory of his name.

And the ultimate rescue of God’s people was brought about by Jesus at the cross, where our salvation proved the goodness and kindness of God, and enabled all the nations to know that his name is truly holy.

What a joy to know that our salvation is guaranteed because of God’s rightful hunger for his glory to be known to the world!

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Edge Earth via Flickr)

Coming up this weekend 7-8th May 2022

This weekend we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from Daniel Chapter 1.

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.

These are the questions that Jodie plans to answer this weekend during church:

1 Is divorce a sin?
2 Does the Holy Spirit dwell in us at conversion, or sometime after?
3 If people become Christians but later fall away, does the Holy Spirit leave them?
4 What is the significance of Numbers 33:5-49?
5 How old were the disciples?
6 How did each of the twelve disciples die?
7 How should I respond when someone says they can see demons now on earth?
8 Does the Bible say why God chose Jerusalem to be so important?
9 Why isn’t Jesus’ name on the ‘Roll of Honour’ boards?
10 Can we please have shorter sermons?

If you’d like to submit your own question to be answered in church next weekend, then simply hit ‘reply’ to this email.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!