This is the latest blurb that is published on the front of our weekly bulletin

Be Quick To forgive

To forgive is to let go of the past. Seek forgiveness. Give forgiveness. Move ahead.

The more you forgive others, the more you will enjoy the forgiveness that the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ provides ( Luke 6:37; Matthew 6:14-15).

There is great danger in holding on to resentment, anger, hatred and bitterness. These things eat away at the souls of people, robbing them of joy and also robbing them of their effectiveness as Christ’s disciples. Holding on to these dangerous attitudes and behaviours can do great harm to people’s bodies, emotions, and relationships. Resentment, anger, hatred and bitterness also drain people’s energy, holding them back from fully enjoying God’s blessings.

I know a lot of athletic people. Some of them train hard and compete fearlessly. But they sabotage their full potential because they have “monkeys on their backs”- addictions, psychological flaws, bad company- to name a few. If you want to achieve your best, if you truly want to be healthy, moving freely in God’s love- wilfully choose to forgive (Philippians 3:13-14).

The more you hold onto unforgiveness towards a person who has hurt, rejected, betrayed, or caused you emotional pain or sorrow, the more you will suffer as you remain focussed on- and tied to- that person. Let go! That is the only way to let God deal with that person, to heal you, and to help you move forward. Let go of that bondage, moving forward with Christ-focussed love, courage, peace within your soul, and a renewed sense of purpose. 

Forgiveness is an act of your will. As God moves and motivates you (Philippians 2:13), ask Him to empower you to forgive- to forgive yourself and to forgive others (Psalm 51, Matthew 6:12). And a reminder- we will find it easier to forgive when we are in consistent, loving Christian fellowship.

As you reflect on forgiveness, mediate prayerfully on other passages of Scripture, including John 15:12-17; Ephesians 4:31-32; Philippians 3:12-14; Colossians 3:12-14. 

Together on this journey with you, Steve Bligh.

Wisdom & Work

Wise people are diligent in their work. Proverbs 6:6 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! “(Prov. 10:4 ). “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son” .

Diligence and laziness are key topics in Proverbs. God is a worker & He expects his people to be workers also. Solomon makes it clear that God has nothing good to say about careless and lazy people.

Wise people are working people, people who make the most of their opportunities and who carry their share of the load. It’s our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. Whether it’s serving in music, cleaning, serving morning teas or leading, praying or Bible reading we ought to be preparing and doing our very best for Jesus in the Body of Christ – His Church!!

Are you involved in ministry (Christian Service)?  If not,why not? See Tony or one of the Wardens to see how you can be involved in God’s Church here at Jamberoo Anglican

Daily Surrender your life to the Lord/

The Christian life is not easy, but there is no better way, no greater adventure, & no more fulfilling life on earth.

If you have been watching hours of TV every day you have time to read the Bible & talk to God for 20 minutes. Maybe, you have time to serve the church family in some way.

If you have been overspending money on recreational pursuits then the chances are you have enough to give more for the Lord’s work.

Listen to the words of Jesus Matt 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This is a promise that if we put Jesus first & want what He want,  we will never be shortchanged or never be troubled with worry or anxiety.

It takes faith & courage to say No to temptation & our own selfishness.

But to say Yes in seeking Jesus’ Kingdom first will always bring blessing to us & others & what’s more bring glory to God.

Every morning ask God to live in you & work through you to make you sensitive to the Lord’s desires. It’s a daily surrender where you win!

Tony

Wisdom & Marriage Proverbs 5

One Woman Man

A one-woman man or a one-man woman may not necessarily sound exciting to some, but God promises his model of marriage is more satisfying & fulfilling than any one-night stand. Solomon basically wants to tell us Sexual Sin Is eventually disappointing (Proverbs 5).

When married people honour and respect sex as God instructs them in His Word, they can experience increasing enjoyment and enrichment in their intimacy. But when people break the rules, the result is just the opposite. They experience disappointment and disillusionment and have to search for larger “doses” of sexual adventure in order to attain the imaginary pleasure level they’re seeking.

God created sex not only for reproduction but also for enjoyment, and He didn’t put the “marriage wall” around sex to rob us of pleasure but to increase pleasure and protect it.

Wise up & value your married partner.                                                                                                          

Tony

Enjoy Consistent Fellowship With Other Christians

Enjoy

In Australia, there’s a lot to enjoy about trusting and obeying the crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Peace, purpose, friendships, encouragement, answers to life’s challenges, inspiring music, food. These are blessings- not only for new Christians, but for all of us, however mature in the faith we may be. Enjoy being a Christian.

Consistent Fellowship 

One of the blessings of being a Christian is not being alone. Genesis 2:18 – “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Romans 12: – “…we are many parts of one body.”

Fellowship means getting together with one of more other people. Life’s a team sport. We don’t have to face life alone. Life is better with good quality friends. Getting together with Christian friends- frequently- is good. Part of having good friendships is consistency- getting in touch often, regularly. That promotes consistent friendship.

With Other Christians

Another of the blessings about being a Christian who is mission minded- who wants to see other people in heaven- is that we have friends that aren’t Christian. It’s good- essential- for an evangelistically-minded Christian to have non-Christian friends. Yet there’s at least one danger. Sometimes these unbelievers can be misunderstood  as a replacement for Christians. The false reasoning goes like this: “I get more encouragement from my non-Christian friends than from the Christians in that church…” Maybe that church needs to lift it’s game in being a welcoming, loving group of Christians…But getting encouragement from friends who don’t love Jesus is not the encouragement that Christians need. Rather, fellowship with other followers of Christ. The Bible says: “… encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25).

As you consider enjoying consistent fellowship with other Christians, some additional Bible passages to meditate on include Romans 10:17; Hebrews 10:24-25; Colossians 3:5-17; 1 Peter 3:8-9; 1 Peter 4:9-10; John 13:33-35.

Steve Bligh.

Wisdom & Doing Good

Pr 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.Wise Christians will be generous to their neighbours and live peaceably with them (vv. 27–30), doing their best to avoid unnecessary disagreements (Rom. 12:18). After all, if we truly love God, we will love our neighbour as we would want him to love us.

On the other hand, if our neighbour is a perverse person who scoffs at our faith (Prov. 3:31–35), the Lord will guide us in letting our light shine and His love show, so that we will be an influence on them . Sometimes it takes a great deal of patience, prayer, and wisdom to rightly relate to people who don’t want Christians in the neighbourhood, but perhaps that’s why God put us there.

It’s possible to have a godly home in the midst of an ungodly neighbourhood, for God “blesses the home of the righteous” (v. 33). We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and one dedicated Christian in a neighbourhood can make a great deal of difference and be a powerful witness for the Lord.

Be good!                                                                                                                                                             Tony G

Share your faith with others

Share your Faith with others

Salvation is good news but it’s too good to keep to yourself.

As you saturate your life with the Word of God & Prayer, you will be more in tune to God & His purposes.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:32  “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven”

As you speak about Jesus in your life.  Jesus will be speaking to His Father about you!

Can you believe it!? Isn’t it wonderful to think that Jesus & the Father are talking about you today?

Some ways you can be a witness.

  1. Your loving acts of service
  2. Your generosity
  3. Your smile & kindness.
  4. Your availability to help others.
  5. Your Commitment to God’s Church Family
  6. Your Prayer Your testimony how Jesus has changed your life.

In this dark world of ours, everybody needs to see a person who is a genuine light for the Lord. But our prayers for our Unbelieving friends & family & our words to them can have a marked influence on them.

As we start in earnest to pray for our 5 people in our “Come & See” pamphlet, ask the Lord to prepare the hearts of our unbelieving friends & family so that they might be positively responsive to our testimony & invitation.

Rom 10:17. Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Tony G.

Pastors Desk

Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

This is a promise God’s people have often claimed as they have sought the Lord’s direction for their lives. And this promise has never failed them—if they have obeyed the conditions God has laid down in verses 1–12.

God keeps His promises when we obey Him, because our obedience prepares us to receive and enjoy what He has planned for us. Trusting God is an act of faith. All through the Scriptures God has shown he is worthy to be trusted and He has never let down his people.       

Let us be people of faith & Trust in the LORD with all our heart!                                        

Then we can reap the blessings God has in store for us!!

Tony

Sermon Summary

Wisdom & Trusting God.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding,

 in all your ways acknowledge him

and he will make your paths straight.

What are the areas in your life where you need to trust God more?

Pray often

Pray Often

Our church is committed to seeing men, women and children trust and obey the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. We want them to share eternity in heaven with us. As we pray for the people God has connected us with, here are some further Biblical resources that will help. I’ve gathered these Scriptures without providing the actual Bible passages. That’s for you to do, with your Bibles open, praying what the passages say.

Thankfully: Psalm 100:4; Matthew 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Humbly: Matthew 6:5-13.

Confessing: 1 John 1:9.

For Others: Colossians 1:9-12.

With Others: Matthew 18:19-20.

Expectantly: Psalm 5:3; John 16:23-24.

Persevering: James 5:16.

Peacefully: Philippians 4:6-7.

Last Sunday, when we gave you the “Come and See” prayer pamphlet (bookmark), I noticed that the “Prayers for God’s Promises” may not have been listed. Here they are again.

Prepare. Pray for God to prepare and soften their hearts.

Send. Pray for God to send believers around them.

Desire. Pray for God to give them a desire to seek Jesus.

Save. Pray that the Holy Spirit will transform and save them.

Protect. Pray that God will protect what He has sown in their hearts.

May our prayers be fruitful. Steve Bligh.

Who is wise? How do you become wise?

In Proverbs, the words wise and wisdom are used at least 125 times, because the aim of the book is to help us acquire and apply God’s wisdom to the decisions and activities of daily life. The book of Proverbs belongs to what scholars call the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament, which also includes Psalms, Job and Ecclesiastes. The writers of these books wrestled with some of the most difficult questions of life as they sought to understand life’s problems from God’s point of view.

            Biblical wisdom begins with a right relationship with the Lord Jesus. People with wisdom have the skill to face life honestly and courageously, and to manage it successfully so that God’s purposes are fulfilled in their lives. I hope as we study Proverbs together as the family of God, we may be better prepared to face life’s challenges.

Tony.

Read your Bible Daily

Step One come and see

One of the most important things for you to know as a believer is what God says to you.

The Bible is God’s love letter to you. God tells you how much he cares for you & what he desires to provide for you & how he wants to protect you from the dangers & temptations of the world.

The Bible tells how God has worked in the lives of men & women through the ages, which is how God desires to work in your life today.

So, coming to church EVERY Sunday, & being involved in Growth Group & reading your Bible daily is a great way to hear from God. Before you read pray for wisdom, clarity & a desire to be doers of the word. James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

The more you hear from God, the more you are going to experience a renewing of your mind. Rom 12:2  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The more your mind is renewed to the will of God, the greater passion you will have to want what God wants. The salvation of all our friends & family.

Today, write 5 names of people you want to see become Christian so you can methodically pray for them in the next months & let’s see God working in our lives & theirs.

Tony Galea. Based on notes from Michael Youssef.

Pastor’s Desk for Sunday 26th January 2025

Mad Fad or Bad?

In Mark 3 the Gospel highlights both the success of Jesus’ ministry and the growing tension that would eventually lead to His crucifixion. The chapter also begins to clarify who Jesus is: not just a healer or teacher, but the Son of God with authority over spiritual and physical realms.

So there is the question whether Jesus is Mad, Fad or Bad?

Who is Jesus really?

Jesus demonstrates His authority over the Sabbath, healing, demons, and even the religious leaders. As Jesus gains followers, He also faces increasing opposition from the Pharisees and religious elites, leading to conspiracy against Him.

Jesus calls His disciples to be His closest companions and representatives in His mission and He redefines the concept of family, emphasizing that spiritual obedience to God transcends biological relationships.

Today I just want to explore who Jesus is?

That is the question most unbelievers are dealing with.

The answer to that question will help us in our mission to our family and friends.

Tony Galea

Australia Day

Australia Day, celebrated annually on January 26, marks the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788, when Captain Arthur Phillip claimed the land for Britain.
For many Australians, it is a day of national pride, reflecting on the country’s history, achievements, and multicultural identity.
However, for Indigenous Australians, the day is often referred to as Invasion Day, as it represents the beginning of British colonization, which had devastating impacts on their cultures, land, and communities.
As a result, Australia Day is a day of mixed emotions.

For many Christians in Australia, Australia Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s values, history, and the role of faith in shaping the country’s culture and identity.
It is a day to celebrate the diversity and freedom that characterizes Australia, often with a focus on gratitude for the peace and prosperity enjoyed in the nation. But also, not to repeat the failures of the past.

Ultimately, for Christians, Australia Day is a time to celebrate the blessings of living in a free and diverse nation, where the gospel is still able to be preached, while also considering how to live out the values of compassion, justice, and love toward all people, especially those who have been marginalized.

Tony Galea

Pastor’s Desk 12th January 2025

Matthew’s gospel is written for the Jews, so he opened his book with the genealogies to prove that Jesus is the rightful heir of Davids throne. He mainly writes about Jesus’ teachings.

Luke mainly writes for the Greeks; he is a doctor & historian & he wants to write an accurate record of events to show Jesus’ humanity.

John is also written mainly for the Greeks & he writes to prove that Jesus is the Son of God who brings eternal life.

Mark’s gospel is an announcement to everyone! It’s simple & to the point. It has in mind the Romans & those with little religious background. Mark is an action book where he is more interested in what Jesus does.

Jesus is the Servant, but He is a most unusual Servant, because at the same time Jesus is the King of heaven.

Tony G

New Year New Opportunities

Coming to the end of a year, and the beginning of a new one, many of us set New Year’s resolutions, hoping to make positive life changes.
It can be helpful to reflect on what has been and to consider future plans.
In fact, according to Proverbs (3:5-6,16:3;9), the wise person sets goals and prepare for the future.

These verses are a reminder from God, telling us to give Him all our plans and worries. It’s like God is saying to us, “Trust me with your life, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
And this isn’t just about the big dreams we have, but also about the small choices we make every day.

In a world that tells us that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want, under our own strength, we should find this reminder from God a comfort.

The weight and burden people place upon themselves to succeed in everything they do can and does lead to increased worry, stress, anxiety, burnout and more.

For Christians, the idea is that we completely give our plans to God in dependence upon Him. When we commit our work to the Lord, we offer everything we do completely to Him.

When we fully depend on God in all we do and live according to His ways in complete dependence on Him, we can generally expect that He will bless our efforts.
This does not mean we will never have trouble in our lives or that God will give to us everything we want in the way we expect it!
Rather, we can expect God to fulfill His promise of Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

As we embrace the possibilities of this new year, let’s hold onto the wisdom found in Proverbs, allowing it to guide our actions and intentions.

Sandee Batelic