Grumpy messengers 29 July 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Grumpy messengers
Today we start reading the story of Jonah the reluctant prophet. Well, a bit more than reluctant, positively grumpy. Or was he afraid? As soon as he was told to go to Nineveh he got on a boat going in the opposite direction. Maybe he thought he wouldn’t get much of a hearing from them. Perhaps he thought he was being sent on a fool’s errand, like the apprentice looking for a left handed screw-driver – only more dangerous.
Or maybe he just didn’t like the Ninevites. Maybe he thought they deserved whatever was coming to them. After all they were hardly Israel’s favourite friends. A bad people, with bad religion and bad customs, that didn’t deserve any help or mercy – especially not from Israel’s God.
A new stage in God’s mission through Christ the King 22 July 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
A new stage in God’s mission through Christ the King
On Wednesday night Church Council brought to a conclusion our discussions and prayers over the last few months. They agreed that it is time to start two new congregations in place of the one at 9am.
On September 2 we will have a final Thanksgiving Service at 9am to give thanks for God’s work among us over the last 26 or so years, and to send out the two new congregations which will start on September 9 at 8.30am and 10.00am.
This seems like a radical and scary plan. And it is in a way. But perhaps this is in our genes, since the church plant that began at Leeming more than 30 years ago was a radical experiment in Christian community that gave birth to a number of strong churches, including Willetton.
I am grateful for the wonderful way in which we have handled this process. There was been goodwill, open and honest questions and expressions of opinion, and a general commitment to work together in harmony. Not all the differences of opinion have been resolved (maybe some never will be) but there has been a strong fellowship and unity.
Now the new work begins.
Read more: A new stage in God’s mission through Christ the King 22 July 12
5W. It's about Jesus Acts 2.14-41
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Acts
{podcast id=248}
It's about Jesus Acts 2.14-41
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on Sunday 15 July 2012
The pouring out of the Spirit is what Joel said would happen in the last days, it is about Jesus who has poured out the Spirit because he is Lord and King, and so we should now serve him as Lord
Evangelism 15 July 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Evangelism
I have just re-read a book about Evangelism written by Lionel B. Fletcher, a famous Australian evangelist who ministered from before until after the Second World War. Here are some quotes. See what you think.
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The central aim of the real Church of Christ should be evangelism. It is certain that, in proportion to the absence of evangelism in any church , that church is not fulfilling the whole will of the Master. We may have had blessing in past days, and built up an organisation which is now carried on by sheer weight of its own machinery, and yet that church which was once alive may now be dead.
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Prayer and power interlock. Prevailing with God comes before prevailing with men. The hardest part of spiritual development is to keep consistently to your prayer life, yet everything else depends on this, for prayer is to the spiritual man what the mainspring is to a watch.... I would plead with you above all things to become men and women of prayer.
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4W. At last the Spirit Acts 2.1-13
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Acts
{podcast id=249}
At last the Spirit Acts 2.1-13
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 8 July 2012
How God fulfills his promises by restoring Israel by pouring out his Spirit on his new prophets who remind Israel of God's great deeds. The disciples' job is to do as they are told and to keep on living under the rule of the Spirit.
New congregations: The story so far 8 July 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
New congregations: The story so far
We have been thinking, praying, and talking about starting two new congregations since around Easter. Our beginning question was: “How can we win more people for Christ and allow more people to become part of Christ the King church?”
Part of the reason for thinking of making two congregations from the one, is the well known research that says that when a building is 80% full it is practically full. Our own statistics show that the 9am congregation has averaged around 70 – 80 attenders for most of its life.
The question we are asking now is whether this is the time to start two congregations instead of the present 9am congregation. So far, the survey we did, the discussion at the Annual Meeting and the subsequent conversations, have indicated that if we were to do this the best times would be 8.30am and 10.00am. And if we went ahead September might be a good time to start.
3W. Restoring Israel and the nations Acts 1.6-11
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Acts
{podcast id=250}
Restoring Israel and the nations Acts 1.6-11
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 1 July 2012
How is Jesus restoring the Kingdom to Israel? By witnesses with power; and by us secondary witnesses with power.
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