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RCRC Month of Prayer
June 28 – Run to win
Read: 1 Cor 9:24-27 – "Beat my body?"
Observe: God calls us to rigorous discipline! Sure, this applies to individuals, but he’s talking to his church here. Exacting discipline is required to stay on track in the race: our mission to be used by god to win people. There is a cost involved for church and all who belong to it. It is a cost that brings pain. Self discipline always hurts. The question is this: is it a cost we are prepared to bear?
What sort of cost? It will involve things like...
- Change. Not merely ‘old’ vs. ‘new’, but change that brings more understanding of people’s pain; our community’s real need, and a desire to address those needs
- Money. No one enjoys it when this comes up: but mission always calls us to dig deep. Ministry, mission and service costs money. Leaders of all descriptions need to be trained, educated, equipped and skilled up. Church planting teams needs to be developed. The church’s mission needs to be resourced. The body needs to be nourished. And we haven’t even started talking about facilities yet!
- Schedule, diary and time. The church should banish forever the rule that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. This is an affront to the body and to Christ its head. Mission is something we are all called to: every one of us.
- Ridicule. When you place your foot on Christ’s race track, all the world are spectators, and they will let you know what they think. There’s a cost here, too!
The challenge: as a body and as individuals – what cost are you prepared to bear? In giving? In time for ministry? In resources? In using your gifts for others?
Pray:
- Lord, show me as a follower of Jesus the cost I need to bear. Please do not let me turn my back on a closer walk with you.
- Lord, show us as a church family where we need to keep changing. Please do not let us seek comfy Christianity, but concerted and determined witness to you. Help us to be sensitive; to see and address the needs in our local community. Make us alt and light right here, Lord.
- Lord, help us to dig deep so that by your grace and to your glory ministry and mission will flourish and thrive here at Redlands CRC.
- Property Developments: Please ask the Lord to lead and guide us as we consider our calling and mission and what demands that places on our property. Lay these things before the Lord, and ask him to guide us through his word and spirit.
- Lord, have us run the race with determination! Get us thinking about our race plan! Have us hunger for the prize! Let us be a model of your grace as we run to win.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
RCRC Month of Prayer
June 27 – Run to win
Read: 1 Cor 9:24-27 – "Weight watchers"
Observe: When you’re in training you pay strict attention to your diet and your behaviour. My friend is a serious triathlon competitor. He trains hard. He doesn’t drink alcohol. He stays away from Mars Bars and Maccas. There’s nothing wrong with these things, and some would argue they are quite good. But he’s running to win, and while these other things are good, they are not best. They will not lead him to victory.
This passage reminds us that the church is on the track, too. The prize we seek is to be used by God in the saving of people. Sometimes we have to deny ourselves things which in themselves are good, in order to achieve what is best. Good songs, good traditions, good ‘church culture’, even good plans, need to change sometimes so we can be more effective in doing what’s best. There is no end to the group discipline required to do this work well. Like Paul, it drives us out of what is comfortable and into what is challenging. Always has. Always will. But Jesus our King is with us every step of the way.
Pray:
- Ask for discernment and courage to modify our personal behaviour and church culture so we are better equipped, ready and able to run the race of mission the Lord lays before us
- Ask for renewed compassion for the lost, for those who do not know of Jesus Christ and his grace and love. Ask the Lord to place this burden on your heart, and on our corporate heart as a congregation
- Property Developments: Please ask the Lord to lead and guide us as we consider our calling and mission and what demands that places on our property. Lay these things before the Lord, and ask him to guide us through his word and spirit.
- Lord, have us run the race with determination! Get us thinking about our race plan! Have us hunger for the prize! Let us be a model of your grace as we run to win.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
RCRC Month of Prayer
June 26 – Run to win
Read: 1 Cor 9:24-27 – "Plan your race"
Observe: Whether it’s a marathon you’re preparing for or a 100m sprint, your coach will always want to know your race plan. How you start, your acceleration stage, your race tactics, your mental preparation, your closing stage. Everything is planned. Paul used these images as he wrote to a church whose city hosted games like the Olympics. They knew the language well.
Interestingly, he’s not talking about self discipline here. He’s talking about how the church does their mission (see 1 Cor 9:12-23). Sometimes people ask me ‘why so much attention to mission, vision and strategy? Did the NT church do all this stuff? Isn’t it just business theory brought into the church?’ This passage helps us understand that people like Paul had carefully thought mission strategy oozing out of every apostolic pore! His whole ministry shows that mission doesn’t just ‘happen’. He consistently applies his plan everywhere he goes. And his plan is not merely to watch the race, or compete in it, or even to finish it, but to win it. To reach his goal (v.22). A church which seeks to honour the apostolic Gospel will humbly apply its mental and spiritual energy to the development of such goals. That is what we will be talking about this final week of our month of prayer.
Pray:
- Ask the Lord to lay his "race plan" for the people of our local community on our hearts. Pray for the leadership of the church that as they work on the long term strategy that they will have the best focus for the work of the Gospel in Redlands.
- Property Developments: Please ask the Lord to lead and guide us as we consider our calling and mission and what demands that places on our property. Lay these things before the Lord, and ask him to guide us through his word and spirit.
- Lord, have us run the race with determination! Get us thinking about our race plan! Have us hunger for the prize! Let us be a model of your grace as we run to win.
PS. The last few day's emails went out with the wrong date on them: they were all listed as June 23, even though the material that followed each day was changed. Sorry for the confusion.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
RCRC Month of Prayer
June 23 – God’s new community
Read: 2 Cor 2:14-16 – "Aroma!"
Observe: Who would have thought God would speak of how his people smell? Interestingly, whether the smell is good or bad is determined by the faith response of those doing the smelling. The image is that of incense in a roman victory procession: to the victors it was sweet and pleasing. To the captives it was the smell of their impending death.
The reality is this: not everyone will respond to the Gospel in the same way. For some it is life. Others respond in unbelief that, if left unchanged, leads to death. The way in which the church lives, acts and presents itself can mean life or death to a lost world. Who of us can manage this eternal responsibility (2 Cor 2:216b)? Our ultimate confidence and competence comes from the God who does his work through us (2 Cor 3:4-6).
Pray:
- That our confidence will not be in ourselves, but in the God who works through his people. That irrespective of the response, we will be His aroma. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.
- New Developments!: Please continue to pray for progress, and patience. Lord, bless the contract which has been offered on the "plumber’s block" [196 Delancey) and act though human hearts (ours and theirs) to bring your will to greater expression. This contract, Lord, is yours. Do with it what you will.
- Lord, have us live what we are: let us be the frangrance of your grace and forgiveness! Let us be a model of your love as we live out your Gospel.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
RCRC Month of Prayer
June 23 – God’s new community
Read: Matt 5:114-16 – "Light!"
Observe: One dictionary says ‘light makes vision possible’. That would have this passage saying God’s people give vision to their world. How? By living as Christ calls them to live, they allow three things. One: people see who they really are – people who need grace, love, and reconciliation to God. Two: they see who Jesus really is – God’s son, full of grace and love, the one who brings reconciliation. Three: they see what a God governed world could be – a community of grace and love, living out the transforming grace of Christ’s Kingdom.
How does this start to happen? When we the church are the light we are called to be. Let us put this light on its stand. Let us remove the buckets and the bowls. Church, let your light shine!
Pray:
- Ask God give us the courage to remove anything that hinders our light. Ask for courage to enhance and improve anything that makes our light more effective. Pray that our property decisions will filtered by the desire to be a beacon of hope in our city
- New Developments!: It has been hard to organise meetings this week. Please pray for progress, and patience.
- Lord, bless the contract which has been offered on the "plumber’s block" [196 Delancey) and act though human hearts (ours and theirs) to bring your will to greater expression. This contract, Lord, is yours. Do with it what you will.
- Lord, have us live what we are: light of the world! Let us be a model of your grace as we live out your Gospel.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
RCRC Month of Prayer
June 23 – God’s new community
Read: Matt 5:13 – "You!"
Observe: The one remarkable word in this passage is not "salt", but "you". You are the salt of the earth. You! Jesus does not even say "you are my salt" or "you will be like salt for me". He simply declares a reality. One of his own making and intention: "You are the salt of the earth".
People sometimes want to escape this reality by saying too much focus on human responsibility is unhealthy, or that even saved people shouldn’t think about themselves. Sure: death to self centredness and pride. But it’s clear that Jesus was more than comfortable to focus on his people than we are. Further, he (and his apostles) often drove people to think about who they really were by God’s grace and power (Gal 2:20; Phil 4:13). The simple reality is that God, through Christ, is reconstructing human community. And his people are his favourite tools! Because of Jesus you (i.e., we, together as the body) have a powerful role to play. Because of Jesus you (we, together) shall never be the same. Because of Jesus, the world we live in will never be the same either.
Pray:
- Ask God to show us specifically how the Redlands community will be different because his people are present, active, witnessing and serving here. Ask that the plans we make for our future (buildings, mission, ministry) will designed toward His goals (feedback welcome: see below).
- New Developments!: Ask for God’s leading and direction about future property needs. Ask him to open the doors that need to be open, and to give us the courage, faith and generous giving it will take to walk through them.
- Lord, bless the contract which has been offered on the "plumber’s block" [196 Delancey) and act though human hearts (ours and theirs) to bring your will to greater expression. This contract, Lord, is yours. Do with it what you will.
- Lord, have us live what we are: salt of the earth! Let us be a model of your grace as we live out your Gospel
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Mid Week News
This Sunday
AM:There's a danger in seeing the OT characters merely as people to imitate: Esther's response is not squeaky clean. Some of her actions are laudable, others are not and represent systems we do not understand (9:14).These stories tell us more about God than people. When we walk in faith, God will work through us for his glory. Your call is to use your circle of influence for the Gospel and to trust that God will honour it. Read ahead from Esther 5-10 (Sunday we'll be looking mainly at Esther 6).
PM: Come and listen to Keith speak from Romans 4:18-25 and 1 Corinthians 1:26- 2:5.
Diploma of Ministry (2 years) at RCRC?
We are currently considering offering a two year (full-time) Diploma of Ministry at Redlands CRC in cooperation with the Reformed Theological College (Geelong). The Diploma will be recognised by the Australian College of Theology, and will be received as credit towards a B.Th. The course will attract Austudy (assuming the applicant qualifies).
Subject areas will include studies in theology, new testament, old testament, youth, leadership, and pastoral care.
All we want to know at present is who might be interested in commencing this course, which may be offered from Sem 1, 2007. We understand this is only an expression of interest, and not a commitment to enrol.
Respond to dave@redlandscrc.org.au
BRISBANE KIDS GAMES
YOUR HELP NEEDED!!!Your help is needed for this coming week of Brisbane Kids Games.
We are seeking to decorate the hall in a sports theme. To do that well would would appreciate donations of the following:
Posters of sports people
-Posters of sports events
-Commonwealth games memorabilia
-National Flags
-World cup soccer posters
-Light weight sporting goods (Tennis, cricket, softball, etc)
Please bring these items on Sunday to the service, You can leave them behind the "welcome"desk. If you need them back, please attach your name to the item somewhere.
Your help in this is much appreciated.
ALSO
Due to slightly lower than anticipated entrants for Brisbanae Kids Games we are extending an invitation to those in preprimary, who attend school.
If you wish to enroll your child(ren), please bring them to the opening ceremony at Redlands College, Sunday, 1pm, and we can complete the process then.
If you wish to have some more information, please contact Clinton - 0424 477, 487.
Are you coming to dinner?
Make sure you bring a friend
Date: 8 July 2006
Time: 7:30pm
Place:Redlands Christian Reformed Church
Cnr Delancey & Sturgeon sts, Ormiston
RSVP: 1 July 2006 at alpha@redlandscrc.org.au
Prayer
Ask for God’s leading and direction about future property needs. Ask him to open the doors that need to be open, and to give us the courage, faith and generous giving it will take to walk through them.
Bring the following before God: "A contract has been offered for the block at 196 Delancey St (rear neighbour). Please pray that the owners will accept this offer. We will keep you posted as to the outcome (any contract offered will be conditional on congregational approval)". Lord, bless this contract and act though human hearts (ours and theirs) to bring your will to greater expression. This contract, Lord, is yours. Do with it what you will.
Lord, please make us into a better reflection of your new community. Let us be a model of your grace as we live out your Gospel
RCRC Month of Prayer
June 22 – God’s new community
Read: 1 Pet 2:9-12 – Proclaimers
Observe: These are familiar verses for the Redlands church family, and it’s good for us to be reminded again as to the purpose of God calling us out of darkness into His light: "that you may declare the praise of [God]" and so that those who live outside of Christ "may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us". This is not merely the church’s intention, it is God’s purpose for his church. It is God’s will and His work that we should be proclaimers. It is not the church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a church in the world. Our call is to focus everything for theses purposes: property, programs, the lot. The questions before us about land and property must be decided in terms of how they help us work towards theses purposes.
Pray:
- New Developments!: Ask for God’s leading and direction about future property needs. Ask him to open the doors that need to be open, and to give us the courage, faith and generous giving it will take to walk through them.
- Bring the following before God: "A contract has been offered for the block at 196 Delancey St (rear neighbour). Please pray that the owners will accept this offer. We will keep you posted as to the outcome (any contract offered will be conditional on congregational approval)". Lord, bless this contract and act though human hearts (ours and theirs) to bring your will to greater expression. This contract, Lord, is yours. Do with it what you will.
- Lord, please make us into a better reflection of your new community. Let us be a model of your grace as we live out your Gospel
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Further study? Here?
Diploma of Ministry (2 years) at RCRC?
We are currently considering offering a two year (full-time) Diploma of Ministry at Redlands CRC in cooperation with the Reformed Theological College (Geelong). The Diploma will be recognised by the Australian College of Theology, and will be received as credit towards a B.Th. The course will attract Austudy (assuming the applicant qualifies).
Subject areas will include studies in theology, new testament, old testament, youth, leadership, and pastoral care.
All we want to know at present is who might be interested in commencing this course, which may be offered from Sem 1, 2007. We understand this is only an expression of interest, and not a commitment to enrol.
Respond to dave@redlandscrc.org.au
BKG - Can you help
YOUR HELP NEEDED!!!
Your help is needed for this coming week of Brisbane Kids Games.
We are seeking to decorate the hall in a sports theme. To do that well would would appreciate donations of the following:
Posters of sports people
Posters of sports events
Commonwealth games memorabilia
National Flags
World cup soccer posters
Light weight sporting goods (Tennis, cricket, softball, etc)
Please bring these items on Sunday to the service, You can leave them behind the "welcome"desk. If you need them back, please attach your name to the item somewhere.
Your help in this is much appreciated.
The BKG Team
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