Every four years the people of our planet gather together to celebrate God’s remarkable creation, as the Olympics showcase how people are able to go faster, higher, and stronger than before.

However, as they do so, they usually celebrate humanity, rather than God.

In what could easily be an opportunity to praise the remarkable creation of God, instead his creatures worship themselves as they pursue an atheistic celebration of the breaking of the records that once confined and defined humankind.

It’s a fine line between idolatry and doxology—between worshipping humanity and giving glory to the God who made us—and at each Olympics the gap seems to grow wider.

This year the opening ceremony created controversy with the appropriation of Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ by a drag queen DJ in the place of Christ.

Yet, the most offensive aspect of the Games must be the lack of worship of the one who fearfully and wonderfully made the men and women who perform and compete at the myriad of events.

As we witness the extraordinary feats of the athletes, our appropriate response should  be to glorify the God who made us and who has given the remarkable gifts that enable the athletic feats splashed across screens throughout the world.

When we glorify humanity we show a contempt for the creator who made every human in his image, and who created us to glorify him as our loving Lord and Saviour.

The distortion of ‘The Last Supper’ seemed to target those who revere Jesus, and yet it is the natural ignorance of God’s hand in creating everything we see that is the most offensive act that happens almost every medal ceremony.

As we marvel at creation, let us glorify the creator, who is worthy of all our praise.

JODIE McNEILL

On the 20th of January this year, I let the world of Instagram know that I was moving on to a new adventure. 

I felt that this song from Rend Collective captured my feelings perfectly:

“You are the adventure of a lifetime, Jesus.
you take my heart and make it wild
you are the thrill my soul is seeking, Jesus
your grace has no horizon line
I’ll go anywhere, anywhere at all
As long as I’m with you, Jesus”

Church family, can you believe that I’ve been on this new adventure with you all for six months?

As I look back, I remember that I had goals I was keen to set. I was so excited (and a little nervous) to meet and know you all!

Yet, my start with you all was one of real hardship with the passing of my Dad. Looking back I can see how in such a dark time I already had you around me as my new family, even though we didn’t know each other well. 

Your care, kindness, prayers, and messages meant the absolute world to me, given that many times I couldn’t return to Sydney.

Looking back I’m so thankful to God that this is where he has placed me with you all as I get to live out my dream job alongside you every day!

I’m so excited for what the next six months and beyond will bring!

I look forward to seeing God’s will be done in the kids’ programs and in the households of our churches as we partner in making disciples of the next generation.

I’m looking forward to finding a way to keep bridging the gap to Sunday church from our Friday afternoon Spark kids’ club, where we have a few non-church kids attending.

I’m looking forward to praying a big prayer that we might have five, non-Christian families attend our kids programs! Will you join me in this prayer?

RACH BEMMER

As our teachers take a break after a big Term Two, we’ve asked two of our kids’ church leaders to reflect on their ministry and share with us about how we can encourage and support them as they serve our children and our families.

One leader is Elise Baker, who serves as a leader in our morning kids’ program, as well as leading youth and also teaching Scripture at Jamberoo Public School.

She loves doing ministry because she believes that helping build a biblical and Christ-centred foundation for children is important: “Whether it’s through song, a Bible story, prayer, craft or activities, I find it super rewarding to see the children’s growth and curiosity as they continue learning from the Bible.”

For this term, a personal highlight has been going through the Old Testament in the Jesus Storybook Bible, “for I love how each story connects so clearly to Jesus.”

Liz Vidilini is another morning church leader, and she says that she loves leading in this way, “because it brings me joy to see little children understand how much Jesus loves them, and it reminds me that following Jesus is a childlike faith and he welcomes us with open arms.”

As she reflects on the ministry, she wants us to know that leading in this way, “is not scary or hard,” and that even if teaching kids isn’t a person’s normal skill set, that “it’s just about sharing Jesus with the children.”

She’d love more people to volunteer to spend time intentionally sharing Jesus with the great kids at our church, because she believes that, “intergenerational ministry is so valuable.”

Elise would love us to pray that God will continue to give the leaders, “wisdom, joy, and creativity as we prepare and lead,” and she ask that for the kids, they might, “remain curious and open-hearted, and that they grow in their understanding and relationship with Jesus.”

Finally, they’d love us to pray for all the families, that each parent or carer would disciple their children’s growth at home.

Praise God for our kids’ ministry!

RACHEL BEMMER

There’s been a lot of talk recently about generating power, with one side of politics promoting off-shore, wind-generated power, and the other side promoting nuclear power.

But as the politicians try to reduce emissions and bills, it’s worth noting that the Bible speaks about power, and often in the most unexpected places.

In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul prays for his readers in an intimate and glorious prayer, where he asks God to give them what is most needed.

Somewhat unexpectedly, he prays about power.

Firstly, he prays that the Ephesian Christians would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit so that Christ would truly live within them (Ephesians 3:16-17.)

In other words, he prays that God would give them the power to truly be united with Christ in every way—something that needs divine power to really happen.

Secondly, he prays that they would have the power, “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (3:18.)

The only way that they’ll really get their head around the amazing love of Jesus is if God gives them the spiritual power they need to comprehend it.

Thirdly, as he prays for God’s glory, he recognises that with God’s power in us, he is able, “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (3:20.)

By the power of his Holy Spirit, God is able to do the greatest thing of all: lead us to truly know the love of Jesus.

This is the greatest thing that anyone can experience, and it’s only by the power of God that this remarkable truth can truly break through our thick minds and hard hearts.

That’s the power we need the most!

JODIE McNEILL

If you’ve ever thought about all the things you’d like to do before you ‘kick the bucket’ then like it or not, you’ve made a ‘bucket list.’

This expression might seem new, but the idea is old: trying to make the most of life before you no longer live.

For some people, it’s about visiting as many cities and countries as possible, putting pins on a giant world map.

For others, it’s about collecting certain items, learning particular skills, or even experiencing certain thrills.

The ironic thing about bucket lists is that we spend our time filling up our lives, only to die without bringing anything with us to the grave.

Or, as the Apostle Paul puts it, “…we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.” (1 Timothy 6:7)

So, what should be our aim in life? To keep filling the bucket with experiences and possessions that will only fade away?

It’s far better to pursue that which will bring true contentment in this life, and the next.

So where do we get this contentment? As the Apostle says in the verse before, it’s from godliness, which comes with contentment, which is itself great wealth.”

And a few verses before, he writes to say that “the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ… promote a godly life.” (1 Timothy 6:3)

So, the contentment we desire will not come by pursuing wealth but by pursuing Christ, as we encounter him in the healthy teachings of the Bible, which lead us to the godliness that brings contentment.

If you want to be content in life, look no further than Jesus… and pursue him and his godliness.

For this is something you can take with you as you leave this life for the next!

JODIE McNEILL